< Genesis 24 >

1 Abraham was old, and well advanced in age. The LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
Now Abraham was old, well advanced in days, and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh.
And Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household, who was in charge over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh,
3 I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.
and I will make you swear by the God of heaven and earth, that you must not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,
4 But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”
but you must go to my country and to my relatives, and get a wife for my son Isaac."
5 The servant said to him, “What if the woman is not willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?”
And the servant asked him, "What if the woman isn't willing to follow me to this land? Must I then bring your son back to the land from which you came?"
6 Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not bring my son there again.
Then Abraham told him, "Be careful that you do not take my son back there.
7 The LORD, the God of heaven—who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, ‘I will give this land to your offspring—he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
Now the God of heaven, who took me from my father's household and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'I will give this land to your offspring' -- he will send his angel before you, and you will get a wife for my son from there.
8 If the woman is not willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son there again.”
But if the woman isn't willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath to me. Only you must not bring my son back there."
9 The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and gave his oath to him concerning this matter.
10 The servant took ten of his master’s camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
Then the servant took ten camels from his master's camels and departed, having a variety of good things from his master at his disposal, and he set out and went to Aram Naharaim, to the city of Nahor.
11 He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.
And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.
12 He said, “LORD, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
Then he said, "God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
Look, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
14 Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ then she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,’—let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”
Now may it happen that the young woman to whom I will say, 'Please lower your jug that I may drink,' and she answers, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,'—her you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."
15 Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder.
And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that look, Rebekah was coming out with her jug on her shoulder—who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother.
16 The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin. No man had known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up.
Now the young woman was very beautiful in appearance, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. And she went down to the spring and filled her jug and came up.
17 The servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher.”
Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please give me a little water to drink from your jug."
18 She said, “Drink, my lord.” She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him a drink.
So she said, "Drink, my lord." And she hurried and let down her jug to her hands, and gave him a drink.
19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished drinking.”
Now when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished drinking."
20 She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.
So she hurried and emptied her jug into the trough and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.
21 The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
And the man watched her in silence so as to know whether God had made his journey successful or not.
22 As the camels had done drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold,
And it happened, as the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a gold ring weighing a beka, which he put on her nose, and two bracelets for her hands weighing ten pieces of gold,
23 and said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay?”
and said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to lodge?"
24 She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.”
Then she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."
25 She said moreover to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge in.”
And she also said to him, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room to lodge."
26 The man bowed his head, and worshiped the LORD.
Then the man bowed his head and worshiped God,
27 He said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the way to the house of my master’s relatives.”
and said, "Blessed be the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, he has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."
28 The young lady ran, and told her mother’s house about these words.
Then the young woman ran, and told her mother's household about these words.
29 Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring.
Now Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban, and he ran out to the man at the spring.
30 When he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “This is what the man said to me,” he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.
And it happened, when he saw the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "This is what the man said to me," that he went to the man. And look, he was standing by the camels at the spring.
31 He said, “Come in, you blessed of the LORD. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.”
And he said, "Come in, you blessed of God. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and room for the camels."
32 The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
So the man went into the house and he unloaded the camels. And he gave straw and fodder for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
33 Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told my message.” Laban said, “Speak on.”
And he set before him food to eat, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told my message." And he said, "Say it."
34 He said, “I am Abraham’s servant.
So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.
35 The LORD has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. The LORD has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
And the Lord has blessed my master greatly, so that he has become great, and he has given him sheep and cattle, and silver and gold, and male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys.
36 Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him.
And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has.
37 My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,
Now my master put me under oath, saying, 'You must not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,
38 but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’
but you must go to my father's house, and to my relatives, and get a wife for my son.'
39 I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’
And I said to my master, 'What if the woman will not follow me?'
40 He said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my relatives, and of my father’s house.
But he said to me, 'God, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and make your journey successful, and you will get a wife for my son from my relatives, and of my father's house.
41 Then you will be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they do not give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.’
Then will you be free from my oath, when you come to my relatives. And if they do not give her to you, then you will be free from my oath.'
42 I came today to the spring, and said, ‘The LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go—
So today I came to the spring, and said, 'God of my master Abraham, if now you will make my journey successful in which I go—
43 behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes out to draw, to whom I will say, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,”
look, I am standing by this spring of water, and may it happen that the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I will say, "Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,"
44 then she tells me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”—let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master’s son.’
and she will say to me, "Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,"—may she be the woman who has been chosen for my master's son.'
45 Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’
Before I had finished praying in my heart, look, Rebekah came out with her jug on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring, and drew. And I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'
46 She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ So I drank, and she also gave the camels a drink.
And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.' So I drank, and she also gave the camels water.
47 I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands.
Then I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' And she replied, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her wrists.
48 I bowed my head, and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son.
Then I bowed my head and worshiped God, and blessed the God of my master Abraham, who had guided me on the right road to find the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son.
49 Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.”
Now if you will show kindness and truth to my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left."
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The thing proceeds from the LORD. We cannot speak to you bad or good.
Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The matter comes from God. We can't speak to you bad or good.
51 Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the LORD has spoken.”
Look, Rebekah is before you. Take, and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as God has spoken."
52 When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to the LORD.
And it happened when Abraham's servant heard their words, that he bowed himself down to the ground.
53 The servant brought out jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and her mother.
Then the servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. And he also gave valuable gifts to her brother and to her mother.
54 They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and he said, “Send me away to my master.”
Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and spent the night. Then they got up in the morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master."
55 Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go.”
But her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman stay with us ten days or so. After that she may go."
56 He said to them, “Do not hinder me, since the LORD has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.”
But he said to them, "Do not delay me, seeing that he has made my journey successful. Send me away that I may go to my master."
57 They said, “We will call the young lady, and ask her.”
Then they said, "We will call the young woman and ask her."
58 They called Rebekah, and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.”
So they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she replied, "I will go."
59 They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men.
So they sent away their sister Rebekah, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
60 They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, “Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your offspring possess the gate of those who hate them.”
And they blessed Rebekah, and said to her, "Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and may your descendants possess the gate of those who hate them."
61 Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
And Rebekah and her female servants got ready, and they rode on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went on his way.
62 Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South.
Now Isaac had come from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the land of the Negev.
63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked. Behold, there were camels coming.
And Isaac went out in the field to think in the early evening. And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and look, he saw camels approaching.
64 Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she got off the camel.
And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel.
65 She said to the servant, “Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” She took her veil, and covered herself.
And she asked the servant, "Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?" And the servant said, "It is my master." Then she took her veil and covered herself.
66 The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
67 Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. And he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

< Genesis 24 >