1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the
children of the east.
2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo,
three flocks of sheep lying there by it. --For out of that well they watered the
flocks. And the stone upon the well's mouth was great.
3 And thither were all the flocks gathered; and they rolled
the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back
upon the well's mouth in its place.--
4 And Jacob said unto them: 'My brethren, whence are ye?' And
they said: 'Of Haran are we.'
5 And he said unto them: 'Know ye Laban the son of Nahor?'
And they said: 'We know him.'
6 And he said unto them: 'Is it well with him?' And they
said: 'It is well; and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.'
7 And he said: 'Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time
that the cattle should be gathered together; water ye the sheep, and go and feed
them.'
8 And they said: 'We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered
together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the
sheep.'
9 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel
came with her father's sheep; for she tended them.
10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of
Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that
Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the
flock of Laban his mother's brother.
11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and
wept.
12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother,
and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father.
13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings 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 told Laban all these things.
14 And Laban said to him: 'Surely thou art my bone and my
flesh.' And he abode with him the space of a month.
15 And Laban said unto Jacob: 'Because thou
art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what
shall thy wages be?'
16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was
Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 And Leah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was of beautiful
form and fair to look upon.
18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said: 'I will serve thee
seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.'
19 And Laban said: 'It is better that I give her to thee,
than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.'
20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed
unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21 And Jacob said unto Laban: 'Give me my wife, for my days
are filled, that I may go in unto her.'
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and
made a feast.
23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his
daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
24 And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah
for a handmaid.
25 And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was
Leah; and he said to Laban: 'What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I
serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?'
26 And Laban said: 'It is not so done in our place, to give
the younger before the first-born.
27 Fulfil the week of this one, and we will give thee the
other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other
years.'
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him
Rachel his daughter to wife.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid
to be her handmaid.
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved Rachel more
than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31 And HaShem saw that Leah was hated, and
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 HaShem hath looked upon my affliction; for
now my husband will love me.'
33 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said:
'Because HaShem hath heard that I am hated, He hath therefore given me this son
also.' And she called his name Simeon.
34 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said: 'Now
this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three
sons.' Therefore was his name called Levi.
35 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she said:
'This time will I praise HaShem.' Therefore she called his name Judah; and she
left off bearing.