1 Jacó pôs-se de novo a caminho e foi para a terra dos filhos do oriente.2 Olhando em torno de si, viu no campo um poço junto do qual estavam deitados três rebanhos de ovelhas. Este poço servia de bebedouro para os rebanhos. Mas, sendo grande a pedra que cobria a abertura do poço3 somente a removiam de cima quando todos os rebanhos fossem recolhidos. Davam então de beber aos animais e recolocavam a pedra no seu lugar.4 Jacó disse aos pastores: "Meus irmãos, de, onde sois?" "Somos de Harã", responderam.5 "Conheceis porventura Labão, filho de Nacor?" "Sim."6 "Como vai ele?" "Vai muito bem; e eis justamente sua filha Raquel que vem com o rebanho."7 "É ainda pleno dia, tornou Jacó, e não é hora de se recolherem os rebanhos. Dai de beber às ovelhas e levai-as de novo ao pasto."8 "Não o podemos, responderam eles, antes que todos os rebanhos estejam reunidos. Tiramos então a pedra de cima do poço e damos de beber aos animais."9 Falava ainda com eles, quando chegou Raquel com o rebanho do seu pai, porque era pastora.10 Logo que Jacó viu Raquel, filha de Labão, irmão de sua mãe, aproximou-se, rolou a pedra de cima da boca do poço e deu de beber às ovelhas de Labão.11 Depois beijou Raquel e pôs-se a chorar.12 Contou-lhe que era parente de seu pai e filho de Rebeca; e ela correu a anunciar isto ao seu pai.13 Tendo Labão ouvido falar de Jacó, filho de sua irmã, correu-lhe ao encontro, abraçou-o, beijou-o e o conduziu à sua casa. Jacó contou-lhe tudo o que se tinha passado,14 e Labão disse-lhe: "Sim, tu és de meus ossos e de minha carne." Jacó ficou em casa dele um mês inteiro.15 E Labão disse-lhe: "Acaso, porque és meu parente, servir-me-ás de. raça? Dize-me que salário queres."16 Ora, Labão tinha duas filhas: a mais velha chamava-se Lia, e a mais nova Raquel.17 Lia tinha os olhos embaciados, e Raquel era bela de talhe e rosto.18 Jacó, que amava Raquel, disse a Labão: "Eu te servirei sete anos por Raquel tua filha mais nova."19 "E melhor, respondeu Labão, dá-la a ti que a outro: fica comigo."20 Assim, Jacó serviu por Raquel sete anos, que lhe pareceram dias, tão grande era o amor que lhe tinha.21 Disse, pois, a Labão: "Dá-me minha mulher, porque está completo o meu tempo e quero desposá-la."22 Labão reuniu. todos os habitantes do lugar e deu um banquete.23 Mas, à noite, conduziu, Lia a Jacó, que se uniu com ela.24 E deu à sua filha Lia, sua escrava Zelfa.25 Pela manhã, viu Jacó que tinha ficado com Lia. E disse a Labão: "Que me fizeste? Não foi por Raquel que te servi? Por que me enganaste?"26 "Aqui, respondeu Labão, não é costume casar a mais nova antes da mais velha.27 Acaba a semana com esta, e depois te darei também sua irmã, na condição que me sirvas ainda sete anos."28 Assim fez Jacó: acabou a semana com Lia, e depois lhe deu Labão por mulher sua filha Raquel,29 dando por serva a Raquel sua escrava Bala.30 Jacó uniu-se também a Raquel, a quem amou mais do que a Lia. E serviu ainda por sete anos em casa de Labão.31 O Senhor, vendo que Lia era desprezada, tornou-a fecunda enquanto Raquel permanecia estéril.32 Lia concebeu e deu à luz um filho, ao qual chamou Rubem, "porque, dizia ela, o Senhor olhou minha aflição; agora meu marido me amará".33 Concebeu de novo e deu à luz outro filho. "O Senhor, disse ela, vendo que era desdenhada, deu-me ainda este." E pôs-lhe o nome de Simeão.34 Concebeu ainda e deu à luz mais um filho. "Desta vez, disse ela, meu marido se apegará a mim, porque já lhe dei à luz três filhos." Por isso deu-lhe o nome de Levi.35 Concebeu ainda e deu à luz um filho. E disse: "Desta vez, louvarei ao Senhor." E chamou-o Judá. Depois cessou de ter filhos.

1 Then Jacob walked [on] and came into the land of the people of the east.2 And he looked and saw a well in the field, and, behold, there [were] three flocks of sheep lying by it, for out of that well they watered the flocks, and a great stone [was] upon the well's mouth.3 And all the flocks gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well's mouth and water the sheep and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in its place.4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, where are you from? And they said, We [are] from Haran.5 And he said unto them, Do you know Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know [him].6 And he said unto them, [Is] he well? And they said, [He is] well, and, behold, Rachel, his daughter, comes with the sheep.7 And he said, behold, [it is] yet high day; neither [is it] time that the livestock should be gathered together; water the sheep and go [and] feed [them].8 And they said, We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and [until] they roll the stone from the well's mouth, that we may water the sheep.9 And while he yet spoke with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was the pastor.10 And it came to pass when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the flock of Laban, his mother's brother.11 And Jacob kissed Rachel and lifted up his voice and wept.12 And Jacob told Rachel that he [was of] her father's brethren, and that he [was] Rebekah's son, and she ran and told her father.13 And it came to pass when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son that he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou [art] my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou [art of] my brethren, should thou therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what [shall] thy wages [be]?16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder [was] Leah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel.17 Leah [was] tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.18 And Jacob loved Rachel and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter.19 And Laban said, [It is] better that I give her to thee than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her.21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give [me] my wife, for my days are fulfilled that I may go in unto her.22 So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a banquet.23 And it came to pass in the evening that he took Leah, his daughter, and brought her to him, and he went in unto her.24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah, his maid, [for] a handmaid.25 And it came to pass that in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah; and he said to Laban, What [is] this thou hast done unto me? Did not I serve with thee for Rachel? Why then hast thou beguiled me?26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country to give the younger before the firstborn.27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee the other also for another seven years of service which thou shalt serve with me.28 And Jacob did so and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her maid.30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah and served with him yet another seven years.31 And when the LORD saw that Leah [was] hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel [was] barren.32 And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, Surely the LORD has looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.33 And she conceived again and gave birth to a son; and said, Because the LORD has heard that I [was] hated, he has therefore given me this [son] also; and she called his name Simeon.34 And she conceived again and gave birth to a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me because I have born him three sons; therefore his name was called Levi.35 And she conceived again and gave birth a son; and she said, Now I will praise the LORD; therefore she called his name Judah and stopped bearing [children].: