Genesis 29

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.	1 After Jacob resumed his journey, he came to the land of the Easterners.
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.	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 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.	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 Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.	4 Jacob said to them, "Friends, where are you from?" "We are from Haran," they replied.
5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.	5 Then he asked them, "Do you know Laban, son of Nahor?" "We do," they answered.
6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.	6 He inquired further, "Is he well?" "He is," they answered; "and here comes his daughter Rachel with his flock."
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.	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 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.	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 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.	9 While he was still talking with them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep; she was the one who tended 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.	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 Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.	11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and burst into tears.
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.	12 He told her that he was her father's relative, Rebekah's son, and she ran to tell 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.	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 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.	14 and Laban said to him, "You are indeed my flesh and blood." After Jacob had stayed with him a full 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?	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 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.	16 Now Laban had two daughters; the older was called Leah, the younger Rachel.
17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.	17 Leah had lovely eyes, but Rachel was well formed and beautiful.
18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and 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 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.	19 Laban replied, "I prefer to give her to you rather than to an outsider. Stay 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.	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 Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are 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 Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.	22 So Laban invited all the local inhabitants and gave 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.	23 At nightfall he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob consummated the marriage with her.
24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.	24 (Laban assigned his slave girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.)
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?	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 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.	26 "It is not the custom in our country," Laban replied, "to marry off a younger daughter before an older one.
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other 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 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.	28 Jacob agreed. He finished the bridal week for Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel in marriage.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.	29 (Laban assigned his slave girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.)
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other 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 when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.	31 When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he made her fruitful, while Rachel remained 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.	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 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.	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 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.	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 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.	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.