Genesis, 29

1. Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

1. Jacob set out and came to the land of the people of the east.

2. And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there [were] three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone [was] upon the well's mouth.

2. There he saw a well and lying beside the well were three flocks of sheep, for it was at this well that the flocks were watered, and a large stone covered the mouth of the well.

3. And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.

3. Then when all the flocks gathered there, the shepherds rolled away the stone from the opening of the well, watered their flocks and replaced the stone at the mouth of the well.

4. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence [be] ye? And they said, Of Haran [are] we.

4. Jacob said to them, "Brothers, where are you from?" "We are from Haran," they replied.

5. And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know [him].

5. He then said, "Do you know Laban, Nahor's son?" "Yes, we know him," they replied.

6. And he said unto them, [Is] he well? And they said, [He is] well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

6. And Jacob asked, "Is he well?" "Yes, he is well," they said, "and here is Rachel, his daughter, coming with the sheep!"

7. And he said, Lo, [it is] yet high day, neither [is it] time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go [and] feed [them].

7. Jacob then said, "Look! The sun is still high; it's not yet time for the flocks to be gathered together. Water the sheep and let them graze."

8. And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and [till] they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.

8. But they said, "We cannot do that until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled away from the mouth of the well; it's then we water the sheep."

9. And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.

9. He was still speaking when Rachel arrived with her father's flock, for she looked after them.

10. 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.

10. As soon as Jacob saw Rachel he went forward and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and then watered Laban's flock.

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

11. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.

12. And Jacob told Rachel that he [was] her father's brother, and that he [was] Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.

12. Jacob told Rachel he was her father's kinsman and Rebekah's son, and she ran and told her father.

13. And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.

13. As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob being his sister's son, he ran to meet him; and after embracing and kissing him he brought him into his house. Jacob told Laban all that had happened

14. And Laban said to him, Surely thou [art] my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

14. and Laban said to him, "Truly you are my bone and flesh!" And Jacob stayed there a month with him.

15. And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou [art] my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what [shall] thy wages [be]?

15. Laban said to Jacob, "Even if you are my kinsman, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me, what wages do you want?"

16. And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder [was] Leah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel.

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

17. Leah [was] tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

17. Leah's eyes were weak but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.

18. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

18. Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel and he said, "I will work for you for seven years in return for your younger daughter, Rachel."

19. And Laban said, [It is] better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

19. Laban said, "It is better for me to give her to you than to any other man; stay with me."

20. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her.

20. To win Rachel, Jacob worked for seven years which seemed to him only a few days, because he loved her so much.

21. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give [me] my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

21. Jacob then said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for I have served my time and I want to lie with her."

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

22. So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and gave a feast.

23. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

23. But when night came he took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob and he lay with her.

24. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid [for] an handmaid.

24. Laban gave his slave girl Zilpah to Leah to be her maid.

25. And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah: and he said to Laban, What [is] this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

25. When morning came, there was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What have you done to me? Haven't I worked with you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?"

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

26. Laban said, "It is not our custom to give the younger daughter before the firstborn.

27. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

27. As soon as the marriage week is over, I will give you my younger daughter as well, but you must work with me for another seven years.

28. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

28. Jacob agreed to this and when he completed the week with Leah, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.

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

29. Laban gave Rachel his slave girl, Bilhah, to be her maidservant.

30. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

30. So Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he continued working for Laban another seven years.

31. And when the LORD saw that Leah [was] hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel [was] barren.

31. As Yahweh saw that Leah was not loved, he let her have children; but Rachel was barren.

32. And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

32. Leah gave birth to a child and named him Reuben, for she said, "Because the Lord has seen my affliction; my husband is sure to love me now."

33. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I [was] hated, he hath therefore given me this [son] also: and she called his name Simeon.

33. She gave birth to another son and said, "Yahweh saw that I was neglected and has given me this son as well"; and she called him Simeon.

34. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

34. Again she gave birth to a son and said, "This time my husband will be united to me because I have borne him three sons." That is why he was called Levi.

35. And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

35. She again gave birth to a son and said: "This time I will praise Yahweh." That is why she named him Judah. After that she had no more children.