Genesis 29:14-30

New International Reader's Version

¹⁴ Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.”

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

Jacob stayed with Laban for a whole month. ¹⁵ Then Laban said to him, “You are one of my relatives. But is that any reason for you to work for me for nothing? Tell me what your pay should be.”

¹⁶ Laban had two daughters. The name of the older one was Leah. And the name of the younger one was Rachel. ¹⁷ Leah was plain, but Rachel was beautiful. She had a nice figure. ¹⁸ Jacob was in love with Rachel. He said to Laban, “I’ll work for you for seven years so I can marry your younger daughter Rachel.”

¹⁹ Laban said, “It’s better for me to give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” ²⁰ So Jacob worked for seven years so he could marry Rachel. But they seemed like only a few days to him because he loved her so much.

²¹ Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. I’ve completed my time. I want to sleep with her.”

²² So Laban brought all the people of the place together and had a feast prepared. ²³ But when evening came, he gave his daughter Leah to Jacob. And Jacob slept with her. ²⁴ Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter as her servant.

²⁵ When Jacob woke up the next morning, there was Leah next to him! So he said to Laban, “What have you done to me? I worked for you so I could marry Rachel, didn’t I? Why did you trick me?”

²⁶ Laban replied, “It isn’t our practice here to give the younger daughter to be married before the older one. ²⁷ Complete this daughter’s wedding week. Then we’ll give you the younger one also. But you will have to work for another seven years.”

²⁸ So Jacob completed the week with Leah. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. ²⁹ Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her servant. ³⁰ Jacob slept with Rachel also. He loved Rachel more than he loved Leah. And he worked for Laban for another seven years.