1 T hen Jacob went on his way and came to the land of the people of the East.

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

2 A s he looked, he saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well’s mouth was a big one,

He looked, and saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for from that well they watered the flocks. Now the stone on the mouth of the well was large.

3 A nd when all the flocks were gathered there, would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and replace the stone on the well’s mouth.

When all the flocks were gathered there, they would then roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the mouth of the well.

4 A nd Jacob said to them, My brothers, where are you from? And they said, We are from Haran.

Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.”

5 s aid to them, Do you know Laban the grandson of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.”

6 H e said to them, Is it well with him? And they said, He is doing well; and behold, here comes his daughter Rachel with sheep!

And he said to them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “It is well, and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep.”

7 H e said, The sun is still high; it is a long time yet before the flocks need be gathered. water the sheep and return them to their pasture?

He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them.”

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

But they said, “We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered, and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”

9 W hile he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she shepherded them.

While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

10 W hen Jacob saw Rachel daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his uncle, Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of his uncle Laban.

When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.

11 T hen Jacob kissed Rachel and he wept aloud.

Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept.

12 J acob told Rachel he was her father’s relative, Rebekah’s son; and she ran and told her father.

Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.

13 W hen Laban heard of the arrival of Jacob his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and embraced and kissed him and brought him to his house. And told Laban all these things.

So when Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then he related to Laban all these things.

14 T hen Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. And stayed with him a month.

Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him a month.

15 T hen Laban said to Jacob, Just because you are my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?

Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”

16 N ow Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah and the name of the younger was Rachel.

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

17 L eah’s eyes were weak and dull looking, but Rachel was beautiful and attractive.

And Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and face.

18 A nd Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, I will work for you for seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.

Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “ I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

19 A nd Laban said, It is better that I give her to you than to another man. Stay and live with me.

Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay with me.”

20 A nd Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her. Laban’s Treachery

21 F inally, Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my time is completed, so that I may take her to me.

Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may go in to her.”

22 A nd Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast.

Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast.

23 B ut when night came, he took Leah his daughter and brought her to, who had intercourse with her.

Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her.

24 A nd Laban gave Zilpah his maid to his daughter Leah to be her maid.

Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid.

25 B ut in the morning behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, What is this you have done to me? Did I not work for you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived and cheated and thrown me down ?

So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “ What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?”

26 A nd Laban said, It is not permitted in our country to give the younger before the elder.

But Laban said, “It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn.

27 F inish the week; then we will give you also, and you shall work for me yet seven more years in return.

Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years.”

28 S o Jacob complied and fulfilled week; then gave him Rachel his daughter as his wife.

Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

29 ( And Laban gave Bilhah his maid to Rachel his daughter to be her maid.)

Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid.

30 A nd Jacob lived with Rachel also as his wife, and he loved Rachel more than Leah and served another seven years.

So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.

31 A nd when the Lord saw that Leah was despised, He made her able to bear children, but Rachel was barren.

Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

32 A nd Leah became pregnant and bore a son and named him Reuben; for she said, Because the Lord has seen my humiliation and affliction; now my husband will love me.

Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.”

33 b ecame pregnant again and bore a son and said, Because the Lord heard that I am despised, He has given me this son also; and she named him Simeon.

Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, “ Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon.

34 A nd she became pregnant again and bore a son and said, Now this time will my husband be a companion to me, for I have borne him three sons. Therefore he was named Levi.

She conceived again and bore a son and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore he was named Levi.

35 A gain she conceived and bore a son, and she said, Now will I praise the Lord! So she called his name Judah; then she ceased bearing.

And she conceived again and bore a son and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.