Genesis 29:4-23
English Standard Version
Chapter 29
4Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where do you come from?" They said, "We are from Haran." 5He said to them, "Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?" They said, "We know him." 6He said to them, "Is it well with him?" They said, "It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!" 7He said, "Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them." 8But they said, "We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep."
9While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father 's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
10Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother 's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother 's brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well 's mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother 's brother.
11Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father 's kinsman, and that he was Rebekah 's son, and she ran and told her father.
13As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister 's son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things,
14and Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh!" And he stayed with him a month.
15Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?"
16Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17Leah 's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.
18Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."
19Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me."
20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
