Jacob Arrives at Laban's Home
1 As Jacob continued on his way to the east, 2 he looked out in a field and saw a well where shepherds took their sheep for water. Three flocks of sheep were lying around the well, which was covered with a large rock. 3 Shepherds would roll the rock away when all their sheep had gathered there. Then after the sheep had been watered, the shepherds would roll the rock back over the mouth of the well.
4 Jacob asked the shepherds, “Where are you from?”
“We're from Haran,” they answered.
5 Then he asked, “Do you know Nahor's grandson Laban?”
“Yes we do,” they replied.
6 “How is he?” Jacob asked.
“He's fine,” they answered. “And here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”
7 Jacob told them, “Look, the sun is still high up in the sky, and it's too early to bring in the rest of the flocks. Water your sheep and take them back to the pasture.”
8 But they replied, “We can't do that until they all get here, and the rock has been rolled away from the well.”
9 While Jacob was still talking with the men, his cousin Rachel came up with her father's sheep. 10 When Jacob saw her and his uncle's sheep, he rolled the rock away and watered the sheep. 11 He then kissed Rachel and started crying because he was so happy. 12 He told her that he was the son of her aunt Rebekah, and she ran and told her father about him.
13 As soon as Laban heard the news, he ran out to meet Jacob. He hugged and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him everything that had happened. 14 Laban said, “You are my nephew, and you are like one of my own family.”
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
After Jacob had been there for a month, 15 Laban said to him, “You shouldn't have to work without pay, just because you are a relative of mine. What do you want me to give you?”
16-17 Laban had two daughters. Leah was older than Rachel, but her eyes didn't sparkle, while Rachel was beautiful and had a good figure. 18 Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he answered, “If you will let me marry Rachel, I'll work seven years for you.”
19 Laban replied, “It's better for me to let you marry Rachel than for someone else to have her. So stay and work for me.” 20 Jacob worked seven years for Laban, but the time seemed like only a few days, because he loved Rachel so much.
21 Jacob said to Laban, “The time is up, and I want to marry Rachel now!” 22 So Laban gave a big feast and invited all their neighbors. 23 But that evening he brought Leah to Jacob, who married her and spent the night with her. 24 Laban also gave Zilpah to Leah as her servant woman.
25 The next morning Jacob found out that he had married Leah, and he asked Laban, “Why did you do this to me? Didn't I work to get Rachel? Why did you trick me?”
26 Laban replied, “In our country the older daughter must get married first. 27 After you spend this week with Leah, you may also marry Rachel. But you will have to work for me another seven years.”
28-30 At the end of the week of celebration, Laban let Jacob marry Rachel, and he gave her his servant woman Bilhah. Jacob loved Rachel more than he did Leah, but he had to work another seven years for Laban.
31 The Lord knew that Jacob loved Rachel more than he did Leah, and so he gave children to Leah, but not to Rachel. 32 Leah gave birth to a son and named him Reuben. Then she said, “The Lord has taken away my sorrow. Now my husband will love me more than he does Rachel.” 33 She had a second son and named him Simeon, because she said, “The Lord has heard that my husband doesn't love me.” 34 When Leah's third son was born, she said, “Now my husband will hold me close.” So this son was named Levi. 35 She had one more son and named him Judah, because she said, “I'll praise the Lord!”
Jakob ta longele Laban
1 Opo nee Jakob okwa fikama ndele okwa ya, ndee okwa fika moshilongo shovakwaushilo. 2 Ndele tala, okwa mona omufima moixwa opo pa li pa omba omaufita atatu eedi, osheshi momufima ou vo va xwiila eedi. Nomoshivelo shomufima mwa tulwa emanya lakula. 3 Ndele ngeenge omaufita aeshe a ongala, ovafita veedi ohava alangatifa po emanya poshivelo shomufima ndele tava xwiile oimuna. Opo nee tava shunifa po emanya poshivelo shomufima ponhele yalo.
4 Opo nee Jakob okwa tya kuvo: “Vakwetu, nye ovapeni?” Ndele vo ova nyamukula tava ti: “Fye otwa dja kuHaran.” 5 Ndele ye okwe va pula ta ti: “Laban yaNahor omu mu shii?” Ndele vo ova nyamukula, tava ti: “Fye otu mu shii.” 6 Ye okwe va pula vali ta ti: “Oku li tuu nawa?” Ndele vo ova nyamukula tava ti: “Heeno, oku li nawa. Nomona waye okakadona, Rakel, oyoo te uya needi.” 7 Ndele ye ta ti: “Omutenya natango; inali toka natango okukongelela oimuna. Xwiileni eedi di ka lye.” 8 Opo nee vo ova nyamukula, tava ti: “Fye ihatu shi dulu, ofimbo omaufita aeshe inaa ongala. Opo nee hatu alangatifa po emanya poshivelo shomufima, ndele hatu xwiile eedi.”
9 Fimbo ye ta popi natango navo, Rakel okwe uya pamwe needi daxe, osheshi ye okwa li ha lifa eedi. 10 Jakob eshi a mona Rakel, omona okakadona kaLaban, omumwaina waina, noimuna yaLaban, mumwaina waina, okwa lotoka nokwa alangatifa po emanya poshivelo shomufima ndele ta xwiile oimuna yaLaban, mumwaina waina. 11 Ndele Jakob okwa fipa Rakel komilungu ndee ta lili pombada. 12 Ndele Jakob okwa hepaululila Rakel nokutya, ye omutekulu waxe nomona waRebeka. Opo nee Rakel okwa tondoka ndele okwe ke shi hepaululila xe.
13 Laban eshi a uda eenghundana edi daJakob, omona wamumwaina, okwa endelela oku mu shakeneka, ndele okwe mu papatela mofingo nokwe mu fipa komilungu nokwe mu twala meumbo laye. Jakob okwa hepaululila Laban oinima aishe ngaashi ya shikulafana. 14 Opo nee Laban okwe mu lombwela: “Oshili, ove ekipa lange nombelela yange.” Ndele ye a kala puye ohani aishe.
15 Opo nee Laban okwa lombwela Jakob: “Ove u longele nge ngeno oshali shaashi ove omukwetu? Lombwele nge eshi wa hala, ondjabi yoye.” 16 Ndele Laban okwa li e na ovana vavali oukadona, edina lomukulunhu oLea, nedina londenge oRakel. 17 Ndele Lea okwa li e na omesho haa fiike, ndelenee Rakel okwa li muwa kolutu nokoshipala. 18 Ndele Jakob okwa li e hole Rakel, onghee hano okwa ti: “Ame ohandi ke ku longela omido heyali molwaRakel, onghelo yoye.” 19 Opo nee Laban okwa nyamukula ta ti: “Oku mu ku pa oshi dule handi mu yandje komulumenhu umwe. Kala pwaame.” 20 Osho ngaha Jakob a longa omido heyali opo a pewe Rakel. Ndele do da li momesho aye ngaashi omafiku avali, shaashi ye okwa li e mu hole.
Ohombo yaJakob
21 Opo nee Jakob okwa lombwela Laban ndele ta ti: “Pe nge nee omwalikadi wange, osheshi efimbo loku mu longela ola pwa ko opo ndi shiive okuya naye.” 22 Opo nee Laban okwa ongela ovalumenhu aveshe vomomukunda nokwa longekida oshivilo. 23 Ndelenee onguloshi ye okwa kufa omona okakadona Lea nokwe mu eta kuJakob. Ndele Jakob okwa nangala naye. 24 (Ndele Laban okwa li e mu pa omupika waye omukainhu Silpa, a ninge omupika womona waye Lea.) 25 Ndele mefiku lomongula, tala ko, opa li Lea! Onghee hano Jakob okwa lombwela Laban ta ti: “Paife hano owa ninga nge ngahelipi? Ame ondi shii onde ku longelela Rakel? Omolwashike wa kengelela nge?” 26 Ndele Laban okwa nyamukula ta ti: “Kashi fi onghedi yetu okuhombolifa onghelo komesho yoshiveli. 27 Wanifa oshivike shoshivilo shehombolo pamwe naye. Opo nee fye ohatu ku pe mukwao yo ngeenge to longo natango omido heyali pwaame.” 28 Ndele Jakob osho a ninga. Ye okwa wanifa oshivike ashishe shoshivilo shehombolo pamwe naau. Opo nee Laban e mu pa omona waye okakadona Rakel a ninge omwalikadi waye.
29 (Ndele Laban okwa pa omona waye Rakel omupika waye omukainhu Bilha, a ninge omupika waRakel.) 30 Ndele ye okwa ya mo yo kuRakel, ndele okwa li e hole Rakel komesho yaLea. Ndele Jakob okwa longela vali Laban omido heyali.
31 Ndele Omwene eshi a mona nokutya, Lea okwa li ehe holike, Ye okwe mu pa oludalo. Ndelenee Rakel okwa li ongadji. 32 Ndele Lea okwa ninga oufimba nokwa dala okaana okamati nokwe ka luka Ruben. Osheshi ye okwa tya: “Oshili Omwene okwa mona oluhepo lange, ndelenee paife omulumenhu wange ota ka kala e hole nge.” 33 Ndele ye okwa ninga vali oufimba nokwa dala okaana okamati ndele ta ti: “Oshili, Omwene okwa uda nokutya, ame omudinwa, nokwa pa nge vali ou.” Ndele ye okwe ka luka Simeon. 34 Ndele ye okwa ninga vali oufimba ndele okwa dala okaana okamati ndele ta ti: “Paife eshi omulumenhu wange ota ka kala e hole nge, shaashi ame nde mu dalela ounona oumati vatatu.” Onghee hano okwe ka luka Levi. 35 Ndele ye okwa ninga vali oufimba nokwa dala okaana okamati ndele ta ti: “Paife ame ohandi ka hambelela Omwene.” Onghee hano e ka luka Juda. Ndele ye okwa ka oludalo.
