Genesis 29
1 Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.
Jacob went quickly on his way, and arrived in the land of the eastern people.
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.
As he looked around he saw a well in a field with three flocks of sheep lying down beside it, waiting to be given water. A large stone covered the top of the well.
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.
The usual practice was that once all the flocks had arrived, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the well and give their sheep water. Then they would put the stone back again.
4 And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.
Jacob asked them, “My brothers, where are you from?” “We're from Haran,” they replied.
5 And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban the son of Nachor? They said: We know him.
“Do you know Laban, Nahor's grandson?” he asked. “Yes, we know him,” they replied.
6 He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold Rachel his daughter cometh with his flock.
“How is he?” he asked. “He's well,” they replied. “Look! In fact here's his daughter Rachel coming with the sheep right now.”
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.
“Look, there's still plenty of daylight left,” said Jacob. “It's too early to round up the sheep yet. Why not let them drink so they can go back to grazing?”
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.
“We can't do that until all the flocks have arrived,” they told him. “Then we roll away the stone from the well and let the sheep drink.”
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 arrived with the flock she was looking after for her father.
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.
When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, he went over and rolled away the stone from the well so Laban's sheep could drink.
11 And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice, wept.
Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept for joy.
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.
(He had told her that he was the son of Laban's brother and Rebekah.) She ran and told her father what had happened.
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,
As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob he ran out to meet him. He hugged him and kissed him, and took him home. After Jacob had explained everything to Laban,
14 He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired,
Laban told him, “No question about it—you're my own flesh and blood!” Jacob stayed with Laban for 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.
One day Laban said to him, “You're my relative so you shouldn't be working for me for nothing! Tell me, what should I pay you?”
16 Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia: and the younger was called Rachel.
Laban had two daughters. The older one was Leah, and the younger one was Rachel.
17 But Lia was blear eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance.
Leah had kind eyes, but Rachel had a shapely figure and beautiful looks.
18 And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
Jacob was in love with Rachel so he promised Laban, “I'll do seven years work for you for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
19 Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; stay with me.
“Well it's better for me to give her to you than anyone else,” Laban replied. “So stay here and work for me.”
20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.
Jacob worked for Laban for seven years, but to him they seemed like just a few days because he really loved her.
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, “I've completed the time we agreed. Now give me your daughter to be my wife.”
22 And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.
So Laban organized a wedding banquet and invited everyone around to come.
23 And at night he brought in Lia his daughter to him,
But once it was dark Laban brought his daughter Leah to Jacob, and he slept with 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:
(Laban also arranged for his servant Zilpah to be Leah's personal maid.)
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?
When morning came, he saw it was Leah! He went to Laban and asked angrily, “What have you done to me? It was for Rachel that I worked for you! Why have you deceived me?”
26 Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first.
“Here we don't give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn,” Laban replied.
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.
“Finish this week of wedding celebrations and then I'll give you the other daughter as well, as long as you work another seven years for me.”
28 He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel:
Jacob agreed. He finished the week of wedding celebrations for Leah, and then Laban gave Jacob his daughter Rachel as his wife as well.
29 To whom her father gave Bala for her servant.
(Laban also arranged for his servant Bilhah to be Rachel's personal maid.)
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.
So Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He worked for Laban another seven years for Rachel.
31 And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
The Lord saw that Leah wasn't loved he helped Leah to have children, but not Rachel.
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.
Leah became pregnant, and had a son she named Reuben, for she said, “The Lord saw how much I was suffering and now my husband will love 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 Leah became pregnant again, and had another son. She said, “The Lord has heard that I'm not loved so he gave me this son.” So she named him 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.
Leah became pregnant for the third time, and had another son. She said, “Finally my husband will be attached to me because now I've given him three sons.” That's why 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.
Once again Leah became pregnant and had another son. She named him Judah, for she said, “Now I can really praise the Lord!” After that she had no more children.
