1
And it came to pass that Jacob continued on his journey until he came into the land of the sons of the easta.
2
And it came to pass that when he arrived in the land of the sons of the east, Jacob looked and beheld a well in the field;
3
And there were three flocks of sheep lying near the well; for the sheep were watered out of that well; and a large stone sat upon the mouth of the well.
4
And the shepherds would gather all the flocks here, and they would roll the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the herds, and then roll the stone again upon the mouth of the well.
5
And Jacob said unto these shepherds: My brethren, from whence are ye?
6
And they replied unto him, saying: From Haran.
7
And Jacob asked them: Know ye Laban, the son of Nahor?
8
And they replied, saying: Yes, we know him.
9
And Jacob asked them: Is he well?
10
And they said: He is well; and behold, here cometh Rachel, his daughter, with the sheep.
11
And Jacob said: Behold, it is yet high day; neither is it time that the flocks should be gathered together; water ye the sheep, and go, and feed them.
12
And they said: We cannot until all the flocks be gathered together and until they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.
13
And while Jacob spoke with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them.
14
And it came to pass that when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, the brother of his mother, and their sheep, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the mouth of that well and watered the flock of Laban, the brother of his mother.
15
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept; and he told Rachel that he was a kinsman of her father, and that he was the son of Rebekah; and she ran and told her father.
16
¶ And it came to pass that when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob, the son of his sister, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house.
17
And Laban looked upon his countenancea and said unto him: Surely thou art my bone and my flesh!
18
¶ And it came to pass that after Jacob had abode with Laban the space of a month, Laban said unto Jacob: Because thou art my kin, shouldest thou serve me for naught? Tell me, what shall thy reward be?
19
And Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel; and Leah was tender-eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well-favored.
20
And Jacob loved Rachel and said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter.
21
And Laban said unto him: It is better that I give her to thee than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.
22
¶ And it came to pass that Jacob served Laban for seven years for Rachel; yet it seemed unto him but a few days for the love he had for her.
23
And it came to pass that after seven years, Jacob said unto Laban: Give unto me my wife, for my days of serving thee are fulfilled, and I desire that I should be with her.
24
And Laban gathered all the people of the place together and prepared a great feast; but in the evening Laban took Leah, his daughter, and brought her to Jacob; and she went in and lay with him.
25
¶ And it came to pass that in the morning, behold, Jacob saw that it was Leah that had been givena him.
26
And he went unto Laban, saying: What is this thou hast done unto me? Did not I serve with thee for Rachel? Wherefore then hast thou deceived me?
27
And Laban said: It is not done in our country, to give the younger daughter before the firstborn; therefore, I pray thee, give her this week, and we will give thee Rachel also if thou will covenanta thy service unto me yet other seven years.
28
And Jacob did so and fulfilled her week; and Laban gave him Rachel, his daughter, to wife also; and Jacob went in also and lay with Rachel.
29
And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah, Zilpah, his handmaid, to be a handmaid for her; and Laban gave to Rachel, his younger daughter, Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her maid.