Jacob Meets Rachel

29 Then Jacob [a]went on his journey, and came to the land of (A)the sons of the east. He looked, and [b]saw (B)a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for from that well they watered the flocks. Now the stone on the mouth of the well was large. When all the flocks were gathered there, they would then roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the mouth of the well.

Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from (C)Haran.” He said to them, “Do you know Laban the (D)son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.” And he said to them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “It is well, and here is (E)Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep.” He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them.” But they said, “We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered, and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”

While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11 Then Jacob (F)kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept. 12 Jacob told Rachel that he was a [c](G)relative of her father and that he was Rebekah’s son, and (H)she ran and told her father.

13 So when (I)Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and (J)embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then he related to Laban all these things. 14 Laban said to him, “Surely you are (K)my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him a month.

15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my [d]relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall (L)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 And Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was (M)beautiful of form and [e]face. 18 Now Jacob (N)loved Rachel, so he said, “(O)I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days (P)because of his love for her.

Laban’s Treachery

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my [f]time is completed, that I may (Q)go in to her.” 22 Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her. 24 Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. 25 So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “(R)What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you (S)deceived me?” 26 But Laban said, “It is not [g]the practice in our place to [h]marry off the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which (T)you shall serve with me for another seven years.” 28 Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29 Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed (U)he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with [i]Laban for (V)another seven years.

31 Now the Lord saw that Leah was [j]unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah conceived and bore a son and named him [k]Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has [l](W)seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.” 33 Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, “(X)Because the Lord has [m]heard that I am [n]unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon. 34 She conceived again and bore a son and said, “Now this time my husband will become [o]attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore he was named (Y)Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son and said, “This time I will [p]praise the Lord.” Therefore she named him [q](Z)Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 29:1 Lit lifted up his feet
  2. Genesis 29:2 Lit behold
  3. Genesis 29:12 Lit brother
  4. Genesis 29:15 Lit brother
  5. Genesis 29:17 Lit beautiful of appearance
  6. Genesis 29:21 Lit days are
  7. Genesis 29:26 Lit done thus in
  8. Genesis 29:26 Lit give
  9. Genesis 29:30 Lit him
  10. Genesis 29:31 Lit hated
  11. Genesis 29:32 I.e. see, a son
  12. Genesis 29:32 Lit looked upon
  13. Genesis 29:33 Heb shama, related to Simeon
  14. Genesis 29:33 Lit hated
  15. Genesis 29:34 Heb lavah, related to Levi
  16. Genesis 29:35 Heb Jadah, related to Judah
  17. Genesis 29:35 Heb Jehudah

Protestation of Integrity and Prayer for Protection.

A Psalm of David.

26 [a](A)Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have (B)walked in my integrity,
And I have (C)trusted in the Lord [b](D)without wavering.
(E)Examine me, O Lord, and try me;
(F)Test my [c]mind and my heart.
For Your (G)lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And I have (H)walked in Your [d]truth.
I do not (I)sit with [e]deceitful men,
Nor will I go with [f](J)pretenders.
I (K)hate the assembly of evildoers,
And I will not sit with the wicked.
I shall (L)wash my hands in innocence,
And I will go about (M)Your altar, O Lord,
That I may proclaim with the voice of (N)thanksgiving
And declare all Your [g]wonders.

O Lord, I (O)love the habitation of Your house
And the place [h]where Your (P)glory dwells.
(Q)Do not [i]take my soul away along with sinners,
Nor my life with (R)men of bloodshed,
10 In whose hands is a (S)wicked scheme,
And whose right hand is full of (T)bribes.
11 But as for me, I shall (U)walk in my integrity;
(V)Redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 (W)My foot stands on a (X)level place;
In the (Y)congregations I shall bless the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 26:1 Lit Judge
  2. Psalm 26:1 Lit I do not slide
  3. Psalm 26:2 Lit kidneys, figurative for inner man
  4. Psalm 26:3 Or faithfulness
  5. Psalm 26:4 Or worthless men; lit men of falsehood
  6. Psalm 26:4 Or dissemblers, hypocrites
  7. Psalm 26:7 Or miracles
  8. Psalm 26:8 Lit of the tabernacle of Your glory
  9. Psalm 26:9 Lit gather

Five Thousand Fed

After these things (A)Jesus went away to the other side of (B)the Sea of Galilee (or (C)Tiberias). A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the [a](D)signs which He was performing on those who were sick. Then (E)Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. Now (F)the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, *said to (G)Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” This He was saying to (H)test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. (I)Philip answered Him, “(J)Two hundred [b]denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” One of His (K)disciples, (L)Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, *said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two (M)fish, but what are these for so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people [c]sit down.” Now there was (N)much grass in the place. So the men [d]sat down, in number about (O)five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and (P)having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the (Q)fish as much as they wanted. 12 When they were filled, He *said to His (R)disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve (S)baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Therefore when the people saw the [e]sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the (T)Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. John 6:2 Or attesting miracles
  2. John 6:7 The denarius was equivalent to a day’s wages
  3. John 6:10 Lit recline(d)
  4. John 6:10 Lit recline(d)
  5. John 6:14 Or attesting miracle