< Genesis 24 >

1 Nowe Abraham was olde, and striken in yeeres, and 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 Therefore Abraham saide vnto his eldest seruant of his house, which had the rule ouer all that he had, Put nowe thine hand vnder 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 And I will make thee sweare by ye Lord God of the heauen, and God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife vnto my sonne of the daughters of the Canaanites among who I dwel.
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 thou shalt go vnto my countrey, and to my kinred, and take a wife vnto my sone Izhak.
but you must go to my country and to my relatives, and get a wife for my son Isaac."
5 And the seruant saide to him, What if the woman will not come with me to this land? shall I bring thy sonne againe vnto the lande from whence thou camest?
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 To whom Abraham answered, Beware that thou bring not my sonne thither againe.
Then Abraham told him, "Be careful that you do not take my son back there.
7 The Lord God of heauen, who tooke me from my fathers house, and from the land where I was borne, and that spake vnto me, and that sware vnto me, saying, Vnto thy seede wil I giue this land, he shall send his Angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife vnto my sonne from thence.
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 Neuertheles if the woman wil not follow thee, then shalt thou bee discharged of this mine othe: onely bring not my sonne thither againe.
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 Then the seruant put his hand vnder the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him for 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 So the seruant tooke ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed: (for he had all his masters goods in his hand: ) and so he arose, and went to Aram Naharaim, vnto the citie 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 And he made his camels to lye downe without the citie by a well of water, at euentide about the time that the women come 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 And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I beseech thee, send me good speede this day, and shew mercy vnto my master Abraham.
Then he said, "God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13 Lo, I stand by the well of water, whiles the mens daughters of this citie come out to drawe 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 Graunt therefore that ye maide, to whom I say, Bowe downe thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drinke: if she say, Drinke, and I will giue thy camels drinke also: may be she that thou hast ordeined for thy seruant Izhak: and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed mercy on 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 And nowe yer he had left speaking, beholde, Rebekah came out, the daughter of Bethuel, sonne of Milcah the wife of Nahor Abrahams brother, and her pitcher vpon 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 (And the maide was very faire to looke vpon, a virgine and vnknowen of man) and she went downe to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came vp.
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 Then the seruant ranne to meete her, and said, Let me drinke, I pray thee, a litle water of thy pitcher.
Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please give me a little water to drink from your jug."
18 And she said, Drinke sir: and she hasted, and let downe her pitcher vpon her hand and gaue him drinke.
So she said, "Drink, my lord." And she hurried and let down her jug to her hands, and gave him a drink.
19 And when she had giuen him drinke, she said, I will drawe water for thy camels also vntill they haue drunken inough.
Now when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished drinking."
20 And she powred out her pitcher into the trough speedily; and ranne againe vnto the well to drawe water, and she drewe 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 So the man wondred at her, and helde his peace, to knowe whether the Lord had made his iourney prosperous or not.
And the man watched her in silence so as to know whether God had made his journey successful or not.
22 And when the camels had left drinking, the man tooke a golden abillement of halfe a shekell weight, and two bracelets for her hands, of ten shekels weight of golde:
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 he said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee, Is there roume in thy fathers house for vs to lodge in?
and said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to lodge?"
24 Then she said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the sonne of Milcah whom she bare vnto Nahor.
Then she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."
25 Moreouer she said vnto him, We haue litter also and prouender ynough, and roume to lodge in.
And she also said to him, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room to lodge."
26 And the man bowed himselfe and worshipped the Lord,
Then the man bowed his head and worshiped God,
27 And said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, which hath not withdrawen his mercie and his trueth from my master: for when I was in the way, the Lord brought me to my masters brethrens house.
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 And the maide ranne and tolde them of her mothers house according to these wordes.
Then the young woman ran, and told her mother's household about these words.
29 Now Rebekah had a brother called Laban, and Laban ranne vnto the man to the well.
Now Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban, and he ran out to the man at the spring.
30 For when he had seene the earings and the bracelets in his sisters hands, and when he heard the wordes of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus said the man vnto me, then he went to the man, and loe, he stoode by the camels at the well.
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 And he saide, Come in thou blessed of the Lord: wherefore standest thou without, seeing I haue prepared the house, and roume for ye 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 Then the man came into the house, and he vnsadled the camels, and brought litter and prouender for the camels, and water to wash his feete, and the mens feete that 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 Afterward the meate was set before him: but he saide, I will not eate, vntill I haue saide my message: And he said, Speake 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 Then he said, I am Abrahams seruant,
So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.
35 And the Lord hath blessed my master wonderfully, that he is become great: for he hath giuen him sheepe, and beeues, and siluer, and golde, and men seruants, and maide seruants, and camels, and asses.
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 And Sarah my masters wife hath borne a sonne to my master, when she was olde, and vnto him hath he giuen all that he hath.
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 Now my master made me sweare, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my sonne of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
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 thou shalt go vnto my fathers house and to my kinred, and take a wife vnto my sonne.
but you must go to my father's house, and to my relatives, and get a wife for my son.'
39 Then I saide vnto 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 Who answered me, The Lord, before who I walke, will send his Angel with thee, and prosper thy iourney, and thou shalt take a wife for my sonne of my kinred and my fathers 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 shalt thou be discharged of mine othe, when thou commest to my kinred: and if they giue thee not one, thou shalt be free from mine othe.
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 So I came this day to the well, and said, O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if thou nowe prosper my iourney which I goe,
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 stand by the well of water: when a virgine commeth forth to drawe water, and I say to her, Giue me, I pray thee, a litle water of thy pitcher to drinke,
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 And she say to me, Drinke thou, and I will also drawe for thy camels, let her be ye wife, which the Lord hath prepared for my masters sonne.
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 And before I had made an end of speaking in mine heart, beholde, Rebekah came foorth, and her pitcher on her shoulder, and she went downe vnto the well, and drewe water. Then I said vnto her, Giue me drinke, I pray thee.
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 And she made haste, and tooke downe her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drinke, and I will giue thy camels drinke also. So I dranke, and she gaue the camels drinke also.
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 Then I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she answered, The daughter of Bethuel Nahors sonne, whom Milcah bare vnto him. Then I put the abillement vpon her face, and the bracelets vpon 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 And I bowed downe and worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, which had brought me the right way to take my masters brothers daughter vnto his sone.
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 therefore, if ye will deale mercifully and truely with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me that I may turne me 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 answered Laban and Bethuel, and said, This thing is proceeded of the Lord: we cannot therefore say vnto thee, neither euill nor good.
Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The matter comes from God. We can't speak to you bad or good.
51 Beholde, Rebehak is before thee, take her and goe, that she may be thy masters sonnes wife, euen as the Lord hath said.
Look, Rebekah is before you. Take, and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as God has spoken."
52 And when Abrahams seruant heard their wordes, he bowed himselfe toward the earth vnto the Lord.
And it happened when Abraham's servant heard their words, that he bowed himself down to the ground.
53 Then the seruant tooke foorth iewels of siluer, and iewels of golde, and raiment, and gaue to Rebekah: also vnto her brother and to her mother he gaue gifts.
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 Afterward they did eate and drinke, both he, and the men that were with him, and taried all night. and when they rose vp in the morning, he said, Let me depart vnto 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 Then her brother and her mother answered, Let the maide abide with vs, at the least ten dayes: then shall she goe.
But her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman stay with us ten days or so. After that she may go."
56 But he said vnto them, Hinder you me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my iourney: send me away, that I may goe 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 Then they said, We will call the maide, and aske her consent.
Then they said, "We will call the young woman and ask her."
58 And they called Rebekah, and saide vnto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she answered, I will go.
So they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she replied, "I will go."
59 So they let Rebekah their sister goe, and her nourse, with Abrahams seruant and his men.
So they sent away their sister Rebekah, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
60 And they blessed Rebekah, and sayde vnto her, Thou art our sister, growe into thousande thousands, and thy seede possesse the gate of his enemies.
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 Then Rebekah arose, and her maydes, and rode vpon the camels, and followed the man. and the seruant tooke Rebekah, and departed.
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 Nowe Izhak came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi, (for he dwelt in the South countrey)
Now Isaac had come from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the land of the Negev.
63 And Izhak went out. to pray in the fielde toward the euening: who lift vp his eyes and looked, and behold, the camels came.
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 Also Rebekah lift vp her eyes, and when she saw Izhak, she lighted downe from the camel.
And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel.
65 (For shee had sayde to the seruant, Who is yonder man, that commeth in the fielde to meete vs? and the seruant had said, It is my master) So she tooke a vaile, and couered her.
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 And the seruant tolde Izhak all things, that he had done.
And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
67 Afterward Izhak brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother, and he tooke Rebekah, and she was his wife, and he loued her: So Izhak was comforted after his mothers 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 >