Kĩambĩrĩria 24
1 Na rĩrĩ, Iburahĩmu aarĩ mũkũrũ na agatindĩka mĩaka. Nake Jehova nĩamũrathimĩte maũndũ-inĩ make mothe.
By now Abraham was old and well along in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
2 Nake akĩĩra ndungata ĩrĩa yarĩ nene mũciĩ-inĩ wake, o ĩrĩa yarũgamĩrĩire indo ciothe iria aarĩ nacio atĩrĩ, “Ta iga guoko gwaku rungu rwa kĩero gĩakwa.
So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
3 Nĩngwenda wĩhĩte na rĩĩtwa rĩa Jehova, o we Ngai wa igũrũ na Ngai wa thĩ, atĩ ndũgethera mũrũ wakwa mũtumia kuuma kũrĩ airĩtu a Akaanani aya ndũũraga thĩinĩ wao,
and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling,
4 no nĩũgathiĩ bũrũri-inĩ wakwa na kũrĩ andũ a nyũmba iitũ, na wethere mũrũ wakwa Isaaka mũtumia kũu.”
but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.”
5 Ndungata ĩyo ĩkĩmũũria atĩrĩ, “Ĩ mũndũ-wa-nja ũcio angĩkaarega gũũka na niĩ bũrũri-inĩ ũyũ? Ngaacookia mũrũguo bũrũri ũrĩa woimire?”
The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?”
6 Iburahĩmu akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Menyerera, ndũkanacookie mũrũ wakwa kũu!
Abraham replied, “Make sure that you do not take my son back there.
7 Jehova, o we Ngai wa igũrũ ũrĩa wandutire kuuma nyũmba ya baba na kuuma bũrũri ũrĩa ndaciarĩirwo na akĩnjarĩria na akĩnjĩĩra na mwĩhĩtwa atĩrĩ, ‘Rũciaro rwaku nĩngarũhe bũrũri ũyũ’ we nĩwe ũgaatũma mũraika wake mbere yaku nĩguo ũkoonera mũrũ wakwa mũtumia kuuma kuo.
The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you so that you can take a wife for my son from there.
8 Mũndũ-wa-nja ũcio angĩkaarega gũũka nawe-rĩ, ndũkoohwo nĩ mwĩhĩtwa ũyũ wakwa; no ndũkanacookie mũrũ wakwa kũu.”
And if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”
9 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio ndungata ĩyo ĩkĩiga guoko kwayo rungu rwa kĩero kĩa Iburahĩmu ũcio mwathi wayo, na ĩkĩĩhĩta na mwĩhĩtwa harĩ we kũringana na ũhoro ũcio.
So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
10 Ndungata ĩyo ĩgĩcooka ĩkĩoya ngamĩĩra ikũmi cia mwathi wayo na ĩkiumagara ĩkuĩte mĩthemba yothe ya indo njega kuuma kũrĩ mwathi wayo. Ĩgĩthiĩ ĩgĩkinya itũũra rĩrĩa Nahoru aatũũraga mwena wa gathigathini-ithũĩro wa Mesopotamia.
Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim.
11 Nayo ĩgĩtũma ngamĩĩra ikome nja ya itũũra hakuhĩ na gĩthima kĩa maaĩ; kwarĩ kĩhwaĩ-inĩ rĩrĩa andũ-a-nja maathiiaga gũtaha maaĩ.
As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water.
12 Ĩgĩcooka ĩkĩhooya, ĩkiuga atĩrĩ, “Wee Jehova, Ngai wa Iburahĩmu mwathi wakwa, tũma ngaacĩre ũmũthĩ na ũtuge mwathi wakwa Iburahĩmu.
“O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13 Rora, ndũgamĩte haha gĩthima-inĩ kĩa maaĩ, nao airĩtu a ene itũũra nĩ maroka gũtaha maaĩ.
Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.
14 Kũrotuĩka atĩrĩ, atĩ rĩrĩa ndĩrĩĩra mũirĩtu atĩrĩ, ‘Ndakũhooya, he ndigithũ yaku nyue maaĩ,’ nake oige atĩrĩ, ‘Nyua na nĩngũtahĩra o na ngamĩĩra ciaku,’ reke ũcio atuĩke nĩwe ũthuurĩire ndungata yaku Isaaka. Na ũndũ ũcio ũtũme niĩ menye atĩ nĩũtugĩte mwathi wakwa.”
Now may it happen that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well’—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.”
15 Ĩtanarĩkia kũhooya-rĩ, Rebeka agĩũka akuuĩte ndigithũ kĩande-inĩ. Aarĩ mũirĩtu wa Bethueli mũrũ wa Milika, ũrĩa warĩ mũtumia wa Nahoru mũrũ wa nyina na Iburahĩmu.
Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.
16 Mũirĩtu ũcio aarĩ mũthaka mũno, mũirĩtu gathirange; gũtirĩ mũndũ mũrũme wakomete nake. Agĩikũrũka gĩthima-inĩ kĩa maaĩ, akĩiyũria ndigithũ yake maaĩ, agĩcooka akĩambata rĩngĩ.
Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin who had not had relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up again.
17 Nayo ndungata ĩyo ĩkĩhiũha ĩkamũtũnge, na ĩkĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Ndagũthaitha, he tũũĩ tũnini twa kũnyua kuuma ndigithũ-inĩ yaku.”
So the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jar.”
18 Nake agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Mwathi wakwa, nyua,” nake akĩruta ndigithũ mũtwe na ihenya, akĩmĩnyiita na moko, na akĩmũhe maaĩ.
“Drink, my lord,” she replied, and she quickly lowered her jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
19 Na aarĩkia kũmũhe maaĩ ma kũnyua, agĩcooka akiuga atĩrĩ, “Nĩngũtahĩra ngamĩĩra ciaku, o nacio o nginya ciiganie kũnyua.”
After she had given him a drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels, until they have had enough to drink.”
20 Agĩkĩonoreria maaĩ marĩa maarĩ ndigithũ yake mũharatĩ-inĩ na ihenya, agĩcooka agĩtengʼera gĩthima-inĩ gũtaha maaĩ mangĩ, agĩtaha ma kũigana ngamĩĩra ciake ciothe.
And she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran back to the well to draw water, until she had drawn water for all his camels.
21 Mũndũ ũcio akĩmwĩrorera atekwaria, nĩguo amenye kana Jehova nĩagacĩrithĩtie rũgendo rwake kana ndaarũgacĩrithĩtie.
Meanwhile, the man watched her silently to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey a success.
22 Rĩrĩa ngamĩĩra ciarĩkirie kũnyua maaĩ-rĩ, mũndũ ũcio akĩruta gĩcũhĩ kĩa iniũrũ gĩa thahabu kĩa ũritũ wa nuthu cekeri, na bangiri igĩrĩ cia thahabu cia ũritũ wa cekeri ikũmi, akĩmwĩkĩra.
And after the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring weighing a beka, and two gold bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels.
23 Agĩcooka akĩmũũria atĩrĩ, “Wee ũrĩ mwarĩ wa ũ? Ndagũthaitha ta njĩĩra atĩrĩ, mũciĩ gwa thoguo-rĩ, he handũ tũngĩrarĩrĩra?”
“Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
24 Nake akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Niĩ ndĩ mwarĩ wa Bethueli, mũriũ ũrĩa Milika aaciarĩire Nahoru.”
She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor.”
25 Ningĩ akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Tũrĩ na riya na nyeki nyingĩ, o na handũ wee ũngĩrarĩrĩra.”
Then she added, “We have plenty of straw and feed, as well as a place for you to spend the night.”
26 Mũndũ ũcio akĩinamĩrĩra thĩ, akĩhooya Jehova,
Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,
27 akiuga atĩrĩ, “Jehova arogaathwo, o we Ngai wa Iburahĩmu mwathi wakwa, o ũcio ũtatigĩte kuonania ũtugi na wĩhokeku wake kũrĩ mwathi wakwa. Hakwa-rĩ, Jehova nĩandongoretie rũgendo-inĩ, akanginyia kwa andũ a nyũmba ya mwathi wakwa.”
saying, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”
28 Nake mũirĩtu ũcio agĩtengʼera, agĩthiĩ akĩhe andũ a nyũmba ya nyina ndeto icio.
The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things.
29 Na rĩrĩ, Rebeka aarĩ na mũrũ wa nyina wetagwo Labani, nake akiumagara ahiũhĩte, agĩthiĩ kũrĩ mũndũ ũcio hau gĩthima-inĩ kĩa maaĩ.
Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he rushed out to the man at the spring.
30 Rĩrĩa onire gĩcũhĩ kĩu kĩa iniũrũ na bangiri irĩ moko-inĩ ma mwarĩ wa nyina, na aigua Rebeka akiuga ũrĩa mũndũ ũcio aamwĩrĩte-rĩ, agĩthiĩ kũrĩ mũndũ ũcio, akĩmũkora arũgamĩte harĩ ngamĩĩra ciake hakuhĩ na gĩthima kĩa maaĩ.
As soon as he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and heard Rebekah’s words, “The man said this to me,” he went and found the man standing by the camels near the spring.
31 Akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Ũka tũthiĩ mũciĩ, wee ũrathimĩtwo nĩ Jehova. Ũrũgamĩte haha nja nĩkĩ? Nĩhaarĩirie nyũmba yaku na handũ ha ngamĩĩra.”
“Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” said Laban. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”
32 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio mũndũ ũcio agĩtoonya nyũmba, nacio ngamĩĩra ikĩaũrwo mĩrigo. Ngamĩĩra ikĩreherwo riya na nyeki, nake mũndũ ũcio na andũ arĩa aarĩ nao makĩreherwo maaĩ ma gwĩthamba magũrũ.
So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of his companions.
33 Ningĩ akĩreherwo irio, nowe akiuga atĩrĩ, “Niĩ ndingĩrĩa, itambĩte kũmwĩra ũndũ ũrĩa ũndehete gũkũ.” Nake Labani akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Gĩtwĩre.”
Then a meal was set before the man, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I came to say.” So Laban said, “Please speak.”
34 Nake agĩkiuga atĩrĩ, “Niĩ ndĩ ndungata ya Iburahĩmu.”
“I am Abraham’s servant,” he replied.
35 “Jehova nĩarathimĩte mwathi wakwa mũno, na nĩ atongete mũno. Nĩamũheete ngʼondu na ngʼombe, betha na thahabu, ndungata cia arũme na cia andũ-a-nja, na ngamĩĩra o na ndigiri.
“The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys.
36 Nake Sara mũtumia wa mwathi wakwa nĩamũciarĩire kĩmwana arĩ o mũkũrũ, nake nĩakĩheete indo ciake ciothe.
My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns.
37 Nake mwathi wakwa agĩtũma ndĩĩhĩte akĩnjĩĩra atĩrĩ, ‘Ndũkanethere mũriũ wakwa mũtumia kuuma kũrĩ airĩtu a Akaanani, a gũkũ bũrũri ũyũ ndũũraga,
My master made me swear an oath and said, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell,
38 no ũthiĩ kũrĩ nyũmba ya baba na kũrĩ mũhĩrĩga wakwa, na ũrutĩre mũriũ wakwa mũtumia kuo.’
but you shall go to my father’s house and to my kindred to take a wife for my son.’
39 “Ningĩ ngĩũria mwathi wakwa atĩrĩ, ‘Ĩ mũndũ-wa-nja ũcio angĩrega gũũka na niĩ?’
Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’
40 “Nake akĩnjookeria atĩrĩ, ‘Jehova ũrĩa ndũire thiiaga mbere yake, nĩagatũma mũraika wake athiĩ nawe, na atũme rũgendo rwaku rũgaacĩre, nĩgeetha ũkaarutĩra mũriũ wakwa mũtumia kuuma kũrĩ mũhĩrĩga wakwa na kuuma kũrĩ andũ a nyũmba ya baba.
And he told me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you may take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father’s house.
41 Ningĩ wathiĩ kũrĩ mũhĩrĩga wakwa-rĩ, nĩũkohorwo kuuma kũrĩ mwĩhĩtwa wakwa; o na mangĩkaarega kũmũnengerana kũrĩ we, nĩũkohorwo kuuma kũrĩ mwĩhĩtwa ũcio wakwa.’”
And when you go to my kindred, if they refuse to give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’
42 Agĩthiĩ na mbere, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Ũmũthĩ rĩrĩa nginyire gĩthima-inĩ kĩa maaĩ, njugire atĩrĩ, ‘Wee Jehova Ngai wa Iburahĩmu mwathi wakwa, ũngĩenda, ndagũthaitha, gaacĩrithia rũgendo rũrũ njũkĩte.
So when I came to the spring today, I prayed: O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if only You would make my journey a success!
43 Ta kĩone, nũngiĩ haha gĩthima-inĩ kĩa maaĩ; mũirĩtu angĩũka gũtaha maaĩ na niĩ ndĩmwĩre atĩrĩ, “Ĩtĩkĩra nyue tũũĩ tũnini kuuma ndigithũ-inĩ yaku,”
Here I am, standing beside this spring. Now if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jar,’
44 nake angĩnjĩĩra atĩrĩ, “Nyua na nĩngũtahĩra ngamĩĩra ciaku o nacio,” nĩagĩtuĩke nĩwe mũndũ-wa-nja ũrĩa Jehova athuurĩire mũriũ wa mwathi wakwa.’
and she replies, ‘Drink, and I will draw water for your camels as well,’ may she be the woman the LORD has appointed for my master’s son.
45 “Itanarĩkia kũhooya ũguo na ngoro-rĩ, Rebeka oka arĩ na ndigithũ yake kĩande. Nake aikũrũka gĩthima-inĩ kĩa maaĩ, aataha maaĩ na niĩ ndamwĩra atĩrĩ, ‘Ndagũthaitha he maaĩ nyue.’
And before I had finished praying in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’
46 “Aaruta ndigithũ yake kĩande o naihenya anjĩĩra atĩrĩ, ‘Nyua, na nĩngũnyuithia o na ngamĩĩra ciaku.’ Nĩ ũndũ ũcio ndanyua maaĩ na ahe ngamĩĩra o nacio.
She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels.
47 “Na niĩ ndamũũria atĩrĩ, ‘Ũrĩ mwarĩ wa ũ?’ “Nake anjookeria atĩrĩ, ‘Ndĩ mwarĩ wa Bethueli mũrũ wa Nahoru, ũrĩa Milika aamũciarĩire.’ “Na niĩ ndakĩmwĩkĩra gĩcũhĩ iniũrũ, na bangiri moko,
Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.
48 ndacooka ndainamĩrĩra ndahooya Jehova. Ndagatha Jehova, o we Ngai wa Iburahĩmu mwathi wakwa, ũrĩa ũndongoretie na njĩra ĩrĩa njagĩrĩru nyonere mũrũ wa mwathi wakwa mwarĩ wa mũriũ wa mũrũ wa nyina nake.
Then I bowed down and worshiped the LORD; and I blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the right road to take the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.
49 Na rĩrĩ, angĩkorwo nĩ mũkuonania ũtugi na wĩhokeku kũrĩ mwathi wakwa, njĩĩrai; na angĩkorwo tiguo, mũnjĩĩre nĩgeetha na niĩ menye na kũrĩa ngũrora.”
Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; but if not, let me know, so that I may go elsewhere.”
50 Labani na Bethueli magĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Ũndũ ũyũ uumĩte kũrĩ Jehova; ithuĩ tũngĩgĩkwĩra atĩa?
Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter.
51 Rebeka nĩwe ũyũ; muoe mũthiĩ agatuĩke mũtumia wa mũriũ wa mwathi waku, o ta ũrĩa Jehova oigĩte.”
Rebekah is here before you. Take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, just as the LORD has decreed.”
52 Rĩrĩa ndungata ya Iburahĩmu yaiguire ũrĩa moigire, ĩkĩinamĩrĩra, ĩgĩturumithia ũthiũ wayo thĩ mbere ya Jehova.
When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.
53 Ningĩ ndungata ĩyo ĩkĩruta thahabu, na mathaga ma betha na nguo, na ĩgĩcihe Rebeka; ĩgĩcooka ĩkĩhe Labani mũrũ wa nyina, o na nyina, iheo cia goro.
Then he brought out jewels of silver and gold, and articles of clothing, and he gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother.
54 Ndungata ĩyo na andũ arĩa yarĩ nao makĩrĩa na makĩnyua, na makĩraara kũu ũtukũ ũcio. Na rĩrĩa mookĩrire mũthenya ũyũ ũngĩ rũciinĩ tene, ĩkiuga atĩrĩ, “Rekei ndĩthiĩre kũrĩ mwathi wakwa.”
Then he and the men with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, “Send me on my way to my master.”
55 No Labani mũrũ wa nyina na mũirĩtu, o na nyina, makiuga atĩrĩ, “Reke mũirĩtu ũyũ aikare na ithuĩ ta matukũ ikũmi; mũcooke mũthiĩ.”
But her brother and mother said, “Let the girl remain with us ten days or so. After that, she may go.”
56 No yo ĩkĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Tigai kũngiria thiĩ, kuona atĩ Jehova nĩagacĩrithĩtie rũgendo rwakwa. Rekei ndĩthiĩre kũrĩ mwathi wakwa.”
But he replied, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has made my journey a success. Send me on my way so that I may go to my master.”
57 Nao makiuga atĩrĩ, “Rekei twĩte mũirĩtu tũmũũrie ũhoro ũcio.”
So they said, “We will call the girl and ask her opinion.”
58 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio magĩĩta Rebeka, makĩmũũria atĩrĩ, “Nĩũgũthiĩ na mũndũ ũyũ?” Nake akiuga atĩrĩ, “Nĩngũthiĩ.”
They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she replied.
59 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio magĩtĩkĩria Rebeka mwarĩ wa nyina ũcio ethiĩre, hamwe na mũmũrori, na ndungata ya Iburahĩmu na andũ ake.
So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men.
60 Nao magĩkĩrathima Rebeka makĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Mwarĩ wa maitũ, ũroingĩha ũtuĩke nyina wa ngiri maita ngiri, naruo rũciaro rwaku rũroĩgwatĩra ihingo cia thũ ciao.”
And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands upon thousands. May your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.”
61 Nake Rebeka na ndungata ciake, cia andũ-a-nja, makĩĩhaarĩria na makĩhaica ngamĩĩra, na magĩthiĩ na mũndũ ũcio. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio ndungata ĩyo ĩkĩoya Rebeka ĩgĩĩthiĩra.
Then Rebekah and her servant girls got ready, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.
62 Na rĩrĩ, Isaaka nĩoimĩte Biri-Lahai-Roi, nĩ ũndũ aatũũraga Negevu.
Now Isaac had just returned from Beer-lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negev.
63 Hwaĩ-inĩ ũmwe-rĩ, nĩathiire na kũu mũgũnda-inĩ agecũũranganie, na aatiira maitho, akĩona ngamĩĩra ciũkĩte.
Early in the evening, Isaac went out to the field to meditate, and looking up, he saw the camels approaching.
64 O nake Rebeka agĩtiira maitho akĩona Isaaka. Akiuma ngamĩĩra igũrũ,
And when Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel
65 na akĩũria ndungata ĩyo atĩrĩ, “Mũndũ ũrĩa ũrĩ kũũrĩa mũgũnda ũroka gũtũtũnga nũũ?” Ndungata ĩyo ĩgĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Nĩ mwathi wakwa.” Nake Rebeka akĩoya taama wake akĩĩhumbĩra.
and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “It is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.
66 Nayo ndungata ĩyo ĩkĩĩra Isaaka ũrĩa wothe yekĩte.
Then the servant told Isaac all that he had done.
67 Nake Isaaka agĩtoonyia Rebeka hema-inĩ ya nyina Sara, akĩmũhikia. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio agĩtuĩka mũtumia wake, na akĩmwenda; nake Isaaka akĩhoorerio ihooru rĩa gĩkuũ kĩa nyina.
And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death.
