Then Jacob went on
his journey
, and came
into the land
of the people
of the east
.
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
.
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
.
And Jacob said
unto them, My brethren
, whence
be ye? And they said
, Of Haran
are we.
And he said unto them, Know
ye Laban
the son
of Nahor
? And they said
, We know
him .
And he said unto them, Is he well
? And they said
, He is well
: and, behold, Rachel
his daughter
cometh
with the sheep
.
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 .
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
.
And while he yet spake
with them, Rachel
came
with her father's
sheep
: for she kept them
.
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
.
And Jacob kissed
Rachel
, and lifted up
his voice
, and wept
.
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
.
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
.
And Laban said
to him, Surely
thou art my bone
and my flesh
. And he abode
with him the space
of a month
.
And Laban said
unto Jacob
, Because thou art my brother
, shouldest thou therefore serve
me for nought
? tell
me, what shall thy wages
be ?
And Laban had two
daughters
: the name
of the elder
was Leah
, and the name
of the younger
was Rachel
.
Leah was tender
eyed
; but Rachel
was beautiful
and well
favoured
.
And Jacob loved
Rachel
; and said
, I will serve
thee seven
years
for Rachel
thy younger
daughter
.
And Laban said
, It is better
that I give
her to thee, than that I should give
her to another
man
: abide
with me.
And Jacob served
seven
years
for Rachel
; and they seemed
unto him but a few
days
, for the love he had
to her.
And Jacob said
unto Laban
, Give
me my wife
, for my days
are fulfilled
, that I may go in
unto her.
And Laban gathered together
all the men
of the place
, and made
a feast
.
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.
And Laban gave
unto his daughter
Leah
Zilpah
his maid
for an handmaid
.
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?
And Laban said
, It must not be so done
in our country
, to give
the younger
before
the firstborn
.
Fulfil her
week
, and we will give
thee this also for the service
which thou shalt serve
with me yet seven
other
years
.
And Jacob did
so, and fulfilled
her week
: and he gave
him Rachel
his daughter
to wife
also.
And Laban gave
to Rachel
his daughter
Bilhah
his handmaid
to be her maid
.
And he went in also unto Rachel
, and he loved
also Rachel
more than Leah
, and served
with him yet seven
other
years
.
And when the LORD saw
that Leah
was hated
, he opened
her womb
: but Rachel
was barren
.
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.
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
.
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
.
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
.