Liber Genesis

Profectus ergo Jacob venit in terram orientalem.

Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east country.

Proficiscor ergo Iacobo veni in terra orientali.

Et vidit puteum in agro, tres quoque greges ovium accubantes juxta eum: nam ex illo adaquabantur pecora, et os ejus grandi lapide claudebatur.

And he saw a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lying by it: for the beasts were watered out of it, and the mouth thereof was closed with a great stone.

Et vide puteo in agro, tre etiam greges de oves accuba juxta illo: nam ex illo pecores adaqua, et ore de illo grandi lapide claude.

Morisque erat ut cunctis ovibus congregatis devolverent lapidem, et refectis gregibus rursum super os putei ponerent.

And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to roll away the stone, and after the sheep were watered, to put it on the mouth of the well again.

Et moro es ut cuncta oves congrega devolve lapide, et reficie greges iterum super ore de puteo pone.

Dixitque ad pastores: Fratres, unde estis? Qui responderunt: De Haran.

And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.

Et dic ad pastores: fratres, unde es? Qui responde: de Harane.

Quos interrogans, Numquid, ait, nostis Laban filium Nachor? Dixerunt: Novimus.

And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban, the son of Nachor? They said: We know him.

Que interroga, Numquid, dic, nosce Labane filio Nachore? Dic: nosce.

Sanusne est? inquit. Valet, inquiunt: et ecce Rachel filia ejus venit cum grege suo.

He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold, Rachel, his daughter, cometh with his flock.

Sanusno es? Dic. Vale, dic: et ecce Rachele filia de illo veni cum grege suo.

Dixitque Jacob: Adhuc multum diei superest, nec est tempus ut reducantur ad caulas greges: date ante potum ovibus, et sic eas ad pastum reducite.

And Jacob said: There is yet much day remaining, neither is it time to bring the flocks into the folds again: first give the sheep drink, and so lead them back to feed.

Et dic Iacobo: adhuc multo de die supersum, nec es tempore ut greges ad caulas reduce: da ante potu oves, et sic illas ad pastu reduce.

Qui responderunt: Non possumus, donec omnia pecora congregentur, et amoveamus lapidem de ore putei, ut adaquemus greges.

They answered: We cannot, till all the cattle be gathered together, and we remove the stone from the well's mouth, that we may water the flocks.

Qui responde: non pote, usque que omni pecores congrega, et amove lapide de ore de puteo, ut adaquema greges.

Adhuc loquebantur, et ecce Rachel veniebat cum ovibus patris sui: nam gregem ipsa pascebat.

They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she fed the flock.

Adhuc loque, et ecce Rachele veni cum oves de patre suo: nam grege ipso pasce.

Quam cum vidisset Jacob, et sciret consobrinam suam, ovesque Laban avunculi sui, amovit lapidem quo puteus claudebatur.

And when Jacob saw her, and knew her to be his cousin german, and that they were the sheep of Laban, his uncle: he removed the stone wherewith the well was closed.

Iacobo cum vide quam, et sci consobrina suo, et oves Labane de avunculo suo, ama lapide quo puteo claude.

Et adaquato grege, osculatus est eam: et elevata voce flevit,

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

Et adaqua grege, oscula es illa: et eliva voce fle,

et indicavit ei quod frater esset patris sui, et filius Rebeccæ: at illa festinans nuntiavit patri suo.

And he told her that he was her father's brother, and the son of Rebecca: but she went in haste and told her father.

Et indica ad illo quod fratre es de patre suo, et filio de Rebecca: sed illa festina nuntia ad patre suo.

Qui cum audisset venisse Jacob filium sororis suæ, cucurrit obviam ei: complexusque eum, et in oscula ruens, duxit in domum suam. Auditis autem causis itineris,

Who, when he heard that Jacob his sister's son was come, ran forth to meet him: and embracing him, and heartily kissing him, brought him into his house. And when he had heard the causes of his journey,

Qui cum audi veni Iacobo filio de sorore suo, curre obviam illo: et complector illo, et in osculas rue, duc in domo suo. Audi autem causas de itinere,

respondit: Os meum es, et caro mea. Et postquam impleti sunt dies mensis unius,

He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired,

Ore: meo responde es, et carne meo. Et postquam imple es dies de mense de uno,

dixit ei: Num quia frater meus es, gratis servies mihi? dic quid mercedis accipias.

He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have.

Dic ad illo: an quia fratre meo es, gratis servi ad me? Dic quid de mercede accipe.

Habebat vero duas filias: nomen majoris Lia, minor vero appellabatur Rachel.

Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia; and the younger was called Rachel.

Habe vero duo filia: nomine magna Lia, minimo vero appella Rachele.

Sed Lia lippis erat oculis: Rachel decora facie, et venusto aspectu.

But Lia was blear-eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a beautiful countenance.

Sed Lia lippo es oculos: rachele decora facie, et venusto aspectu.

Quam diligens Jacob, ait: Serviam tibi pro Rachel filia tua minore, septem annis.

And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter.

Quam dilige Iacobo, dic: servia ad te pro Rachele filia tuo minimo, septeme anno.

Respondit Laban: Melius est ut tibi eam dem quam alteri viro: mane apud me.

Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to another man; stay with me.

Labane responde: melius es ut ad te illa da quam altero ad viro: mane apud me.

Servivit ergo Jacob pro Rachel septem annis: et videbantur illi pauci dies præ amoris magnitudine.

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a few days, because of the greatness of his love.

Iacobo ergo servi pro Rachele septeme anno: et pauco ad illo dies vide prae amore magnitudine.

Dixitque ad Laban: Da mihi uxorem meam: quia jam tempus impletum est, ut ingrediar ad illam.

And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

Et dic ad Labane: da ad me uxore meo: quia jam tempore imple es, ut ingredior ad illa.

Qui vocatis multis amicorum turbis ad convivium, fecit nuptias.

And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the feast, made the marriage.

Qui voca multo de amicos turbas ad convivio, fac nuptias.

Et vespere Liam filiam suam introduxit ad eum,

And at night he brought in Lia, his daughter, to him,

Et vespere Lia filia suo introduce ad illo,

dans ancillam filiæ, Zelpham nomine. Ad quam cum ex more Jacob fuisset ingressus, facto mane vidit Liam:

Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. Now when Jacob had gone in to her according to custom, when morning was come he saw it was Lia.

Da ancilla de filia, Zelphase nomine. Ad quam cum ex more Iacobo es ingredior, fac mane vide Lia:

et dixit ad socerum suum: Quid est quod facere voluisti? nonne pro Rachel servivi tibi? quare imposuisti mihi?

And he said to his father-in-law: What is it that thou didst mean to do? did not I serve thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceived me?

Et dic ad socero suo: quid es quod facere vol? Nonne pro Rachele servi ad te? Quare impone ad me?

Respondit Laban: Non est in loco nostro consuetudinis, ut minores ante tradamus ad nuptias.

Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the younger in marriage first.

Responde Labane: non es in loco nostro de consuetudine, ut minimo ante trade ad nuptias.

Imple hebdomadam dierum hujus copulæ: et hanc quoque dabo tibi pro opere quo serviturus es mihi septem annis aliis.

Make up the week of days of this match: and I will give thee her also, for the service that thou shalt render me other seven years.

Imple hebdomada de dies de hoc de copula: et hoc etiam da ad te pro opere quo servi es ad me septeme anno alio.

Acquievit placito: et hebdomada transacta, Rachel duxit uxorem:

He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he married Rachel:

Acquievite place: et hebdomada transige, Rachele duc uxore:

cui pater servam Balam tradiderat.

To whom her father gave Bala, for her servant.

Ad que patre trade servo Balame.

Tandemque potitus optatis nuptiis, amorem sequentis priori prætulit, serviens apud eum septem annis aliis.

And having at length obtained the marriage he wished for, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and served with him other seven years.

Et denique potior optatum nuptias, amore seque priore praefer, servi apud illo septeme anno ad alio.

Videns autem Dominus quod despiceret Liam, aperuit vulvam ejus, sorore sterili permanente.

And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.

Vidente autem Domino quod despice Lia, aperi vulva de illo, sorore sterili permane.

Quæ conceptum genuit filium, vocavitque nomen ejus Ruben, dicens: Vidit Dominus humilitatem meam: nunc amabit me vir meus.

And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me.

Que concipe gene filio, et voca nomine de illo Rubene, dicente: Domino vide humilitate meo: nunc viro meo ama me.

Rursumque concepit et peperit filium, et ait: Quoniam audivit me Dominus haberi contemptui, dedit etiam istum mihi; vocavitque nomen ejus Simeon.

And again she conceived and bore a son, and said: Because the Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also to me: and she called his name Simeon.

Et mursus concipe et pare filio, et dic: quia Domino me audi habe ad contemptu, da etiam isto ad me; et Symeone voca nomine de illo.

Concepitque tertio, et genuit alium filium: dixitque: Nunc quoque copulabitur mihi maritus meus: eo quod pepererim ei tres filios: et idcirco appellavit nomen ejus Levi.

And she conceived the third time, and bore another son, and said: Now also my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons: and therefore she called his name Levi.

Et concipe tertio, et gene alio filio: et dic: nunc etiam marito ad me meo comulor: eo quod pare ad illo tre filio: et ergo appella nomine de illo de Levi.

Quarto concepit, et peperit filium, et ait: Modo confitebor Domino, et ob hoc vocavit eum Judam: cessavitque parere.

The fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and said: Now will I praise the Lord: and for this she called him Juda. And she left bearing.

Quarto concipe, et pare filio, et dic: solo confite ad Domino, et ob hoc Iudase voca illo: et cessa pare.