[1] Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the people of
the east. [2] As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and lo, three
flocks of sheep lying beside it; for out of that well the flocks were
watered. The stone on the well's mouth was large, [3] and when all the
flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the
mouth of the well, and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place
upon the mouth of the well. [4] Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where do
you come from?" They said, "We are from Haran." [5] He said to them, "Do
you know Laban the son of Nahor?" They said, "We know him." [6] He said to
them, "Is it well with him?" They said, "It is well; and see, Rachel his
daughter is coming with the sheep!" [7] He said, "Behold, it is still high
day, it is not time for the animals to be gathered together; water the
sheep, and go, pasture them." [8] But they said, "We cannot until all the
flocks are gathered together, and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the
well; then we water the sheep." [9] While he was still speaking with them,
Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them. [10] Now when Jacob
saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of
Laban his mother's brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the
well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. [11]
Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and wept aloud. [12] And Jacob told Rachel that
he was her father's kinsman, and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and
told her father. [13] When Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's
son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him
to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, [14] and Laban said to
him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh!" And he stayed with him a month.
[15] Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman, should you
therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?" [16]
Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name
of the younger was Rachel. [17] Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was
beautiful and lovely. [18] Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, "I will serve
you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." [19] Laban said, "It is
better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man;
stay with me." [20] So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed
to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. [21] Then Jacob
said to Laban, "Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is
completed." [22] So Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and
made a feast. [23] But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought
her to Jacob; and he went in to her. [24] (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to
his daughter Leah to be her maid.) [25] And in the morning, behold, it was
Leah; and Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not
serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?" [26] Laban said,
"It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the
first-born. [27] Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the
other also in return for serving me another seven years." [28] Jacob did
so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to
wife. [29] (Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her
maid.) [30] So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than
Leah, and served Laban for another seven years. [31] When the LORD saw that
Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. [32] And Leah
conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said,
"Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; surely now my husband will
love me." [33] She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the
LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also"; and she
called his name Simeon. [34] Again she conceived and bore a son, and said,
"Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him
three sons"; therefore his name was called Levi. [35] And she conceived
again and bore a son, and said, "This time I will praise the LORD";
therefore she called his name Judah; then she ceased bearing.
