< Genesis 29 >

1 Profectus ergo Iacob venit in terram Orientalem.
And Jacob started and went to the land of the east to Laban, the son of Bathuel the Syrian, and the brother of Rebecca, mother of Jacob and Esau.
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 looks, and behold! a well in the plain; and there were there three flocks of sheep resting at it, for out of that well they watered the flocks, but there was a great stone at the mouth of the well.
3 Morisque erat ut cunctis ovibus congregatis devolverent lapidem, et refectis gregibus rursum super os putei ponerent.
And there were all the flocks gathered, and they used to roll away the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the flocks, and set the stone again in its place on the mouth of the well.
4 Dixitque ad pastores: Fratres, unde estis? Qui responderunt: De Haran.
And Jacob said to them, Brethren, whence are ye? and they said, We are of Charrhan.
5 Quos interrogans, Numquid, ait, nostis Laban filium Nachor? Dixerunt: Novimus.
And he said to them, Know ye Laban, the son of Nachor? and they said, We do know [him].
6 Sanusne est? inquit: Valet, inquiunt: et ecce Rachel filia eius venit cum grege suo.
And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well. And behold Rachel his daughter came 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.
And Jacob said, it is yet high day, it is not yet time that the flocks be gathered together; water ye the flocks, and depart and feed them.
8 Qui responderunt: Non possumus, donec omnia pecora congregentur, et amoveamus lapidem de ore putei, ut adaquemus greges.
And they said, We shall not be able, until all the shepherds be gathered together, and they shall roll away the stone from the mouth of the well, then we will water the flocks.
9 Adhuc loquebantur, et ecce Rachel veniebat cum ovibus patris sui: nam gregem ipsa pascebat.
While he was yet speaking to them, behold, Rachel the daughter of Laban came with her father's sheep, for she fed the sheep of her father.
10 Quam cum vidisset Iacob, et sciret consobrinam suam, ovesque Laban avunculi sui: amovit lapidem quo puteus claudebatur.
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 came and rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother.
11 Et adaquato grege, osculatus est eam: et elevata voce flevit,
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and cried with a loud voice and wept.
12 et indicavit ei quod frater esset patris sui, et filius Rebeccae: at illa festinans nunciavit patri suo.
And he told Rachel that he was the near relative of her father, and the son of Rebecca; and she ran and reported to her father according to these words.
13 Qui cum audisset venisse Iacob filium sororis suae, occurrit obviam ei: complexusque eum, et in oscula ruens, duxit in domum suam. Auditis autem causis itineris,
And it came to pass when Laban heard the name of Jacob, his sister's son, he ran to meet him, and embraced and kissed him, and brought him into his house; and he told Laban all these sayings.
14 respondit: Os meum es, et caro mea. Et postquam impleti sunt dies mensis unius,
And Laban said to him, Thou art of my bones and of my flesh; and he was with him a full month.
15 dixit ei: Num quia frater meus es, gratis servies mihi? dic quid mercedis accipias.
And Laban said to Jacob, Surely thou shalt not serve me for nothing, because thou art my brother; tell me what thy reward is to be.
16 Habebat vero duas filias, nomen maioris Lia: minor vero appellabatur Rachel.
Now Laban had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lea, and the name of the younger, Rachel.
17 Sed Lia lippis erat oculis: Rachel decora facie, et venusto aspectu.
And the eyes of Lea were weak. But Rachel was beautiful in appearance, and exceedingly fair in countenance.
18 Quam diligens Iacob, ait: Serviam tibi pro Rachel filia tua minore, septem annis.
And Jacob loved Rachel, and said, I will serve thee seven years for thy younger daughter Rachel.
19 Respondit Laban: Melius est ut tibi eam dem quam alteri viro, mane apud me.
And Laban said to him, [It is] better that I should give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; dwell with me.
20 Servivit ergo Iacob pro Rachel septem annis: et videbantur illi pauci dies prae amoris magnitudine.
And Jacob served for Rachel seven years, and they were before him as a few days, by reason of his loving her.
21 Dixitque ad Laban: Da mihi uxorem meam: quia iam tempus impletum est, ut ingrediar ad illam.
And 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.
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a marriage-feast.
23 Et vespere Liam filiam suam introduxit ad eum,
And it was even, and he took his daughter Lea, and brought her in to Jacob, and Jacob went in to her.
24 dans ancillam filiae, Zelpham nomine. Ad quam cum ex more Iacob fuisset ingressus, facto mane vidit Lian:
And Laban gave to his daughter Lea, Zelpha his handmaid, as a handmaid for her.
25 et dixit ad socerum suum: Quid est quod facere voluisti? nonne pro Rachel servivi tibi? quare imposuisti mihi?
And it was morning, and behold it was Lea; and Jacob said to Laban, What is this that thou hast done to me? did I not serve thee for Rachel? and wherefore hast thou deceived me?
26 Respondit Laban: Non est in loco nostro consuetudinis, ut minores ante tradamus ad nuptias.
And Laban answered, It is not done thus in our country, to give the younger before the elder.
27 Imple hebdomadam dierum huius copulae: et hanc quoque dabo tibi pro opere quo serviturus es mihi septem annis aliis.
Fulfil then her sevens, and I will give to thee her also in return for thy labour, which thou labourest with me, yet seven other years.
28 Acquievit placito: et hebdomada transacta, Rachel duxit uxorem:
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her sevens; and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to wife.
29 cui pater servam Balam tradiderat.
And Laban gave to his daughter his handmaid Balla, for a handmaid to her.
30 Tandemque potitus optatis nuptiis, amorem sequentis priori praetulit, serviens apud eum septem annis aliis.
And he went in to Rachel; and he loved Rachel more than Lea; and he served him seven other years.
31 Videns autem Dominus quod despiceret Liam, aperuit vulvam eius, sorore sterili permanente.
And when the Lord God saw that Lea was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
32 Quae conceptum genuit filium, vocavitque nomen eius Ruben, dicens: Vidit Dominus humilitatem meam, nunc amabit me vir meus.
And Lea conceived and bore a son to Jacob; and she called his name, Ruben; saying, Because the Lord has looked on my humiliation, and has given me a son, now then 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 she conceived again, and bore a second son to Jacob; and she said, Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given to me this one also; 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 yet again, and bore a son, and said, In the present time my husband will be with me, for I have born him three sons; 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.
And having conceived yet again, she bore a son, and said, Now yet again this time will I give thanks to the Lord; therefore she called his name, Juda; and ceased bearing.

< Genesis 29 >