14. During the time of the wheat harvest, Reuben found some love flowers and took them to his mother Leah. Rachel asked Leah for some of them,
15. but Leah said, “It's bad enough that you stole my husband! Now you want my son's love flowers too.”“All right,” Rachel answered. “Let me have the flowers, and you can sleep with Jacob tonight.”
16. That evening when Jacob came in from the fields, Leah told him, “You're sleeping with me tonight. I hired you with my son's love flowers.”They slept together that night,
17. and God answered Leah's prayers by giving her a fifth son.
18. Leah shouted, “God has rewarded me for letting Jacob marry my servant,” and she named the boy Issachar.
19. When Leah had another son,
20. she exclaimed, “God has given me a wonderful gift, and my husband will praise me for giving him six sons.” So she named the boy Zebulun.
21. Later, Leah had a daughter and named her Dinah.
22-23. Finally, God remembered Rachel—he answered her prayer by giving her a son. “God has taken away my disgrace,” she said.
24. “I'll name the boy Joseph, and I'll pray that the Lord will give me another son.”
25. After Joseph was born, Jacob said to Laban, “Release me from our agreement and let me return to my own country.
26. You know how hard I've worked for you, so let me take my wives and children and leave.”
27-28. But Laban told him, “If you really are my friend, stay on, and I'll pay whatever you ask. I'm sure the Lord has blessed me because of you.”
29. Jacob answered:You've seen how hard I've worked for you, and you know how your flocks and herds have grown under my care.