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

So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people 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.

And 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.

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.

Now 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.

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

And Jacob said to them, “My brethren, 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.”

Then 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.”

So he said to them, “Is he well?” And they said, “ He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is 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.”

Then 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. ”

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 together, and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth; 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.

Now 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.

And 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.

11 T hen Jacob kissed Rachel and began to cry for joy.

Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up 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.

And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. So 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.

Then 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.

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

And 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

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 should 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 elder 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.

Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.

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 Rachel your younger daughter.”

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

And Laban said, “ It is better that I give her to you than that I should 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 only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.

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 days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”

22 A nd Laban gathered all the men of the place together, and made a special supper.

And Laban gathered together 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 it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he 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.

And Laban 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 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?”

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

And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give 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.”

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

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

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

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

And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a 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

Then 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

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

When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, 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.”

So 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.”

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.” And she called his name 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 his name was called 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, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.