1 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 that 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.
Jakubo unoswika ku nzi wa Labani
1 Jakubo kadwilidza gwendo gugwe ngono kanoswika ku shango ye ku bhezhuba. 2 Kati emilidza mesho kabona tshime lakazhaligwa nge bgwe gulugulu ngono kulipoteleka kulilele matanga matatu e pkhwizi ngoti dzakabe dzing'wisiwa ipapo. 3 Kwakabe kuti matanga e pkhwizi asinokubungana wose, balisi bakakunguludza bgwe belidusa pa nlomo we tshime bekong'wisa pkhwizi dzabo. Kudwapo bebgwiliza bgwe mu magalo alo pa nlomo we tshime.
4 Jakubo kabhuzwa balisi kati, “Modwa ngayi bakanyi kwedu?”
Ibo bakadabila beti, “Todwa ku Harani.”
5 Jakubo kabe ebhuzwa eti, “Mungabe muziba Labani nkololo wa Nahori kene?”
Bakadabila beti, “Ee, tonziba.”
6 Ipapo Jakubo kababhuzwa kati, “Unomukazwe kene?”
Bakashandula beti, “Unomuka. Nkololokadzi uwe Rahele wouje waswika ne pkhwizi.”
7 Jakubo kabe eti, “Kutji masikati, atjithu tjikabe tjibaka tje kukubunganya zwithuwo. Ng'wisani pkhwizi mudziyise ku mafulo.”
8 Bakanshandula beti, “Atingadzing'wise kuswikila matanga wose akubungana, bgwe lakunguludziwa kudwa pa nlomo we tshime. Ipapo ndiko kwatingadzing'wisa.”
9 Jakubo kati atjalebeleka nabo, Rahele kaswika ne pkhwizi dza tate babe ngoti wakabe ali nlisikadzi wadzo. 10 Jakubo kati ebona Rahele nkololokadzi wa Labani hazwadzi ya mmeyabe ne pkhwizi dza Labani, kayenda kakunguludza bgwe kalidusa pa nlomo we tshime kang'wisa pkhwizi dza basekulu babe. 11 Ipapo Jakubo kaputa Rahele ngono kamilidza hwi kalila. 12 Kabudza Rahele kati, “Imi ndi gamu la tate babo, ndi nkololo wa Ribeka.”
Rahele kalabuka kanobudza tate babe. 13 Labani kati ehwa ngekwa Jakubo mwana we hazwadzi iye kalabuka kunonshanganidza. Kan'gumbatila kamputa ngono kayenda naye ku nzi uwe. Jakubo kabudza Labani zwithu izwezwi zose. 14 Labani iye kandwa kati, “Iwe u gamu langu, ti lopa ling'ompela.” Jakubo kagala ipapo mwedzi wose.
Jakubo unoshingila Rahele na Liya
15 Labani kadwa Jakubo kati, “Akuzolingisana kuti undishingile usina tjinokubuyila. Ndipo iyo ingabeni?” 16 Labani wakabe ana bakololokadzi bali babili, hwola eyi Liya, ntjetjana eyi Rahele. 17 Liya wakabe ana lidandi mu mesho, koga Rahele akabumbika zwakanaka ali mbuya.
18 Jakubo wakabe eda Rahele. Ndizo kadwa Labani kati, “Ndowomushingila makole ali kutendeka mukondipa Rahele kunlobola.”
19 Labani kadabila eti, “Kwakanaka kuti ndikupe iye pana kuti ndimpe mmwe nthu. Gala nami.” 20 Ndizo Jakubo kashinga makole ali kutendeka kuti apiwe Rahele. Makole iyawa kanga mazhuba asi mangana koga ngoti eda Rahele.
21 Ngono Jakubo kabe eti kuna Labani, “Tjindipani nkadzi wangu nditjishangana naye ngoti tjibaka tjatakadumana tje kunshingila tjapela.” 22 Ndizo Labani kathama bukwe kakoka bathu be bugalo igogo. 23 Koga kwakati kwabe madekwana katola nkololokadzi uwe Liya kan'yisa kuna Jakubo ngono iye kawalilana naye. 24 Labani katola Zilipa nlandakadzi uwe kampa Liya nkololokadzi uwe kube nlandakadzi uwe. 25 Kwakati tjimuka mangwanana Jakubo kabona kuti walala apiwa Liya. Ndizo kabe eti kuna Labani, “Ini ikoku kwamandithamila? Ndakashingila Rahele, ini manditjebela?”
26 Labani kashandula eti, “Ate uli mpanga wedu kulobodza ntjetjana etangila nkuluyi. 27 Pedza tshipi iyeyi ye bukwe gwa iwoyu. Ngono towokupa ntjetjana wanshingilabo mamwe makole ali kutendeka.”
28 Jakubo kashinga saikoko. Kapedza tshipi ana Liya ngono Labani kampa Rahele nkololokadzi uwe kube nkadzi uwe. 29 Labani katola Bhiliha nlandakadzi uwe kampa Rahele nkololokadzi uwe kube nlandakadzi uwe. 30 Jakubo kashanganabo na Rahele ngono kada Rahele kupinda Liya. Jakubo kashingila Labani mamwe makole ali kutendeka.
Kuzwagwa kwe bana ba Jakubo
31 Yahwe bakati bebona kuti Liya aatodiwa, bakampa mbeleko koga Rahele kabe asingawane bana. 32 Liya kazwisenga kawana mwana we tjilisana. Kantumila zina kati Rubheni ngekuti wakati, “Yahwe babona kudziyila kwangu. Nlume wangu utjowondida kwazo.” 33 Kazwisenga kakale kawana mwana we tjilisana ngono kabe eti, “Yahwe bahwa kuti ndoshimiwa ndizo bandipa mbisana iwoyu kakale.” Ngono kantumila kati Simiyoni. 34 Kapapha kazwisenga ngono kati ewana mwana we tjilisana kati, “Ngwenu nlume wangu unowobhatana nami ngoti ndanthamila bakololo batatu.” Ndizo kantumila zina kati Levi. 35 Kazwisenga kakale kawana mwana we tjilisana ngono kabe eti, “Ngwenu ndowokudza Yahwe.” Ndizo kantumila zina eti Juda. Ipapo kamisa kuwana bana.