< Genesis 29 >
1 And Jacob started and went to the land of the east to Laban, the son of Bathuel the Syrian, and the brother of Rebecca, mother of Jacob and Esau.
Then Iaakob lift vp his feete and came into the East countrey.
2 And he looks, and behold! a well in the plain; and there were there three flocks of sheep resting at it, for out of that well they watered the flocks, but there was a great stone at the mouth of the well.
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.
3 And there were all the flocks gathered, and they used to roll away the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the flocks, and set the stone again in its place on the mouth of the well.
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.
4 And Jacob said to them, Brethren, whence are you? and they said, We are of Charrhan.
And Iaakob sayde vnto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they answered, We are of Haran.
5 And he said to them, Know you Laban, the son of Nachor? and they said, We do know [him].
Then he sayd vnto them, Know ye Laban the sonne of Nahor? Who said, We know him.
6 And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well. And behold Rachel his daughter came with the sheep.
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.
7 And Jacob said, it is yet high day, it is not yet time that the flocks be gathered together; water you the flocks, and depart and feed them.
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.
8 And they said, We shall not be able, until all the shepherds be gathered together, and they shall roll away the stone from the mouth of the well, then we will water the flocks.
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.
9 While he was yet speaking to them, behold, Rachel the daughter of Laban came with her father's sheep, for she fed the sheep of her father.
While he talked with them, Rahel also came with her fathers sheepe, 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 came and rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother.
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.
11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and cried with a loud voice and wept.
And Iaakob kissed Rahel, and lift vp his voyce and wept.
12 And he told Rachel that he was the near relative of her father, and the son of Rebecca; and she ran and reported to her father according to these words.
(For Iaakob tolde Rahel, that he was her fathers brother, and that he was Rebekahs sonne) then she ranne and tolde her father.
13 And it came to pass when Laban heard the name of Jacob, his sister's son, he ran to meet him, and embraced and kissed him, and brought him into his house; and he told Laban all these sayings.
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.
14 And Laban said to him, You are of my bones and of my flesh; and he was with him a full month.
To whome Laban sayd, Well, thou art my bone and my flesh. and he abode with him the space of a moneth.
15 And Laban said to Jacob, Surely you shall not serve me for nothing, because you are my brother; tell me what your reward is to be.
For Laban sayde vnto Iaakob, Though thou be my brother, shouldest thou therfore serue me for nought? tell me, what shalbe thy wages?
16 Now Laban had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lea, and the name of the younger, Rachel.
Now Laban had two daughters, the elder called Leah, and the yonger called Rahel.
17 And the eyes of Lea were weak. But Rachel was beautiful in appearance, and exceedingly fair in countenance.
And Leah was tender eyed, but Rahel was beautifull and faire.
18 And Jacob loved Rachel, and said, I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.
And Iaakob loued Rahel, and sayde, I will serue thee seuen yeeres for Rahel thy yonger daughter.
19 And Laban said to him, [It is] better that I should give her to you, than that I should give her to another man; dwell with me.
Then Laban answered, It is better that I giue her thee, then that I should giue her to another man: abide with me.
20 And Jacob served for Rachel seven years, and they were before him as a few days, by reason of his loving her.
And Iaakob serued seuen yeres for Rahel, and they seemed vnto him but a few dayes, because he loued her.
21 And Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.
Then Iaakob sayde to Laban, Giue me my wife, that I may goe in to her: for my terme is ended.
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a marriage-feast.
Wherefore Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 And it was even, and he took his daughter Lea, and brought her in to Jacob, and Jacob went in to her.
But whe the euening was come, he tooke Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in vnto her.
24 And Laban gave to his daughter Lea, Zelpha his handmaid, as a handmaid for her.
And Laban gaue his mayde Zilpah to his daughter Leah, to be her seruant.
25 And it was morning, and behold it was Lea; and Jacob said to Laban, What is this that you have done to me? did I not serve you for Rachel? and therefore have you deceived me?
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?
26 And Laban answered, It is not done thus in our country, to give the younger before the elder.
And Laban answered, It is not the maner of this place, to giue the yonger before the elder.
27 Fulfil then her sevens, and I will give to you her also in return for your labor, which you labor with me, yet seven other years.
Fulfill seuen yeeres for her, and we wil also giue thee this for the seruice, which thou shalt serue me yet seuen yeeres more.
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her sevens; and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to wife.
Then Iaakob did so, and fulfilled her seuen yeeres, so he gaue him Rahel his daughter to be his wife.
29 And Laban gave to his daughter his handmaid Balla, for a handmaid to her.
Laban also gaue to Rahel his daughter Bilhah his mayde to be her seruant.
30 And he went in to Rachel; and he loved Rachel more than Lea; and he served him seven other years.
So entred he in to Rahel also, and loued also Rahel more then Leah, and serued him yet seuen yeeres more.
31 And when the Lord God saw that Lea was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
When the Lord saw that Leah was despised, he made her fruitful: but Rahel was barren.
32 And Lea conceived and bore a son to Jacob; and she called his name, Ruben; saying, Because the Lord has looked on my humiliation, and has given me a son, now then my husband will love me.
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.
33 And she conceived again, and bore a second son to Jacob; and she said, Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given to me this one also; and she called his name, Simeon.
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.
34 And she conceived yet again, and bore a son, and said, In the present time my husband will be with me, for I have born him three sons; therefore she called his name, Levi.
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.
35 And having conceived yet again, she bore a son, and said, Now yet again this time will I give thanks to the Lord; therefore she called his name, Juda; and ceased bearing.
Moreouer shee conceiued againe and bare a sonne, saying, Nowe will I prayse the Lord: therefore shee called his name Iudah, and left bearing.