1 S o Jacob went on his journey 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 nd he looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth.

As 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,

3 N ow all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth.

And 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.

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

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

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

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

6 S o he said to them, “Is he well?” And they said, “ He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.”

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

7 T hen he said, “Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them. ”

He 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?

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

But 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.

9 N ow while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

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

10 A nd 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.

When 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.

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

Then Jacob kissed Rachel and he wept aloud.

12 A nd Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. So she ran and told her father.

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

13 T hen it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things.

When 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.

14 A nd Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month. Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

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

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

Then Laban said to Jacob, Just because you are my relative, should you work for 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 elder was Leah and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17 L eah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.

Leah’s eyes were weak and dull looking, but Rachel was beautiful and attractive.

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

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

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

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

20 S o Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.

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

21 T hen Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”

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

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

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

23 N ow it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.

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

24 A nd Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid.

And Laban gave Zilpah his maid to his daughter Leah to be her maid.

25 S o it came to pass 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 you? Why then have you deceived me?”

But 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 ?

26 A nd Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

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

27 F ulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.”

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

28 T hen Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also.

So Jacob complied and fulfilled week; then gave him Rachel his daughter as his wife.

29 A nd Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid.

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

30 T hen Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years. The Children of Jacob

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

31 W hen the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.

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

32 S o Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.”

And 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.

33 T hen 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.” And she called his name Simeon.

became 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.

34 S he 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 his name was called Levi.

And 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.

35 A nd she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

Again 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.