Genesis 29
1 And Jacob continued his journey, and went into the land of the children of the east.
Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.
2 And he looked, and behold, there was a well in the fields, and behold there, three flocks of sheep were lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks, and a great stone was at the mouth of the well.
And he saw a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lying by it: for the beasts were watered out of it, and the mouth thereof was closed with a great stone.
3 And when all the flocks were gathered there, they rolled the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again on the mouth of the well in its place.
And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together to roll away the stone, and after the sheep were watered, to put it on the mouth of the well again.
4 And Jacob said to them, My brethren, whence are ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.
5 And he said to them, Do ye know Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We do know [him].
And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban the son of Nachor? They said: We know him.
6 And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, [He is] well; and behold, there comes Rachel his daughter with the sheep.
He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold Rachel his daughter cometh with his flock.
7 And he said, Behold, it is yet high day; it is not time that the cattle should be gathered together; water the sheep, and go, feed [them].
And Jacob said: There is yet much day remaining, neither is it time to bring the flocks into the folds again: first give the sheep drink, and so lead them back to feed.
8 And they said, We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well, and we water the sheep.
They answered: We cannot, till all the cattle be gathered together, and we remove the stone from the well’s mouth, that we may water the flocks.
9 While he was still speaking to them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she fed the flock.
10 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 mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban his mother's brother.
And when Jacob saw her, and knew her to be his cousin-german, and that they were the sheep of Laban, his uncle: he removed the stone wherewith the well was closed.
11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept.
And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice, wept.
12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was a brother of her father, and that he was Rebecca's son; and she ran and told her father.
And he told her that he was her father’s brother, and the son of Rebecca: but she went in haste and told her father.
13 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.
Who, when he heard that Jacob his sister’s son was come, ran forth to meet him; and embracing him, and heartily kissing him, brought him into his house. And when he had heard the causes of his journey,
14 And Laban said to him, Thou art indeed my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him a month's time.
He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired,
15 And Laban said to Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou serve me for nothing? tell me, what shall be thy wages?
He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have.
16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger, Rachel.
Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia: and the younger was called Rachel.
17 And the eyes of Leah were tender; but Rachel was of beautiful form and beautiful countenance.
But Lia was blear eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance.
18 And Jacob loved Rachel, and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; stay with me.
20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they were in his eyes as single days, because he loved her.
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.
21 And Jacob said to Laban, Give [me] my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.
And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.
23 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.
And at night he brought in Lia his daughter to him,
24 And Laban gave to her Zilpah, his maidservant, to be maidservant to Leah his daughter.
Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. Now when Jacob had gone in to her according to custom when morning was come he saw it was Lia:
25 And it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done to me? Have I not served thee for Rachel? Why then hast thou deceived me?
And he said to his father in law: What is it that thou didst mean to do? did not I serve thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceived me?
26 And Laban said, It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first.
27 Fulfil the week [with] this one: then we will give thee the other one also, for the service that thou shalt serve me yet seven other years.
Make up the week of days of this match: and I will give thee her also, for the service that thou shalt render me other seven years.
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled the week [with] this one, and he gave him Rachel his daughter to be his wife.
He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel:
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, Bilhah, his maidservant, to be her maidservant.
To whom her father gave Bala for her servant.
30 And he went in also to Rachel; and he loved also Rachel more than Leah. And he served with him yet seven other years.
And having at length obtained the marriage he wished for, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and served with him other seven years.
31 And when Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
32 And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and called his name Reuben; for she said, Because Jehovah has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.
And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me.
33 And she again conceived, and bore a son, and said, Because Jehovah has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this one also; and she called his name Simeon.
And again she conceived and bore a son, and said: Because the Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also to me: and she called his name Simeon.
34 And she again conceived, and bore a son, and said, Now this time will my husband be united to me, for I have borne him three sons; therefore was his name called Levi.
And she conceived the third time, and bore another son: and said: Now also my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons: and therefore she called his name Levi.
35 And she again conceived, and bore a son, and said, This time will I praise Jehovah; therefore she called his name Judah. And she ceased to bear.
The fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and said: now will I praise the Lord: and for this she called him Juda. And she left bearing.
