1And Jacob lifted up his feet, and went toward the land of the sons of the east.
2And he looked, and behold, a well in the field, and behold, there three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks; and the stone upon the mouth of the well was great.
3And all the flocks were gathered there, and they rolled the stone from upon the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back upon the mouth of the well in its place.
4And Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" And they said, "We are from Haran."
5And he said to them, "Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?" And they said, "We know him."
6And he said to them, "Is there peace to him?" And they said, "Peace; and behold, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep."
7And he said, "Behold, the day is yet great; it is not the time for the cattle to be gathered; water the sheep, and go, feed them."
8And they said, "We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered, and they roll the stone from upon the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep."
9He was yet speaking with them, and Rachel came with the sheep that were her father's, for she was a shepherdess.
10And 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 drew near, and rolled the stone from upon the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban his mother's brother.
11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father.
13And it came to pass, 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 (basar)." And he dwelt with him a month of days.
15And Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my brother, should you serve (avad) me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?"
16And Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17And Leah's eyes were tender, but Rachel was beautiful of form and beautiful of appearance.
18And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, "I will serve (avad) you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter."
19And Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than that I give her to another man (ish); dwell with me."
20And Jacob served (avad) seven years for Rachel, and they were in his eyes as a few days, in his love for her.
21And Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife (ishah), for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her."
22And Laban gathered all the men (ish) of the place, and made a feast.
23And it came to pass 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 maidservant, to Leah his daughter for a maidservant.
25And it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve (avad) with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"
26And Laban said, "It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you also the other, for the service (avodah) which you shall serve (avad) with me yet seven other years."
28And Jacob did so, and fulfilled the week of this one; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to him for a wife (ishah).
29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his maidservant, to her for a maidservant.
30And he went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah; and he served (avad) with him yet seven other years.
31And YHWH saw that Leah was hated, and 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 YHWH has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband (ish) will love me."
33And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because YHWH 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 said, "Now this time my husband (ish) 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 said, "This time I will praise YHWH"; therefore she called his name Judah. And she ceased from bearing.