Genesis 30:1-21

DouayRheims(i) 1 And Rachel seeing herself without children, envied her sister, and said to her husband: Give me children, otherwise I shall die. 2 And Jacob being angry with her, answered: Am I as God, who hath deprived thee of the fruit of thy womb? 3 But she said: I have here my servant Bala: go in unto her, that she may bear upon my knees, and I may have children by her. 4 And she gave him Bala in marriage: who, 5 When her husband had gone in unto her, conceived and bore a son. 6 And Rachel said: The Lord hath judged for me, and hath heard my voice, giving me a son; and therefore she called his name Dan. 7 And again Bala conceived, and bore another, 8 For whom Rachel said: God hath compared me with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called him Nephthali. 9 Lia perceiving that she had left of bearing, gave Zelpha, her handmaid, to her husband. 10 And when she had conceived, and brought forth a son, 11 She said: Happily. And therefore called his name Gad. 12 Zelpha also bore another. 13 And Lia said: This is for my happiness: for women will call me blessed. Therefore she called him Aser. 14 And Ruben going out in the time of the wheat harvest into the field, found mandrakes: which he brought to his mother Lia. And Rachel said: Give me part of thy son's mandrakes. 15 She answered: Dost thou think it a small matter, that thou hast taken my husband from me, unless thou take also my son's mandrakes? Rachel said: He shall sleep with thee this night, for thy son's mandrakes. 16 And when Jacob returned at even from the field, Lia went out to meet him, and said: Thou shalt come in unto me, because I have hired thee for my son's mandrakes. And he slept with her that night. 17 And God heard her prayers; and she conceived: and bore a fifth son: 18 And said: God hath given me a reward, because I gave my handmaid to my husband. And she called his name Issachar. 19 And Lia conceived again, and bore the sixth son, 20 And said: God hath endowed me with a good dowry; this turn also my husband will be with me, because I have borne him six sons: and therefore she called his name Zabulon. 21 After whom she bore a daughter, named Dina.