Jacob, Joseph & Egypt

And he made a vow, saying: If God shall be with me, and shall keep me in the way, by which I walk, and shall give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

And I shall return prosperously to my father's house: the Lord shall be my God:

And this stone, which I have set up for a title, shall be called the house of God: and of all things that thou shalt give to me, I will offer tithes to thee.

Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.

And he saw a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lying by it: for the beasts were watered out of it, and the mouth thereof was closed with a great stone.

And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to roll away the stone, and after the sheep were watered, to put it on the mouth of the well again.

And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.

And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban, the son of Nachor? They said: We know him.

He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold, Rachel, his daughter, cometh with his flock.

And Jacob said: There is yet much day remaining, neither is it time to bring the flocks into the folds again: first give the sheep drink, and so lead them back to feed.

They answered: We cannot, till all the cattle be gathered together, and we remove the stone from the well's mouth, that we may water the flocks.

They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she fed the flock.

And when Jacob saw her, and knew her to be his cousin german, and that they were the sheep of Laban, his uncle: he removed the stone wherewith the well was closed.

And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his voice wept.

And he told her that he was her father's brother, and the son of Rebecca: but she went in haste and told her father.

Who, when he heard that Jacob his sister's son was come, ran forth to meet him: and embracing him, and heartily kissing him, brought him into his house. And when he had heard the causes of his journey,

He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired,

He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have.

Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia; and the younger was called Rachel.

But Lia was blear-eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance.

And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter.

Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; stay with me.

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.

And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.