< Genesis 24 >
1 And Abraham was old, well stricken in years; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.
And Abraam was old, advanced in days, and the Lord blessed Abraam in all things.
2 And Abraham said unto his servant, the eldest of his house, who ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
And Abraam said to his servant the elder of his house, who had rule over all his possessions, Put your hand under my thigh,
3 And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell.
and I will adjure you by the Lord the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that you take not a wife for my son Isaac from the daughters of the Chananites, with whom I dwell, in the midst of them.
4 But unto my country, and to my birthplace shalt thou go, and take a wife unto my son, unto Isaac.
But you shall go instead to my country, where I was born, and to my tribe, and you shall take from thence a wife for my son Isaac.
5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I then bring thy son again unto the land from which thou camest?
And the servant said to him, Shall I carry back your son to the land whence you came forth, if haply the woman should not be willing to return with me to this land?
6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou, that thou bring not my son thither again.
And Abraam said to him, Take heed to yourself that you carry not 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, and who spoke unto me, and who swore unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land: he will send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from there.
The Lord the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, who took me out of my father's house, and out of the land whence I sprang, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, I will give this land to you and to your seed, he shall send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife to my son from thence.
8 But if the woman should not be willing to follow thee, then shalt, thou be clear from this my oath: only my son thou shalt not bring thither again.
And if the woman should not be willing to come with you into this land, you shall be clear from my oath, only carry not my son there again.
9 And the put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
And the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraam, and swore to him concerning this matter.
10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed, with all kinds of precious things of his master in his hand; and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nachor.
And the servant took ten camels of his master's camels, and [he took] of all the goods of his master with him, and he arose and went into Mesopotamia to the city of Nachor.
11 And he made the camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, at the time that the women go out to draw water.
And he rested his camels without the city by the well of water towards evening, when damsels go forth to draw water.
12 And he said, O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and deal kindly with my master Abraham.
And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraam, prosper my way before me to day, and deal mercifully with my master Abraam.
13 Behold, I stand by the well of water: and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water.
Behold! I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of them that inhabit the city come forth to draw water.
14 And let it come to pass that the maiden to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and to thy camels also will I give drink, be the one thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shown kindness unto my master.
And it shall be, the virgin to whoever I shall say, Incline your water-pot, that I may drink, and she shall say, Drink you, and I will give your camels drink, until they shall have done drinking—even this one you have prepared for your servant Isaac, and hereby shall I know that you have dealt mercifully with my master Abraam.
15 And it came to pass, before he had yet finished speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, the son of Milcah, the wife of Nachor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
And it came to pass before he had done speaking in his mind, that behold, Rebecca the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Melcha, the wife of Nachor, and [the same] the brother of Abraam, came forth, having a water-pot on her shoulders.
16 And the maiden was of a very handsome appearance, a virgin, neither had any man known her; and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
And the virgin was very beautiful in appearance, she was a virgin, a man had not known her; and she went down to the well, and filled her water-pot, and came up.
17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water out of thy pitcher.
And the servant ran up to meet her, and said, Give me a little water to drink out of your pitcher;
18 And she said, Drink, my lord; and she hastened, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him to drink.
and she said, Drink, Sir; and she hasted, and let down the pitcher upon her arm, and gave him to drink, till he ceased drinking.
19 And when she had finished giving him drink, she said, Also for thy camels will I draw water, until they have finished drinking.
And she said, I will also draw water for your camels, till they shall all have drunk.
20 And she hastened, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
And she hasted, and emptied the water-pot into the trough, and ran to the well to draw again, and drew water for all the camels.
21 And the man was wondering at her; remaining silent, to discover whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.
And the man took great notice of her, and remained silent to know whether the Lord had made his way prosperous or not.
22 And it came to pass, as the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden earring, half a shekel in weight, and two bracelets for her hands, ten gold shekels in weight;
And it came to pass when all the camels ceased drinking, that the man took golden ear-rings, each of a drachm weight, and he [put] two bracelets on her hands, their weight was ten pieces of gold.
23 And he said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee; is there room in thy father's house for us to stay this night in?
And he asked her, and said, Whose daughter are you? Tell me if there is room for us to lodge with your father.
24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore unto Nachor.
And she said to him, I am the daughter of Bathuel the son of Melcha, whom she bore to Nachor.
25 She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender in plenty, as also room to lodge in.
And she said to him, We have both straw and much provender, and a place for resting.
26 And the man bowed down his head, and prostrated himself before the Lord.
And the man being well pleased, worshipped the Lord,
27 And he said, Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not withdrawn his mercy and his truth from my master; I being on the way, which the Lord hath led me, to the house of the brethren of my master.
and said, Blessed be the Lord the God of my master Abraam, who has not suffered his righteousness to fail, nor his truth from my master, and the Lord has brought me prosperously to the house of the brother of my lord.
28 And the maiden ran, and told at her mother's house these things.
And the damsel ran and reported to the house of her mother according to these words.
29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban; and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
And Rebecca had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran out to meet the man, to the well.
30 And this came to pass, when he saw the earring and the bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spoke the man unto me; and he came unto the man; and, behold, he was standing by the camels at the well.
And it came to pass when he saw the ear-rings and the bracelets on the hands of his sister, and when he heard the words of Rebecca his sister, saying, Thus the man spoke to me, that he went to the man, as he stood by the camels at the well.
31 And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest thou without? while I have prepared the house and room for the camels.
And he said to him, Come in hither, you blessed of the Lord, why stand you without, whereas I have prepared the house and a place for the camels?
32 And the man came into the house, and he ungirded the camels; and he gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the feet of the men that were with him.
And the man entered into the house, and unloaded the camels, and gave the camels straw and provender, and water to wash his feet, and the feet of the men that were with him.
33 And there was set food before him to eat; but he said, I will not eat, until I have spoken my words. And he said, Speak on.
And he set before them loaves to eat; but he said, I will not eat, until I have told my errand. And he said, Speak on.
34 And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
And he said, I am a servant of Abraam;
35 And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and camels, and asses.
and the Lord has blessed my master greatly, and he is exalted, and he has given him sheep, and calves, and silver, and gold, servants and servant-maids, camels, and asses.
36 And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master after she was become old: and he hath given unto him all that he hath.
And Sarrha my master's wife bore one son to my master after he had grown old; and he gave him whatever he had.
37 And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
And my master caused me to swear, saying, You shall not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Chananites, amongst whom I sojourn in their land.
38 But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.
But you shall go to the house of my father, and to my tribe, and you shall take thence a wife for my son.
39 And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
And I said to my master, Haply the woman will not go with me.
40 And he said unto me, The Lord, before whom I have walked will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; that thou mayest take a wife for my son from my kindred, and from my father's house.
And he said to me, The Lord God to whom I have been acceptable in his presence, himself shall send out his angel with you, and shall prosper your journey, and you shall take a wife for my son of my tribe, and of the house of my father.
41 Then shalt thou be clear from my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they do not give thee one, [then] shalt thou be clear from my oath.
Then shall you be clear from my curse, for whenever you shall have come to my tribe, and they shall not give her to you, then shall you be clear from my oath.
42 And I came this day unto the well, and said, O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if thou wouldst but prosper my way on which I am going.
And having come this day to the well, I said, Lord God of my master Abraam, if you prosper my journey on which I am now going,
43 Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall be the young woman who cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water out of thy pitcher to drink;
behold, I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come forth to draw water, and it shall be [that] the damsel to whom I shall say, Give me a little water to drink out of your pitcher,
44 And she say to me, Both drink thou, and also for thy camels will I draw: this shall be the wife whom the Lord hath destined for my master's son.
and she shall say to me, Both drink you, and I will draw water for your camels, this [shall be] the wife whom the Lord has prepared for his own servant Isaac; and hereby shall I know that you have wrought mercy with my master Abraam.
45 And before I had yet finished speaking to my own heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water; and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
And it came to pass before I had done speaking in my mind, straightway Rebecca came forth, having her pitcher on her shoulders; and she went down to the well, and drew water; and I said to her, Give me to drink.
46 And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and also to thy camels I will give drink; and I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
And she hasted and let down her pitcher on her arm from her head, and said, Drink you, and I will give your camels drink; and I drank, and she gave the camels drink.
47 And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nachor's son, whom Milcah bore unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.
And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter are you? tell me; and she said, I am daughter of Bathuel the son of Nachor, whom Melcha bore to him; and I put on her the ear-rings, and the bracelets on her hands.
48 And I bowed down my head, and prostrated myself before the Lord; and I blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take the daughter of my master's brother for his son.
And being well-pleased I worshipped the Lord, and I blessed the Lord the God of my master Abraam, who has prospered me in a true way, so that I should take the daughter of my master's brother for his son.
49 And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right, or to the left.
If then you [will] deal mercifully and justly with my lord, [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 and said, The thing hath proceeded from the Lord; we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
And Laban and Bathuel answered and said, This matter has come forth from the Lord, we shall not be able to answer you bad or good.
51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be the wife of thy master's son, as the Lord hath spoken.
Behold, Rebecca is before you, take her and go away, and let her be wife to the son of your master, as the Lord has said.
52 And it came to pass, when Abraham's servant heard their words, that he prostrated himself to the earth unto the Lord.
And it came to pass when the servant of Abraam heard these words, he bowed himself to the Lord down to the earth.
53 And the servant brought forth vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; and precious things he gave to her brother and to her mother.
And the servant having brought forth jewels of silver and gold and raiment, gave them to Rebecca, and gave gifts to her brother, and to her mother.
54 And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried the night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.
And both he and the men with him ate and drank and went to sleep. And he arose in the morning and said, Send me away, that I may go to my master.
55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the maiden abide with us, a year or ten months; after that she shall go.
And her brethren and her mother said, Let the virgin remain with us about ten days, and after that she shall depart.
56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
But he said to them, Hinder me not, for the Lord has prospered my journey for me; send me away, that I may depart to my master.
57 And they said, We will call the maiden, and inquire her own decision.
And they said, Let us call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.
58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
And they called Rebecca, and said to her, Will you go with this man? and she said, I will go.
59 And thereupon they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
So they sent forth Rebecca their sister, and her goods, and the servant of Abraam, and his attendants.
60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of myriads, and let thy seed possess the gate of those who hate them.
And they blessed Rebecca, and said to her, You are our sister; become you thousands of myriads, and let your seed possess the cities of their enemies.
61 And Rebekah arose with her maidens, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man; and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
And Rebecca rose up and her maidens, and they mounted the camels and went with the man; and the servant having taken up Rebecca, departed.
62 And Isaac came from a walk to the well Lachai-roi; for he dwelt in the south country;
And Isaac went through the wilderness to the well of the vision, and he lived in the land towards the south.
63 And Isaac was gone out to meditate in the field toward evening; and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, camels were coming.
And Isaac went forth into the plain towards evening to meditate; and having lifted up his eyes, he saw camels coming.
64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and she saw Isaac; and she alighted off the camel.
And Rebecca lifted up her eyes, and saw Isaac; and she alighted briskly from the camel,
65 And she said unto the servant, Who is yonder man that walketh in the field toward us? And the servant said, This is my master; therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.
and said to the servant, Who is that man that walks in the plain to meet us? And the servant said, This is my master; and she took her veil and covered herself.
66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
And the servant told Isaac all that he had done.
67 And Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
And Isaac went into the house of his mother, and took Rebecca, and she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted for Sarrha his mother.