Jacob Arrives at Laban's Home
1 Jacob continued on his way and went toward the land of the East. 2 Suddenly he came upon a well out in the fields with three flocks of sheep lying around it. The flocks were watered from this well, which had a large stone over the opening. 3 Whenever all the flocks came together there, the shepherds would roll the stone back and water them. Then they would put the stone back in place.
4 Jacob asked the shepherds, “My friends, where are you from?”
“From Haran,” they answered.
5 He asked, “Do you know Laban, grandson of Nahor?”
“Yes, we do,” they answered.
6 “Is he well?” he asked.
“He is well,” they answered. “Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with his flock.”
7 Jacob said, “Since it is still broad daylight and not yet time to bring the flocks in, why don't you water them and take them back to pasture?”
8 They answered, “We can't do that until all the flocks are here and the stone has been rolled back; then we will water the flocks.”
9 While Jacob was still talking with them, Rachel arrived with the flock. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel with his uncle Laban's flock, he went to the well, rolled the stone back, and watered the sheep. 11 Then he kissed her and began to cry for joy. 12 He told her, “I am your father's relative, the son of Rebecca.”
She ran to tell her father; 13 and when he heard the news about his nephew Jacob, he ran to meet him, hugged him and kissed him, and brought him into the house. When Jacob told Laban everything that had happened, 14 Laban said, “Yes, indeed, you are my own flesh and blood.” Jacob stayed there a whole month.
Jacob Serves Laban for Rachel and Leah
15 Laban said to Jacob, “You shouldn't work for me for nothing just because you are my relative. How much pay do you want?” 16 Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger Rachel. 17 Leah had lovely eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
18 Jacob was in love with Rachel, so he said, “I will work seven years for you, if you will let me marry Rachel.”
19 Laban answered, “I would rather give her to you than to anyone else; stay here with me.” 20 Jacob worked seven years so that he could have Rachel, and the time seemed like only a few days to him, because he loved her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “The time is up; let me marry your daughter.” 22 So Laban gave a wedding feast and invited everyone. 23 But that night, instead of Rachel, he took Leah to Jacob, and Jacob had intercourse with her. ( 24 Laban gave his slave woman Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maid.) 25 Not until the next morning did Jacob discover that it was Leah. He went to Laban and said, “Why did you do this to me? I worked to get Rachel. Why have you tricked me?”
26 Laban answered, “It is not the custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older. 27 Wait until the week's marriage celebrations are over, and I will give you Rachel, if you will work for me another seven years.”
28 Jacob agreed, and when the week of marriage celebrations was over, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. ( 29 Laban gave his slave woman Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid.) 30 Jacob had intercourse with Rachel also, and he loved her more than Leah. Then he worked for Laban another seven years.
The Children Born to Jacob
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was loved less than Rachel, he made it possible for her to have children, but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She said, “The Lord has seen my trouble, and now my husband will love me”; so she named him Reuben. 33 She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said, “The Lord has given me this son also, because he heard that I was not loved”; so she named him Simeon. 34 Once again she became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She said, “Now my husband will be bound more tightly to me, because I have borne him three sons”; so she named him Levi. 35 Then she became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said, “This time I will praise the Lord”; so she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.
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.
