Christian Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Jacob resumed his journey and went to the eastern country.

1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the sons of the east.

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. But a large stone covered the opening of the well.

2He looked, and saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for from that well they watered the flocks. Now the stone on the mouth of the well was large.

3The shepherds would roll the stone from the opening of the well and water the sheep when all the flocks were gathered there. Then they would return the stone to its place over the well's opening.

3When all the flocks were gathered there, they would then roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on 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 said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" And they said, "We are from Haran."

5"Do you know Laban grandson of Nahor?" Jacob asked them. They answered, "We know him."

5He said to them, "Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?" And they said, "We know him."

6"Is he well?" Jacob asked. "Yes," they said, "and here is his daughter Rachel, coming with his sheep."

6And he said to them, "Is it well with him?" And they said, "It is well, and here is Rachel his daughter coming 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."

7He said, "Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them."

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."

8But they said, "We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered, and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we 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 speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

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 the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept.

12He told Rachel that he was her father's relative, Rebekah's son. She ran and told her father.

12Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and that he was Rebekah's son, and 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.

13So when Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then he related to Laban all these things.

14Laban said to him, "Yes, you are my own flesh and blood." After Jacob had stayed with him a month,

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

15Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages 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 tender eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.

17And Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and face.

18Jacob loved Rachel, so he answered Laban, "I'll work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."

18Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, "I will serve you seven years 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 is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay 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 for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.

21Then Jacob said to Laban, "Since my time is complete, give me my wife, so I can sleep with her."

21Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may go in to her."

22So Laban invited all the men of the place and sponsored a feast.

22Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast.

23That evening, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.

23Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her.

24And Laban gave his slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her slave.

24Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid.

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?"

25So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?"

26Laban answered, "It is not the custom in this place to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn.

26But Laban said, "It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn.

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."

27"Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years."

28And Jacob did just that. He finished the week of celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

28Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

29And Laban gave his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave.

29Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid.

30Jacob slept with Rachel also, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.

30So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.

31When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to conceive.

31Now the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

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 conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for she said, "Because the LORD has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me."

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.

33Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, "Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also." 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.

34She conceived again and bore a son and said, "Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." Therefore 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.

35And she conceived again and bore a son and said, "This time I will praise the LORD." Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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