Jacob Arrives at Laban's Home
1 As Jacob continued on his way to the east, 2 he looked out in a field and saw a well where shepherds took their sheep for water. Three flocks of sheep were lying around the well, which was covered with a large rock. 3 Shepherds would roll the rock away when all their sheep had gathered there. Then after the sheep had been watered, the shepherds would roll the rock back over the mouth of the well.
4 Jacob asked the shepherds, “Where are you from?”
“We're from Haran,” they answered.
5 Then he asked, “Do you know Nahor's grandson Laban?”
“Yes we do,” they replied.
6 “How is he?” Jacob asked.
“He's fine,” they answered. “And here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”
7 Jacob told them, “Look, the sun is still high up in the sky, and it's too early to bring in the rest of the flocks. Water your sheep and take them back to the pasture.”
8 But they replied, “We can't do that until they all get here, and the rock has been rolled away from the well.”
9 While Jacob was still talking with the men, his cousin Rachel came up with her father's sheep. 10 When Jacob saw her and his uncle's sheep, he rolled the rock away and watered the sheep. 11 He then kissed Rachel and started crying because he was so happy. 12 He told her that he was the son of her aunt Rebekah, and she ran and told her father about him.
13 As soon as Laban heard the news, he ran out to meet Jacob. He hugged and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him everything that had happened. 14 Laban said, “You are my nephew, and you are like one of my own family.”
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
After Jacob had been there for a month, 15 Laban said to him, “You shouldn't have to work without pay, just because you are a relative of mine. What do you want me to give you?”
16-17 Laban had two daughters. Leah was older than Rachel, but her eyes didn't sparkle, while Rachel was beautiful and had a good figure. 18 Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he answered, “If you will let me marry Rachel, I'll work seven years for you.”
19 Laban replied, “It's better for me to let you marry Rachel than for someone else to have her. So stay and work for me.” 20 Jacob worked seven years for Laban, but the time seemed like only a few days, because he loved Rachel so much.
21 Jacob said to Laban, “The time is up, and I want to marry Rachel now!” 22 So Laban gave a big feast and invited all their neighbors. 23 But that evening he brought Leah to Jacob, who married her and spent the night with her. 24 Laban also gave Zilpah to Leah as her servant woman.
25 The next morning Jacob found out that he had married Leah, and he asked Laban, “Why did you do this to me? Didn't I work to get Rachel? Why did you trick me?”
26 Laban replied, “In our country the older daughter must get married first. 27 After you spend this week with Leah, you may also marry Rachel. But you will have to work for me another seven years.”
28-30 At the end of the week of celebration, Laban let Jacob marry Rachel, and he gave her his servant woman Bilhah. Jacob loved Rachel more than he did Leah, but he had to work another seven years for Laban.
31 The Lord knew that Jacob loved Rachel more than he did Leah, and so he gave children to Leah, but not to Rachel. 32 Leah gave birth to a son and named him Reuben. Then she said, “The Lord has taken away my sorrow. Now my husband will love me more than he does Rachel.” 33 She had a second son and named him Simeon, because she said, “The Lord has heard that my husband doesn't love me.” 34 When Leah's third son was born, she said, “Now my husband will hold me close.” So this son was named Levi. 35 She had one more son and named him Judah, because she said, “I'll praise the Lord!”
Jēkabs sastop Rāhēli
1 Un Jēkabs cēlās kājās un gāja uz austrumu dēlu zemi. 2 Viņš raudzījās, un redz – aka lauka vidū, un, re, tur trīs avju pulki nometušies tai blakām, jo no tās akas dzirdīja ganāmpulkus, bet uz akas atveres bija liels akmens. 3 Tur mēdza sapulcināt visus ganāmpulkus, tad noripināja akmeni no akas atveres, padzirdīja avis un nolika akmeni atpakaļ uz akas atveres. 4 Un Jēkabs tiem teica: “Mani brāļi, no kurienes jūs esat?” Tie atbildēja: “Mēs esam no Hārānas.” 5 Un viņš tiem jautāja: “Vai jūs pazīstat Lābanu, Nāhora dēlu?” Un tie teica: “Mēs viņu pazīstam!” 6 Un viņš tiem jautāja: “Vai viņam klājas labi?” Un tie teica: “Labi! Re, kur ar avīm nāk viņa meita Rāhēle!” 7 Un viņš teica: “Ir taču liela diena, vēl nav laiks pulcināt lopus! Padzirdiet avis un ejiet ganīt!” 8 Bet tie teica: “Mēs nevaram! Kad būs sapulcināti visi lopi un novels akmeni no akas atveres, tad mēs padzirdīsim avis!” 9 Kamēr viņš ar tiem runāja, Rāhēle nāca ar sava tēva avīm, jo viņa tās ganīja. 10 Tiklīdz Jēkabs ieraudzīja Rāhēli, sava mātesbrāļa Lābana meitu, un sava mātesbrāļa Lābana avis, tā viņš stūma un noripināja akmeni no akas atveres un padzirdīja sava mātesbrāļa Lābana avis. 11 Jēkabs skūpstīja Rāhēli un skaļi raudāja. 12 Un Jēkabs pastāstīja Rāhēlei, ka viņš ir viņas tēva radinieks, ka viņš ir Rebekas dēls, un viņa skrēja un pastāstīja to savam tēvam. 13 Kad Lābans izdzirdēja par savu māsasdēlu Jēkabu, viņš skrēja tam pretī, apkampa viņu, skūpstīja un aizveda uz savām mājām. Viņš pastāstīja Lābanam visu, kas bija noticis. 14 Un Lābans viņam teica: “Taču no mana kaula un miesas tu esi!” Un viņš mēnesi palika pie viņa.
Jēkabs apprec Lābana meitas
15 Tad Lābans teica Jēkabam: “Vai tādēļ, ka esi man rada, tev jākalpo man par velti? Saki man, kā lai es tevi atalgoju?” 16 Lābanam bija divas meitas. Vecākās vārds bija Lea, un jaunākās vārds – Rāhēle. 17 Leai bija maigas acis, bet Rāhēle bija skaistu augumu un skaista izskata! 18 Jēkabs iemīlēja Rāhēli, un viņš teica: “Es kalpošu tev septiņus gadus par tavu jaunāko meitu Rāhēli!” 19 Lābans teica: “Labāk es viņu dodu tev nekā atdodu kādam citam! Paliec pie manis!” 20 Un Jēkabs kalpoja par Rāhēli septiņus gadus, bet viņam tie šķita kā dažas dienas, jo viņš to mīlēja. 21 Kad tie bija pagājuši, Jēkabs teica Lābanam: “Dod nu manu sievu, ka es varu iet pie viņas, jo manas dienas ir pagājušas!” 22 Tad Lābans sapulcināja visus apkaimes vīrus un sarīkoja dzīres. 23 Vakarā notika tā – viņš ņēma savu meitu Leu un ieveda pie Jēkaba, un viņš gulēja ar to. 24 Un Lābans deva līdzi kā kalponi savai meitai Leai savu kalponi Zilpu. 25 Un pienāca rīts, un, redzi, tā bija Lea! Un viņš teica Lābanam: “Ko tu man esi nodarījis?! Vai ne par Rāhēli es tev kalpoju? Kādēļ tu mani apkrāpi?!” 26 Bet Lābans teica: “Pie mums tā nedara, ka jaunāko izdod pirms pirmdzimtās! 27 Lai nedēļa tev paiet ar viņu, un tad tev tiks atdota arī šī, tikai tev vēl būs jākalpo man septiņi gadi!” 28 Un Jēkabs tā darīja, pagāja viņam nedēļa ar Leu, un Lābans deva viņam savu meitu Rāhēli par sievu. 29 Lābans deva līdzi kā kalponi savai meitai Rāhēlei savu kalponi Bilhu. 30 Un Jēkabs gāja pie Rāhēles, un Rāhēli viņš mīlēja vairāk nekā Leu, un viņš kalpoja Lābanam vēl septiņus gadus.
Jēkaba bērni
31 Kungs redzēja, ka Lea tiek nicināta, un viņš atdarīja viņas klēpi, bet Rāhēle bija neauglīga. 32 Lea tapa grūta un dzemdēja dēlu, un nosauca viņu vārdā Rūbens , un viņa teica: “Jo Kungs ir redzējis manas ciešanas, un tagad mans vīrs mani mīlēs!” 33 Un viņa atkal tapa grūta un dzemdēja dēlu, un teica: “Jo Kungs dzirdēja, ka es nicināta! Un viņš deva man arī šo!” Un viņa nosauca to vārdā Šimons . 34 Un viņa atkal kļuva grūta, dzemdēja dēlu un teica: “Tagad mans vīrs man pievērsīsies, jo es viņam esmu dzemdējusi trīs dēlus!” Tādēļ viņa to nosauca vārdā Levī . 35 Un viņa atkal kļuva grūta, dzemdēja dēlu un teica: “Tagad es slavēšu Kungu!” Tādēļ viņa to nosauca vārdā Jūda . Tad viņa mitējās dzemdēt.
