Leah

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.

31And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

The LORD saw that Leah was not loved. So he let her have babies. But Rachel could not have babies.

32And 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.

Leah had a baby boy. She named him Reuben. She said, "The LORD saw how sad I was. Now my husband will love me."

33And 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.

She had another baby boy. She said, "The LORD heard that I am not loved. So he gave me this son too." She named him Simeon.

34And 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.

She had another baby boy. She said, "Now my husband will stay close to me. I have given him three sons." So he was named Levi.

35And 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.

She had another baby boy. She said, "This time I will praise the LORD." So she named him Judah. After that she stopped having babies.

9When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

Leah saw that she had stopped having babies. So she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife.

10And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a son.

Zilpah, Leah's servant, gave birth to a son for Jacob.

11And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.

Leah said, "How lucky I am!" So she named him Gad.

12And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a second son.

Zilpah, Leah's servant, gave birth to a second son for Jacob.

13And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

Leah said, "How happy I am! The women will say I am blessed." So she named him Asher.

14And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes.

It was time to bring in the wheat. Reuben was out in the field. He found some mandrake plants and brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."

15And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes.

Leah said, "You already took my husband. Now you want my son's mandrakes too?" Rachel said, "Fine. Jacob can sleep at your tent tonight, for the mandrakes."

16And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son’s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

That evening Jacob came in from the field. Leah went out to meet him. She said, "You must come with me. I paid for you with my son's mandrakes." So he slept with her that night.

17And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.

God listened to Leah. She had another baby. It was a fifth son for Jacob.

18And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

Leah said, "God has paid me back, because I gave my servant to my husband." So she named him Issachar.

19And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.

Leah had another baby. It was a sixth son for Jacob.

20And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

Leah said, "God has given me a fine gift. Now my husband will stay with me. I have given him six sons." So she named him Zebulun.

21And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

After that Leah had a daughter. She named her Dinah.

4And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,

So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah, his wives. He asked them to come out to the field where his animals were.

5And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.

He said, "I can see your father's face. He is not friendly to me like before. But my father's God has stayed with me."

6And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.

"You know how hard I have worked for your father. I gave him all my strength."

7And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

"He tricked me. He changed my pay ten times. But God did not let him hurt me."

8If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.

"When he said, 'The spotted animals are your pay,' all the babies were born spotted. When he said, 'The striped ones are your pay,' all the babies were born striped."

9Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.

"So God took your father's animals and gave them to me."

10And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.

"When the animals were having babies, I had a dream. In it the male animals were striped, spotted, and speckled."

11And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.

"In the dream God's angel, his messenger, called me. He said, 'Jacob!' I said, 'I am here.'"

12And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.

"He said, 'Look up. All the males are striped, spotted, and speckled. I have seen everything Laban has done to you.'"

13I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.

"'I am the God of Bethel. That is where you poured oil on a stone and made a promise to me. Now get up. Leave this land and go back to your own family.'"

14And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?

Rachel and Leah answered him. They said, "Is anything left for us in our father's house? No, nothing."

15Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.

"He treats us like strangers, not like daughters. He sold us. Then he used up all the money."

16For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.

"All the riches God took from our father belong to us and our children. So do whatever God has told you."

1And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.

Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with four hundred men. So Jacob split the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two servant women.

2And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

He put the servant women and their children in front. Leah and her children came next. Rachel and Joseph came last.

3And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

Jacob walked ahead of them all. He bowed down to the ground seven times as he came near his brother.

4And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

But Esau ran to meet him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him. They both cried.

5And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.

Esau looked up and saw the women and children. He asked, "Who are these with you?" Jacob said, "These are the children God kindly gave me, your servant."

6Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.

Then the servant women came near with their children, and they bowed down.

7And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

Leah and her children came near and bowed down too. Then Joseph and Rachel came near and bowed down.

1And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.

Dinah was the daughter of Leah and Jacob. She went out to visit the young women of that land.

2And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.

Shechem saw her. He was the son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that land. He grabbed Dinah and forced himself on her. He hurt her and shamed her.

3And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.

But his heart held on to Dinah, Jacob's daughter. He loved the young girl. He spoke gentle words to her.

4And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.

So Shechem said to his father Hamor, "Get me this girl. I want her for my wife."

5And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.

Jacob heard that Shechem had shamed his daughter Dinah. His sons were far away in the fields with the animals. So Jacob said nothing until they came home.

6And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.

Meanwhile Hamor, the father of Shechem, went out to talk with Jacob.

7And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter; which thing ought not to be done.

Jacob's sons heard what had happened and came in from the fields. They were full of sadness and anger. Shechem had done a shameful thing to Jacob's family. He had forced himself on Jacob's daughter. Such a thing should never be done.

29And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

Then Jacob told them, "I am about to die and join my family. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite."

30In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.

"That cave is in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. Abraham bought the field from Ephron the Hittite to use as a burial place."

31There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

"Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried there. Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried there. I buried Leah there too."

32The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.

"The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites."

33And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

When Jacob finished speaking to his sons, he pulled his feet up into the bed. Then he took his last breath and died.

9And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.

Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, "You all saw this today. I have bought from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon.

10Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

I have also taken Ruth to be my wife. She came from Moab, and her husband Mahlon died. Her son will carry Mahlon's name and keep his land. So Mahlon's name will not be forgotten in his town. You all saw this today."

11And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

All the people at the gate and the leaders said, "We saw it. May the LORD make this woman like Rachel and Leah. Those two mothers built up the families of Israel. May you do well in Ephratah and be known in Bethlehem.

12And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.

Long ago Tamar had a son named Pharez, and Judah was his father. May your family grow strong like that family. May the LORD give you children by this young woman."