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

Then Jacob went on his way and came to the land of the people 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 up and saw a well in the field where three flocks of sheep were lying beside it. The people gave water to the flocks from that well. The stone covering the top 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, the men would roll the stone from the top of the well. Then after giving water to the sheep, they would put the stone again in its place on top 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?” 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?” 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!

He asked them, “Is he well?” They said, “He is well. And see, his daughter Rachel is 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?

Jacob said, “See, the sun is still high. It is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Give water to the sheep, and return them to their field.”

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 top of the well. Then we will give the sheep water.”

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

He was still talking with them when Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she cared for them.

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 his mother’s brother Laban, and the sheep of his mother’s brother Laban, Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the top of the well. And he gave water to the flock of his mother’s brother Laban.

11 T hen Jacob kissed Rachel and he wept aloud.

Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to cry for joy.

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 of her father’s family, the son of Rebekah. 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.

When Laban heard the news of his sister’s son Jacob, he ran to meet him. He put his arms around him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Then Jacob told 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, “For sure you are my bone and my flesh.” And Jacob stayed with him a month. Jacob Works for Laban

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 one of my family, should you serve me for nothing? Tell me, what do you want to be paid?”

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 one was Leah, and the name of the younger one was Rachel.

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

Leah’s eyes were weak. But Rachel was beautiful in body and face.

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

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 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 worked seven years for Rachel. It was only like a few days to him, because of his love for her.

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 so I may go in to her. For my time is finished.”

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

And Laban gathered all the men of the place together, and made a special supper.

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

But in the evening he took his daughter Leah to him. Jacob went in to her.

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

Laban also took Zilpah, a woman who served him, and gave her to his daughter Leah, to serve her.

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 ?

When the morning came, Jacob saw that it was Leah. He said to Laban, “What have you done to me? Did I not work for you for Rachel? Why have you fooled me?”

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

Laban said, “It is not allowed in our country to give the younger in marriage before the first-born.

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 wedding week of this one. Then we will give you the other one also if you work for me seven years more.”

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

Jacob did so and completed her wedding week. And Laban 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 took Bilhah, a woman who served him, and gave her to his daughter Rachel, to serve her.

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. He loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban seven years more. Jacob’s Children

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

When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, He made her able to give birth. But Rachel could not give birth.

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 was able to have a child and she gave birth to a son. She gave him the name Reuben. For she said, “The Lord has seen my trouble. 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 was going to have another child and she gave birth to a son. She said, “The Lord has given me this son also, because He has heard that I am not loved.” So she gave him the name 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 was going to have another child and she gave birth to a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me because I have given birth to his three sons.” So she gave him the name 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.

She was going to have another child and she gave birth to a son. And she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she gave him the name of Judah. Then she stopped giving birth.