1THEN Jacob hastened on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east. 2And he looked, and beheld a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks and a large stone was upon the well's mouth. 3And all the flocks were gathered there; and the shepherds rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and then put the stone back in its place upon the well's mouth.

4And Jacob said to them, My brethren, where do you come 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 do know him. 6And he said to them, Is he well? And they said, He is well; and, behold, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep. 7And Jacob said, Lo, the sun is still high, it is not yet time that the cattle should be gathered together; water the sheep, and go and feed them. 8And they said, We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the shepherds roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.

9gland while he was still conversing with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; 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 the well's mouth 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 kinsman and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father.

13And it came to pass when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. And Jacob related to Laban all these things.

14And Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. And t he stayed with him for a month.

15And Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore work for me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be? 16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger Rachel. 17And Leah had attractive eyes; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored. 18And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter. 19And Laban said to him, It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man; abide with me. 20Thus Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days because he was in love with her.

21And Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22And so Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. 23And it came to pass in the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in unto her. 24And Laban gave Zilpah his maid to his daughter Leah for a servant. 25And it came to pass in the morning, behold, it was Leah; and Jacob said to Laban, What is this thing that you have done to me? Did not I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me? 26Then Laban said to Jacob, It is not so done in our country, to give the younger in marriage before the elder. 27Finish the wedding feast for this one, and then I will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me yet another seven years. 28And Jacob did so, and finished her wedding feast; and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to wife. 29And Laban gave Bilhah his maid to Rachel his daughter to be her maid. 30And he went in unto Rachel also, and he loved Rachel also more than Leah, and served with Laban another seven years.

31And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, 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 the LORD has seen my affliction, now therefore my husband will love me. 33And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said, Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also; so she called his name Simeon. 34And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said, Now this time my husband will surely love me, because I have born him three sons therefore she called his name Levi. 35And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she said, This time I will praise the LORD; therefore she called his name Judah; and then she ceased bearing.