Genesis 29
1 Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
Then Jacob went on 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 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.
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.
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.
4 Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” They replied, “We are from Haran.”
Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" They said, "We are from Haran."
5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
He said to them, "Do you know Laban, the grandson of Nahor?" They said, "We know him."
6 He said to them, “Is he well?” They said, “He is well, and, look there, Rachel his daughter is coming 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 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.”
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."
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.”
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."
9 While Jacob was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was tending them.
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was tending them.
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.
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.
11 Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly.
Jacob kissed Rachel, and wept loudly.
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.
Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son. 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.
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.
14 Laban said to him, “You are indeed my bone and my flesh.” Then Jacob stayed with him for about one month.
Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh." He lived with him for 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 Jacob, "Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me 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.
Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 Leah's eyes were tender, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.
Leah looked rather plain, but Rachel was beautiful in form and beautiful in appearance.
18 Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
Jacob loved Rachel. He said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your 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.”
Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay 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.
Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and it seemed only a few days to him 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!”
Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my time is completed, so that I may sleep with her."
22 So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast.
Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and gave a feast.
23 In the evening, Laban took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob, who slept with her.
It happened in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he slept wit her.
24 Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah, to be her servant.
Laban gave Zilpah his female servant to his daughter Leah as a servant.
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?”
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?"
26 Laban said, “It is not our custom to give the younger daughter before the firstborn.
Laban said, "It is not our custom here to give the younger before the firstborn.
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 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."
28 Jacob did so, and completed Leah's week. Then Laban gave him Rachel his daughter as his wife also.
Then Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.
29 Laban also gave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel, to be her servant.
Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his female servant, to be her servant.
30 So Jacob slept with Rachel, too, but he loved Rachel more than Leah. So Jacob served Laban for seven more years.
So he slept with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked with him another seven years.
31 Yahweh saw that Leah was not loved, so he opened her womb, but Rachel was childless.
The LORD saw that Leah was unloved, so he made her fertile, 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.”
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, "This time will I praise God." Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
