²And 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.

³And 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.

⁴And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They answered: Of Haran.

⁵And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban, the son of Nachor? They said: We know him.

⁶He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold, Rachel, his daughter, cometh with his flock.

⁷And 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.

⁸They 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.

⁹They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father’s sheep; for she fed the flock.

¹⁰And 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.

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

¹²And he told her that he was her father’s brother, and the son of Rebecca: but she went in haste and told her father.

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