Genesis 29
1 Profectus ergo Iacob venit in terram Orientalem.
Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.
2 Et vidit puteum in agro, tres quoque greges ovium accubantes iuxta eum: nam ex illo adaquabantur pecora, et os eius grandi lapide claudebatur.
And he saw a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lying by it: for the beasts were watered out of it, and the mouth thereof was closed with a great stone.
3 Morisque erat ut cunctis ovibus congregatis devolverent lapidem, et refectis gregibus rursum super os putei ponerent.
And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together to roll away the stone, and after the sheep were watered, to put it on the mouth of the well again.
4 Dixitque ad pastores: Fratres, unde estis? Qui responderunt: De Haran.
And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.
5 Quos interrogans, Numquid, ait, nostis Laban filium Nachor? Dixerunt: Novimus.
And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban the son of Nachor? They said: We know him.
6 Sanusne est? inquit: Valet, inquiunt: et ecce Rachel filia eius venit cum grege suo.
He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold Rachel his daughter cometh with his flock.
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.
And Jacob said: There is yet much day remaining, neither is it time to bring the flocks into the folds again: first give the sheep drink, and so lead them back to feed.
8 Qui responderunt: Non possumus, donec omnia pecora congregentur, et amoveamus lapidem de ore putei, ut adaquemus greges.
They answered: We cannot, till all the cattle be gathered together, and we remove the stone from the well’s mouth, that we may water the flocks.
9 Adhuc loquebantur, et ecce Rachel veniebat cum ovibus patris sui: nam gregem ipsa pascebat.
They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she fed the flock.
10 Quam cum vidisset Iacob, et sciret consobrinam suam, ovesque Laban avunculi sui: amovit lapidem quo puteus claudebatur.
And when Jacob saw her, and knew her to be his cousin-german, and that they were the sheep of Laban, his uncle: he removed the stone wherewith the well was closed.
11 Et adaquato grege, osculatus est eam: et elevata voce flevit,
And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice, wept.
12 et indicavit ei quod frater esset patris sui, et filius Rebeccæ: at illa festinans nunciavit patri suo.
And he told her that he was her father’s brother, and the son of Rebecca: but she went in haste 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,
Who, when he heard that Jacob his sister’s son was come, ran forth to meet him; and embracing him, and heartily kissing him, brought him into his house. And when he had heard the causes of his journey,
14 respondit: Os meum es, et caro mea. Et postquam impleti sunt dies mensis unius,
He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired,
15 dixit ei: Num quia frater meus es, gratis servies mihi? dic quid mercedis accipias.
He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have.
16 Habebat vero duas filias, nomen maioris Lia: minor vero appellabatur Rachel.
Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia: and the younger was called Rachel.
17 Sed Lia lippis erat oculis: Rachel decora facie, et venusto aspectu.
But Lia was blear eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance.
18 Quam diligens Iacob, ait: Serviam tibi pro Rachel filia tua minore, septem annis.
And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19 Respondit Laban: Melius est ut tibi eam dem quam alteri viro, mane apud me.
Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; stay with me.
20 Servivit ergo Iacob pro Rachel septem annis: et videbantur illi pauci dies præ amoris magnitudine.
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.
21 Dixitque ad Laban: Da mihi uxorem meam: quia iam tempus impletum est, ut ingrediar ad illam.
And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22 Qui vocatis multis amicorum turbis ad convivium, fecit nuptias.
And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.
23 Et vespere Liam filiam suam introduxit ad eum,
And at night he brought in Lia his daughter to him,
24 dans ancillam filiæ, Zelpham nomine. Ad quam cum ex more Iacob fuisset ingressus, facto mane vidit Liam:
Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. Now when Jacob had gone in to her according to custom when morning was come he saw it was Lia:
25 et dixit ad socerum suum: Quid est quod facere voluisti? nonne pro Rachel servivi tibi? quare imposuisti mihi?
And he said to his father in law: What is it that thou didst mean to do? did not I serve thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceived me?
26 Respondit Laban: Non est in loco nostro consuetudinis, ut minores ante tradamus ad nuptias.
Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first.
27 Imple hebdomadam dierum huius copulæ: et hanc quoque dabo tibi pro opere quo serviturus es mihi septem annis aliis.
Make up the week of days of this match: and I will give thee her also, for the service that thou shalt render me other seven years.
28 Acquievit placito: et hebdomada transacta, Rachel duxit uxorem:
He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel:
29 cui pater servam Balam tradiderat.
To whom her father gave Bala for her servant.
30 Tandemque potitus optatis nuptiis, amorem sequentis priori prætulit, serviens apud eum septem annis aliis.
And having at length obtained the marriage he wished for, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and served with him other seven years.
31 Videns autem Dominus quod despiceret Liam, aperuit vulvam eius, sorore sterili permanente.
And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
32 Quæ conceptum genuit filium, vocavitque nomen eius Ruben, dicens: Vidit Dominus humilitatem meam, nunc amabit me vir meus.
And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: 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.
And again she conceived and bore a son, and said: Because the Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also to me: and she called his name 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.
And she conceived the third time, and bore another son: and said: Now also my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons: and therefore she called his name Levi.
35 Quarto concepit, et peperit filium, et ait: Modo confitebor Domino. et ob hoc vocavit eum, Iudam: cessavitque parere.
The fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and said: now will I praise the Lord: and for this she called him Juda. And she left bearing.
