King James Bible

Christian Standard Bible

1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

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

2And he looked, and behold 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 great stone was upon the well's mouth.

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.

3And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.

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.

4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

4Jacob asked the men at the well, "My brothers! Where are you from?" "We're from Haran," they answered.

5And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

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

6And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

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

7And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.

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."

8And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.

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."

9And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.

9While he was still speaking 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 went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

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.

11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly.

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.

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

13And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings 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 told Laban all these things.

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.

14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

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

15And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

15Laban said to him, "Just because you're my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be."

16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

16Now Laban had two daughters: the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel.

17Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

17Leah had tender eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.

18And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

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

19And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

19Laban replied, "Better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay with me."

20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

20So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

21And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

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

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

22So Laban invited all the men of the place and sponsored 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 unto her.

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

24And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

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

25And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

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?"

26And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

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

27Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

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."

28And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

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

29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

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

30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

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

31And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

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

32And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

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."

33And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

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.

34And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

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.

35And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

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.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

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