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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. and 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.