1 Now Jacob picked up his feet and went to the land of the people of the East. 2 And he looked, and there—a well in the field, and look—three flocks of sheep lying there by it, because they gave the flocks water to drink from that well. Now the stone on the well’s mouth was large. 3 And all the flocks would gather there and they would roll the stone away from the well’s mouth, and give the sheep water to drink, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth. 4 And Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?”
And they said, “We are from Ḥarran.”
5 And he said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Naḥor?”
And they said, “We know him.”
6 And he said to them, “How is he doing?”
And they said, “He’s fine, and look, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep.”
7 And he said, “Look, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Give the sheep water to drink and put them out to pasture.”
8 And they said, “We can’t until all the flocks are gathered together and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we will give the sheep water to drink.”
9 Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, because she took care of them. 10 And it was, 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 gave water to drink to the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and raised his voice and cried. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. So she ran and told her father.
13 Now it was, when Laban heard the news about Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and hugged and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And Jacob told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, “Surely you are my own bone and flesh.” And Jacob stayed with him for a month.
15 Now Laban said to Jacob, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for me for free? Tell me, what should 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 had gentle eyes, and Rachel had a beautiful figure and was good looking. 18 Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will work for you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.”
19 And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” 20 So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like just a few days to him because of the love he had for her.
21 And Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are completed, that I may go in to her.” 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 Now it was in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. 24 And Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah as a servant. 25 And it was in the morning, that look, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Wasn’t it for Rachel that I worked for you? So why have you tricked me?”
26 And Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the labor which you will work with me for seven more years.”
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. And he gave him Rachel his daughter as wife. 29 And Laban gave Bilhah his servant to his daughter Rachel to be her servant. 30 And he also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked with him seven more years.
31 Now Yehovah saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was unable to have children. 32 And Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben (which means See, a Son), because she said, “Indeed, Yehovah has seen my oppression. Indeed, now my husband will love me!” 33 And she became pregnant again and gave birth to a son, and said, “Indeed, Yehovah has heard that I am unloved, so He has given me this one also!” And she named him Shimon (which means Hearing). 34 And she became pregnant again and gave birth to a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have given birth to three sons for him!” Therefore he was named Levi (which means Joining). 35 And she became pregnant again and gave birth to a son, and said, “This time I will praise Yehovah.” Therefore she named him Judah (which means Praise). Then she stopped giving birth.