Genesis 29
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1Jacob resumed his journey and went to the eastern country.1Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples.
2He looked and saw a well in a field. Three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it because the sheep were watered from this well. A large stone covered the opening of the well. 2There he saw a well in the open country, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well. The stone over the mouth of the well was large.
3When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the opening of the well and water the sheep. The stone was then placed back on the well's opening. 3When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well's mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.
4Jacob asked the men at the well, "My brothers! Where are you from?"" We're from Haran," they answered." 4Jacob asked the shepherds, "My brothers, where are you from?" "We're from Harran," they replied.
5Do you know Laban grandson of Nahor?" Jacob asked them. They answered, "We know him."" 5He said to them, "Do you know Laban, Nahor's grandson?" "Yes, we know him," they answered.
6Is he well?" Jacob asked." Yes," they said, "and here is his daughter Rachel, coming with his sheep." 6Then Jacob asked them, "Is he well?" "Yes, he is," they said, "and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep."
7Then Jacob said, "Look, it is still broad daylight. It's not time for the animals to be gathered. Water the flock, then go out and let them graze." 7"Look," he said, "the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture."
8But they replied, "We can't until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone is rolled from the well's opening. Then we will water the sheep." 8"We can't," they replied, "until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep."
9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 9While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherd.
10As soon as Jacob saw his uncle Laban's daughter Rachel with his sheep, he went up and rolled the stone from the opening and watered his uncle Laban's sheep. 10When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban's sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle's sheep.
11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly.11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud.
12He told Rachel that he was her father's relative, Rebekah's son. She ran and told her father. 12He had told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her father.
13When Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he ran to meet him, hugged him, and kissed him. Then he took him to his house, and Jacob told him all that had happened. 13As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things.
14Laban said to him, "Yes, you are my own flesh and blood." After Jacob had stayed with him a month, 14Then Laban said to him, "You are my own flesh and blood." After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month,
15Laban said to him, "Just because you're my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be." 15Laban said to him, "Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be."
16Now Laban had two daughters: the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel. 16Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17Leah had ordinary eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful. 17Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.
18Jacob loved Rachel, so he answered Laban, "I'll work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." 18Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "I'll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel."
19Laban replied, "Better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay with me." 19Laban said, "It's better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me."
20So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. 20So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
21Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my time is completed. I want to sleep with her." 21Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her."
22So Laban invited all the men of the place to a feast. 22So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast.
23That evening, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. 23But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her.
24And Laban gave his slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her slave. 24And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant.
25When morning came, there was Leah! So he said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Wasn't it for Rachel that I worked for you? Why have you deceived me?" 25When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn't I? Why have you deceived me?"
26Laban answered, "It is not the custom in this place to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn. 26Laban replied, "It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.
27Complete this week of wedding celebration, and we will also give you this younger one in return for working yet another seven years for me." 27Finish this daughter's bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work."
28And Jacob did just that. He finished the week of celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 28And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.
29And Laban gave his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave. 29Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant.
30Jacob slept with Rachel also, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years. 30Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.
31When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to conceive.31When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless.
32Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, "The LORD has seen my affliction; surely my husband will love me now." 32Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, "It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now."
33She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, "The LORD heard that I am unloved and has given me this son also." So she named him Simeon. 33She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon.
34She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, "At last, my husband will become attached to me because I have borne three sons for him." Therefore he was named Levi. 34Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." So he was named Levi.
35And she conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, "This time I will praise the LORD." Therefore she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children. 35She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "This time I will praise the LORD." So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.New International Version (NIV)

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Genesis 28
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