< Genesis 29 >

1 THEN Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
Then Jacob lifted up his feet, —and went his way towards the land of the sons of the East.
2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth.
And he looked, and lo! a well, in the field and lo! there, three flocks of sheep, lying down near it, for out of that well, do they water the flocks, but, the stone, is great, on the mouth of the well:
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 again upon the well’s mouth in his place.
so they gather together thither all the flocks, and roll away the stone from off the mouth of the well, and water the sheep, —and put back the stone upon the mouth of the well, to its place.
4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
And Jacob said to them, My brethren, whence are ye? And they said: From haran, are we.
5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
And he said to them, Know ye Laban, son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
And he said to them, Is it well with him? And they said, Well, but lo! Rachel his daughter, coming in 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.
And he said Lo! the day is yet high, it is not time for gathering together the cattle, —water the sheep, and go feed.
8 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.
And they said, We cannot, until that all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll away the stone, from off the mouth of the well, —and then can we water the sheep.
9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.
While yet he was speaking with them, Rachel, had come in with the sheep which belonged to her father, for a shepherdess, was she.
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.
And it came to pass when Jacob saw Rachel daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled away the stone from off the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother,
11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
And 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.
And when Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son, then ran she, 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.
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 fondly kissed him, and brought him into his house, —when he recounted to 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.
And Laban said to him, Surely, my bone and my flesh, art thou. So he abode with him a month of days.
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?
Then said Laban to Jacob, Is it because my brother, thou art, that thou shouldst serve me for naught? Come tell me! What shall be thy wages?
16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Now, Laban, had two daughters, —the name of the elder, Leah, and the name of the younger, Rachel,
17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
But, the eyes of Leah were weak, —whereas, Rachel, was comely in form and comely in countenance.
18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
So Jacob loved Rachel, —and he said, I will serve thee seven years, for Rachel thy 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.
And Laban said, Better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man, —Abide 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.
So Jacob served for Rachel—seven years, —and they became, in his eyes, as single days, for his love to her.
21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
Then said Jacob unto Laban: Come give me my wife, for fulfilled are my days, —that I may go in unto her.
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a banquet,
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.
And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her in unto him, —and he went in unto her.
24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
And Laban gave her Zilpah, his handmaid, unto Leah his daughter. as handmaid.
25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, 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?
And it came to pass in the morning, that lo! it was Leah, —and he said unto Laban, What is this thou hast done to me? Was it not, for Rachel, I served with thee? Wherefore then hast thou deceived me?
26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
And Laban said, It must not be done so in our place, —to give the later-born before the firstborn.
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
Fulfil the week of this one, —then must we give thee, the other one also, for the service wherewith thou shalt serve with me, yet seven years more.
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled the week of this one, —and he gave him Rachel his daughter—to him to wife.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid, —to be hers as a handmaid.
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
So he went in, unto Rachel also, and loved, Rachel also, more than Leah, —and he served with him, yet seven years more.
31 And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
And, when Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, he granted her to bear children, —whereas, Rachel, was barren.
32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
So Leah conceived, and bare a son, and called his name Reuben, —for she said, Because, Yahweh hath looked upon my humiliation, For, now, will my husband love me.
33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
And she conceived again, and bare a son, and said. Because Yahweh heard that, I, was hated, he gave me, this one also. So she called his name Simeon.
34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
And she conceived again and bare a son, and said, Now—this time, will my husband be bound unto me, For I have borne him three sons, —For this cause, called she his name Levi.
35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
And she conceived again and bare a son, and said This time, will I praise Yahweh, For which cause, she called his name Judah. And she left off bearing.

< Genesis 29 >