Genesis 29
1THEN Jacob proceeded on, and went to the land of the east to Laban the son of Bathuel, the Syrian, the brother of Rebekka who was Jacob and Esau’s mother.
2And looking, he saw a well in the plain and there were three flocks of sheep lying by it;
3for out of that well they watered the flocks. Now there was a great stone on the mouth of the well, and when all the flocks were collected there, the shepherds rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep; and then put the stone again in its place on the mouth of the well.
4And Jacob said to them, Brethren, whence are you? And they said, We are of Charran.
5And he said to them, Do you know Laban the son of Nachor? And they said, We know him.
6And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well. And lo yonder is Rachel his daughter! She was coming with the sheep.
7Then Jacob said to them, There is yet much day. It is not yet time for the cattle to be folded. Water the flocks and lead them off to feed.
8But they said, We cannot, till all the shepherds are come together. Then they will roll the stone from the mouth of the well; and we will water the flocks.
9While he was yet speaking with them, lo! Rachel the daughter of Laban came with her father’s sheep; for she tended her father’s flock.
10And when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob went and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and raising his voice he wept
12and told Rachel that he was her father’s brother; and that he was the son of Rebekka. Whereupon she ran and told her father the news.
13And when Laban heard the name of Jacob his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and having embraced him he kissed him, and brought him to his house. And Jacob related to him all these circumstances.
14And Laban said to him, Thou art of my bones and of my flesh. And when Jacob had been with him a month,
15Laban said to Jacob, Because thou art indeed my brother, thou shalt not serve me for nothing. Tell me what must be thy wages.
16Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the eldest was Leia; and the name of the youngest, Rachel.
17Leia’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was of a beautiful countenance, and a very comely person.
18And Jacob loved Rachel, therefore he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy youngest daughter.
19And Laban said to him, It is better for me to give her to thee than to give her to another man. Abide with me.
20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they appeared to him as a few days, because he loved her.
21Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for the days are completed, that I may go in unto her.
22Whereupon Laban collected all the men of the place, and made a wedding feast.
23And in the evening he took his daughter Leia and brought her to Jacob; and Jacob went in unto her.
24And Laban gave his maid Zelpha to his daughter Leia, to be her handmaid.
25And in the morning, when Jacob saw it was Leia, he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done to me? Did I not serve thee for Rachel? Why then hast thou deceived me?
26And Laban answered, It is not customary with us in this place to give the younger before the elder.
27Finish therefore this one’s week, and I will give thee the other for the service which thou mayst perform for me yet other seven years.
28And Jacob did so. And when he had finished this one’s week, Laban gave him to wife his daughter Rachel;
29and Laban gave to his daughter Rachel, his maid Balla to be her handmaid.
30And Jacob went in unto Rachel, and loved Rachel more than Leia, and served him other seven years.
31Now when the Lord God saw that Leia was slighted, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
32And Leia conceived and bore Jacob a son and called his name Reuben; saying, Because the Lord hath seen my affliction; therefore he hath given me a son. Now therefore my husband will love me.
33And she conceived again, and bore to Jacob another son, and said, Because the Lord hath heard that I am slighted, he hath given me this son also; so she called his name Symeon.
34And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, Now will my husband abide with me for I have born him three sons; therefore she called his name Levi.
35And she conceived again and bore a son and said, Now for this also I will praise the Lord, therefore she called his name Juda. Then she ceased from bearing.