Genesis 29
1 Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people 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 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 after the sheep were watered, to put it on 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: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.
And Jacob said to them, My brothers, from where be you? And they said, Of Haran are we.
5 And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban the son of Nachor? 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 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, behold, Rachel his daughter comes 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.
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 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 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 yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she fed the flock.
And while he yet spoke with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep; for she kept 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.
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, wept.
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
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 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 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 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 answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired,
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: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have.
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 Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia: and 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 Lia was blear eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance.
Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.
18 And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve you 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 that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man: abide 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 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 me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto 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 invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 And at night he brought in Lia his daughter 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 Zelpha. Now when Jacob had gone in to her according to custom when morning was come he saw it was Lia:
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 thou didst mean to do? did not I serve thee for Rachel? why hast thou 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 answered: It is not the custom 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 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.
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 yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel:
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29 To whom her father gave Bala for her servant.
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her 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.
And he went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31 And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, 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 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 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 said: Because the Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also 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 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 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 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 conceived again, and bore a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
