Genesis 29
1 Then Iaakob lift vp his feete and came into the East countrey.
And so Jacob, setting out, arrived in the eastern land.
2 And as he looked about, behold there was a well in the field, and lo, three flocks of sheepe lay thereby (for at that well were the flockes watered) and there was a great stone vpon the welles mouth.
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.
3 And thither were all the flockes gathered, and they rolled the stone from the welles mouth, and watered the sheepe, and put the stone againe vpon the welles mouth in his place.
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.
4 And Iaakob sayde vnto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they answered, We are of Haran.
And he said to the shepherds, “Brothers, where are you from?” And they answered. “From Haran.”
5 Then he sayd vnto them, Know ye Laban the sonne of Nahor? Who said, We know him.
And questioning them, he said, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
6 Againe he sayd vnto them, Is he in good health? And they answered, He is in good health, and beholde, his daughter Rahel commeth with the sheepe.
He said, “Is he well?” “He is very well,” they said. “And behold, his daughter Rachel approaches with his flock.”
7 Then he sayd, Lo, it is yet hie day, neither is it time that the cattell shoulde be gathered together: water ye the sheepe and go feede them.
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.”
8 But they sayde, We may not vntill all the flocks be brought together, and till men rolle the stone from the welles mouth, that we may water the sheepe.
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.”
9 While he talked with them, Rahel also came with her fathers sheepe, for she kept them.
They were still speaking, and behold, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep; for she pastured the flock.
10 And assoone as Iaakob saw Rahel ye daughter of Laban his mothers brother, and the sheepe of Laban his mothers brother, then came Iaakob neere, and rolled the stone from the welles mouth, and watered ye flocke of Laban his mothers brother.
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.
11 And Iaakob kissed Rahel, and lift vp his voyce and wept.
And having watered the flock, he kissed her. And lifting up his voice, he wept.
12 (For Iaakob tolde Rahel, that he was her fathers brother, and that he was Rebekahs sonne) then she ranne and tolde her father.
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.
13 And when Laban heard tell of Iaakob his sisters sonne, he ranne to meete him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house: and he tolde Laban all these things.
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,
14 To whome Laban sayd, Well, thou art my bone and my flesh. and he abode with him the space of a moneth.
he responded, “You are my bone and my flesh.” And after the days of one month were completed,
15 For Laban sayde vnto Iaakob, Though thou be my brother, shouldest thou therfore serue me for nought? tell me, what shalbe thy wages?
he said to him: “Though you are my brother, will you serve me for nothing? Tell me what wages you would accept.”
16 Now Laban had two daughters, the elder called Leah, and the yonger called Rahel.
In truth, he had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah; and truly the younger was called Rachel.
17 And Leah was tender eyed, but Rahel was beautifull and faire.
But while Leah was bleary-eyed, Rachel had an elegant appearance and was attractive to behold.
18 And Iaakob loued Rahel, and sayde, I will serue thee seuen yeeres for Rahel thy yonger daughter.
And Jacob, loving her, said, “I will serve you for seven years, for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19 Then Laban answered, It is better that I giue her thee, then that I should giue her to another man: abide with me.
Laban responded, “It is better that I give her to you than to another man; remain with me.”
20 And Iaakob serued seuen yeres for Rahel, and they seemed vnto him but a few dayes, because he loued her.
Therefore, Jacob served for seven years for Rachel. And these seemed like only a few days, because of the greatness of love.
21 Then Iaakob sayde to Laban, Giue me my wife, that I may goe in to her: for my terme is ended.
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.”
22 Wherefore Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
And he, having called a great crowd of his friends to the feast, agreed to the marriage.
23 But whe the euening was come, he tooke Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in vnto her.
And at night, he brought in his daughter Leah to him,
24 And Laban gaue his mayde Zilpah to his daughter Leah, to be her seruant.
giving his daughter a handmaid named Zilpah. After Jacob had gone in to her, according to custom, when morning had arrived, he saw Leah.
25 But when the morning was come, behold, it was Leah. Then sayde he to Laban, Wherefore hast thou done thus to mee? did not I serue thee for Rahel? wherfore then hast thou beguiled me?
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?”
26 And Laban answered, It is not the maner of this place, to giue the yonger before the elder.
Laban responded, “It is not the practice in this place to give the younger in marriage first.
27 Fulfill seuen yeeres for her, and we wil also giue thee this for the seruice, which thou shalt serue me yet seuen yeeres more.
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.”
28 Then Iaakob did so, and fulfilled her seuen yeeres, so he gaue him Rahel his daughter to be his wife.
He agreed to his pleading. And after the week had passed, he took Rachel as a wife.
29 Laban also gaue to Rahel his daughter Bilhah his mayde to be her seruant.
To her, the father had given Bilhah as her servant.
30 So entred he in to Rahel also, and loued also Rahel more then Leah, and serued him yet seuen yeeres more.
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.
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was despised, he made her fruitful: but Rahel was barren.
But the Lord, seeing that he despised Leah, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
32 And Leah conceiued and bare a sonne, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Because the Lord hath looked vpon my tribulation, now therefore mine husband will loue me.
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.”
33 And she conceiued againe and bare a sonne, and sayde, Because the Lord heard that I was hated, he hath therefore giuen me this sonne also, and she called his name Simeon.
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.
34 And she conceiued againe and bare a sonne, and said, Now at this time wil my husband keepe mee company, because I haue borne him three sonnes: therefore was his name called Leui.
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.
35 Moreouer shee conceiued againe and bare a sonne, saying, Nowe will I prayse the Lord: therefore shee called his name Iudah, and left bearing.
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.
