Genesis 29
1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east.
Then Jacob lifted up his feet and went unto the land of the children of the east.
2 He looked and saw a well in the field, and look, 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.
And he looked, and behold there was 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 the stone upon the mouth of the well was great.
3 Now all the flocks would be gathered there, and they would roll the stone from the well's mouth, and water the sheep, and put the stone again on the well's mouth in its place.
And there all the flocks were wont to assemble; and they rolled then the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep; and they put the stone again upon the mouth of the well in its place.
4 Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" They said, "We are from Haran."
And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence are ye? And they said, Of Charan are we.
5 He said to them, "Do you know Laban, the grandson of Nahor?" They said, "We know him."
And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nachor? And they said, We know him.
6 He said to them, "Is it well with him?" They said, "It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep."
And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well; and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
7 He said, "Look, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them."
And he said, Lo, the day is yet long, it is not time that the cattle should be driven home; water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.
8 They said, "We can't, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth. Then we water the sheep."
And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, then do they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; and we water the sheep.
9 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was tending them.
And while he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she was a shepherdess.
10 It happened, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, that Jacob went over 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 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 mouth of the well, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
11 Jacob kissed Rachel, and wept loudly.
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son. She ran and told her father.
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.
13 It happened, when Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister's son, that he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob 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 kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
14 Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh." He lived with him for a month.
And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
15 Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be?"
And Laban then said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldst thou therefore serve me for naught? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
16 Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
And Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 Leah looked rather plain, but Rachel was beautiful in form and beautiful in appearance.
And the eyes of Leah were tender; but Rachel was of handsome form and handsome appearance.
18 Jacob loved Rachel. He said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter."
And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19 Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me."
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.
20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and it seemed only a few days to him because of his love for her.
And Jacob served for Rachel seven years; and they seemed unto him but a few days, through the love he had to her.
21 Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my time is completed, so that I may sleep with her."
And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22 Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and gave a feast.
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 It happened in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he slept wit her.
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.
24 Laban gave Zilpah his female servant to his daughter Leah as a servant.
And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah, Zilpah his maid for a handmaid.
25 It happened in the morning that, look, it was Leah. He said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not work for you to have Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"
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 I not serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou deceived me?
26 Laban said, "It is not our custom here to give the younger before the firstborn.
And Laban said, It is not done so in our place, to give in marriage the younger before the first-born.
27 Finish the week of this one, and I will give you the other also in exchange for the work which you are to serve with me for another seven years."
Fulfill the week of this, and we will give thee this one also, for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
28 Then Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled the week of the first; and he gave him Rachel his daughter for a wife.
29 Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his female servant, to be her servant.
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his hand-maid to be her maid.
30 So he slept with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked with him another seven years.
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah; and he served with him yet seven other years.
31 Jehovah saw that Leah was unloved, so he made her fertile, but Rachel was barren.
And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
32 Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, "Because God has looked at my affliction, and given me a son. For now my husband will love me."
And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, Surely, the Lord hath looked upon my affliction, because now my husband will love me.
33 She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, "Because God has heard that I am unloved, he has therefore given me this son also." So she named him Simeon.
And she conceived again and bore a son; and she said, Because the Lord heard that I was hated, he hath given me this one also; and she called his name Simeon.
34 She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, "Now this time my husband will become attached to me, since I have given him three sons." Therefore he was named Levi.
And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons; therefore was his name called Levi.
35 She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, "This time will I praise God." Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
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.
