Genesis 29
1And so Jacob, setting out, arrived in the eastern land.
2And he saw a well in a field, and also three flocks of sheep reclining near it. For the animals were watered from it, and its mouth was closed with a great stone.
3And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to roll away the stone. And when the flocks had been refreshed, they placed it over the mouth of the well again.
4And he said to the shepherds, “Brothers, where are you from?” And they answered. “From Haran.”
5And questioning them, he said, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
6He said, “Is he well?” “He is very well,” they said. “And behold, his daughter Rachel approaches with his flock.”
7And Jacob said, “There is still much daylight remaining, and it is not time to return the flocks to the sheepfold. Give the sheep to drink first, and then lead them back to pasture.”
8They responded, “We cannot, until all the animals are gathered together and we remove the stone from the mouth of the well, so that we may water the flocks.”
9They were still speaking, and behold, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep; for she pastured the flock.
10When Jacob had seen her, and he realized that she was his maternal first cousin, and that these were the sheep of his uncle Laban, he removed the stone which closed the well.
11And having watered the flock, he kissed her. And lifting up his voice, he wept.
12And he revealed to her that he was a brother of her father, and the son of Rebekah. And so, hurrying, she announced it to her father.
13And when he had heard that Jacob, his sister’s son, had arrived, he ran to meet him. And embracing him, and kissing him heartily, he brought him into his house. But when he had heard the reasons for his journey,
14he responded, “You are my bone and my flesh.” And after the days of one month were completed,
15he said to him: “Though you are my brother, will you serve me for nothing? Tell me what wages you would accept.”
16In truth, he had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah; and truly the younger was called Rachel.
17But while Leah was bleary-eyed, Rachel had an elegant appearance and was attractive to behold.
18And Jacob, loving her, said, “I will serve you for seven years, for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19Laban responded, “It is better that I give her to you than to another man; remain with me.”
20Therefore, Jacob served for seven years for Rachel. And these seemed like only a few days, because of the greatness of love.
21And he said to Laban, “Give my wife to me. For now the time has been fulfilled, so that I may go in to her.”
22And he, having called a great crowd of his friends to the feast, agreed to the marriage.
23And at night, he brought in his daughter Leah to him,
24giving his daughter a handmaid named Zilpah. After Jacob had gone in to her, according to custom, when morning had arrived, he saw Leah.
25And he said to his father-in-law, “What is it that you intended to do? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?”
26Laban responded, “It is not the practice in this place to give the younger in marriage first.
27Complete a week of days with this mating. And then I will give this one to you also, for the service that you will provide to me for another seven years.”
28He agreed to his pleading. And after the week had passed, he took Rachel as a wife.
29To her, the father had given Bilhah as her servant.
30And, having at last obtained the marriage he desired, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and he served with him another seven years.
31But the Lord, seeing that he despised Leah, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
32Having conceived, she gave birth to a son, and she called his name Reuben, saying: “The Lord saw my humiliation; now my husband will love me.”
33And again she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Because the Lord heard that I was treated with contempt, he has also given this one to me.” And she called his name Simeon.
34And she conceived a third time, and she gave birth to another son, and she said: “Now likewise my husband will unite with me, because I have borne him three sons.” And because of this, she called his name Levi.
35A fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Only now will I confess to the Lord.” And for this reason, she called him Judah. And she ceased from child-bearing.
1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
2And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth.
3And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place.
4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
5And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
6And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
7And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.
8And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.
9And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.
10And 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 went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.
13And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
15And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
18And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
24And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
25And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
26And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
28And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
32And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
33And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
34And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
35And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.