1. THEN JACOB went [briskly and cheerfully] on his way [400 miles] and came to the land of the people of the East.
2. As he looked, he saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well's mouth was a big one,
3. And when all the flocks were gathered there, [the shepherds] would roll the stone from the well's mouth, water the sheep, and replace the stone on the well's mouth.
4. And Jacob said to them, My brothers, where are you from? And they said, We are from Haran.
5. [Jacob] said to them, Do you know Laban the grandson of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
6. He said to them, Is it well with him? And they said, He is doing well; and behold, here comes his daughter Rachel with [his] sheep!
7. He said, The sun is still high; it is a long time yet before the flocks need be gathered [in their folds]. [Why not] water the sheep and return them to their pasture?
8. But they said, We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together; then [the shepherds] roll the stone from the well's mouth and we water the sheep.
9. While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she shepherded them.
10. When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his uncle, Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the flock of his uncle Laban.
11. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and he wept aloud.
12. Jacob told Rachel he was her father's relative, Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father.
13. When Laban heard of the arrival of Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him, and embraced and kissed him and brought him to his house. And [Jacob] told Laban all these things.
14. Then Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. And [Jacob] stayed with him a month.
15. Then Laban said to Jacob, Just because you are my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?
16. Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17. Leah's eyes were weak and dull looking, but Rachel was beautiful and attractive.
18. And Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, I will work for you for seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.
19. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to you than to another man. Stay and live with me.