Genesis 29

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.	1 Continuing his journey, Jacob reached 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 And there, out in the open, he saw a well with three flocks of sheep lying beside it; this wel was usedfor watering the flocks. Now the stone on the mouth of the wel was a large one,
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 and only when al the flocks had collected there, did they rol the stone off the mouth of the wel andwater the sheep; then they would replace the stone over the mouth of the wel .
4 And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.	4 Jacob said to the shepherds, 'Friends, where are you from?' They replied, 'We are from Haran.'
5 And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban the son of Nachor? They said: We know him.	5 He asked them, 'Do you know Laban son of Nahor?' They replied, 'We do.'
6 He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold Rachel his daughter cometh with his flock.	6 Then he asked them, 'Is he wel ?' 'He is,' they replied, 'and here comes his daughter Rachel with theflock.'
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, 'But it is stil broad daylight, not the time to round up the animals. Why don't you waterthe sheep and take them back to graze?'
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 To which, they replied, 'We can't, until al the shepherds have assembled to rol the stone off themouth of the well; then we can water the sheep.'
9 They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she fed the flock.	9 He was stil talking to them, when Rachel arrived with her father's flock, for she was a shepherdess.
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, his uncle Laban's daughter, with his uncle Laban's flock, he went upand, rolling the stone off the mouth of the wel , watered his uncle Laban's sheep.
11 And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice, wept.	11 Jacob then 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 Rachel he was her father's kinsman and Rebekah's son, and she ran to tel 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 As soon as he heard her speak of his sister's son Jacob, Laban ran to greet him, embraced him,kissed him and took him to his house. Jacob told Laban everything 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 bone and flesh!' After Jacob had been staying with himfor a 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 Jacob, 'Just because you are my kinsman, why should you work for me for nothing?Tel me what wages you want.'
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 elder named Leah, and 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 shapely and beautiful,
18 And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.	18 and Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel. So his answer was, 'I shal work for you for seven years inexchange 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, 'It is better for me to give her to you than to a stranger; 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 worked for seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him like a few days because heloved her so much.
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, for my time is up and I should like to go to her.'
22 And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.	22 Laban gathered al the people of the place together, and gave a banquet.
23 And at night he brought in Lia his daughter to him,	23 But when night came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he slept 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 gave his slave-girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her slave.)
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 When morning came, it was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, 'What have you done to me? Did I notwork for you for Rachel? Why then have you tricked me?'
26 Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first.	26 Laban replied, 'It is not the custom in our place to marry off the younger before the elder.
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 this marriage week and I shal give you the other one too in return for your working for me foranother seven years.'
28 He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel:	28 Jacob agreed and, when he had finished the week, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.
29 To whom her father gave Bala for her servant.	29 (Laban gave his slave-girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave.)
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 So Jacob slept with Rachel too, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He worked for Laban foranother seven years.
31 And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.	31 When Yahweh saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb, 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 gave birth to a son whom she named Reuben, meaning 'Yahweh has seen mymisery'; and she said, '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 Conceiving again, she gave birth to a son and said, 'Yahweh heard that I was unloved, and so hehas given me this one too'; and 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 gave birth to a son, and said, 'This time my husband wil become attachedto me, because I have borne him three sons.' Accordingly, 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 Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and said, 'Now I shal praise Yahweh!' Accordingly, shenamed him Judah. Then she had no more children.