1Jacob continued on his trip and arrived at the land in the east. 2Suddenly he came upon a well out in the fields. There were three flocks of sheep lying around it. The flocks were watered from this well. It had a large stone over the opening. 3When all the flocks came together there, the shepherds would roll the stone back and water them. Then they would put the stone back in place. 4Jacob asked the shepherds: »Where are you from?« They answered: »We are from Haran.« 5Then he asked: »Do you know Nahor’s grandson Laban?« »Yes, we do,« they replied. 6Jacob asked: »How is he?« They replied: »He is well. Here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep.« 7»It is still the heat of the day. It is not time for livestock to be gathered. Would you like to water the sheep so they can get back to grazing?« 8They 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. 10Jacob saw Rachel, daughter of his uncle Laban, with his uncle Laban’s sheep. He came forward and rolled the stone off the opening of the well and watered his uncle Laban’s sheep. 11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly. 12Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s nephew and that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father. 13As soon as Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran to meet him. He embraced and kissed him and brought him into his home. Then Jacob told Laban all that had happened. 14Laban said: »You are indeed my own flesh and blood.« Jacob stayed there a whole month. 15Laban said to Jacob: »You should not work for me for nothing just because you are my relative. How much pay do you want?« 16Laban had two daughters. The older was named Leah and the younger Rachel. 17Leah had soft eyes and Rachel was shapely and very beautiful. 18Jacob was in love with Rachel, so he said: »I will work seven years for you, if you will let me marry Rachel.« 19Laban answered: »It is better that I give her to you than to anyone else. Stay here with me.« 20Jacob worked seven years for Laban. The time seemed like only a few days, because he loved Rachel so much. 21Jacob said to Laban: »Give me my wife for the time is completed. I want to marry Rachel now!« 22Laban gathered all the men of the place and gave a feast. 23In the evening when it was dark, he took Leah, his daughter, and gave her to him. Jacob slept with her. 24Laban gave Zilpah, his servant-girl, to Leah, to be her maid. 25»What have you done to me?« Jacob asked Laban: »Did I work for you in return for Rachel? Why did you cheat me?« 26Laban answered: »It is not our custom to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. 27»Finish the week of wedding festivities with this daughter. Then we will give you the other one too. But you will have to work for me another seven years.« 28Jacob did that. He finished the week with Leah. Then Laban gave his daughter Rachel to him as his wife. 29Laban gave his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave. 30Jacob slept with Rachel too. He loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years. 31Jehovah saw that Leah was loved less, so he made it possible for her to have children. But Rachel had none. 32Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, because she said: »Certainly, Jehovah has seen my misery. Now my husband will love me!« 33She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: »Certainly, Jehovah has heard that I am unloved. He has also given me this son.« She named him Simeon. 34She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: »Now at last my husband will become attached to me because I have given him three sons.« She named him Levi. 35Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: »This time I will praise Jehovah.« So she named him Judah Praise. Then she stopped having children.