Genesis

The first book of Moses, called Genesis, chapter 29, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 29 New English Translation

The Marriages of Jacob

   1 So Jacob moved on and came to the land of the eastern people. 2 He saw in the field a well with three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because the flocks were watered from that well. Now a large stone covered the mouth of the well. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone off the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place over the well's mouth.
   4 Jacob asked them, "My brothers, where are you from?" They replied, "We're from Haran." 5 So he said to them, "Do you know Laban, the grandson of Nahor?" "We know him," they said. 6 "Is he well?" Jacob asked. They replied, "He is well. Now look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep." 7 Then Jacob said, "Since it is still the middle of the day, it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. You should water the sheep and then go and let them graze some more." 8 "We can't," they said, "until all the flocks are gathered and the stone is rolled off the mouth of the well. Then we water the sheep."
   9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep, for she was tending them. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, and the sheep of his uncle Laban, he went over and rolled the stone off the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep loudly. 12 When Jacob explained to Rachel that he was a relative of her father and the son of Rebekah, she ran and told her father. 13 When Laban heard this news about Jacob, his sister's son, he rushed out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban how he was related to him. 14 Then Laban said to him, "You are indeed my own flesh and blood." So Jacob stayed with him for a month.
   15 Then Laban said to Jacob, "Should you work for me for nothing because you are my relative? Tell me what your wages should be." 16 (Now Laban had two daughters; the older one was named Leah, and the younger one Rachel. 17 Leah's eyes were tender, but Rachel had a lovely figure and beautiful appearance.) 18 Since Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, he said, "I'll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel." 19 Laban replied, "I'd rather give her to you than to another man. Stay with me." 20 So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel. But they seemed like only a few days to him because his love for her was so great.
   21 Finally Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my time of service is up. I want to have marital relations with her." 22 So Laban invited all the people of that place and prepared a feast. 23 In the evening he brought his daughter Leah to Jacob, and Jacob had marital relations with her. 24 (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)
   25 In the morning Jacob discovered it was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, "What in the world have you done to me! Didn't I work for you in exchange for Rachel? Why have you tricked me?" 26 "It is not our custom here," Laban replied, "to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn. 27 Complete my older daughter's bridal week. Then we will give you the younger one too, in exchange for seven more years of work."
   28 Jacob did as Laban said. When Jacob completed Leah's bridal week, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) 30 Jacob had marital relations with Rachel as well. He loved Rachel more than Leah, so he worked for Laban for seven more years.

The Family of Jacob

   31 When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to become pregnant while Rachel remained childless. 32 So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, "The LORD has looked with pity on my oppressed condition. Surely my husband will love me now."
   33 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, "Because the LORD heard that I was unloved, he gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon.
   34 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, "Now this time my husband will show me affection, because I have given birth to three sons for him." That is why he was named Levi.
   35 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, "This time I will praise the LORD." That is why she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.

King James Version

   1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into 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.
   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.
   4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
   5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
   6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh 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.
   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.
   9 ¶ And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept 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.
   11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
   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.
   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.
   14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
   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?
   16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
   17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
   18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
   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.
   20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
   21 ¶ And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
   22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made 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.
   24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
   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?
   26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger 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.
   28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
   29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
   30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
   31 ¶ And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: 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.
   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.
   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.
   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.