< Genesis 29 >

1 Profectus ergo Iacob venit in terram Orientalem.
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.
2 Et vidit puteum in agro, tres quoque greges ovium accubantes iuxta eum: nam ex illo adaquabantur pecora, et os eius grandi lapide claudebatur.
And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying there by it. — For out of that well they watered the flocks. And the stone upon the well's mouth was great.
3 Morisque erat ut cunctis ovibus congregatis devolverent lapidem, et refectis gregibus rursum super os putei ponerent.
And thither were all the flocks gathered; and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back upon the well's mouth in its place. —
4 Dixitque ad pastores: Fratres, unde estis? Qui responderunt: De Haran.
And Jacob said unto them: 'My brethren, whence are ye?' And they said: 'Of Haran are we.'
5 Quos interrogans, Numquid, ait, nostis Laban filium Nachor? Dixerunt: Novimus.
And he said unto them: 'Know ye Laban the son of Nahor?' And they said: 'We know him.'
6 Sanusne est? inquit: Valet, inquiunt: et ecce Rachel filia eius venit cum grege suo.
And he said unto them: 'Is it well with him?' And they said: 'It is well; and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.'
7 Dixitque Iacob: Adhuc multum diei superest, nec est tempus ut reducantur ad caulas greges: date ante potum ovibus, et sic eas ad pastum reducite.
And he said: 'Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together; water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.'
8 Qui responderunt: Non possumus, donec omnia pecora congregentur, et amoveamus lapidem de ore putei, ut adaquemus greges.
And they said: 'We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.'
9 Adhuc loquebantur, et ecce Rachel veniebat cum ovibus patris sui: nam gregem ipsa pascebat.
While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she tended them.
10 Quam cum vidisset Iacob, et sciret consobrinam suam, ovesque Laban avunculi sui: amovit lapidem quo puteus claudebatur.
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 Et adaquato grege, osculatus est eam: et elevata voce flevit,
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12 et indicavit ei quod frater esset patris sui, et filius Rebeccae: at illa festinans nunciavit patri suo.
And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father.
13 Qui cum audisset venisse Iacob filium sororis suae, occurrit obviam ei: complexusque eum, et in oscula ruens, duxit in domum suam. Auditis autem causis itineris,
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 respondit: Os meum es, et caro mea. Et postquam impleti sunt dies mensis unius,
And Laban said to him: 'Surely thou art my bone and my flesh.' And he abode with him the space of a month.
15 dixit ei: Num quia frater meus es, gratis servies mihi? dic quid mercedis accipias.
And Laban said unto Jacob: 'Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?'
16 Habebat vero duas filias, nomen maioris Lia: minor vero appellabatur Rachel.
Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 Sed Lia lippis erat oculis: Rachel decora facie, et venusto aspectu.
And Leah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was of beautiful form and fair to look upon.
18 Quam diligens Iacob, ait: Serviam tibi pro Rachel filia tua minore, septem annis.
And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said: 'I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.'
19 Respondit Laban: Melius est ut tibi eam dem quam alteri viro, mane apud me.
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 Servivit ergo Iacob pro Rachel septem annis: et videbantur illi pauci dies prae amoris magnitudine.
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21 Dixitque ad Laban: Da mihi uxorem meam: quia iam tempus impletum est, ut ingrediar ad illam.
And Jacob said unto Laban: 'Give me my wife, for my days are filled, that I may go in unto her.'
22 Qui vocatis multis amicorum turbis ad convivium, fecit nuptias.
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 Et vespere Liam filiam suam introduxit ad eum,
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 dans ancillam filiae, Zelpham nomine. Ad quam cum ex more Iacob fuisset ingressus, facto mane vidit Lian:
And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid.
25 et dixit ad socerum suum: Quid est quod facere voluisti? nonne pro Rachel servivi tibi? quare imposuisti mihi?
And it came to pass in the morning that, 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? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?'
26 Respondit Laban: Non est in loco nostro consuetudinis, ut minores ante tradamus ad nuptias.
And Laban said: 'It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born.
27 Imple hebdomadam dierum huius copulae: et hanc quoque dabo tibi pro opere quo serviturus es mihi septem annis aliis.
Fulfil the week of this one, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.'
28 Acquievit placito: et hebdomada transacta, Rachel duxit uxorem:
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife.
29 cui pater servam Balam tradiderat.
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid.
30 Tandemque potitus optatis nuptiis, amorem sequentis priori praetulit, serviens apud eum septem annis aliis.
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31 Videns autem Dominus quod despiceret Liam, aperuit vulvam eius, sorore sterili permanente.
And the LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
32 Quae conceptum genuit filium, vocavitque nomen eius Ruben, dicens: Vidit Dominus humilitatem meam, nunc amabit me vir meus.
And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said: 'Because the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.'
33 Rursumque concepit et peperit filium, et ait: Quoniam audivit me Dominus haberi contemptui, dedit etiam istum mihi. vocavitque nomen eius Simeon.
And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said: 'Because the LORD hath heard that I am hated, He hath therefore given me this son also.' And she called his name Simeon.
34 Concepitque tertio, et genuit alium filium: dixitque: Nunc quoque copulabitur mihi maritus meus, eo quod pepererim ei tres filios: et idcirco appellavit nomen eius, Levi.
And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said: 'Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons.' Therefore was his name called Levi.
35 Quarto concepit, et peperit filium, et ait: Modo confitebor Domino. et ob hoc vocavit eum, Iudam: cessavitque parere.
And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she said: 'This time will I praise the LORD.' Therefore she called his name Judah; and she left off bearing.

< Genesis 29 >