Genesi 29

BIBBIA TINTORI	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Seguitando il suo viaggio, Giacobbe giunse nel paese d'oriente.	1 And so Jacob, setting out, arrived in the eastern land.
2 E vide in un campo un pozzo, vicino al quale stavano sdraiati tre greggi di pecore. Or siccome a quel pozzo erano abbeverate le pecore, e la sua bocca era chiusa da una gran pietra,	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 era uso di ribaltar la pietra, adunate che fossero tutte le pecore, e di rimetterla sopra la bocca del pozzo, quando i greggi avevan bevuto.	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 ai pastori: « Fratelli, di dove siete? » Ed essi risposero: « Di Harari ».	4 And he said to the shepherds, “Brothers, where are you from?” And they answered. “From Haran.”
5 Ed egli domandò: « Lo conoscete Labano, figlio di Nacor? » E quelli: « Sì, lo conosciamo ».	5 And questioning them, he said, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
6 «Sta bene? » chiese Giacobbe. Ed essi: « Sta bene. Ecco Rachele sua figlia che viene col suo gregge ».	6 He said, “Is he well?” “He is very well,” they said. “And behold, his daughter Rachel approaches with his flock.”
7 E Giacobbe disse: « È ancor alto il giorno, e non è ancora il tempo di ricondurre i greggi all'ovile: abbeverate le pecore per ricondurle poi al pascolo ».	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 Essi risposero: « Non possiamo abbeverarle fino a tanto che non siano radunate tutte le pecore, allora possiamo togliere la pietra dalla bocca del pozzo per far bere tutti i greggi ».	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 Parlavano ancora, quand'ecco giungere Rachele colle pecore di suo padre (essa stessa pasceva il gregge).	9 They were still speaking, and behold, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep; for she pastured the flock.
10 E Giacobbe, avendola veduta e sapendo che era sua cugina, e che le pecore eran di Labano suo zio, tolse la pietra che chiudeva il pozzo,	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 e dopo aver, fatto bere il suo gregge, la baciò e, dando un grido, pianse,	11 And having watered the flock, he kissed her. And lifting up his voice, he wept.
12 e le dichiarò che egli era fratello di suo padre e figliolo di Rebecca. Essa allora andò in fretta a recar la notizia a suo 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 il quale, appena sentì che era venuto Giacobbe, figlio della sua sorella, gli corse incontro, e lo abbracciò e lo baciò più volte e lo condusse in casa sua. Udite poi le ragioni del suo viaggio,	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 gli disse: «Tu sei mio osso e mia carne ». E passato che fu un mese, gli disse:	14 he responded, “You are my bone and my flesh.” And after the days of one month were completed,
15 Perchè sei mio fratello, mi dovrai per questo servire gratuitamente? dimmi pure quel che vuoi ».	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 Labano aveva due figliole: la maggiore si chiamava Lia e Rachele la minore.	16 In truth, he had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah; and truly the younger was called Rachel.
17 Ma Lia aveva gli occhi cisposi: Rachele invece era bella e avvenente.	17 But while Leah was bleary-eyed, Rachel had an elegant appearance and was attractive to behold.
18 E Giacobbe, che amava Rachele, disse: « 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 E Labano rispose: « È meglio darla a te che ad un altro: resta pure con me ».	19 Laban responded, “It is better that I give her to you than to another man; remain with me.”
20 Giacobbe adunque servì sette anni per Rachele, e pel grande amore che le portava gli parvero pochi giorni.	20 Therefore, Jacob served for seven years for Rachel. And these seemed like only a few days, because of the greatness of love.
21 Disse poi a Labano: « Dammi la mia moglie, perchè è già compiuto il tempo fissato pel matrimonio ».	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 E Labano, invitata gran turba d'amici al convito, celebrò le nozze.	22 And he, having called a great crowd of his friends to the feast, agreed to the marriage.
23 Ma la sera, condusse a Giacobbe la sua figlia Lia,	23 And at night, he brought in his daughter Leah to him,
24 alla quale diede una serva chiamata Zelfa. E Giacobbe, dopo aver dormito con lei, secondo l'uso, la mattina conobbe che era Lia.	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 Allora Giacobbe disse al suo suocero: « Che hai voluto fare? Non t'ho servito per Rachele? Perche dunque m'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 Labano rispose: «Da noi non si usa far maritare, avanti delle maggiori, le minori.	26 Laban responded, “It is not the practice in this place to give the younger in marriage first.
27 Finisci la settimana di questo sposalizio, e poi ti darò anche l'altra, per il servizio che mi presterai 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 accettò, e passata la settimana, sposò Rachele,	28 He agreed to his pleading. And after the week had passed, he took Rachel as a wife.
29 alla quale il padre diede per serva Baia.	29 To her, the father had given Bilhah as her servant.
30 Giunto finalmente al possesso della bramata, amò più Rachele di Lia, e servì a Labano 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 Or il Signore, vedendo che Lia era disprezzata, la rese feconda, facendo rimanere sterile la sorella.	31 But the Lord, seeing that he despised Leah, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
32 E Lia concepì e partorì un figlio a cui pose nome Ruben, dicendo: « Il Signore ha riguardata la mia umiliazione e ora il 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 Conecpi di nuovo e partorì un figlio, e disse: « Il Signore, avendo inteso che io ero disprezzata, mi ha dato anche questo figlio ». 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 E concepì la terza volta, e partorì un altro figlio, e disse: « Ora poi il mio marito s'unirà con me, perchè gli ho partoriti tre figlioli ». E quindi 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 per la quarta volta e partorì un figlio, e disse: « Ora davvero loderò il Signore! » Perciò lo chiamò Giuda. E cessò d'aver figlioli	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.