Genesi 29

BIBBIA CEI 1974	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Poi Giacobbe si mise in cammino e andò nel paese degli orientali.	1 And so Jacob, setting out, arrived in the eastern land.
2 Vide nella campagna un pozzo e tre greggi di piccolo bestiame, accovacciati vicino, perché a quel pozzo si abbeveravano i greggi, ma la pietra sulla bocca del pozzo era grande.	2 And he saw a well in a field, and also three flocks of sheep reclining near it. For the animals were watered from it, and its mouth was closed with a great stone.
3 Quando tutti i greggi si erano radunati là, i pastori rotolavano la pietra dalla bocca del pozzo e abbeveravano il bestiame; poi rimettevano la pietra al posto sulla bocca del pozzo.	3 And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to roll away the stone. And when the flocks had been refreshed, they placed it over the mouth of the well again.
4 Giacobbe disse loro: "Fratelli miei, di dove siete?". Risposero: "Siamo di Carran".	4 And he said to the shepherds, “Brothers, where are you from?” And they answered. “From Haran.”
5 Disse loro: "Conoscete Làbano, figlio di Nacor?". Risposero: "Lo conosciamo".	5 And questioning them, he said, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
6 Disse loro: "Sta bene?". Risposero: "Sì; ecco la figlia Rachele che viene con il gregge".	6 He said, “Is he well?” “He is very well,” they said. “And behold, his daughter Rachel approaches with his flock.”
7 Riprese: "Eccoci ancora in pieno giorno: non è tempo di radunare il bestiame. Date da bere al bestiame e andate a pascolare!".	7 And Jacob said, “There is still much daylight remaining, and it is not time to return the flocks to the sheepfold. Give the sheep to drink first, and then lead them back to pasture.”
8 Risposero: "Non possiamo, finché non siano radunati tutti i greggi e si rotoli la pietra dalla bocca del pozzo; allora faremo bere il gregge".	8 They responded, “We cannot, until all the animals are gathered together and we remove the stone from the mouth of the well, so that we may water the flocks.”
9 Egli stava ancora parlando con loro, quando arrivò Rachele con il bestiame del padre, perché era una pastorella.	9 They were still speaking, and behold, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep; for she pastured the flock.
10 Quando Giacobbe vide Rachele, figlia di Làbano, fratello di sua madre, insieme con il bestiame di Làbano, fratello di sua madre, Giacobbe, fattosi avanti, rotolò la pietra dalla bocca del pozzo e fece bere le pecore di Làbano, fratello di sua madre.	10 When Jacob had seen her, and he realized that she was his maternal first cousin, and that these were the sheep of his uncle Laban, he removed the stone which closed the well.
11 Poi Giacobbe baciò Rachele e pianse ad alta voce.	11 And having watered the flock, he kissed her. And lifting up his voice, he wept.
12 Giacobbe rivelò a Rachele che egli era parente del padre di lei, perché figlio di Rebecca. Allora essa corse a riferirlo al padre.	12 And he revealed to her that he was a brother of her father, and the son of Rebekah. And so, hurrying, she announced it to her father.
13 Quando Làbano seppe che era Giacobbe, il figlio di sua sorella, gli corse incontro, lo abbracciò, lo baciò e lo condusse nella sua casa. Ed egli raccontò a Làbano tutte le sue vicende.	13 And when he had heard that Jacob, his sister’s son, had arrived, he ran to meet him. And embracing him, and kissing him heartily, he brought him into his house. But when he had heard the reasons for his journey,
14 Allora Làbano gli disse: "Davvero tu sei mio osso e mia carne!". Così dimorò presso di lui per un mese.	14 he responded, “You are my bone and my flesh.” And after the days of one month were completed,
15 Poi Làbano disse a Giacobbe: "Poiché sei mio parente, mi dovrai forse servire gratuitamente? Indicami quale deve essere il tuo salario".	15 he said to him: “Though you are my brother, will you serve me for nothing? Tell me what wages you would accept.”
16 Ora Làbano aveva due figlie; la maggiore si chiamava Lia e la più piccola si chiamava Rachele.	16 In truth, he had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah; and truly the younger was called Rachel.
17 Lia aveva gli occhi smorti, mentre Rachele era bella di forme e avvenente di aspetto,	17 But while Leah was bleary-eyed, Rachel had an elegant appearance and was attractive to behold.
18 perciò Giacobbe amava Rachele. Disse dunque: "Io ti servirò sette anni per Rachele, tua figlia minore".	18 And Jacob, loving her, said, “I will serve you for seven years, for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19 Rispose Làbano: "Preferisco darla a te piuttosto che a un estraneo. Rimani con me".	19 Laban responded, “It is better that I give her to you than to another man; remain with me.”
20 Così Giacobbe servì sette anni per Rachele: gli sembrarono pochi giorni tanto era il suo amore per lei.	20 Therefore, Jacob served for seven years for Rachel. And these seemed like only a few days, because of the greatness of love.
21 Poi Giacobbe disse a Làbano: "Dammi la mia sposa, perché il mio tempo è compiuto e voglio unirmi a lei".	21 And he said to Laban, “Give my wife to me. For now the time has been fulfilled, so that I may go in to her.”
22 Allora Làbano radunò tutti gli uomini del luogo e diede un banchetto.	22 And he, having called a great crowd of his friends to the feast, agreed to the marriage.
23 Ma quando fu sera, egli prese la figlia Lia e la condusse da lui ed egli si unì a lei.	23 And at night, he brought in his daughter Leah to him,
24 Làbano diede la propria schiava Zilpa alla figlia Lia, come schiava.	24 giving his daughter a handmaid named Zilpah. After Jacob had gone in to her, according to custom, when morning had arrived, he saw Leah.
25 Quando fu mattina... ecco era Lia! Allora Giacobbe disse a Làbano: "Che mi hai fatto? Non è forse per Rachele che sono stato al tuo servizio? Perché mi hai ingannato?".	25 And he said to his father-in-law, “What is it that you intended to do? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?”
26 Rispose Làbano: "Non si usa far così nel nostro paese, dare, cioè, la più piccola prima della maggiore.	26 Laban responded, “It is not the practice in this place to give the younger in marriage first.
27 Finisci questa settimana nuziale, poi ti darò anche quest'altra per il servizio che tu presterai presso di me per altri sette anni".	27 Complete a week of days with this mating. And then I will give this one to you also, for the service that you will provide to me for another seven years.”
28 Giacobbe fece così: terminò la settimana nuziale e allora Làbano gli diede in moglie la figlia Rachele.	28 He agreed to his pleading. And after the week had passed, he took Rachel as a wife.
29 Làbano diede alla figlia Rachele la propria schiava Bila, come schiava.	29 To her, the father had given Bilhah as her servant.
30 Egli si unì anche a Rachele e amò Rachele più di Lia. Fu ancora al servizio di lui per altri sette anni.	30 And, having at last obtained the marriage he desired, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and he served with him another seven years.
31 Ora il Signore, vedendo che Lia veniva trascurata, la rese feconda, mentre Rachele rimaneva sterile.	31 But the Lord, seeing that he despised Leah, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
32 Così Lia concepì e partorì un figlio e lo chiamò Ruben, perché disse: "Il Signore ha visto la mia umiliazione; certo, ora mio marito mi amerà".	32 Having conceived, she gave birth to a son, and she called his name Reuben, saying: “The Lord saw my humiliation; now my husband will love me.”
33 Poi concepì ancora un figlio e disse: "Il Signore ha udito che io ero trascurata e mi ha dato anche questo". E lo chiamò Simeone.	33 And again she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Because the Lord heard that I was treated with contempt, he has also given this one to me.” And she called his name Simeon.
34 Poi concepì ancora e partorì un figlio e disse: "Questa volta mio marito mi si affezionerà, perché gli ho partorito tre figli". Per questo lo chiamò Levi.	34 And she conceived a third time, and she gave birth to another son, and she said: “Now likewise my husband will unite with me, because I have borne him three sons.” And because of this, she called his name Levi.
35 Concepì ancora e partorì un figlio e disse: "Questa volta loderò il Signore". Per questo lo chiamò Giuda. Poi cessò di avere figli.	35 A fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Only now will I confess to the Lord.” And for this reason, she called him Judah. And she ceased from child-bearing.