Genesis 29
1 Then Iaakob lift vp his feete and came into the East countrey.
Jacob went quickly on his way, and arrived in the land of the eastern people.
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.
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 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.
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 Iaakob sayde vnto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they answered, We are of Haran.
Jacob asked them, “My brothers, where are you from?” “We're from Haran,” they replied.
5 Then he sayd vnto them, Know ye Laban the sonne of Nahor? Who said, We know him.
“Do you know Laban, Nahor's grandson?” he asked. “Yes, we know him,” they replied.
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.
“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 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.
“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 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.
“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 While he talked with them, Rahel also came with her fathers sheepe, for she kept them.
While he was still talking with them Rachel arrived with the flock she was looking after for her father.
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 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 Iaakob kissed Rahel, and lift vp his voyce and wept.
Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept for joy.
12 (For Iaakob tolde Rahel, that he was her fathers brother, and that he was Rebekahs sonne) then she ranne and tolde 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 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.
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 To whome Laban sayd, Well, thou art my bone and my flesh. and he abode with him the space of a moneth.
Laban told him, “No question about it—you're my own flesh and blood!” Jacob stayed with Laban for a month.
15 For Laban sayde vnto Iaakob, Though thou be my brother, shouldest thou therfore serue me for nought? tell me, what shalbe thy wages?
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 Laban had two daughters, the elder called Leah, and the yonger called Rahel.
Laban had two daughters. The older one was Leah, and the younger one was Rachel.
17 And Leah was tender eyed, but Rahel was beautifull and faire.
Leah had kind eyes, but Rachel had a shapely figure and beautiful looks.
18 And Iaakob loued Rahel, and sayde, I will serue thee seuen yeeres for Rahel thy yonger 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 Then Laban answered, It is better that I giue her thee, then that I should giue her to another man: abide 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 And Iaakob serued seuen yeres for Rahel, and they seemed vnto him but a few dayes, because he loued her.
Jacob worked for Laban for seven years, but to him they seemed like just a few days because he really loved her.
21 Then Iaakob sayde to Laban, Giue me my wife, that I may goe in to her: for my terme is ended.
Then Jacob said to Laban, “I've completed the time we agreed. Now give me your daughter to be my wife.”
22 Wherefore Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
So Laban organized a wedding banquet and invited everyone around to come.
23 But whe the euening was come, he tooke Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in vnto her.
But once it was dark Laban brought his daughter Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her.
24 And Laban gaue his mayde Zilpah to his daughter Leah, to be her seruant.
(Laban also arranged for his servant Zilpah to be Leah's personal maid.)
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?
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 And Laban answered, It is not the maner of this place, to giue the yonger before the elder.
“Here we don't give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn,” Laban replied.
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.
“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 Then Iaakob did so, and fulfilled her seuen yeeres, so he gaue him Rahel his daughter to be his wife.
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 Laban also gaue to Rahel his daughter Bilhah his mayde to be her seruant.
(Laban also arranged for his servant Bilhah to be Rachel's personal maid.)
30 So entred he in to Rahel also, and loued also Rahel more then Leah, and serued him yet seuen yeeres more.
So Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He worked for Laban another seven years for Rachel.
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was despised, he made her fruitful: but Rahel was barren.
The Lord saw that Leah wasn't loved he helped Leah to have children, but not Rachel.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 Moreouer shee conceiued againe and bare a sonne, saying, Nowe will I prayse the Lord: therefore shee called his name Iudah, and 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.
