Laban

29And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.

Rebekah had a brother named Laban. Laban ran out to the man at the well.

30And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

Laban had seen the ring and the bracelets on his sister. He had heard her say what the man told her. So he went out and found the man standing by the camels at the well.

31And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

Laban said, "Come in. The LORD has blessed you. Why are you standing out here? I have the house ready and a place for the camels."

32And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s feet that were with him.

So the man came into the house. The camels were unloaded. Straw and food were brought for them. Water was brought so he and his men could wash their feet.

33And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.

Food was set in front of him. But he said, "I will not eat until I tell you why I came." Laban said, "Go ahead and speak."

50Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

Laban and Bethuel answered, "This has come from the LORD. We cannot say anything for or against it."

51Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the LORD hath spoken.

"Rebekah is right here. Take her and go. Let her be the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has said."

52And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.

When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed to the ground. He worshipped the LORD.

53And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

Then the servant brought out silver and gold jewelry and fine clothes. He gave them to Rebekah. He gave costly gifts to her brother and her mother too.

54And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.

He and his men ate and drank and stayed the night. In the morning he said, "Please send me back to my master."

55And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.

Her brother and her mother said, "Let the girl stay with us a while. Let her stay at least ten days. Then she may go."

56And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.

He said, "Please do not hold me back. The LORD has made my trip work out. Send me on my way to my master."

57And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.

They said, "We will call the girl and ask her what she wants."

58And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

They called Rebekah and asked, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will go."

59And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men.

So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way. The woman who had cared for her since she was a baby went too. So did Abraham's servant and his men.

60And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.

They blessed Rebekah and said, "You are our sister. May you become the mother of thousands and thousands of people. May your family take the city gates of the people who hate them."

41And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing his father gave him. Esau said to himself, "Soon my father will die and we will cry for him. Then I will kill my brother Jacob."

42And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.

Someone told Rebekah what her older son Esau said. She sent for her younger son Jacob. She said, "Your brother Esau is making himself feel better by planning to kill you."

43Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;

"So now, my son, listen to me. Get up and run to my brother Laban in Haran."

44And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away;

"Stay with him for a while, until your brother is not so angry."

45Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

"Wait until he is not angry at you and forgets what you did. Then I will send for you. Why should I lose both of you in one day?"

46And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am tired of living because of these Hittite women. What if Jacob marries one of them? Then what good is my life?"

1And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

Isaac called his son Jacob and blessed him. Then he told him, "Do not marry a woman from Canaan, the land where we live."

2Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother.

"Go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel, your mother's father. Marry one of the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother."

3And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;

"May God Almighty bless you. May he give you many children, so your family grows into many peoples."

4And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.

"May God give you the same blessing he gave Abraham. May he give it to you and to your children after you. Then this land will be your family's land, even though you live here now as a visitor. This is the land God gave to Abraham."

5And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.

So Isaac sent Jacob away. Jacob went to Padanaram, to Laban. Laban was the son of Bethuel the Syrian. He was also the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.

1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

Then Jacob kept walking. He came to the land of the people in the east.

2And 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.

He saw a well out in a field. Three groups of sheep lay near it. Shepherds gave the sheep water from that well. A big stone lay over the top of the well.

3And 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.

All the sheep were brought there. Then the shepherds rolled the stone off the well. They gave the sheep water. Then they put the stone back on top.

4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

Jacob said to them, "My friends, where are you from?" They said, "We are from Haran."

5And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

He said, "Do you know Laban? He comes from the family of Nahor." They said, "Yes, we know him."

6And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

Jacob asked, "Is he well?" They said, "He is well. Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep."

7And 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.

Jacob said, "Look, the sun is still high. It is not time to bring the animals in yet. Give the sheep water. Then take them back to eat grass."

8And 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.

They said, "We cannot. We wait until all the flocks are here. Then the stone is rolled off the well. After that we give the sheep water."

9And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.

While he was still talking with them, Rachel came. She brought her father's sheep, because she took care of them.

10And 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.

Jacob saw Rachel and her father's sheep. Laban was the brother of Jacob's mother. So Jacob went over and rolled the stone off the well. Then he gave Laban's sheep water.

11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

Then Jacob kissed Rachel. He cried out loud.

12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.

Jacob told Rachel that he was part of her father's family. He said his mother was Rebekah. Rachel ran and told her father.

13And 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.

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

14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

Laban said, "You really are my own family." Jacob stayed with him for a month.

15And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

Then Laban said to Jacob, "You are family, but you should not work for free. Tell me what your pay should be."

16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

Laban had two daughters. The older one was named Leah. The younger one was named Rachel.

17Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

Leah had weak eyes. Rachel had a lovely face and shape.

18And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

Jacob loved Rachel. He said, "I will work for you seven years. Then let me marry Rachel, your younger daughter."

19And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

Laban said, "Better that I give her to you than to another man. Stay here with me."

20And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

So Jacob worked seven years to marry Rachel. It felt like only a few days to him. That was because he loved her so much.

21And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife. My time of work is finished. I want to live with her as her husband."

22And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

So Laban called all the men of that place together. He made a big feast.

23And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

But that evening he took his daughter Leah. He brought her to Jacob, and Jacob slept with her.

24And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

Laban also gave a servant girl named Zilpah to Leah. She would be Leah's helper.

25And 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?

In the morning Jacob saw that it was Leah! He said to Laban, "What have you done to me? I worked for you to marry Rachel. Why did you trick me?"

26And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

Laban said, "That is not how we do things here. The younger daughter does not marry first."

27Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

"Finish this week of wedding parties. Then we will give you Rachel too. But you must work for me seven more years."

28And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

Jacob did that. He finished the week of parties. Then Laban gave him Rachel as his wife too.

29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

Laban also gave a servant girl named Bilhah to Rachel. She would be Rachel's helper.

30And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

Jacob slept with Rachel too. He loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban seven more years.

25And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.

After Rachel had Joseph, Jacob spoke to Laban. He said, "Let me go. I want to go home to my own land."

26Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.

"Give me my wives and my children. I worked for you to get them. Then let me go. You know how hard I have worked for you."

27And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.

Laban said, "Please stay, if you are willing. I have learned that the LORD has blessed me because of you."

28And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.

Laban said, "Tell me what pay you want. I will give it to you."

29And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.

Jacob said, "You know how I have worked for you. You know how well your animals have done with me."

30For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?

"You had very little before I came. Now you have a great deal. The LORD has blessed you wherever I went. But when do I get to take care of my own family?"

31And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock.

Laban asked, "What should I give you?" Jacob said, "Don't give me anything. Just do this one thing, and I will keep taking care of your animals."

32I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.

"Today let me walk through all your animals. I will take out every speckled and spotted sheep, and every dark lamb. I will take out every spotted and speckled goat. Those will be my pay."

33So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.

"Later you can check on my animals, and you will see I am honest. Any goat of mine that is not speckled or spotted counts as stolen. Any sheep of mine that is not dark counts as stolen too."

34And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.

Laban said, "Agreed. Let it be the way you said."

35And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.

That same day Laban took out the male goats with stripes and spots. He took out the female goats with speckles and spots, and every goat with any white on it. He took out every dark lamb too. He gave them to his sons to keep.

36And he set three days’ journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.

Then Laban moved those animals three days' walk away from Jacob. Jacob took care of the rest of Laban's flocks.

37And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.

Jacob cut fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees. He peeled off strips of bark. That made white stripes show on the branches.

38And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.

He put the peeled branches in the water troughs where the animals drank. The animals saw the branches when they came to drink and mated there.

39And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

The animals mated in front of the branches. Their babies had stripes, speckles, and spots.

40And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban’s cattle.

Jacob kept these young animals apart. He made Laban's animals face the striped and dark ones. He kept his own animals in a separate group.

41And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.

The strong females were ready to mate. Then Jacob put the branches in the troughs where they could see them. So they mated in front of the branches.

42But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s.

But when the animals were weak, he left the branches out. So the weak animals went to Laban, and the strong ones to Jacob.

43And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

So Jacob grew very rich. He had many animals, servants, camels, and donkeys.