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!”
1 Un Jēkabs cēlās kājās un devās uz to ļaužu zemi, kas pret austrumiem. 2 Un viņš ieraudzīja tīrumā aku, un trīs ganāmpulki bija apmetušies pie tās, jo no šīs akas ganāmpulki tika dzirdināti. Bet liels akmens bija uzlikts uz akas cauruma. 3 Kad visi ganāmpulki tur bija sadzīti, tad novēla akmeni no akas cauruma un dzirdīja lopus, un pēc tam atkal lika akmeni savā vietā uz akas cauruma. 4 Jēkabs viņiem sacīja: "Brāļi, no kurienes jūs esat?" Un tie sacīja: "Mēs esam no Hāranas." 5 Un Jēkabs tiem sacīja: "Vai jūs pazīstat Nahora dēlu Lābanu?" Un tie sacīja: "Pazīstam." 6 Tad viņš sacīja: "Vai viņam klājas labi?" Tie sacīja: "Labi, un redzi, tur nāk viņa meita Rahēle ar lopiem." 7 Un viņš sacīja: "Vēl taču ir liela diena, un vēl nav pienācis laiks sadzīt lopus; dzirdiniet lopus un ejiet ganīt." 8 Bet tie sacīja: "Mēs nevaram, pirms nav sadzīti visi ganāmpulki, tad akmens tiek novelts no avota cauruma, un mēs dzirdinām lopus." 9 Kamēr viņš vēl ar tiem sarunājās, nāca Rahēle ar sava tēva sīklopiem, jo viņa bija gane. 10 Un notika, kad Jēkabs ieraudzīja Rahēli, savas mātes brāļa Lābana meitu, un savas mātes brāļa Lābana sīklopus, tad Jēkabs piegāja un novēla akmeni no avota un padzirdināja savas mātes brāļa Lābana sīklopus. 11 Un Jēkabs skūpstīja Rahēli un, savu balsi pacēlis, raudāja. 12 Un Jēkabs izstāstīja Rahēlei, ka viņš ir tās tēva radinieks un Rebekas dēls; tad viņa tecēja un izstāstīja to tēvam. 13 Un, kad Lābans dzirdēja vēsti par Jēkabu, savas māsas dēlu, tad viņš tam skrēja pretī, apkampa un skūpstīja un ieveda savā namā. Un viņš izstāstīja arī Lābanam visus šos notikumus. 14 Un Lābans sacīja viņam: "Tiešām, tu esi no maniem kauliem un manas miesas!" Un viņš pie tā palika vienu mēnesi. 15 Un Lābans sacīja Jēkabam: "Kaut gan tu esi mans radinieks, bet vai tādēļ tev par velti kalpot? Saki man, kādu algu tu prasi?" 16 Bet Lābanam bija divi meitas: vecākās vārds bija Lea un jaunākās Rahēle. 17 Leas acis bija blāvas, bez spožuma, bet Rahēle bija skaista augumā un sejā. 18 Un Jēkabs iemīlēja Rahēli un sacīja: "Es kalpošu tev septiņus gadus par Rahēli, tavu jaunāko meitu." 19 Tad Lābans sacīja: "Labāk es dodu to tev nekā kādam citam; paliec pie manis." 20 Un Jēkabs kalpoja par Rahēli septiņus gadus; un tie izlikās viņam kā dažas dienas, tik mīļa tā viņam bija. 21 Tad Jēkabs sacīja Lābanam: "Dod man tagad manu sievu, jo mans laiks ir pilns, ka es ietu pie viņas." 22 Un Lābans sapulcēja visus tās vietas ļaudis un sarīkoja dzīres. 23 Un vakarā viņš ņēma savu meitu Leu un ieveda pie viņa, un Jēkabs gāja pie tās. 24 Un Lābans deva savu kalponi Zilfu savai meitai Leai par kalponi. 25 Un no rīta izrādījās, ka tā bija Lea. Un viņš sacīja Lābanam: "Kāpēc tu man esi tā darījis? Vai es neesmu tev kalpojis par Rahēli? Kāpēc tu mani esi piekrāpis?" 26 Bet Lābans sacīja: "Tā nemēdz šinī vietā darīt, ka izdod jaunāko pirms vecākās. 27 Piepildi šīs septiņas dienas ar šo; tad mēs tev dosim arī to otru tavas kalpošanas dēļ, kad tu man kalposi vēl citus septiņus gadus." 28 Un Jēkabs darīja tā; un viņš piepildīja tās septiņas dienas, tad Lābans deva viņam savu meitu Rahēli par sievu. 29 Un Lābans deva savu kalponi Bilhu savai meitai Rahēlei par kalponi. 30 Un Jēkabs gāja arī pie Rahēles, un viņš mīlēja Rahēli vairāk nekā Leu. Un viņš kalpoja Lābanam vēl otrus septiņus gadus. 31 Un Tas Kungs redzēja, ka Lea tika nicināta; tad Viņš atvēra tās klēpi, bet Rahēle bija neauglīga. 32 Un Lea tapa grūta un dzemdēja dēlu, un nosauca tā vārdu: Rūbens , jo viņa sacīja: "Tas Kungs ir uzlūkojis manas bēdas; un tagad noteikti mans vīrs mani mīlēs." 33 Un viņa tapa atkal grūta un dzemdēja dēlu, un sacīja: "Tas Kungs ir dzirdējis, ka es esmu nicināta, un Viņš man arī šo ir devis." Un viņa nosauca tā vārdu: Simeons . 34 Un viņa tapa atkal grūta un dzemdēja dēlu, un sacīja: "Tagad taču mans vīrs pieķersies man, jo es viņam esmu dzemdējusi trīs dēlus." Un viņa nosauca tā vārdu: Levijs . 35 Un viņa tapa atkal grūta un dzemdēja dēlu, un sacīja: "Tagad es slavēšu To Kungu." Un viņa nosauca tā vārdu: Jūda . Un viņa mitējās dzemdēt.
