Genesi 29

BIBBIA RICCIOTTI	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 - Partito di lì, Giacobbe giunse alla terra orientale.	1 And so Jacob, setting out, arrived in the eastern land.
2 Vide alla campagna un pozzo, e tre mandre di pecore sdraiate lì presso. A quello s'abbeveravano gli armenti, e la sua bocca era coperta con 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 che la pietra venisse rimossa quando tutti gli armenti s'eran riuniti, e, rinfrescati che s'erano, di nuovo veniva apposta alla 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 Disse Giacobbe ai pastori: «Fratelli, di dove venite?». Risposero: «Da Haran».	4 And he said to the shepherds, “Brothers, where are you from?” And they answered. “From Haran.”
5 Chiese loro: «Conoscete forse Labano 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 Domandò: «Sta bene?». Risposero: «Sì, sta bene; ed 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 Disse Giacobbe: «Vi sono ancora parecchie ore di giorno, e non è anche tempo di ricondurre le mandre all'ovile; date prima da bere alle pecore, e poi riconducetele alla pastura».	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 Ma quelli risposero: «Finchè tutte le mandre non siano riunite, non possiamo levare la pietra dalla bocca del pozzo, nè abbeverare 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 Ancora parlavano, ed ecco arrivare Rachele con le pecore del padre suo, poichè 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 Vedutala, sapendo che era sua cugina, e che le pecore erano di Labano suo zio, Giacobbe rimosse 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 abbeverato il gregge, la baciò, alzò la voce piangendo,	11 And having watered the flock, he kissed her. And lifting up his voice, he wept.
12 e le manifestò d'esser fratello del padre suo, e figlio di Rebecca. Ed essa s'affrettò ad annunziarlo 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 Il quale, come seppe ch'era arrivato Giacobbe figlio di sua sorella, gli corse incontro, l'abbracciò, e ricopertolo di baci lo condusse in casa. 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 rispose: «Tu sei osso mio e carne mia».	14 he responded, “You are my bone and my flesh.” And after the days of one month were completed,
15 Passato un intero mese, gli disse: «Forse, perchè sei mio fratello, mi servirai per niente? Dimmi che mercede 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 egli aveva due figlie: la maggiore Lia, e la minore Rachele;	16 In truth, he had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah; and truly the younger was called Rachel.
17 Lia però aveva gli occhi malati, mentre Rachele era graziosa di viso, e di bell'aspetto.	17 But while Leah was bleary-eyed, Rachel had an elegant appearance and was attractive to behold.
18 Giacobbe, che l'amava, disse: «Ti servirò sette anni, per aver la tua figlia minore Rachele».	18 And Jacob, loving her, said, “I will serve you for seven years, for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19 Rispose Labano: «È meglio la dia a te, che a chiunque altro; resta con me».	19 Laban responded, “It is better that I give her to you than to another man; remain with me.”
20 Giacobbe dunque, per aver Rachele, servì sette anni; e gli parvero pochi giorni, tanto l'amava.	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 infine a Labano: «Dammi la moglie mia, chè il tempo è compiuto, e ch'io la possegga».	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 chiamata al convito gran quantità di amici, fece le nozze.	22 And he, having called a great crowd of his friends to the feast, agreed to the marriage.
23 Ma a sera, condusse invece a Giacobbe la figlia Lia,	23 And at night, he brought in his daughter Leah to him,
24 dandole un'ancella di nome Zelfa. Stato Giacobbe con essa secondo il costume, fattosi giorno la riconobbe per 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 e disse al suocero: «Che cosa m'hai voluto fare? Non ti avevo io servito per aver Rachele? Perchè 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 Rispose Labano: «Non usa fra noi dar prima a marito le figlie minori.	26 Laban responded, “It is not the practice in this place to give the younger in marriage first.
27 Compisci la settimana di queste nozze, e ti darò anche l'altra, per il lavoro che farai in mio servizio, 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 s'acquetò al suo desiderio, e, passata la settimana, prese in moglie Rachele,	28 He agreed to his pleading. And after the week had passed, he took Rachel as a wife.
29 alla quale il padre aveva dato per ancella Bala.	29 To her, the father had given Bilhah as her servant.
30 Giunto finalmente alle desiderate nozze, amò la seconda moglie più della prima, servendo 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 Ora, vedendo il Signore che egli disprezzava Lia, la rese feconda, mentre la sorella rimaneva sterile.	31 But the Lord, seeing that he despised Leah, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.
32 Concepì e partorì un figlio, e lo chiamò Ruben, dicendo: «Il Signore ha veduto la mia umiliazione; 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 Concepì ancora e partorì un figlio, e disse: «Avendo udito il Signore ch'io ero tenuta in dispregio, m'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 Concepì una terza volta, partorì un altro figlio, e disse: «Un'altra volta s'unirà a me il mio marito, avendogli io partorito tre figli»; perciò gli mise nome 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 Per la quarta volta concepì, partorì un figlio, e disse: «Ora io loderò il Signore»; perciò lo chiamò Giuda. Indi cessò d'aver 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.