1Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.29.1 went…: Heb. lift up his feet29.1 people: Heb. children 2And 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. 3And 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. 4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. 5And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. 6And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.29.6 Is he…: Heb. Is there peace to him? 7And 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.29.7 it is…: Heb. yet the day is great 8And 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. 10And 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. 11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father. 13And 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.29.13 tidings: Heb. hearing 14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.29.14 the space…: Heb. a month of days
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? 16And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 18And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20And 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. 22And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. 25And 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? 26And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.29.26 country: Heb. place 27Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 30And 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. 32And 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.29.32 Reuben: that is, See a son 33And 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.29.33 Simeon: that is, Hearing 34And 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.29.34 Levi: that is, Joined 35And 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.29.35 Judah: that is, Praise29.35 left…: Heb. stood from bearing
Yakobo Afika ku Padanaramu
1Yakobo anapitiriza ulendo wake kupita ku dziko la anthu a kummawa. 2Atafika kumeneko anaona chitsime ku busa ndipo panali magulu atatu a nkhosa zitagona pafupi ndi chitsimecho chifukwa nkhosazo zimamwetsedwa madzi ochokera mʼchitsimecho. Pamwamba pa chitsimecho panali mwala waukulu. 3Amati nkhosa zonse zikasonkhana, abusawo ankagudubuza mwalawo, kuwuchotsa ndi kumwetsa madzi nkhosazo. Kenaka ankawubwezera mwalawo pamalo pake, pakamwa pa chitsimepo.
4Yakobo anafunsa abusawo kuti, “Abale anga, mwachokera kuti?”
Iwo anayankha, “Tachokera ku Harani.”
5Iye anawafunsanso kuti, “Kodi Labani, mdzukulu wa Nahori mukumudziwa?”
Iwo anayankha, “Inde tikumudziwa?”
6Ndipo Yakobo anawafunsanso, “Kodi ali bwino?”
Iwo anati, “Inde ali bwino. Nayu Rakele mwana wake akubwera apoyu ndi nkhosa.”
7Iye anati, “Taonani, dzuwa likanalipo ndipo nthawi yosonkhanitsa nkhosa sinakwane. Bwanji osazimwetsa madzi nkhosazi.”
8Iwo anayankha, “Ayi sitingatero. Tidikira mpaka nkhosa zonse zisonkhane. Zikatero, tigubuduza mwalawu kuwuchotsa pamwamba pa chitsimepo, kenaka nʼkuzimwetsa madzi nkhosazo.”
9Ali chiyankhulire nawo, Rakele anafika ndi nkhosa za abambo ake popeza ndiye amene ankaweta nkhosazo. 10Yakobo ataona Rakele mwana wa Labani, mlongo wa amayi ake, ali ndi nkhosa za Labani, anapita nawugudubuza mwala uja nazimwetsa madzi nkhosa za amalume akezo. 11Kenaka Yakobo anapsompsona Rakele nayamba kulira mokweza. 12Kenaka Yakobo anawuza Rakele kuti iye ndi mwana wa Rebeka, mlongo wa abambo a Rakele uja. Choncho Rakele anathamanga nakawuza abambo ake.
13Labani atamva za Yakobo, mwana wa mlongo wake, anafulumira kukakumana naye. Anamukupatira napsompsona, napita naye ku nyumba kwake. Yakobo anafotokozera Labani zonse zinachitika. 14Ndipo, Labani anati kwa iye, “Iwe ndiwe ndithu fupa ndi mnofu wanga.”
Yakobo Akwatira Leya ndi Rakele
Yakobo anakhala ndi Labani mwezi umodzi. 15Tsono Labani anawuza Yakobo kuti, “Zoona iwe ndi ife ndi abale. Koma suyenera kundigwirira ntchito popanda malipiro. Ndiwuze kuti malipiro ako azikhala wotani?”
16Tsono Labani anali ndi ana aakazi awiri; dzina la wamkulu linali Leya, ndipo dzina la wamngʼono linali Rakele. 17Leya anali ndi maonekedwe wofowoka koma Rakele anali wa maonekedwe wokongola kwambiri. 18Yakobo anakonda Rakele ndipo anati, “Ndidzakugwirirani ntchito kwa zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri chifukwa cha mwana wanu wamngʼono, Rakele.”
19Labani anati, “Kuli bwino kuti ndimupereke kwa iwe ameneyu kusiyana ndi munthu wina. Khala ndi ine kuno.” 20Choncho Yakobo anagwira ntchito zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri chifukwa cha Rakele. Koma kwa iye zaka zonsezi zinakhala ngati masiku wochepa chifukwa anamukonda Rakele.
21Kenaka Yakobo anati kwa Labani, “Nthawi yanga ndakwanitsa, ndipatseni mwana wanu kuti ndimukwatire.”
22Pamenepo Labani anakonza phwando la ukwati, nayitana anthu onse a pamalopo. 23Koma pokwana usiku, Labani anatenga mwana wake wamkazi Leya namupatsa Yakobo, ndipo Yakobo anagona naye. 24Ndipo Labani anapereka wantchito wake wamkazi Zilipa kwa Leya kuti akhale wantchito wake.
25Pakucha mmawa, Yakobo anaona kuti anagona ndi Leya. Choncho Yakobo anafunsa Labani, “Nʼchiyani mwandichitirachi? Kodi ine sindinakugwirireni ntchito chifukwa cha Rakele? Bwanji mwandinyenga?”
26Labani anayankha, “Si mwambo wathu kuno kupereka wamngʼono ku banja, wamkulu asanakwatiwe. 27Yamba watsiriza sabata ya chikondwerero cha ukwati wa Leya; kenaka ndidzakupatsanso Rakele. Koma udzayenera kundigwirira ntchito zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri.”
28Yakobo anachitadi momwemo. Anamaliza sabata ya chikondwerero cha Leya, ndipo Labani anamupatsa Rakele kuti akhale mkazi wake. 29Labani anapereka wantchito wake wamkazi Biliha kwa Rakele kuti akhale wantchito wake. 30Yakobo analowana ndi mkazi wake Rakele, ndipo Yakobo anakonda Rakele kuposa Leya. Ndipo anamugwirira ntchito Labani zaka zina zisanu ndi ziwiri chifukwa cha Rakele.
Ana a Yakobo
31Pamene Mulungu anaona kuti Yakobo sankamukonda Leya kwambiri, Iye analola kuti Leya uja akhale ndi ana, ndi kuti Rakele akhale wosabala. 32Leya anakhala ndi pathupi ndipo anabereka mwana wamwamuna. Anamutcha Rubeni pakuti anati, “Yehova waona kusauka kwanga. Zoonadi, mwamuna wanga adzandikonda tsopano.”
33Anakhalanso ndi pathupi ndipo pamene anabereka mwana wamwamuna anati, “Yehova anamva kuti mwamuna wanga sakundikonda, choncho wandipatsanso mwana winayu.” Ndipo anamutcha dzina lake Simeoni.
34Anatenganso pathupi kachitatu, ndipo pamene anabereka mwana wamwamuna anati, “Pano pokha tidzaphatikana kwambiri ndi mwamuna wanga, chifukwa ndamubalira ana aamuna atatu.” Kotero anamutcha dzina lake Levi.
35Anatenganso pathupi pena, ndipo pamene anabereka mwana wamwamuna, iye anati, “Nthawi ino ndidzalemekeza Yehova.” Choncho anamutcha Yuda. Kenaka analeka kubereka.
