Genesis 29
1 And so Jacob, setting out, arrived in the eastern land.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
2 And he saw a well in a field, and also three flocks of sheep reclining near it. For the animals were watered from it, and its mouth was closed with a great stone.
And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, see, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was on the well’s mouth.
3 And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to roll away the stone. And when the flocks had been refreshed, they placed it over the mouth of the well again.
And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again on the well’s mouth in his place.
4 And he said to the shepherds, “Brothers, where are you from?” And they answered. “From Haran.”
And Jacob said to them, My brothers, from where be you? And they said, Of Haran are we.
5 And questioning them, he said, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
And he said to them, Know you Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
6 He said, “Is he well?” “He is very well,” they said. “And behold, his daughter Rachel approaches with his flock.”
And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter comes with the sheep.
7 And Jacob said, “There is still much daylight remaining, and it is not time to return the flocks to the sheepfold. Give the sheep to drink first, and then lead them back to pasture.”
And he said, See, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water you the sheep, and go and feed them.
8 They responded, “We cannot, until all the animals are gathered together and we remove the stone from the mouth of the well, so that we may water the flocks.”
And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.
9 They were still speaking, and behold, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep; for she pastured the flock.
And while he yet spoke with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep; for she kept them.
10 When Jacob had seen her, and he realized that she was his maternal first cousin, and that these were the sheep of his uncle Laban, he removed the stone which closed the well.
And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
11 And having watered the flock, he kissed her. And lifting up his voice, he wept.
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12 And he revealed to her that he was a brother of her father, and the son of Rebekah. And so, hurrying, she announced it to her father.
And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.
13 And when he had heard that Jacob, his sister’s son, had arrived, he ran to meet him. And embracing him, and kissing him heartily, he brought him into his house. But when he had heard the reasons for his journey,
And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
14 he responded, “You are my bone and my flesh.” And after the days of one month were completed,
And Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. And he stayed with him the space of a month.
15 he said to him: “Though you are my brother, will you serve me for nothing? Tell me what wages you would accept.”
And Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? tell me, what shall your wages be?
16 In truth, he had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah; and truly the younger was called Rachel.
And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 But while Leah was bleary-eyed, Rachel had an elegant appearance and was attractive to behold.
Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.
18 And Jacob, loving her, said, “I will serve you for seven years, for your younger daughter Rachel.”
And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.
19 Laban responded, “It is better that I give her to you than to another man; remain with me.”
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
20 Therefore, Jacob served for seven years for Rachel. And these seemed like only a few days, because of the greatness of love.
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21 And he said to Laban, “Give my wife to me. For now the time has been fulfilled, so that I may go in to her.”
And Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.
22 And he, having called a great crowd of his friends to the feast, agreed to the marriage.
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 And at night, he brought in his daughter Leah to him,
And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in to her.
24 giving his daughter a handmaid named Zilpah. After Jacob had gone in to her, according to custom, when morning had arrived, he saw Leah.
And Laban gave to his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
25 And he said to his father-in-law, “What is it that you intended to do? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?”
And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this you have done to me? did not I serve with you for Rachel? why then have you beguiled me?
26 Laban responded, “It is not the practice in this place to give the younger in marriage first.
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Complete a week of days with this mating. And then I will give this one to you also, for the service that you will provide to me for another seven years.”
Fulfill her week, and we will give you this also for the service which you shall serve with me yet seven other years.
28 He agreed to his pleading. And after the week had passed, he took Rachel as a wife.
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29 To her, the father had given Bilhah as her servant.
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30 And, having at last obtained the marriage he desired, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and he served with him another seven years.
And he went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31 But the Lord, seeing that he despised Leah, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
32 Having conceived, she gave birth to a son, and she called his name Reuben, saying: “The Lord saw my humiliation; now my husband will love me.”
And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD has looked on my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
33 And again she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Because the Lord heard that I was treated with contempt, he has also given this one to me.” And she called his name Simeon.
And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said, Because the LORD has heard I was hated, he has therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
34 And she conceived a third time, and she gave birth to another son, and she said: “Now likewise my husband will unite with me, because I have borne him three sons.” And because of this, she called his name Levi.
And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined to me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
35 A fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Only now will I confess to the Lord.” And for this reason, she called him Judah. And she ceased from child-bearing.
And she conceived again, and bore a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
