Liber Genesis, 29

1. Profectus ergo Iacob venit in terram orientalium.

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

2. Et vidit puteum in agro, tres quoque greges ovium accubantes iuxta eum; nam ex illo adaquabantur pecora, et os eius grandi lapide claudebatur.

2. As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and lo, three flocks of sheep lying beside it; for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well's mouth was large,

3. Morisque erat, ut, cunctis ovibus congregatis, devolverent lapidem et, refectis gregibus, rursum super os putei ponerent.

3. and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place upon the mouth of the well.

4. Dixitque ad pastores: “Fratres, unde estis?”. Qui responderunt: “De Charran”.

4. Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where do you come from?" They said, "We are from Haran."

5. Quos interrogans: “Numquid, ait, nostis Laban filium Nachor?”. Dixerunt: “Novimus”.

5. He said to them, "Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?" They said, "We know him."

6. “Sanusne est?”, inquit. “Valet, inquiunt, et ecce Rachel filia eius venit cum grege”.

6. He said to them, "Is it well with him?" They said, "It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!"

7. Dixitque: “Adhuc multum diei superest, nec est tempus, ut congregentur greges; date potum ovibus et sic ad pastum eas reducite”.

7. He said, "Behold, it is still high day, it is not time for the animals to be gathered together; water the sheep, and go, pasture them."

8. Qui responderunt: “Non possumus, donec omnia pecora congregentur et amoveamus lapidem de ore putei, ut adaquemus greges”.

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

9. Adhuc loquebatur cum eis, et ecce Rachel veniebat cum ovibus patris sui; nam gregem ipsa pascebat.

9. While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them.

10. Cum vidisset Iacob Rachel filiam Laban avunculi sui ovesque Laban avunculi sui, accedens amovit lapidem de ore putei

10. Now 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 well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

11. et adaquavit gregem Laban avunculi sui. Tunc Iacob osculatus est Rachel et elevata voce flevit;

11. Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and wept aloud.

12. et indicavit ei quod frater esset patris eius et filius Rebeccae. At illa festinans nuntiavit patri suo.

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

13. Qui cum audisset venisse Iacob filium sororis suae, cucurrit obviam ei; complexusque eum et in oscula ruens duxit in domum suam. Auditis autem omnibus, quae evenerant,

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

14. respondit: “Vere os meum es et caro mea!”. Et, postquam Iacob habitavit apud eum per dies mensis unius,

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

15. dixit ei Laban: “Num, quia frater meus es, gratis servies mihi? Dic quid mercedis accipias”.

15. Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?"

16. Habebat vero filias duas: nomen maioris Lia, minor vero appellabatur Rachel;

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

17. sed Lia lippis erat oculis, Rachel decora et venusto aspectu.

17. Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful and lovely.

18. Quam diligens Iacob ait: “Serviam tibi pro Rachel filia tua minore septem annis”.

18. Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."

19. Respondit Laban: “Melius est, ut tibi eam dem quam alteri viro; mane apud me”.

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

20. Servivit igitur Iacob pro Rachel septem annis, et videbantur illi pauci dies prae amoris magnitudine.

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

21. Dixitque ad Laban: “Da mihi uxorem meam, quia iam tempus expletum est, ut ingrediar ad eam”.

21. Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed."

22. Qui, vocatis omnibus viris loci ad convivium, fecit nuptias.

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

23. Et vespere sumpsit Liam filiam suam et introduxit ad eum, et venit ad eam.

23. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.

24. Et dedit Laban ancillam filiae Zelpham nomine. Facto mane, vidit, et ecce erat Lia.

24. (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.)

25. Et dixit ad socerum suum: “Quid hoc fecisti mihi? Nonne pro Rachel servivi tibi? Quare imposuisti mihi?”.

25. And in the morning, behold, it was Leah; and Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"

26. Respondit Laban: “Non est in loco nostro consuetudinis, ut minorem ante maiorem tradamus ad nuptias.

26. Laban said, "It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the first-born.

27. Imple hebdomadam hanc, et alteram quoque dabo tibi pro opere, quo serviturus es mihi septem annis aliis”.

27. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years."

28. Acquievit placito et, hebdomada transacta, dedit ei Laban filiam suam Rachel uxorem,

28. Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to wife.

29. cui servam Bilham tradidit.

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

30. Et ingressus etiam ad Rachel amavit eam plus quam Liam serviens apud eum septem annis aliis.

30. So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.

31. Videns autem Dominus quod despiceret Liam, aperuit vulvam eius, Rachel sterili permanente.

31. When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.

32. Et concepit Lia et genuit filium vocavitque nomen eius Ruben dicens: “Vidit Dominus humilitatem meam; nunc amabit me vir meus”.

32. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, "Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; surely now my husband will love me."

33. Rursumque concepit et peperit filium et ait: “Quoniam audivit me Dominus haberi contemptui, dedit etiam istum mihi”; vocavitque nomen illius Simeon.

33. She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also"; and she called his name Simeon.

34. Concepit tertio et genuit alium filium dixitque: “Nunc quoque copulabitur mihi maritus meus, eo quod pepererim ei tres filios”; et idcirco appellavit nomen eius Levi.

34. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, "Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons"; therefore his name was called Levi.

35. Quarto concepit et peperit filium et ait: “Modo confitebor Domino”; et ob hoc vocavit eum Iudam. Cessavitque parere.

35. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "This time I will praise the LORD"; therefore she called his name Judah; then she ceased bearing.