17. Leah’s eyes were tender, but Rachel had a lovely figure and beautiful appearance.)
18. Since Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, he said, “I’ll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19. Laban replied, “I’d rather give her to you than to another man. Stay with me.”
20. So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel. But they seemed like only a few days to him because his love for her was so great.
21. Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time of service is up. I want to have marital relations with her.”
22. So Laban invited all the people of that place and prepared a feast.
23. In the evening he brought his daughter Leah to Jacob, and Jacob had marital relations with her.
24. (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)
25. In the morning Jacob discovered it was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What in the world have you done to me! Didn’t I work for you in exchange for Rachel? Why have you tricked me?”
26. “It is not our custom here,” Laban replied, “to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn.
27. Complete my older daughter’s bridal week. Then we will give you the younger one too, in exchange for seven more years of work.”
28. Jacob did as Laban said. When Jacob completed Leah’s bridal week, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.
29. (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)
30. Jacob had marital relations with Rachel as well. He loved Rachel more than Leah, so he worked for Laban for seven more years.
31. When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to become pregnant while Rachel remained childless.
32. So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has looked with pity on my oppressed condition. Surely my husband will love me now.”
33. She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “Because the Lord heard that I was unloved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.
34. She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “Now this time my husband will show me affection, because I have given birth to three sons for him.” That is why he was named Levi.
35. She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” That is why she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.