1Then Jacob lifted his feet and went to the land of the people of the East.
2And he looked, and behold, a well in the field, and behold, there three flocks of sheep were lying beside it, for from that well they would water the flocks; and the stone over the mouth of the well was great.
3When all the flocks were gathered there, they would roll the stone from over the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and then return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.
4Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.”
5He said to them, “Do you know Laban son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.”
6He said to them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “It is well; and behold, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep.”
7He said, “Look, the day is still long; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them.”
8But they said, “We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered and they roll the stone from over the mouth of the well; then we will water the sheep.”
9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with the sheep that belonged to her father, for she was a shepherdess.
10And it happened, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob came near and rolled the stone from over the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother.
11Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and he lifted his voice and wept.
12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman and that he was Rebekah’s son; and she ran and told her father.
13And it happened, when Laban heard the report of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house; and he recounted to Laban all these things.
14And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him a month of days.
15Then Laban said to Jacob, “Just because you are my kinsman, should you serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”
16Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17Leah’s eyes were tender, but Rachel was beautiful in form and beautiful in appearance.
18And Jacob loved Rachel, and he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.”
19Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I give her to another man; stay with me.”
20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.
21Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
22So Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast.
23And it happened in the evening that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in to her.
24And Laban gave to her Zilpah his female servant, to Leah his daughter as a maidservant.
25And it happened in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?”
26Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other one also, for the service that you will serve with me for another seven years.”
28And Jacob did so and completed this week, and he gave him Rachel his daughter as a wife.
29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his female servant, to her as a maidservant.
30And he went in also to Rachel, and he loved Rachel indeed more than Leah; and he served with Laban yet another seven years.
31When Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
32And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because Yahweh has looked upon my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.”
33And she conceived again and bore a son, and she said, “Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he has given me this one also.” And she called his name Simeon.
34And she conceived again and bore a son, and she said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
35And she conceived again and bore a son, and she said, “This time I will praise Yahweh.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.
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