Genesis 29:15-35

New International Version

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)”

²⁸ And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.^{(U) 29} Laban gave his servant Bilhah^(V) to his daughter Rachel as her attendant.^{(W) 30} Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah.^(X) And he worked for Laban another seven years.^(Y)

Jacob’s Children

³¹ When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved,^(Z) he enabled her to conceive,^(AA) but Rachel remained childless. ³² Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.^(AB) She named him Reuben,^[b](AC) for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery.^(AD) Surely my husband will love me now.”

³³ She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved,^(AE) he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.^[c](AF)

³⁴ Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me,^(AG) because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.^[d](AH)

³⁵ She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah.^[e](AI) Then she stopped having children.^(AJ)