Jacob’s Children

³¹ When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved,^(A) he enabled her to conceive,^(B) but Rachel remained childless. ³² Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.^(C) She named him Reuben,^[a](D) for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery.^(E) 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,^(F) he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.^[b](G)

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

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.^[d](J) Then she stopped having children.^(K)

²² Then God remembered Rachel;^(A) he listened to her^(B) and enabled her to conceive.^{(C) 23} She became pregnant and gave birth to a son^(D) and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.”^{(E) 24} She named him Joseph,^[a](F) and said, “May the Lord add to me another son.”^(G)

Jacob’s Flocks Increase

²⁵ After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way^(H) so I can go back to my own homeland.^{(I) 26} Give me my wives and children, for whom I have served you,^(J) and I will be on my way. You know how much work I’ve done for you.”

²⁷ But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes,^(K) please stay. I have learned by divination^(L) that the Lord has blessed me because of you.”^{(M) 28} He added, “Name your wages,^(N) and I will pay them.”

²⁹ Jacob said to him, “You know how I have worked for you^(O) and how your livestock has fared under my care.^{(P) 30} The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I have been.^(Q) But now, when may I do something for my own household?^(R)”