English Bible Presentation Sharing - Genesis Book, chapter 29, verse 71 in Erven Version

Genesis 29 : 1 (ERVEN)

Then Jacob continued his trip. He went to the country in the East.

Genesis 29 : 2 (ERVEN)

He looked and saw a well in the field. There were three flocks of sheep lying near the well, where the sheep drank water. There was a large rock covering the mouth of the well.

Genesis 29 : 3 (ERVEN)

When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the rock away from the well. Then all the sheep could drink from the water. After the sheep were full, the shepherds would put the rock back in its place.

Genesis 29 : 4 (ERVEN)

Jacob said to the shepherds there, "Brothers, where are you from?" They answered, "We are from Haran."

Genesis 29 : 5 (ERVEN)

Then Jacob said, "Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?" The shepherds answered, "We know him."

Genesis 29 : 6 (ERVEN)

Then Jacob said, "How is he?" They answered, "He is well. Look, that is his daughter Rachel coming now with his sheep."

Genesis 29 : 7 (ERVEN)

Jacob said, "Look, it is still day and long before the sun sets. It is not yet time for the animals to be gathered together for the night. So give them water and let them go back into the field."

Genesis 29 : 8 (ERVEN)

But they said, "We cannot do that until all the flocks are gathered together. Then we will move the rock from the well, and all the sheep will drink."

Genesis 29 : 9 (ERVEN)

While Jacob was talking with the shepherds, Rachel came with her father's sheep. (It was her job to take care of the sheep.)

Genesis 29 : 10 (ERVEN)

Rachel was Laban's daughter. Laban was the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's mother. When Jacob saw Rachel, he went and moved the rock and gave water to the sheep.

Genesis 29 : 11 (ERVEN)

Then Jacob kissed Rachel and cried.

Genesis 29 : 12 (ERVEN)

He told her that he was from her father's family. He told her that he was the son of Rebekah. So Rachel ran home and told her father.

Genesis 29 : 13 (ERVEN)

When Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he ran to meet him. Laban hugged him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban everything that had happened.

Genesis 29 : 14 (ERVEN)

Then Laban said, "This is wonderful! You are from my own family." So Jacob stayed with Laban for a month.

Genesis 29 : 15 (ERVEN)

One day Laban said to Jacob, "You are a relative of mine. It is not right for you to continue working for me without pay. What should I pay you?"

Genesis 29 : 16 (ERVEN)

Now Laban had two daughters. The older was Leah and the younger was Rachel.

Genesis 29 : 17 (ERVEN)

Leah's eyes were gentle, but Rachel was beautiful.

Genesis 29 : 18 (ERVEN)

Jacob loved Rachel, so he said to Laban, "I will work seven years for you if you will allow me to marry your daughter Rachel."

Genesis 29 : 19 (ERVEN)

Laban said, "It would be better for her to marry you than someone else. So stay with me."

Genesis 29 : 20 (ERVEN)

So Jacob stayed and worked for Laban for seven years. But it seemed like a very short time because he loved Rachel very much.

Genesis 29 : 21 (ERVEN)

After seven years Jacob said to Laban, "Give me Rachel so that I can marry her. My time of work for you is finished."

Genesis 29 : 22 (ERVEN)

So Laban gave a party for all the people in that place.

Genesis 29 : 23 (ERVEN)

That night Laban brought his daughter Leah to Jacob. Jacob and Leah had sexual relations together.

Genesis 29 : 24 (ERVEN)

(Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter to be her maid.)

Genesis 29 : 25 (ERVEN)

In the morning Jacob saw that it was Leah he had slept with, and he said to Laban, "You have tricked me. I worked hard for you so that I could marry Rachel. Why did you trick me?"

Genesis 29 : 26 (ERVEN)

Laban said, "In our country we don't allow the younger daughter to marry before the older daughter.

Genesis 29 : 27 (ERVEN)

Continue for the full week of the marriage ceremony, and I will also give you Rachel to marry. But you must serve me another seven years."

Genesis 29 : 28 (ERVEN)

So Jacob did this and finished the week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife.

Genesis 29 : 29 (ERVEN)

(Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maid.)

Genesis 29 : 30 (ERVEN)

So Jacob had sexual relations with Rachel also. And Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Jacob worked for Laban for another seven years.

Genesis 29 : 31 (ERVEN)

The Lord saw that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, so he made it possible for Leah to have children. But Rachel did not have any children.

Genesis 29 : 32 (ERVEN)

Leah gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben. She named him this because she said, "The Lord has seen my troubles. My husband does not love me. So now maybe my husband will love me."

Genesis 29 : 33 (ERVEN)

Leah became pregnant again and had another son. She named this son Simeon. She said, "The Lord has heard that I am not loved, so he gave me this son."

Genesis 29 : 34 (ERVEN)

Leah became pregnant again and had another son. She named this son Levi. She said, "Now, surely my husband will love me. I have given him three sons."

Genesis 29 : 35 (ERVEN)

Then Leah gave birth to another son. She named this son Judah. Leah named him this because she said, "Now I will praise the Lord." Then Leah stopped having children.