< Genesis 24 >
1 And Abraham was old, [and] well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
亞巴郎年紀已老,上主在一切事上常祝福他。
2 And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
亞巴郎對管理他所有家產的老僕人說:「請你將手放在我的胯下,
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 for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
要你指著上主、天地的天主起誓:你決不要為我的兒子,由我現住的客納罕人中,娶一個女子為妻;
4 but thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.
卻要到我的故鄉,我的親族中去,為我的兒子依撒格娶妻。」
5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
僕人對他說:「假使那女子不願跟我到此地來,我能否帶你的兒子回到你的本鄉﹖」
6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
亞巴郎答覆他說:「你切不可帶我的兒子回到那裏去。
7 The LORD, the God of heaven, that took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my nativity, and that spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife for my son from thence.
那引我出離父家和我生身地,同我談過話,對我起誓說「我必將這地賜給你後裔」的上主,上天的天主,必派遣自己的使者作你的前導,領你由那裏給我兒子娶個妻子。
8 And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath; only thou shalt not bring my son thither again.
假若那女子不願跟你來,你對我起的誓,就與你無涉;無論如何,你不能帶我的兒子回到那裏去。」
9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning this matter.
僕人遂將手放在主人亞巴郎的胯下,為這事向他起了誓。
10 And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his master, and departed; having all goodly things of his master’s in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
僕人由他主人的駱駝中,牽了十匹駱駝,帶著主人的各樣寶物,起身往美索不達米亞的納曷爾城去了。
11 And he made the camels to kneel down without the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.
傍晚,女人們出來打水的時候,他叫駱駝臥在城外的水井旁,
12 And he said, O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, send me, I pray thee, good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
然後說:「上主、我主人亞巴郎的天主! 求你對我主人亞巴郎施行仁慈,今日使我幸運。
13 Behold, I stand by the fountain of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
看我站在水泉旁,此時城中的女子正出來打水。
14 and let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
我對那個少女說:請你放下水罐,讓我喝點水。如果她答說:請喝! 並且我還要打水給你的駱駝喝,她即是你為你的僕人依撒格預定的少女;由此我知道,你對我主人施行了仁慈。」
15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
話還沒有說完,黎貝加就肩著水罐出來了。她是亞巴郎的兄弟納曷爾的妻子米耳加的兒子貝突耳的女兒。
16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the fountain, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
這少女容貌很美,是個還沒有人認識的處女。她下到水泉,灌滿了水罐,就上來了。
17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Give me to drink, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher.
僕人就跑上前去迎著她說:「請讓我喝點你水罐裏的水,好嗎! 」
18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
她回答說:「先生! 請喝! 」她急忙將水罐放低,托在手上讓他喝。
19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
他喝足了以後,少女說:「我再為你的駱駝打水,叫牠們也喝足。」
20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.
遂急忙將罐裏的水倒在槽裏,再跑到那井裏去打水,打給他的駱駝喝。
21 And the man looked stedfastly on her; holding his peace, to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
僕人在旁靜靜地注視她,急願知道,是否上主已使他此行成功。
22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
駱駝喝完了水以後,老人就拿出一個半「協刻耳」重的金鼻環,和一對重十「協刻耳」的金手鐲,給她戴上,
23 and said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee. Is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?
然後說:「請你告訴我你是誰的女兒﹖你父親家裏,有沒有地方可讓我們過宿﹖」
24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
她回答說:「我是米耳加給納曷爾所生之子貝突耳的女兒。」
25 She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
她又繼續說:「我們家裏有很多草料和飼糧,而且還有地方可供過宿。」
26 And the man bowed his head, and worshipped the LORD.
老人就俯身朝拜了上主,說:「
27 And he said, Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not forsaken his mercy and his truth toward my master: as for me, the LORD hath led me in the way to the house of my master’s brethren.
上主,我主人亞巴郎的天主應受讚美! 因為他不斷以仁慈和忠信善待了我的主人。上主也一路引我來到了我主人的老家。」
28 And the damsel ran, and told her mother’s house according to these words.
那少女跑回去,將這一切事告訴了她母親家中的人。
29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the fountain.
黎貝加有個哥哥名叫拉班,他一看見他妹妹鼻上的金環,和手腕上的金鐲,聽見他妹妹黎貝加說:「那人如此如此對我說。」
30 And it came to pass, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the fountain.
拉班就跑去見那在郊外水泉旁的人,迨他來到那人那裏,見他仍站在靠近水泉的駱駝旁,
31 And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
就對他說:「你這受上主祝福的人,請來我已預備好了房屋和餵駱駝的地方;你為什麼還站在郊外﹖」
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 men’s feet that were with him.
拉班便將那人領進家去,卸了駱駝,餵上草料和飼糧;又拿水給他和與他同來的人洗腳,
33 And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
然後在他面前擺上飯,但僕人卻說:「在我未說明我的來意之前,我不吃飯。」拉班說:「你說罷! 」
34 And he said, I am Abraham’s servant.
他說:「我是亞巴郎的僕人,
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 menservants and maidservants, and camels and asses.
上主厚厚地祝福了我的主人,使他十分富有,賜了他羊群、牛群、金銀、僕婢、駱駝和驢子。
36 And Sarah my master’s wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.
我主人的妻子撒辣,在老年給我主人生了一個兒子,主人遂將所有的財產都給了他。
37 And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
我主人叫我起誓說:你決不要給我的兒子,由我現居地的客納罕人中,娶一個女子為妻。
38 but thou shalt go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son.
你該到我的父家和我的同族中,為我兒子娶妻。
39 And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
我對我主人說:假使女兒不願跟我來怎麼辦﹖
40 And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father’s house:
他回答我說:我一向在上主面前行走,他必派遣自己的使者與你同行,使你此行必成功,能由我的同族,我的父家,為我兒子娶妻。
41 then shalt thou be clear from my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give her not to thee, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
只要你去了我同族那裏,你就履行了對我起的誓;若是他們不給你,你對我起的誓,就與你無涉。
42 And I came this day unto the fountain, and said, O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:
今天我到了水泉那裏就說:上主,我主人亞巴郎的天主! 惟願你使我此行成功。
43 behold, I stand by the fountain of water; and let it come to pass, that the maiden which cometh forth to draw, to whom I shall say, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;
看我現在站在泉旁,我對那個出來打水的少女說:請你讓我喝點你水罐裏的水罷!
44 and she shall say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed for my master’s son.
如果她對我說:請喝,並且我還要打水給你的駱駝喝,她即是上主為我主人的兒子預定的妻子。
45 And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the fountain, and drew: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
我心裏尚未說完這話,看,黎貝加肩著水罐來了,下到水泉那裏打水,我就對她說:請給我一點水喝!
46 And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
她急忙從肩上放下水罐說:你喝,並且我還要打水給你的駱駝喝。我喝了,同時她也給了駱駝水喝。
47 And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the ring upon her nose, and the bracelets upon her hands.
我於是問她說:你是誰的女兒﹖她答說:我是米耳加給納曷爾生的兒子貝突耳的女兒。我就將鼻環戴在她鼻上,將手鐲帶在她手腕上。
48 And I bowed my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son.
然後我俯身朝拜了上主,讚頌了上主、我主人亞巴郎的天主,因為他引我走了正路,為我主人的兒子娶了我主人兄弟的孫女。
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 hand, or to the left.
現在,如果你們願意以仁慈和忠信善待我主人,請告訴我;如果不肯,也請告訴我;我好決定行事。」
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
拉班和貝突耳答說:「這件事既是出於上主,我們不能對你說好說壞。
51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the LORD hath spoken.
看黎貝加在你面前,你可帶她去做你主人兒子的妻子,如上主所說的。」
52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth unto the LORD.
亞巴郎的僕人一聽見他們說出這話,就俯伏在地朝拜了上主;
53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
然後拿出金銀的珍飾和衣服來,送給了黎貝加,又送給了她的哥哥和她的母親一些寶貴禮品。
54 And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.
這以後,他和同他前來的人才吃喝,並住了一宿。清早起來,他就說:「請讓我回到我主人那裏去! 」
55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us [a few] days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.
黎貝加的哥哥和母親說:「讓少女同我們再住上幾天或十天,然後走罷! 」
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.
他回答他們說:「你們不要挽留我,上主既使我此行成功,請你們讓我走,回到我主人那裏去。」
57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.
他們說:「我們可叫少女來,問問她的意思。」
58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
他們就將黎貝加叫來問她說:「你願意跟這人去嗎﹖」她答說:「願意。」
59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men.
於是他們打發自己的姊妹黎貝加和她的乳母,同亞巴郎的僕人和與他同來的人一起走了。
60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou [the mother] of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
他們祝福黎貝加說:「我們的姊妹,願你子孫無數! 願你的後裔,佔領仇敵的城門! 」
61 And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
黎貝加便和自己的婢女們起來,上了駱駝,跟那人去了。僕人便帶著黎貝加起了程。
62 And Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the land of the South.
那時依撒格剛來到拉海洛依井旁附近,他原住在乃革布地方。
63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming.
傍晚時,依撒格出來在田間來回沉思,舉目一望,看見了一隊駱駝。
64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
黎貝加舉目看見了依撒格,便由駱駝上下來,
65 And she said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant said, It is my master: and she took her veil, and covered herself.
問僕人說:「田間前來迎接我們的那人是誰﹖」僕人答說:「是我的主人。」黎貝加遂拿面紗蒙在臉上。
66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
僕人就將自己所作的一切事,告訴了依撒格。
67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
依撒格便領黎貝加進入自己母親撒辣的帳幕,娶了她為妻,很是愛她。依撒格自從母親死後,這才有了安慰。