- 1
- Then Iaakob lift vp his feete and came into the East countrey.
- 2
- And as he looked about, behold there was a well in the field, and lo, three flocks of sheepe lay thereby (for at that well were the flockes watered) & there was a great stone vpon the welles mouth.
- 3
- And thither were all the flockes gathered, & they rolled the stone from the welles mouth, and watered the sheepe, and put the stone againe vpon the welles mouth in his place.
- 4
- And Iaakob sayde vnto them, My brethren, whence be ye?
And they answered, We are of Haran.
- 5
- Then he sayd vnto them, Know ye Laban the sonne of Nahor?
Who said, We know him.
- 6
- Againe he sayd vnto them, Is he in good health?
And they answered, He is in good health, and beholde, his daughter Rahel commeth with the sheepe.
- 7
- Then he sayd, Lo, it is yet hie day, neither is it time that the cattell shoulde be gathered together: water ye the sheepe and go feede them.
- 8
- But they sayde, We may not vntill all the flocks be brought together, and till men rolle the stone from the welles mouth, that we may water the sheepe.
- 9
- While he talked with them, Rahel also came with her fathers sheepe, for she kept them.
- 10
- And assoone as Iaakob saw Rahel ye daughter of Laban his mothers brother, and the sheepe of Laban his mothers brother, then came Iaakob neere, & rolled the stone fro the welles mouth, & watered ye flocke of Laban his mothers brother.
- 11
- And Iaakob kissed Rahel, and lift vp his voyce and wept.
- 12
- (For Iaakob tolde Rahel, that he was her fathers brother, & that he was Rebekahs sonne) then she ranne and tolde her father.
- 13
- And when Laban heard tell of Iaakob his sisters sonne, he ranne to meete him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house: and he tolde Laban all these things.
- 14
- To whome Laban sayd, Well, thou art my bone and my flesh;
he abode with him the space of a moneth.
- 15
- For Laban sayde vnto Iaakob, Though thou be my brother, shouldest thou therfore serue me for nought?
tell me, what shalbe thy wages?
- 16
- Now Laban had two daughters, the elder called Leah, and the yonger called Rahel.
- 17
- And Leah was tender eyed, but Rahel was beautifull and faire.
- 18
- And Iaakob loued Rahel, and sayde, I will serue thee seuen yeeres for Rahel thy yonger daughter.
- 19
- Then Laban answered, It is better that I giue her thee, then that I should giue her to another man: abide with me.
- 20
- And Iaakob serued seuen yeres for Rahel, and they seemed vnto him but a few dayes, because he loued her.
- 21
- Then Iaakob sayde to Laban, Giue me my wife, that I may goe in to her: for my terme is ended.
- 22
- Wherefore Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
- 23
- But whe the euening was come, he tooke Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in vnto her.
- 24
- And Laban gaue his mayde Zilpah to his daughter Leah, to be her seruant.
- 25
- But when the morning was come, behold, it was Leah.
Then sayde he to Laban, Wherefore hast thou done thus to mee? did not I serue thee for Rahel? wherfore then hast thou beguiled me?
- 26
- And Laban answered, It is not the maner of this place, to giue the yonger before the elder.
- 27
- Fulfill seuen yeeres for her, and we wil also giue thee this for the seruice, which thou shalt serue me yet seuen yeeres more.
- 28
- Then Iaakob did so, and fulfilled her seuen yeeres, so he gaue him Rahel his daughter to be his wife.
- 29
- Laban also gaue to Rahel his daughter Bilhah his mayde to be her seruant.
- 30
- So entred he in to Rahel also, and loued also Rahel more then Leah, and serued him yet seuen yeeres mo.
- 31
- When the Lord saw that Leah was despised, he made her fruitful: but Rahel was barren.
- 32
- And Leah conceiued & bare a sonne, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Because the Lord hath looked vpon my tribulation, now therefore mine husband will loue me.
- 33
- And she conceiued againe & bare a sonne, and sayde, Because the Lord heard that I was hated, he hath therefore giuen me this sonne also, & she called his name Simeon.
- 34
- And she conceiued againe & bare a sonne, and said, Now at this time wil my husband keepe mee company, because I haue borne him three sonnes: therefore was his name called Leui.
- 35
- Moreouer shee conceiued againe and bare a sonne, saying, Nowe will I prayse the Lorde: therefore shee called his name Iudah, and left bearing.
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