15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah's eyes were weak,[a] but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. 18 Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, (A)“I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” 20 So Jacob (B)served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” 22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and (C)made a feast. 23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. 24 (Laban gave[b] (D)his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) 25 And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” 26 Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 (E)Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 29:17 Or soft
  2. Genesis 29:24 Or had given; also verse 29

15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative(A) of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages(B) should be.”

16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah,(C) and the name of the younger was Rachel.(D) 17 Leah had weak[a] eyes, but Rachel(E) had a lovely figure and was beautiful.(F) 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel(G) and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”(H)

19 Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel,(I) but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.(J)

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.(K)

22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast.(L) 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah(M) and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah(N) to his daughter as her attendant.(O)

25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me?(P) I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?(Q)

26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.(R) 27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week;(S) then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.(T)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 29:17 Or delicate