Genesis 29
1 Profectus ergo Iacob venit in terram Orientalem.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
2 Et vidit puteum in agro, tres quoque greges ovium accubantes iuxta eum: nam ex illo adaquabantur pecora, et os eius grandi lapide claudebatur.
He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw 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 Morisque erat ut cunctis ovibus congregatis devolverent lapidem, et refectis gregibus rursum super os putei ponerent.
There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back on the well’s mouth in its place.
4 Dixitque ad pastores: Fratres, unde estis? Qui responderunt: De Haran.
Jacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”
5 Quos interrogans, Numquid, ait, nostis Laban filium Nachor? Dixerunt: Novimus.
He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
6 Sanusne est? inquit: Valet, inquiunt: et ecce Rachel filia eius venit cum grege suo.
He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”
7 Dixitque Iacob: Adhuc multum diei superest, nec est tempus ut reducantur ad caulas greges: date ante potum ovibus, et sic eas ad pastum reducite.
He said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”
8 Qui responderunt: Non possumus, donec omnia pecora congregentur, et amoveamus lapidem de ore putei, ut adaquemus greges.
They said, “We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we will water the sheep.”
9 Adhuc loquebantur, et ecce Rachel veniebat cum ovibus patris sui: nam gregem ipsa pascebat.
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them.
10 Quam cum vidisset Iacob, et sciret consobrinam suam, ovesque Laban avunculi sui: amovit lapidem quo puteus claudebatur.
When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
11 Et adaquato grege, osculatus est eam: et elevata voce flevit,
Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12 et indicavit ei quod frater esset patris sui, et filius Rebeccæ: at illa festinans nunciavit patri suo.
Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.
13 Qui cum audisset venisse Iacob filium sororis suæ, cucurrit obviam ei: complexusque eum, et in oscula ruens, duxit in domum suam. Auditis autem causis itineris,
When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.
14 respondit: Os meum es, et caro mea. Et postquam impleti sunt dies mensis unius,
Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a month.
15 dixit ei: Num quia frater meus es, gratis servies mihi? dic quid mercedis accipias.
Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?”
16 Habebat vero duas filias, nomen maioris Lia: minor vero appellabatur Rachel.
Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 Sed Lia lippis erat oculis: Rachel decora facie, et venusto aspectu.
Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
18 Quam diligens Iacob, ait: Serviam tibi pro Rachel filia tua minore, septem annis.
Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
19 Respondit Laban: Melius est ut tibi eam dem quam alteri viro, mane apud 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 Servivit ergo Iacob pro Rachel septem annis: et videbantur illi pauci dies præ amoris magnitudine.
Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
21 Dixitque ad Laban: Da mihi uxorem meam: quia iam tempus impletum est, ut ingrediar ad illam.
Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
22 Qui vocatis multis amicorum turbis ad convivium, fecit nuptias.
Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 Et vespere Liam filiam suam introduxit ad eum,
In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her.
24 dans ancillam filiæ, Zelpham nomine. Ad quam cum ex more Iacob fuisset ingressus, facto mane vidit Liam:
Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant.
25 et dixit ad socerum suum: Quid est quod facere voluisti? nonne pro Rachel servivi tibi? quare imposuisti mihi?
In the morning, behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did not I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”
26 Respondit Laban: Non est in loco nostro consuetudinis, ut minores ante tradamus ad nuptias.
Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Imple hebdomadam dierum huius copulæ: et hanc quoque dabo tibi pro opere quo serviturus es mihi septem annis aliis.
Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for seven more years.”
28 Acquievit placito: et hebdomada transacta, Rachel duxit uxorem:
Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.
29 cui pater servam Balam tradiderat.
Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
30 Tandemque potitus optatis nuptiis, amorem sequentis priori prætulit, serviens apud eum septem annis aliis.
He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.
31 Videns autem Dominus quod despiceret Liam, aperuit vulvam eius, sorore sterili permanente.
The LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
32 Quæ conceptum genuit filium, vocavitque nomen eius Ruben, dicens: Vidit Dominus humilitatem meam, nunc amabit me vir meus.
Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because the LORD has looked at my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
33 Rursumque concepit et peperit filium, et ait: Quoniam audivit me Dominus haberi contemptui, dedit etiam istum mihi. Vocavitque nomen eius Simeon.
She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Simeon.
34 Concepitque tertio, et genuit alium filium: dixitque: Nunc quoque copulabitur mihi maritus meus, eo quod pepererim ei tres filios: et idcirco appellavit nomen eius, Levi.
She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
35 Quarto concepit, et peperit filium, et ait: Modo confitebor Domino. Et ob hoc vocavit eum, Iudam: cessavitque parere.
She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
