Genesis 29
Complete Jewish Bible
29 (ii) Continuing his journey, Ya‘akov came to the land of the people of the east. 2 As he looked, he saw a well in a field; and there were three flocks of sheep lying there next to it; because they watered the sheep from that well. The stone on the well’s mouth was large, 3 and only when all the flocks had gathered there would they roll the stone away from the opening of the well and water the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place on the well’s opening.
4 Ya‘akov said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” They answered, “We’re from Haran.” 5 He asked them, “Do you know Lavan the [grand]son of Nachor?” They said, “We do.” 6 He asked them, “Are things going well with him?” “Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.” 7 He said, “Look, there’s still plenty of daylight left; and it isn’t time to bring the animals home; so water the sheep; then go, and put them out to pasture.” 8 They answered, “We can’t, not until all the flocks have been gathered together, and they roll the stone away from the opening of the well. That’s when we water the sheep.”
9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, because she took care of them. 10 When Ya‘akov saw Rachel the daughter of Lavan his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Lavan his mother’s brother, Ya‘akov went up and rolled the stone away from the opening of the well and watered the flock of Lavan his mother’s brother. 11 Ya‘akov kissed Rachel and wept aloud. 12 Ya‘akov told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rivkah’s son; and she ran and told her father. 13 When Lavan heard the news of Ya‘akov his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, hugged him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Ya‘akov told Lavan all that had happened. 14 Lavan said to him, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.”
After Ya‘akov had stayed with him for a whole month, 15 Lavan said to him, “Why should you work for me for nothing, just because you are my relative? Tell me how much I should pay you.” 16 Now Lavan had two daughters; the name of the older was Le’ah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Le’ah’s eyes were weak; but Rachel was good-looking, with beautiful features.
(iii) 18 Ya‘akov had fallen in love with Rachel and said, “I will work for you seven years in exchange for Rachel your younger daughter.” 19 Lavan answered, “Better that I give her to you than to someone else; stay with me.” 20 So Ya‘akov worked seven years for Rachel, and it seemed only a few days to him, because he was so much in love with her.
21 Ya‘akov said to Lavan, “Give me my wife, since my time is finished, so that I can start living with her.” 22 Lavan gathered all the men of the place and gave a banquet. 23 In the evening he took Le’ah his daughter and brought her to Ya‘akov, and he went in and slept with her. 24 Lavan also gave his slave-girl Zilpah to his daughter Le’ah as her slave-girl.
25 In the morning Ya‘akov saw that he was with Le’ah, and he said to Lavan, “What kind of thing is this that you’ve done to me? Didn’t I work for you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?” 26 Lavan answered, “In our place that isn’t how it’s done, to give the younger daughter before the firstborn. 27 Finish the marriage week of this one, and we’ll give you the other one also in exchange for the work you will do for me during yet another seven years.” 28 Ya‘akov agreed to this, so he finished her week, and Lavan gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29 Lavan also gave to his daughter Rachel his slave-girl Bilhah as her slave-girl. 30 So not only did Ya‘akov go in and sleep with Rachel, but he also loved Rachel more than Le’ah. Then he served Lavan another seven years.
31 Adonai saw that Le’ah was unloved, so he made her fertile, while Rachel remained childless. 32 Le’ah conceived and gave birth to a son, whom she named Re’uven [see, a son!], for she said, “It is because Adonai has seen how humiliated I have been, but now my husband will love me.” 33 She conceived again, gave birth to a son and said, “It is because Adonai has heard that I am unloved; therefore he has given me this son also.” So she named him Shim‘on [hearing]. 34 Once more she conceived and had a son; and she said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore she named him Levi [joining]. 35 She conceived yet again, had a son and said, “This time I will praise Adonai”; therefore she named him Y’hudah [praise]. Then she stopped having children.
Genesis 29
Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero
Yakobo Afika ku Padanaramu
29 Yakobo anapitiriza ulendo wake kupita ku dziko la anthu a kummawa. 2 Atafika kumeneko anaona chitsime ku busa ndipo panali magulu atatu a nkhosa zitagona pafupi ndi chitsimecho chifukwa nkhosazo zimamwetsedwa madzi ochokera mʼchitsimecho. Pamwamba pa chitsimecho panali mwala waukulu. 3 Amati nkhosa zonse zikasonkhana, abusawo ankagudubuza mwalawo, kuwuchotsa ndi kumwetsa madzi nkhosazo. Kenaka ankawubwezera mwalawo pamalo pake, pakamwa pa chitsimepo.
4 Yakobo anafunsa abusawo kuti, “Abale anga, mwachokera kuti?”
Iwo anayankha, “Tachokera ku Harani.”
5 Iye anawafunsanso kuti, “Kodi Labani, mdzukulu wa Nahori mukumudziwa?”
Iwo anayankha, “Inde tikumudziwa?”
6 Ndipo Yakobo anawafunsanso, “Kodi ali bwino?”
Iwo anati, “Inde ali bwino. Nayu Rakele mwana wake akubwera apoyu ndi nkhosa.”
7 Iye anati, “Taonani, dzuwa likanalipo ndipo nthawi yosonkhanitsa nkhosa sinakwane. Bwanji osazimwetsa madzi nkhosazi.”
8 Iwo anayankha, “Ayi sitingatero. Tidikira mpaka nkhosa zonse zisonkhane. Zikatero, tigubuduza mwalawu kuwuchotsa pamwamba pa chitsimepo, kenaka nʼkuzimwetsa madzi nkhosazo.”
9 Ali chiyankhulire nawo, Rakele anafika ndi nkhosa za abambo ake popeza ndiye amene ankaweta nkhosazo. 10 Yakobo ataona Rakele mwana wa Labani, mlongo wa amayi ake, ali ndi nkhosa za Labani, anapita nawugudubuza mwala uja nazimwetsa madzi nkhosa za amalume akezo. 11 Kenaka Yakobo anapsompsona Rakele nayamba kulira mokweza. 12 Kenaka Yakobo anawuza Rakele kuti iye ndi mwana wa Rebeka, mlongo wa abambo a Rakele uja. Choncho Rakele anathamanga nakawuza abambo ake.
13 Labani atamva za Yakobo, mwana wa mlongo wake, anafulumira kukakumana naye. Anamukupatira napsompsona, napita naye ku nyumba kwake. Yakobo anafotokozera Labani zonse zinachitika. 14 Ndipo, Labani anati kwa iye, “Iwe ndiwe ndithu fupa ndi mnofu wanga.”
Yakobo Akwatira Leya ndi Rakele
Yakobo anakhala ndi Labani mwezi umodzi. 15 Tsono Labani anawuza Yakobo kuti, “Zoona iwe ndi ife ndi abale. Koma suyenera kundigwirira ntchito popanda malipiro. Ndiwuze kuti malipiro ako azikhala wotani?”
16 Tsono Labani anali ndi ana aakazi awiri; dzina la wamkulu linali Leya, ndipo dzina la wamngʼono linali Rakele. 17 Leya anali ndi maonekedwe wofowoka koma Rakele anali wa maonekedwe wokongola kwambiri. 18 Yakobo anakonda Rakele ndipo anati, “Ndidzakugwirirani ntchito kwa zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri chifukwa cha mwana wanu wamngʼono, Rakele.”
19 Labani anati, “Kuli bwino kuti ndimupereke kwa iwe ameneyu kusiyana ndi munthu wina. Khala ndi ine kuno.” 20 Choncho Yakobo anagwira ntchito zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri chifukwa cha Rakele. Koma kwa iye zaka zonsezi zinakhala ngati masiku wochepa chifukwa anamukonda Rakele.
21 Kenaka Yakobo anati kwa Labani, “Nthawi yanga ndakwanitsa, ndipatseni mwana wanu kuti ndimukwatire.”
22 Pamenepo Labani anakonza phwando la ukwati, nayitana anthu onse a pamalopo. 23 Koma pokwana usiku, Labani anatenga mwana wake wamkazi Leya namupatsa Yakobo, ndipo Yakobo anagona naye. 24 Ndipo Labani anapereka wantchito wake wamkazi Zilipa kwa Leya kuti akhale wantchito wake.
25 Pakucha mmawa, Yakobo anaona kuti anagona ndi Leya. Choncho Yakobo anafunsa Labani, “Nʼchiyani mwandichitirachi? Kodi ine sindinakugwirireni ntchito chifukwa cha Rakele? Bwanji mwandinyenga?”
26 Labani anayankha, “Si mwambo wathu kuno kupereka wamngʼono ku banja, wamkulu asanakwatiwe. 27 Yamba watsiriza sabata ya chikondwerero cha ukwati wa Leya; kenaka ndidzakupatsanso Rakele. Koma udzayenera kundigwirira ntchito zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri.”
28 Yakobo anachitadi momwemo. Anamaliza sabata ya chikondwerero cha Leya, ndipo Labani anamupatsa Rakele kuti akhale mkazi wake. 29 Labani anapereka wantchito wake wamkazi Biliha kwa Rakele kuti akhale wantchito wake. 30 Yakobo analowana ndi mkazi wake Rakele, ndipo Yakobo anakonda Rakele kuposa Leya. Ndipo anamugwirira ntchito Labani zaka zina zisanu ndi ziwiri chifukwa cha Rakele.
Ana a Yakobo
31 Pamene Mulungu anaona kuti Yakobo sankamukonda Leya kwambiri, Iye analola kuti Leya uja akhale ndi ana, ndi kuti Rakele akhale wosabala. 32 Leya anakhala ndi pathupi ndipo anabereka mwana wamwamuna. Anamutcha Rubeni pakuti anati, “Yehova waona kusauka kwanga. Zoonadi, mwamuna wanga adzandikonda tsopano.”
33 Anakhalanso ndi pathupi ndipo pamene anabereka mwana wamwamuna anati, “Yehova anamva kuti mwamuna wanga sakundikonda, choncho wandipatsanso mwana winayu.” Ndipo anamutcha dzina lake Simeoni.
34 Anatenganso pathupi kachitatu, ndipo pamene anabereka mwana wamwamuna anati, “Pano pokha tidzaphatikana kwambiri ndi mwamuna wanga, chifukwa ndamubalira ana aamuna atatu.” Kotero anamutcha dzina lake Levi.
35 Anatenganso pathupi pena, ndipo pamene anabereka mwana wamwamuna, iye anati, “Nthawi ino ndidzalemekeza Yehova.” Choncho anamutcha Yuda. Kenaka analeka kubereka.
Genesis 29
King James Version
29 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 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.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
The Word of God in Contemporary Chichewa Copyright © 2002, 2016 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide. Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Mwini © 2002, 2016 ndi Biblica, Inc.® Kugwiritsa ntchito mwachilolezo. Umwini ndi otetezedwa pa dziko lonse.