16
Laban had two daughters. The name of the older one was Leah. And the name of the younger one was Rachel.
17
Leah had weak eyes. But Rachel was beautiful. She had a nice figure.
18
Jacob was in love with Rachel. He said to Laban, "I'll work for you for seven years to get your younger daughter Rachel."
19
Laban said, "It's better for me to give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me."
20
So Jacob worked for seven years to get Rachel. But they seemed like only a few days to him because he loved her so much.
21
Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife. I've completed my time. I want to make love to her."
22
So Laban brought all of the people of the place together and had a big dinner prepared.
23
But when evening came, he gave his daughter Leah to Jacob. And Jacob made love to her.
24
Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter as her servant.
25
When Jacob woke up the next morning, there was Leah next to him! So he said to Laban, "What have you done to me? I worked for you to get Rachel, didn't I? Why did you trick me?"
26
Laban replied, "It isn't our practice here to give the younger daughter to be married before the older one.
27
Complete this daughter's wedding week. Then we'll give you the younger one also. But you will have to work for another seven years."
28
So Jacob did it. He completed the week with Leah. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.
29
Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her servant.
30
Jacob made love to Rachel also. He loved Rachel more than he loved Leah. And he worked for Laban for another seven years.
Jacob Becomes the Father of Many Children
31 The LORD saw that Jacob didn't love Leah as much as he loved Rachel. So he let Leah have children. But Rachel wasn't able to have children.
32
Leah became pregnant. She had a son. She named him Reuben. She said, "The LORD has seen me suffer. Certainly my husband will love me now."
33
She became pregnant again. She had a son. Then she said, "The LORD heard that Jacob doesn't love me very much. That's why the LORD gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon.
34
She became pregnant again. She had a son. Then she said, "Now at last my husband will want me. I have had three sons by him." So the boy was named Levi.
35
She became pregnant again. She had a son. Then she said, "This time I'll praise the Lord." So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.