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 H e 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.

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 W hen 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.

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 J acob said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”

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

5 H e said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” 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 asked them, “Is he well?” They said, “He is well. And see, his daughter Rachel is coming with the 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 J acob 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.”

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 and they roll the stone from the top of the well. Then we will give the sheep water.”

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

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 began to cry for joy.

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

12 J acob told Rachel that he was of her father’s family, the son of Rebekah. 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 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.

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 L aban said to him, “For sure you are my bone and my flesh.” And Jacob stayed with him a month. Jacob Works for Laban

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

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 older one was Leah, and the name of the younger one 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. But Rachel was beautiful in body and face.

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

18 J acob loved Rachel. So he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

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

19 L aban said, “It is better that I give her to you than to another man. Stay with me.”

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

20 S o Jacob worked seven years for Rachel. It was only like a few days to him, because of his love 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 T hen Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife so I may go in to her. For my time is finished.”

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

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

23 B ut in the evening he took his daughter Leah to him. Jacob went in to her.

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

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

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

25 W hen 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?”

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

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

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

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 J acob did so and completed her wedding week. And Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

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

29 L aban also took Bilhah, a woman who served him, and gave her to his daughter Rachel, to serve her.

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

30 S o Jacob went in to Rachel also. He loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban seven years more. Jacob’s Children

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

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

32 L eah 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.”

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 T hen 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.

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 S he 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.

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 S he 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.

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.