1  And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

1  Then, when a famine arose over the land, after that barrenness which had happened in the days of Abraham, Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Palestinians, in Gerar.

2  And YHWH appeared unto him, and said: 'Go not down unto Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of.

2  And the Lord appeared to him, and he said: “Do not descend into Egypt, but rest in the land that I will tell you,

3  Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore unto Abraham thy father;

3  And sojourn in this land; and I will be with thee, and bless thee, for I will give to thee and to thy seed all this land; and I will establish my oath which I swore to thy father Abraam.

3  and sojourn in it, and I will be with you, and I will bless you. For to you and to your offspring I will give all these regions, completing the oath that I promised to Abraham your father.

4  and I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these lands; and by thy seed shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves;

4  And I will multiply your offspring like the stars of heaven. And I will give to your posterity all these regions. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed,

4  And I will make your descendants to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give to your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

5  because that Abraham hearkened to My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.'

5  Because Abraam thy father hearkened to my voice, and kept my injunctions, and my commandments, and my ordinances, and my statutes.

5  because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my precepts and commandments, and observed the ceremonies and the laws.”

6  And Isaac dwelt in Gerar.

6  And so Isaac remained in Gerar.

7  And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said: 'She is my sister'; for he feared to say: 'My wife'; 'lest the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah, because she is fair to look upon.'

7  And the men of the place questioned him concerning Rebecca his wife, and he said, She is my sister, for he feared to say, She is my wife, lest at any time the men of the place should slay him because of Rebecca, because she was fair.

7  And when he was questioned by the men of that place about his wife, he answered, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to confess her to be his mate, thinking that perhaps they would put him to death because of her beauty.

8  And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.

8  And he remained there a long time, and Abimelech the king of Gerara leaned to look through the window, and saw Isaac sporting with Rebecca his wife.

8  And when very many days had passed, and he had remained in the same place, Abimelech, king of the Palestinians, gazing through a window, saw him being playful with Rebekah, his wife.

9  And Abimelech called Isaac, and said: 'Behold, of a surety she is thy wife; and how saidst thou: She is my sister?' And Isaac said unto him: 'Because I said: Lest I die because of her.'

9  And summoning him, he said: “It is clear that she is your wife. Why did you falsely claim her to be your sister?” He answered, “I was afraid, lest I might die because of her.”

9  So Abimeleck called Isaac, and said, Behold, she is your wife; how then did you say, She is my sister? And Isaac said to him, Because I said, Lest I may die on account of her.

10  And Abimelech said: 'What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might easily have lain with thy wife, and thou wouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.'

10  And Abimelech said: “Why have you burdened us? Someone from the people could have lain with your wife, and you would have brought a great sin upon us.” And he instructed all the people, saying,

11  And Abimelech charged all the people, saying: 'He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.'

11  “Whoever will touch the wife of this man will die a death.”

12  And Isaac sowed in that land, and found in the same year a hundredfold; and YHWH blessed him.

12  Then Isaac sowed in that land, and he found, in that same year, one hundredfold. And the Lord blessed him.

13  And the man waxed great, and grew more and more until he became very great.

13  And the man was enriched, and he continued prospering as well as increasing, until he became very great.

14  And he had possessions of flocks, and possessions of herds, and a great household; and the Philistines envied him.

14  And he had cattle of sheep, and cattle of oxen, and many tilled lands, and the Phylistines envied him.

14  Likewise, he had possessions of sheep and of herds, and a very large family. Because of this, the Palestinians envied him,

15  Now all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.

15  so, at that time, they obstructed all the wells that the servants of his father Abraham had dug, filling them with soil.

16  And Abimelech said unto Isaac: 'Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.'

16  It reached a point where Abimelech himself said to Isaac, “Move away from us, for you have become very much more powerful than we.”

17  And Isaac departed thence, and encamped in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

17  And departing, he then went toward the torrent of Gerar, and he dwelt there.

18  And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham; and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

18  Again, he dug up other wells, which the servants of his father Abraham had dug, and which, after his death, the Philistines had formerly obstructed. And he called them by the same names that his father had called them before.

19  And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of living water.

19  And the servants of Isaac dug in the valley of Gerara, and they found there a well of living water.

19  And they dug in the torrent, and they found living water.

20  And the herdmen of Gerar strove with Isaac's herdmen, saying: 'The water is ours.' And he called the name of the well Esek; because they contended with him.

20  But in that place also the shepherds of Gerar argued against the shepherds of Isaac, by saying, “It is our water.” For this reason, he called the name of the well, because of what had happened, ‘Calumny.’

21  And they digged another well, and they strove for that also. And he called the name of it Sitnah.

21  And having departed thence he dug another well, and they strove also for that; and he named the name of it, Enmity.

21  Then they dug up yet another one. And over that one also they fought, and he called it, ‘Enmity.’

22  And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not. And he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said: 'For now YHWH hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.'

22  And he departed thence and dug another well; and they did not strive about that; and he named the name of it, Room, saying, Because now the Lord has made room for us, and has increased us upon the earth.

22  Advancing from there, he dug another well, over which they did not contend. And so he called its name, ‘Latitude,’ saying, “Now the Lord has expanded us and caused us to increase across the land.”

23  And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba.

23  Then he ascended from that place into Beersheba,

24  And YHWH appeared unto him the same night, and said: 'I am the God of Abraham thy father. Fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for My servant Abraham's sake.'

24  And the Lord appeared to him in that night, and said, I am the God of Abraam thy father; fear not, for I am with thee, and I will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for the sake of Abraam thy father.

24  where the Lord appeared to him on the same night, saying: “I am the God of Abraham your father. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you, and I will multiply your offspring because of my servant Abraham.”

25  And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of YHWH, and pitched his tent there; and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

25  And he built there an altar, and called on the name of the Lord, and there he pitched his tent, and there the servants of Isaac dug a well in the valley of Gerara.

25  And so he built an altar there. And he invoked the name of the Lord, and he stretched out his tent. And he instructed his servants to dig a well.

26  Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his host.

26  And Abimelech came to him from Gerara, and so did Ochozath his friend, and Phichol the commander-in-chief of his army.

26  When Abimelech, and Ahuzzath, his friend, and Phicol, the leader of the military, had arrived from Gerar to that place,

27  And Isaac said unto them: 'Wherefore are ye come unto me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?'

27  Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, a man whom you hate, and whom you have expelled from among you?”

28  And they said: 'We saw plainly that YHWH was with thee; and we said: Let there now be an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;

28  And they responded: “We saw that the Lord is with you, and therefore we said: Let there be an oath between us, and let us initiate a pact,

28  And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD is with you; so we said, Let there be now an oath between us and you, and let us make a covenant with you,

29  that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace; thou art now the blessed of YHWH.'

29  so that you may not do us any kind of harm, just as we have touched nothing of yours, and have not caused any injury to you, but with peace we released you, augmented by the blessing of the Lord.”

29  That you will do us no evil, just as we have not hurt you, and as we have done nothing but good to you, and have sent you away in peace; you are now the blessed of the LORD.

30  And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.

30  Therefore, he made them a feast, and after the food and drink,

31  And they rose up betimes in the morning, and swore one to another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

31  arising in the morning, they swore to one another. And Isaac sent them away peacefully to their own place.

32  And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him: 'We have found water.'

32  Then, behold, on the same day the servants of Isaac came, reporting to him about a well which they had dug, and saying: “We have found water.”

33  And he called it Shibah. Therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba unto this day.

33  Therefore, he called it, ‘Abundance.’ And the name of the city was established as ‘Beersheba,’ even to the present day.

34  And when Esau was forty years old, he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite.

34  In truth, at forty years of age, Esau took wives: Judith, the daughter of Beeri, the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon, of the same place.

35  And they were a bitterness of spirit unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

35  And they both offended the mind of Isaac and Rebekah.

35  Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

27:1  And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said unto him: 'My son'; and he said unto him: 'Here am I.'

1  Now Isaac was old, and his eyes were cloudy, and so he was not able to see. And he called his elder son Esau, and he said to him, “My son?” And he responded, “Here I am.”

27:2  And he said: 'Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death.

2  His father said to him: “You see that I am old, and I do not know the day of my death.

2  And Isaac said to him, Behold now, I am old, and I do not know the day of my death;

27:3  Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me venison;

3  Take your weapons, the quiver and the bow, and go out. And when you have taken something by hunting,

27:4  and make me savoury food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.'

4  make from it a small meal for me, just as you know I like, and bring it, so that I may eat and my soul may bless you before I die.”

27:5  And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

5  And Rebecca heard Isaac speaking to Esau his son; and Esau went to the plain to procure venison for his father.

5  And when Rebekah had heard this, and he had gone out into the field to fulfill his father’s order,

27:6  And Rebekah spoke unto Jacob her son, saying: 'Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying

6  she said to her son Jacob: “I heard your father speaking with your brother Esau, and saying to him,

6  Then Rebekah said to Jacob her son, Behold, I heard your father say to Esau your brother,

27:7  Bring me venison, and make me savoury food, that I may eat, and bless thee before YHWH before my death.

7  ‘Bring to me from your hunting, and make me foods, so that I may eat and bless you in the sight of the Lord before I die.’

7  Bring me game, and make me stewed meat, that I may eat and bless you in the presence of the LORD before I die.

27:8  Now therefore, my son, hearken to my voice according to that which I command thee.

8  Now then, my son, hearken to me, as I command thee.

8  Therefore, now my son, agree to my counsel,

27:9  Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury food for thy father, such as he loveth;

9  And go to the cattle and take for me thence two kids, tender and good, and I will make them meats for thy father, as he likes.

9  and go straight to the flock, and bring me two of the best young goats, so that from them I may make meat for your father, such as he willingly eats.

27:10  and thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, so that he may bless thee before his death.'

10  Then, when you have brought these in and he has eaten, he may bless you before he dies.”

10  And you shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, and that he may bless you in the presence of the LORD before his death.

27:11  And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother: 'Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.

11  He answered her: “You know that my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am smooth.

27:12  My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a mocker; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.'

12  If my father should lay hands on me and perceive it, I am afraid lest he think me willing to mock him, and I will bring a curse upon myself, instead of a blessing.”

27:13  And his mother said unto him: 'Upon me be thy curse, my son; only hearken to my voice, and go fetch me them.'

13  And his mother said to him: “Let this curse be upon me, my son. Yet listen to my voice, and go directly to bring what I said.”

27:14  And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother; and his mother made savoury food, such as his father loved.

14  So he went and took and brought them to his mother; and his mother made meats, as his father liked them.

14  He went out, and he brought, and he gave to his mother. She prepared the meats, just as she knew his father liked.

27:15  And Rebekah took the choicest garments of Esau her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son.

15  And Rebecca having taken the fine raiment of her elder son Esau which was with her in the house, put it on Jacob her younger son.

15  And she clothed him with the very fine garments of Esau, which she had at home with her.

27:16  And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck.

16  And she encircled his hands with little pelts from the young goats, and she covered his bare neck.

27:17  And she gave the savoury food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

17  And she gave him the small meal, and she handed him the bread that she had baked.

27:18  And he came unto his father, and said: 'My father'; and he said: 'Here am I; who art thou, my son?'

18  And he brought them to his father, and said, Father; and he said, Behold I am here; who art thou, son?

18  When he had carried these in, he said, “My father?” And he answered, “I’m listening. Who are you, my son?”

27:19  And Jacob said unto his father: 'I am Esau thy first-born; I have done according as thou badest me. Arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.'

19  And Jacob said to his father, I, Esau thy first-born, have done as thou toldest me; rise, sit, and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

19  And Jacob said: “I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you instructed me. Arise; sit and eat from my hunting, so that your soul may bless me.”

27:20  And Isaac said unto his son: 'How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son?' And he said: 'Because YHWH thy God sent me good speed.'

20  And Isaac said to his son, What is this which thou hast quickly found? And he said, That which the Lord thy God presented before me.

20  And again Isaac said to his son, “How were you able to find it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “It was the will of God, so that what I sought met with me quickly.”

27:21  And Isaac said unto Jacob: 'Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.'

27:22  And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said: 'The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.'

22  He approached his father, and when he had felt him, Isaac said: “The voice indeed is the voice of Jacob. But the hands are the hands of Esau.”

27:23  And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him.

23  And he did not recognize him, because his hairy hands made him seem similar to the elder one. Therefore, blessing him,

27:24  And he said: 'Art thou my very son Esau?' And he said: 'I am.'

24  he said, “Are you my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.”

27:25  And he said: 'Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee.' And he brought it near to him, and he did eat; and he brought him wine, and he drank.

25  Then he said, “Bring me the foods from your hunting, my son, so that my soul may bless you.” And when he had eaten what was offered, he also brought forth wine for him. And after he finished it,

27:26  And his father Isaac said unto him: 'Come near now, and kiss me, my son.'

26  he said to him, “Come to me and give me a kiss, my son.”

27:27  And he came near, and kissed him. And he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said: See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which YHWH hath blessed.

27  And he drew nigh and kissed him, and smelled the smell of his garments, and blessed him, and said, Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of an abundant field, which the Lord has blessed.

27  He approached and kissed him. And immediately he perceived the fragrance of his garments. And so, blessing him, he said: “Behold, the smell of my son is like the smell of a plentiful field, which the Lord has blessed.

27:28  So God give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fat places of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine.

27:29  Let peoples serve thee, and nations bow down to thee. Be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee. Cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be every one that blesseth thee.

29  And may the peoples serve you, and may the tribes reverence you. May you be the lord of your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down before you. Whoever curses you, may he be cursed, and whoever blesses you, may he be filled with blessings.”

27:30  And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

30  Scarcely had Isaac completed his words, and Jacob departed, when Esau arrived.

27:31  And he also made savoury food, and brought it unto his father; and he said unto his father: 'Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.'

31  And he brought his father foods cooked from his hunting, saying, “Arise, my father, and eat from your son’s hunting, so that your soul may bless me.”

27:32  And Isaac his father said unto him: 'Who art thou?' And he said: 'I am thy son, thy first-born, Esau.'

32  And Isaac said to him, “But who are you?” And he answered, “I am your firstborn son, Esau.”

27:33  And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said: 'Who then is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.'

33  And Isaac was amazed with very great amazement, and said, Who then is it that has procured venison for me and brought it to me? and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed.

33  Isaac became frightened and very astonished. And wondering beyond what can be believed, he said: “Then who is he that a while ago brought me the prey from his hunting, from which I ate, before you arrived? And I blessed him, and he will be blessed.”

27:34  When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said unto his father: 'Bless me, even me also, O my father.'

34  Esau, having heard his father’s words, roared out with a great outcry. And, being confounded, he said, “But bless me also, my father.”

27:35  And he said: 'Thy brother came with guile, and hath taken away thy blessing.'

35  And he said, “Your twin came deceitfully, and he received your blessing.”

35  But his father said, Your brother came with deceit, and has already received your blessing.

27:36  And he said: 'Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing.' And he said: 'Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?'

36  But he responded: “Justly is his name called Jacob. For he has supplanted me yet another time. My birthright he took away before, and now, this second time, he has stolen my blessing.” And again, he said to his father, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me also?”

27:37  And Isaac answered and said unto Esau: 'Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him; and what then shall I do for thee, my son?'

37  Isaac answered: “I have appointed him as your lord, and I have subjugated all his brothers as his servants. I have reinforced him with grain and wine, and after this, my son, what more shall I do for you?”

27:38  And Esau said unto his father: 'Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father.' And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

38  And Esau said to him: “Have you only one blessing, father? I beg you, bless me also.” And when he wept with a loud wail,

27:39  And Isaac his father answered and said unto him: Behold, of the fat places of the earth shall be thy dwelling, and of the dew of heaven from above;

39  Isaac was moved, and he said to him: “In the fatness of the earth, and in the dew of heaven from above,

27:40  And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt break loose, that thou shalt shake his yoke from off thy neck.

40  will your blessing be. You will live by the sword, and you will serve your brother. But the time will arrive when you will shake off and release his yoke from your neck.”

40  And by your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but if you shall repent, his yoke shall pass away from off your neck.

27:41  And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart: 'Let the days of mourning for my father be at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.'

41  And Esau was angry with Jacob because of the blessing, with which his father blessed him; and Esau said in his mind, Let the days of my father’s mourning draw nigh, that I may slay my brother Jacob.

41  Therefore, Esau always hated Jacob, for the blessing with which his father had blessed him. And he said in his heart, “The days will arrive for the mourning of my father, and I will kill my brother Jacob.”

27:42  And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah; and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him: 'Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.

42  These things were reported to Rebekah. And sending and calling for her son Jacob, she said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau is threatening to kill you.

27:43  Now therefore, my son, hearken to my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;

43  Now then, my son, hear my voice, and rise and depart quickly into Mesopotamia to Laban my brother into Charran.

43  Therefore, now my son, listen to my voice. Rise up and flee to my brother Laban, in Haran.

27:44  and tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;

44  And you will dwell with him for a few days, until the fury of your brother subsides,

27:45  until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him; then I will send, and fetch thee from thence; why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?'

45  and rage depart from thee, and he forget what thou hast done to him; and I will send and fetch thee thence, lest at any time I should be bereaved of you both in one day.

45  and his indignation ceases, and he forgets the things that you have done to him. After this, I will send for you and bring you from there to here. Why should I be bereaved of both my sons in one day?”

27:46  And Rebekah said to Isaac: 'I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?'

46  And Rebecca said to Isaac, I am weary of my life, because of the daughters of the sons of Chet; if Jacob shall take a wife of the daughters of this land, wherefore should I live?

46  Then Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?

28:1  And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him: 'Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

1  And so Isaac called for Jacob, and he blessed him, and he instructed him, saying: “Do not be willing to accept a mate from the family of Canaan.

28:2  Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.

2  Rise and depart quickly into Mesopotamia, to the house of Bathuel the father of thy mother, and take to thyself thence a wife of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother.

2  But go, and journey to Mesopotamia of Syria, to the house of Bethuel, your mother’s father, and there accept for yourself a wife from the daughters of Laban, your maternal uncle.

28:3  And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a congregation of peoples;

3  And may God almighty bless you, and may he cause you to increase and also to multiply, so that you may be influential among the people.

3  May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a multitude of peoples;

28:4  and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land of thy sojournings, which God gave unto Abraham.'

4  And may he give the blessings of Abraham to you, and to your offspring after you, so that you may possess the land of your sojourning, which he promised to your grandfather.”

28:5  And Isaac sent away Jacob; and he went to Paddan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.

5  So Isaac sent away Jacob, and he went into Mesopotamia to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebecca the mother of Jacob and Esau.

5  And when Isaac had dismissed him, setting out, he went to Mesopotamia of Syria, to Laban, the son of Bethuel, the Syrian, the brother to Rebekah, his mother.

28:6  Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying: 'Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan';

6  But Esau, seeing that his father had blessed Jacob and had sent him into Mesopotamia of Syria, to take a wife from there, and that, after the blessing, he had instructed him, saying: ‘You shall not accept a wife from the daughters of Canaan,’

6  When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed his brother Jacob and sent him away to Padan-aram to take for himself a wife from there, and that as he blessed him, he charged him, saying, You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;

28:7  and that Jacob hearkened to his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan-aram;

7  and that Jacob, obeying his parents, had gone into Syria,

7  And Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and went to Padan-aram;

28:8  and Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;

8  And Esau also having seen that the daughters of Chanaan were evil before his father Isaac,

8  having evidence also that his father did not look with favor upon the daughters of Canaan,

28:9  so Esau went unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives that he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.

28:10  And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran.

10  Meanwhile Jacob, having departed from Beersheba, continued on to Haran.

28:11  And he lighted upon the place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep.

11  And when he had arrived at a certain place, where he would rest after the setting of the sun, he took some of the stones that lay there, and placing them under his head, he slept in the same place.

28:12  And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

12  and dreamed, and behold a ladder fixed on the earth, whose top reached to heaven, and the angels of God ascended and descended on it.

12  And he saw in his sleep: a ladder standing upon the earth, with its top touching heaven, also, the Angels of God ascending and descending by it,

28:13  And, behold, YHWH stood beside him, and said: 'I am the YHWH, the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.

13  and the Lord, leaning upon the ladder, saying to him: “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land, in which you sleep, I will give to you and to your offspring.

28:14  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. And in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

14  And your offspring will be like the dust of the earth. You will spread abroad to the West, and to the East, and to the North, and to the Meridian. And in you and in your offspring, all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed.

14  And your descendants shall be as numerous as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the east and to the west and to the north and to the south; and in you and through your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

28:15  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee back into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.'

15  And I will be your guardian wherever you will journey, and I will bring you back into this land. Neither will I dismiss you, until I have accomplished all that I have said.”

28:16  And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said: 'Surely YHWH is in this place; and I knew it not.'

16  And when Jacob had awakened from sleep, he said, “Truly, the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”

28:17  And he was afraid, and said: 'How full of awe is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.'

17  And being terrified, he said: “How terrible this place is! This is nothing other than the house of God and the gateway of heaven.”

17  And Jacob was exceedingly fearful, and he said, How sacred is this place today! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

28:18  And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

18  Therefore, Jacob, arising in the morning, took the stone which he had placed under his head, and he set it up as monument, pouring oil over it.

28:19  And he called the name of that place Beth-el, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.

19  Then Jacob called the name of that place Beth-el (the house of God); but at the first the name of that place was called Luz.

28:20  And Jacob vowed a vow, saying: 'If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

20  And then he made a vow, saying: “If God will be with me, and will guard me along the way by which I walk, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear,

28:21  so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then shall YHWH be my God,

21  and bring me back in safety to the house of my father, then shall the Lord be for a God to me.

21  and if I will return prosperously to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God,

28:22  and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house; and of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.'

29:1  Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.

1  And Jacob started and went to the land of the east to Laban, the son of Bathuel the Syrian, and the brother of Rebecca, mother of Jacob and Esau.

1  And so Jacob, setting out, arrived in the eastern land.

29:2  And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying there by it.--For out of that well they watered the flocks. And the stone upon the well's mouth was great.

2  And he looks, and behold! a well in the plain; and there were there three flocks of sheep resting at it, for out of that well they watered the flocks, but there was a great stone at the mouth of the well.

2  And he saw a well in a field, and also three flocks of sheep reclining near it. For the animals were watered from it, and its mouth was closed with a great stone.

29:3  And thither were all the flocks gathered; and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back upon the well's mouth in its place.--

3  And there were all the flocks gathered, and they used to roll away the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the flocks, and set the stone again in its place on the mouth of the well.

3  And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to roll away the stone. And when the flocks had been refreshed, they placed it over the mouth of the well again.

29:4  And Jacob said unto them: 'My brethren, whence are ye?' And they said: 'Of Haran are we.'

4  And he said to the shepherds, “Brothers, where are you from?” And they answered. “From Haran.”

29:5  And he said unto them: 'Know ye Laban the son of Nahor?' And they said: 'We know him.'

5  And questioning them, he said, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”

29:6  And he said unto them: 'Is it well with him?' And they said: 'It is well; and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.'

6  He said, “Is he well?” “He is very well,” they said. “And behold, his daughter Rachel approaches with his flock.”

29:7  And he said: 'Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together; water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.'

7  And Jacob said, it is yet high day, it is not yet time that the flocks be gathered together; water ye the flocks, and depart and feed them.

7  And Jacob said, “There is still much daylight remaining, and it is not time to return the flocks to the sheepfold. Give the sheep to drink first, and then lead them back to pasture.”

29:8  And they said: 'We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.'

8  And they said, We shall not be able, until all the shepherds be gathered together, and they shall roll away the stone from the mouth of the well, then we will water the flocks.

8  They responded, “We cannot, until all the animals are gathered together and we remove the stone from the mouth of the well, so that we may water the flocks.”

29:9  While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she tended them.

9  They were still speaking, and behold, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep; for she pastured the flock.

9  gland while he was still conversing with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she was a shepherdess.

29:10  And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

10  When Jacob had seen her, and he realized that she was his maternal first cousin, and that these were the sheep of his uncle Laban, he removed the stone which closed the well.

29:11  And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

11  And having watered the flock, he kissed her. And lifting up his voice, he wept.

29:12  And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father.

12  And he told Rachel that he was the near relative of her father, and the son of Rebecca; and she ran and reported to her father according to these words.

12  And he revealed to her that he was a brother of her father, and the son of Rebekah. And so, hurrying, she announced it to her father.

29:13  And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.

13  And when he had heard that Jacob, his sister’s son, had arrived, he ran to meet him. And embracing him, and kissing him heartily, he brought him into his house. But when he had heard the reasons for his journey,

29:14  And Laban said to him: 'Surely thou art my bone and my flesh.' And he abode with him the space of a month.

14  he responded, “You are my bone and my flesh.” And after the days of one month were completed,

29:15  And Laban said unto Jacob: 'Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?'

15  he said to him: “Though you are my brother, will you serve me for nothing? Tell me what wages you would accept.”

15  And Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore work for me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?

29:16  Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

16  In truth, he had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah; and truly the younger was called Rachel.

29:17  And Leah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was of beautiful form and fair to look upon.

17  But while Leah was bleary-eyed, Rachel had an elegant appearance and was attractive to behold.

29:18  And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said: 'I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.'

18  And Jacob, loving her, said, “I will serve you for seven years, for your younger daughter Rachel.”

29:19  And Laban said: 'It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.'

19  Laban responded, “It is better that I give her to you than to another man; remain with me.”

29:20  And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

20  Therefore, Jacob served for seven years for Rachel. And these seemed like only a few days, because of the greatness of love.

29:21  And Jacob said unto Laban: 'Give me my wife, for my days are filled, that I may go in unto her.'

21  And he said to Laban, “Give my wife to me. For now the time has been fulfilled, so that I may go in to her.”

29:22  And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

22  And he, having called a great crowd of his friends to the feast, agreed to the marriage.

29:23  And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

23  And it was even, and he took his daughter Lea, and brought her in to Jacob, and Jacob went in to her.

23  And at night, he brought in his daughter Leah to him,

29:24  And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid.

24  giving his daughter a handmaid named Zilpah. After Jacob had gone in to her, according to custom, when morning had arrived, he saw Leah.

29:25  And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban: 'What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?'

25  And it was morning, and behold it was Lea; and Jacob said to Laban, What is this that thou hast done to me? did I not serve thee for Rachel? and wherefore hast thou deceived me?

25  And he said to his father-in-law, “What is it that you intended to do? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?”

29:26  And Laban said: 'It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born.

26  Laban responded, “It is not the practice in this place to give the younger in marriage first.

26  Then Laban said to Jacob, It is not so done in our country, to give the younger in marriage before the elder.

29:27  Fulfil the week of this one, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.'

27  Complete a week of days with this mating. And then I will give this one to you also, for the service that you will provide to me for another seven years.”

29:28  And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife.

28  He agreed to his pleading. And after the week had passed, he took Rachel as a wife.

29:29  And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid.

29  To her, the father had given Bilhah as her servant.

29:30  And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

30  And, having at last obtained the marriage he desired, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and he served with him another seven years.

29:31  And YHWH saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.

31  And when the Lord God saw that Lea was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.

31  But the Lord, seeing that he despised Leah, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.

29:32  And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said: 'Because YHWH hath looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.'

32  And Lea conceived and bore a son to Jacob; and she called his name, Ruben; saying, Because the Lord has looked on my humiliation, and has given me a son, now then my husband will love me.

32  Having conceived, she gave birth to a son, and she called his name Reuben, saying: “The Lord saw my humiliation; now my husband will love me.”

29:33  And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said: 'Because YHWH hath heard that I am hated, He hath therefore given me this son also.' And she called his name Simeon.

33  And again she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Because the Lord heard that I was treated with contempt, he has also given this one to me.” And she called his name Simeon.

29:34  And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said: 'Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons.' Therefore was his name called Levi.

34  And she conceived a third time, and she gave birth to another son, and she said: “Now likewise my husband will unite with me, because I have borne him three sons.” And because of this, she called his name Levi.

29:35  And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she said: 'This time will I praise YHWH.' Therefore she called his name Judah; and she left off bearing.

35  And having conceived yet again, she bore a son, and said, Now yet again this time will I give thanks to the Lord; therefore she called his name, Juda; and ceased bearing.

35  A fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Only now will I confess to the Lord.” And for this reason, she called him Judah. And she ceased from child-bearing.