Genesis 29
1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying there by it. — For out of that well they watered the flocks. And the stone upon the well's mouth was great.
He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well’s mouth was large.
3 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 back upon the well's mouth in its place. —
There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back on the well’s mouth in its place.
4 And Jacob said unto them: 'My brethren, whence are ye?' And they said: 'Of Haran are we.'
Jacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”
5 And he said unto them: 'Know ye Laban the son of Nahor?' And they said: 'We know him.'
He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
6 And he said unto them: 'Is it well with him?' And they said: 'It is well; and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.'
He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”
7 And he said: 'Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together; water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.'
He said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”
8 And they said: 'We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.'
They said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we will water the sheep.”
9 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she tended them.
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them.
10 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.
When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12 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.
Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.
13 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.
When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.
14 And Laban said to him: 'Surely thou art my bone and my flesh.' And he abode with him the space of a month.
Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a month.
15 And Laban said unto Jacob: 'Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?'
Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?”
16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 And Leah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was of beautiful form and fair to look upon.
Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said: 'I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.'
Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
19 And Laban said: 'It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.'
Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”
20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
21 And Jacob said unto Laban: 'Give me my wife, for my days are filled, that I may go in unto her.'
Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her.
24 And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid.
Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant.
25 And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban: 'What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?'
In the morning, behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”
26 And Laban said: 'It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born.
Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Fulfil the week of this one, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.'
Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for seven more years.”
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife.
Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid.
Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.
31 And the LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
32 And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said: 'Because the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.'
Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
33 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said: 'Because the LORD hath heard that I am hated, He hath therefore given me this son also.' And she called his name Simeon.
She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Simeon.
34 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said: 'Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons.' Therefore was his name called Levi.
She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
35 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she said: 'This time will I praise the LORD.' Therefore she called his name Judah; and she left off bearing.
She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise Yahweh.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
