¶ Then Jacob¹ went on his journey², and came into the land of the people³ of the east.

And he looked, and behold a well⁴ in the field, and, lo, there⁵ were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone⁶ was upon the well's mouth.

And thither were all the flocks⁷ 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.

And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran⁸ are we.

And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of⁹ Nahor? And they said, We know him.

And he said unto them, Is he well¹⁰? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

And he said, Lo¹¹, it is yet high day¹², neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.

And they said, We cannot, until¹³ all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll¹⁴ the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.

¶ And while he yet spake with them, Rachel¹⁵ came with her father's sheep: for she kept them¹⁶.

¶ And 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 rolled¹⁷ the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

And Jacob kissed¹⁸ Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept¹⁹.

And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother²⁰, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she²¹ ran and told her father.

And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings²² of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed²³ him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these²⁴ things.

And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my²⁵ bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month²⁶.

¶ And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me,²⁷ what shall thy wages be?

And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah²⁸, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel²⁹ was beautiful³⁰ and well favoured.

And Jacob loved³¹ Rachel; and said, I will serve³² thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

³³And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

¶ And Jacob served³⁴ seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love³⁵ he had to her.

And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me³⁶ my wife, for my days³⁷ are fulfilled, that I may go in³⁸ unto her.

And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made³⁹ a feast.

And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her⁴⁰ to him; and he went in unto her.

And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah⁴¹ his maid for an handmaid.

And it came to pass, that in the morning⁴², 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? wherefore⁴³ then hast thou beguiled me?

And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country⁴⁴, to give the younger before the firstborn.

Fulfil her week⁴⁵, and we will⁴⁶ give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week⁴⁷: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah⁴⁸ his handmaid to be her maid.

¶ And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved⁴⁹ also Rachel more than Leah, and served⁵⁰ with him yet seven other years.

¶ And when the LORD saw⁵¹ that Leah was hated⁵², he opened⁵³ her womb: but Rachel was barren.

And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name⁵⁴ Reuben⁵⁵: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because⁵⁶ the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called⁵⁷ his name Simeon⁵⁸.

And 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 was⁵⁹ his name called Levi⁶⁰.

And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called⁶¹ his name Judah⁶²; and left bearing.