Genesis 29:9-30

9When Jacob was speaking to the shepherds, Rachel arrived there. She brought her father's sheep with her. She was taking care of them.

10Jacob saw Rachel. She was the daughter of his uncle Laban. Jacob saw that she had Laban's sheep with her. So Jacob went to the well and he removed the big stone. Then he gave water to Laban's sheep.

11Then Jacob kissed Rachel. He began to weep loudly.

12Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father, Laban. He told her that he was Rebekah's son. So Rachel ran home to tell her father.

13When Laban heard what Rachel said, he went quickly to meet Jacob, his sister's son. He put his arms round Jacob and he kissed him. Laban brought Jacob to his home. Jacob told Laban all his news.

14Then Laban said, ‘Yes, you really are my own relative.’ So Jacob stayed with Laban for a month.

15Then Laban said to Jacob, ‘You should not work for me for nothing because you are my relative. Tell me what I should pay you.’

16Laban had two daughters. The name of the older daughter was Leah. The name of the younger daughter was Rachel.

17Leah had weak eyes. But Rachel's face and her body were beautiful.

18Jacob loved Rachel. He said to Laban, ‘I will work for you for seven years. In return, I want to marry your younger daughter, Rachel.’

19Laban said, ‘It is better for you to marry her than another man. Stay here with me.’

20Jacob worked for seven years to have Rachel as his wife. But the years passed very quickly because Jacob loved Rachel very much. Seven years seemed like only a few days to Jacob.

21After seven years, Jacob said to Laban, ‘Give me my wife. My time to work for you is finished and I want to marry her.’

22Laban called all the people in that place to come together. He prepared a big meal for them to eat.

23When evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and he gave her to Jacob. Jacob slept that night with her as his wife.

24Laban gave his female servant to Leah to be her servant. Her name was Zilpah.

25When morning came, Jacob saw that he had slept with Leah! He said to Laban, ‘You have done a very bad thing to me! I worked for you to get Rachel as my wife. Why have you deceived me?’

26Laban replied, ‘In our land, we do not give the younger daughter to a man first. We let the older daughter marry first.

27So finish this week of Leah's marriage. Then we will give you Rachel to marry too. But you must work for another seven years.’

28So Jacob did what Laban said. He finished the marriage week with Leah. Then Laban gave Rachel to Jacob to be his wife.

29Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to Rachel to become her servant.

30Jacob also slept with Rachel. He loved Rachel more than he loved Leah. He worked for Laban for seven more years.