Genesis 29
1 Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
2 As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and, behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there by it. For out of that well they would water the flocks, and the stone over the well's mouth was large.
He looked and saw a well in the field, and near it lay three flocks of sheep, because the sheep were watered from this well. And a large stone covered the mouth of the well.
3 When all the flocks had gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the well's mouth and water the sheep, and then put the stone again over the well's mouth, back in its place.
When all the flocks had been gathered there, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.
4 Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” They replied, “We are from Haran.”
“My brothers,” Jacob asked the shepherds, “where are you from?” “We are from Haran,” they answered.
5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
“Do you know Laban the grandson of Nahor?” Jacob asked. “We know him,” they replied.
6 He said to them, “Is he well?” They said, “He is well, and, look there, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep.”
“Is he well?” Jacob inquired. “Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.”
7 Jacob said, “See, it is the middle of the day. It is not the time for the flocks to be gathered together. You should water the sheep and then go and let them graze.”
“Look,” said Jacob, “it is still broad daylight; it is not yet time to gather the livestock. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”
8 They said, “We cannot water them until all the flocks are gathered together. The men will then roll the stone from the well's mouth, and we will water the sheep.”
But they replied, “We cannot, until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”
9 While Jacob was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was tending them.
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, Jacob came over, rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban, his mother's brother.
As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, with Laban’s sheep, he went up and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep.
11 Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly.
Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's relative, and that he was Rebekah's son. Then she ran and told her father.
He told Rachel that he was Rebekah’s son, a relative of her father, and she ran and told her father.
13 When Laban heard the news about Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him, embraced him, kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.
When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him all that had happened.
14 Laban said to him, “You are indeed my bone and my flesh.” Then Jacob stayed with him for about one month.
Then Laban declared, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him a month,
15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Should you serve me for nothing because you are my relative? Tell me, what will your wages be?”
Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
16 Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Now Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel.
17 Leah's eyes were tender, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.
Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
18 Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”
Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.”
20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him only a few days, for the love he had for her.
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days have been completed—so that I may marry her!”
Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.”
22 So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast.
So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast.
23 In the evening, Laban took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob, who slept with her.
But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.
24 Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah, to be her servant.
And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.
25 In the morning, behold, it was Leah! Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why then have you tricked me?”
When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”
26 Laban said, “It is not our custom to give the younger daughter before the firstborn.
Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older.
27 Complete the bridal week of this daughter, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”
Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.”
28 Jacob did so, and completed Leah's week. Then Laban gave him Rachel his daughter as his wife also.
And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.
29 Laban also gave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel, to be her servant.
Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.
30 So Jacob slept with Rachel, too, but he loved Rachel more than Leah. So Jacob served Laban for seven more years.
Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.
31 Yahweh saw that Leah was not loved, so he opened her womb, but Rachel was childless.
When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
32 Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben. For she said, “Because Yahweh has looked upon my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.”
And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”
33 Then she conceived again and bore a son. She said, “Because Yahweh has heard that I am unloved, he has therefore given me this son also,” and she called his name Simeon.
Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon.
34 Then she conceived again and bore a son. She said, “Now this time will my husband be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.
35 She conceived again and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise Yahweh.” Therefore she called his name Judah; then she stopped having children.
And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.
