Genesis 29
1 Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.
Then Jacob went on his journey till he came to the land of the children of the East.
2 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.
And there he saw a water-hole in a field, and by the side of it three flocks of sheep, for there they got water for the sheep: and on the mouth of the water-hole there was a great stone.
3 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.
And all the flocks would come together there, and when the stone had been rolled away, they would give the sheep water, and put the stone back again in its place on the mouth of the water-hole.
4 And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.
Then Jacob said to the herdmen, My brothers, where do you come from? And they said, From Haran.
5 And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban the son of Nachor? They said: We know him.
And he said to them, Have you any knowledge of Laban, the son of Nahor? And they said, We have.
6 He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold Rachel his daughter cometh with his flock.
And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well, and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep.
7 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.
Then Jacob said, The sun is still high and it is not time to get the cattle together: get water for the sheep and go and give them their food.
8 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.
And they said, We are not able to do so till all the flocks have come together and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the water-hole; then we will get water for the sheep.
9 They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she fed the flock.
While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she took care of them.
10 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.
Then when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, coming with Laban's sheep, he came near, and rolling the stone away from the mouth of the hole, he got water for Laban's flock.
11 And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice, wept.
And weeping for joy, Jacob gave Rachel a kiss.
12 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.
And Rachel, hearing from Jacob that he was her father's relation and that he was the son of Rebekah, went running to give her father news of it.
13 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,
And Laban, hearing news of Jacob, his sister's son, came running, and took Jacob in his arms, and kissing him, made him come into his house. And Jacob gave him news of everything.
14 He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired,
And Laban said to him, Truly, you are my bone and my flesh. And he kept Jacob with him for the space of a month.
15 He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have.
Then Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my brother are you to be my servant for nothing? say now, what is your payment to be?
16 Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia: and the younger was called Rachel.
Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 But Lia was blear eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance.
And Leah's eyes were clouded, but Rachel was fair in face and form.
18 And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
And Jacob was in love with Rachel; and he said, I will be your servant seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.
19 Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; stay with me.
And Laban said, It is better for you to have her than another man: go on living here with me.
20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.
And Jacob did seven years' work for Rachel; and because of his love for her it seemed to him only a very little time.
21 And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife so that I may have her, for the days are ended.
22 And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.
And Laban got together all the men of the place and gave a feast.
23 And at night he brought in Lia his daughter to him,
And in the evening he took Leah, his daughter, and gave her to him, and he went in to her.
24 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:
And Laban gave Zilpah, his servant-girl, to Leah, to be her waiting-woman.
25 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?
And in the morning Jacob saw that it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What have you done to me? was I not working for you so that I might have Rachel? why have you been false to me?
26 Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first.
And Laban said, In our country we do not let the younger daughter be married before the older.
27 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.
Let the week of the bride-feast come to its end and then we will give you the other in addition, if you will be my servant for another seven years.
28 He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel:
And Jacob did so; and when the week was ended, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel for his wife.
29 To whom her father gave Bala for her servant.
And Laban gave Rachel his servant-girl Bilhah to be her waiting-woman.
30 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.
Then Jacob took Rachel as his wife, and his love for her was greater than his love for Leah; and he went on working for Laban for another seven years.
31 And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
Now the Lord, seeing that Leah was not loved, gave her a child; while Rachel had no children.
32 And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me.
And Leah was with child, and gave birth to a son to whom she gave the name Reuben: for she said, The Lord has seen my sorrow; now my husband will have love for me.
33 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.
Then she became with child again, and gave birth to a son; and said, Because it has come to the Lord's ears that I am not loved, he has given me this son in addition: and she gave him the name Simeon.
34 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.
And she was with child again, and gave birth to a son; and said, Now at last my husband will be united to me, because I have given him three sons: so he was named Levi.
35 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.
And she was with child again, and gave birth to a son: and she said, This time I will give praise to the Lord: so he was named Judah; after this she had no more children for a time.
