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Then Jacob
went on his journey, and came into the land of
the people of the east.
02 And 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.
03 And 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.
04 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren,
whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
05 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the
son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
06 And he said unto them, Is he well? And
they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his
daughter cometh with the sheep.
07 And 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.
08 And 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.
09 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel
came with her father's sheep; for she kept them.
10 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 rolled the
stone from the well's mouth, and watered the
flock of Laban his mother's brother.
11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up
his voice, and wept.
12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her
father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son:
and she ran and told her father.
13 And 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.
14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art
my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the
space of a month.
15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou
art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me
for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of
the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger
was Rachel.
17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was
beautiful and well favoured.
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18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will
serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger
daughter.
19 And Laban said, It is better that I give
her to thee, than that I should give her to
another man: abide with me.
20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel;
and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the
love he had to her.
21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my
wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in
unto her.
22 And Laban gathered together all the men
of the place, and made a feast.
23 And it came to pass in the evening, that
he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to
him; and he went in unto her.
24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah
Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
25 And 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?
26 And Laban said, It must not be so done
in our country, to give the younger before the
firstborn.
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee
this also for the service which thou shalt serve
with me yet seven other years.
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her
week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife
also.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter
Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he
loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with
him yet seven other years.
31 And when the Lord saw that Leah was
hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
32 And 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.
33 And she conceived again, and bare a son;
and said, Because the Lord hath heard I was
hated, he hath therefore given me this son also:
and she called his name Simeon.
34 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 was his name called Levi.
35 And 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.
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