Genesis 29

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.	1 After Jacob resumed his journey, he came to the land of the Easterners.
2 And he saw a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lying by it: for the beasts were watered out of it, and the mouth thereof was closed with a great stone.	2 Looking about, he saw a well in the open country, with three droves of sheep huddled near it, for droves were watered from that well. A large stone covered the mouth of the well.
3 And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together to roll away the stone, and after the sheep were watered, to put it on the mouth of the well again.	3 Only when all the shepherds were assembled there could they roll the stone away from the mouth of the well and water the flocks. Then they would put the stone back again over the mouth of the well.
4 And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.	4 Jacob said to them, "Friends, where are you from?" "We are from Haran," they replied.
5 And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban the son of Nachor? They said: We know him.	5 Then he asked them, "Do you know Laban, son of Nahor?" "We do," they answered.
6 He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold Rachel his daughter cometh with his flock.	6 He inquired further, "Is he well?" "He is," they answered; "and here comes his daughter Rachel with his flock."
7 And Jacob said: There is yet much day remaining, neither is it time to bring the flocks into the folds again: first give the sheep drink, and so lead them back to feed.	7 Then he said: "There is still much daylight left; it is hardly the time to bring the animals home. Why don't you water the flocks now, and then continue pasturing them?"
8 They answered: We cannot, till all the cattle be gathered together, and we remove the stone from the well's mouth, that we may water the flocks.	8 "We cannot," they replied, "until all the shepherds are here to roll the stone away from the mouth of the well; only then can we water the flocks."
9 They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she fed the flock.	9 While he was still talking with them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep; she was the one who tended them.
10 And when Jacob saw her, and knew her to be his cousin-german, and that they were the sheep of Laban, his uncle: he removed the stone wherewith the well was closed.	10 As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, with the sheep of his uncle Laban, he went up, rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well, and watered his uncle's sheep.
11 And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice, wept.	11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and burst into tears.
12 And he told her that he was her father's brother, and the son of Rebecca: but she went in haste and told her father.	12 He told her that he was her father's relative, Rebekah's son, and she ran to tell her father.
13 Who, when he heard that Jacob his sister's son was come, ran forth to meet him; and embracing him, and heartily kissing him, brought him into his house. And when he had heard the causes of his journey,	13 When Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he hurried out to meet him. After embracing and kissing him, he brought him to his house. Jacob then recounted to Laban all that had happened,
14 He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired,	14 and Laban said to him, "You are indeed my flesh and blood." After Jacob had stayed with him a full month,
15 He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have.	15 Laban said to him: "Should you serve me for nothing just because you are a relative of mine? Tell me what your wages should be."
16 Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia: and the younger was called Richel.	16 Now Laban had two daughters; the older was called Leah, the younger Rachel.
17 But Lia was blear eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance.	17 Leah had lovely eyes, but Rachel was well formed and beautiful.
18 And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.	18 Since Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, he answered Laban, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."
19 Lahan answered: It is better that I give her thee than to another man; stay with me.	19 Laban replied, "I prefer to give her to you rather than to an outsider. Stay with me."
20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.	20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.
21 And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.	21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, that I may consummate my marriage with her, for my term is now completed."
22 And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.	22 So Laban invited all the local inhabitants and gave a feast.
23 And at night he brought in Lia his daughter to him,	23 At nightfall he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob consummated the marriage with her.
24 Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zalpha. Now when Jacob had gone in to her according to custom when morning was come he saw it was Lia:	24 (Laban assigned his slave girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.)
25 And he said to his father in law: What is it that thou didst mean to do? did not I serve thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceived me?	25 In the morning Jacob was amazed: it was Leah! So he cried out to Laban: "How could you do this to me! Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why did you dupe me?"
26 Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first.	26 "It is not the custom in our country," Laban replied, "to marry off a younger daughter before an older one.
27 Make up the week of days of this match: and I will give thee her also, for the service that thou shalt render me other seven years.	27 Finish the bridal week for this one, and then I will give you the other too, in return for another seven years of service with me."
28 He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel:	28 Jacob agreed. He finished the bridal week for Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel in marriage.
29 To whom her father gave Bala for her servant.	29 (Laban assigned his slave girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.)
30 And having at length obtained the marriage he wished for, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and served with him other seven years.	30 Jacob then consummated his marriage with Rachel also, and he loved her more than Leah. Thus he remained in Laban's service another seven years.
31 And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.	31 When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he made her fruitful, while Rachel remained barren.
32 And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me.	32 Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben; for she said, "It means, 'The LORD saw my misery; now my husband will love me.'"
33 And again she conceived and bore a son, and said: Because the Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also to me: and she called his name Simeon.	33 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "It means, 'The LORD heard that I was unloved,' and therefore he has given me this one also"; so she named him Simeon.
34 And she conceived the third time, and bore another son: and said: Now also my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons: and therefore she called hi sname Levi.	34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and she said, "Now at last my husband will become attached to me, since I have now borne him three sons"; that is why she named him Levi.
35 The fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and said: now will I praise the Lord: and for this she called him Juda. And she left bearing.	35 Once more she conceived and bore a son, and she said, "This time I will give grateful praise to the LORD"; therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing children.