1 Poi Giacobbe si mise in cammino e andò nel paese degli Orientali.

2 E guardò, e vide un pozzo in un campo; ed ecco tre greggi di pecore, giacenti lì presso; poiché a quel pozzo si abbeveravano i greggi; e la pietra sulla bocca del pozzo era grande.

3 Quivi s’adunavano tutti i greggi; i pastori rotolavan la pietra di sulla bocca del pozzo, abbeveravano le pecore, poi rimettevano al posto la pietra sulla bocca del pozzo.

4 E Giacobbe disse ai pastori: "Fratelli miei, di dove siete?" E quelli risposero: "Siamo di Charan".

5 Ed egli disse loro: "Conoscete voi Labano, figliuolo di Nahor?" Ed essi: "Lo conosciamo".

6 Ed egli disse loro: "Sta egli bene?" E quelli: "Sta bene; ed ecco Rachele, sua figliuola, che viene con le pecore".

7 Ed egli disse: "Ecco, è ancora pieno giorno, e non è tempo di radunare il bestiame; abbeverate le pecore e menatele al pascolo".

8 E quelli risposero: "Non possiamo, finché tutti i greggi siano radunati; allora si rotola la pietra di sulla bocca del pozzo, e abbeveriamo le pecore".

9 Mentr’egli parlava ancora con loro, giunse Rachele con le pecore di suo padre; poich’ella era pastora.

10 E quando Giacobbe vide Rachele figliuola di Labano, fratello di sua madre, e le pecore di Labano fratello di sua madre, s’avvicinò, rotolò la pietra di sulla bocca del pozzo, e abbeverò il gregge di Labano fratello di sua madre.

11 E Giacobbe baciò Rachele, alzò la voce, e pianse.

12 E Giacobbe fe’ sapere a Rachele ch’egli era parente del padre di lei, e ch’era figliuolo di Rebecca. Ed ella corse a dirlo a suo padre.

13 E appena Labano ebbe udito le notizie di Giacobbe figliuolo della sua sorella, gli corse incontro, l’abbracciò, lo baciò, e lo menò a casa sua. Giacobbe raccontò a Labano tutte queste cose;

14 e Labano gli disse: "Tu sei proprio mie ossa e mia carne!" Ed egli dimorò con lui durante un mese.

15 Poi Labano disse a Giacobbe: "Perché sei mio parente dovrai tu servirmi per nulla? Dimmi quale dev’essere il tuo salario".

16 Or Labano aveva due figliuole: la maggiore si chiamava Lea, e la minore Rachele.

17 Lea aveva gli occhi delicati, ma Rachele era avvenente e di bell’aspetto.

18 E Giacobbe amava Rachele, e disse a Labano: "Io ti servirò sette anni, per Rachele tua figliuola minore".

19 E Labano rispose: "E’ meglio ch’io la dia a te che ad un altr’uomo; sta’ con me".

20 E Giacobbe servì sette anni per Rachele; e gli parvero pochi giorni, per l’amore che le portava.

21 E Giacobbe disse a Labano: "Dammi la mia moglie, poiché il mio tempo è compiuto, ed io andrò da ei".

22 Allora Labano radunò tutta la gente del luogo, e fece un convito.

23 Ma, la sera, prese Lea, sua figliuola, e la menò da Giacobbe, il quale entrò da lei.

24 E Labano dette la sua serva Zilpa per serva a Lea, sua figliuola.

25 L’indomani mattina, ecco che era Lea. E Giacobbe disse a Labano: "Che m’hai fatto? Non è egli per achele ch’io t’ho servito? Perché dunque m’hai ingannato?"

26 E Labano rispose: "Non è usanza da noi di dare la minore prima della maggiore. Finisci la settimana di questa;

27 e ti daremo anche l’altra, per il servizio che presterai da me altri sette anni".

28 Giacobbe fece così, e finì la settimana di quello sposalizio; poi Labano gli dette in moglie Rachele sua figliuola.

29 E Labano dette la sua serva Bilha per serva a Rachele, sua figliuola.

30 E Giacobbe entrò pure da Rachele, ed anche amò Rachele più di Lea, e servì da Labano altri sette anni.

31 L’Eterno, vedendo che Lea era odiata, la rese feconda; ma Rachele era sterile.

32 E Lea concepì e partorì un figliuolo, al quale pose nome Ruben; perché disse: "L’Eterno ha veduto la mia afflizione; e ora il mio marito mi amerà".

33 Poi concepì di nuovo e partorì un figliuolo, e disse: "L’Eterno ha udito ch’io ero odiata, e però m’ha dato anche questo figliuolo". E lo chiamò Simeone.

34 E concepì di nuovo e partorì un figliuolo, e disse: "Questa volta, il mio marito sarà ben unito a me, poiché gli ho partorito tre figliuoli". Per questo fu chiamato Levi.

35 E concepì di nuovo e partorì un figliuolo, e disse: "Questa volta celebrerò l’Eterno". Perciò gli pose nome Giuda. E cessò d’aver figliuoli.

1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. 2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, 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 thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place. 4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. 5 And he said unto them, Know ye 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 cometh with the sheep. 7 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 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.

9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them. 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 her father’s brother, 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 my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? 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 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 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 an 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? wherefore 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 this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 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 seven other years.

31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. 33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. 34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. 35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.