Genesis 29

1Then Jacob went on his journey till he came to the land of the children of the East.

1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.

1Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.

2And there he saw a water-hole in a field, and by the side of it three flocks of sheep, for there they got water for the sheep: and on the mouth of the water-hole there was a great stone.

2And he looked, and, behold, a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying there by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and the stone upon the well’s mouth was great.

2And 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.

3And all the flocks would come together there, and when the stone had been rolled away, they would give the sheep water, and put the stone back again in its place on the mouth of the water-hole.

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 its place.

3And 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.

4Then Jacob said to the herdmen, My brothers, where do you come from? And they said, From Haran.

4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence are ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

4And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.

5And he said to them, Have you any knowledge of Laban, the son of Nahor? And they said, We have.

5And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

5And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban, the son of Nachor? They said: We know him.

6And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well, and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep.

6And he said unto them, Is it well with him? And they said, It is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

6He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold, Rachel, his daughter, cometh with his flock.

7Then Jacob said, The sun is still high and it is not time to get the cattle together: get water for the sheep and go and give them their food.

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.

7And 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.

8And they said, We are not able to do so till all the flocks have come together and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the water-hole; then we will get water for the sheep.

8And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.

8They 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.

9While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she took care of them.

9While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep; for she kept them.

9They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she fed the flock.

10Then when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, coming with Laban's sheep, he came near, and rolling the stone away from the mouth of the hole, he got water for Laban's flock.

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.

10And 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.

11And weeping for joy, Jacob gave Rachel a kiss.

11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

11And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice wept.

12And Rachel, hearing from Jacob that he was her father's relation and that he was the son of Rebekah, went running to give her father news of it.

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.

12And he told her that he was her father's brother, and the son of Rebecca: but she went in haste and told her father.

13And Laban, hearing news of Jacob, his sister's son, came running, and took Jacob in his arms, and kissing him, made him come into his house. And Jacob gave him news of everything.

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.

13Who, 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,

14And Laban said to him, Truly, you are my bone and my flesh. And he kept Jacob with him for the space of a month.

14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

14He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired,

15Then Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my brother are you to be my servant for nothing? say now, what is your payment to be?

15And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

15He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have.

16Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

16Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia; and the younger was called Rachel.

17And Leah's eyes were clouded, but Rachel was fair in face and form.

17And Leah’s eyes were tender; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.

17But Lia was blear-eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance.

18And Jacob was in love with Rachel; and he said, I will be your servant seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.

18And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

18And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter.

19And Laban said, It is better for you to have her than another man: go on living here with me.

19And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

19Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; stay with me.

20And Jacob did seven years' work for Rachel; and because of his love for her it seemed to him only a very little time.

20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.

21Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife so that I may have her, for the days are ended.

21And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

21And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

22And Laban got together all the men of the place and gave a feast.

22And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

22And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.

23And in the evening he took Leah, his daughter, and gave her to him, and he went in to her.

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.

23And at night he brought in Lia, his daughter, to him,

24And Laban gave Zilpah, his servant-girl, to Leah, to be her waiting-woman.

24And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid.

24Giving 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.

25And in the morning Jacob saw that it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What have you done to me? was I not working for you so that I might have Rachel? why have you been false to me?

25And it came to pass in the morning that, 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?

25And 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?

26And Laban said, In our country we do not let the younger daughter be married before the older.

26And Laban said, It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born.

26Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first.

27Let the week of the bride-feast come to its end and then we will give you the other in addition, if you will be my servant for another seven years.

27Fulfil the week of this one, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

27Make 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.

28And Jacob did so; and when the week was ended, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel for his wife.

28And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife.

28He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel:

29And Laban gave Rachel his servant-girl Bilhah to be her waiting-woman.

29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid.

29To whom her father gave Bala, for her servant.

30Then Jacob took Rachel as his wife, and his love for her was greater than his love for Leah; and he went on working for Laban for another seven years.

30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

30And 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.

31Now the Lord, seeing that Leah was not loved, gave her a child; while Rachel had no children.

31And Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

31And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.

32And Leah was with child, and gave birth to a son to whom she gave the name Reuben: for she said, The Lord has seen my sorrow; now my husband will have love for me.

32And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Because Jehovah hath looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.

32And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me.

33Then she became with child again, and gave birth to a son; and said, Because it has come to the Lord's ears that I am not loved, he has given me this son in addition: and she gave him the name Simeon.

33And she conceived again, and bare a son: and said, Because Jehovah hath heard that I am hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

33And 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.

34And she was with child again, and gave birth to a son; and said, Now at last my husband will be united to me, because I have given him three sons: so he was named Levi.

34And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

34And 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.

35And she was with child again, and gave birth to a son: and she said, This time I will give praise to the Lord: so he was named Judah; after this she had no more children for a time.

35And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, This time will I praise Jehovah: therefore she called his name Judah; and she left off bearing.

35The 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.