< Jenesis 24 >
1 Ugbu a, Ebraham aghọọla agadi nʼahụ ya ma nʼọnụọgụgụ afọ ya. Onyenwe anyị agọziela ya nʼụzọ niile
Abraham was now a very old man. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in many ways.
2 Ọ gwara onyeisi ndị ozi nʼụlọ ya, onye nke na-elekọta ihe niile o nwere sị ya, “Tinye aka gị nʼokpuru apata m.
One day Abraham said to the chief servant of his household, the man who was in charge of everything Abraham owned, “Put your hand between my thighs to solemnly promise you will do what I tell you.
3 Achọrọ m ka i jiri aha Onyenwe anyị Chineke nke eluigwe na ụwa, ṅụọra m iyi, na ị gaghị achọtara nwa m nwoke nwunye site nʼetiti ndị Kenan, ndị m bi nʼetiti ha.
Knowing that Yahweh God [who created] the heavens and the earth is listening, promise that you will not get a wife for my son, Isaac, from the women here in Canaan.
4 Kama na ị ga-aga nʼala nke m na ụmụnna m lụtara nwa m, bụ Aịzik, nwunye nʼetiti ụmụnna m.”
Instead, go back to my country and to my relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac from among them.”
5 Ohu ahụ jụrụ ya, “Ọ bụrụkwanụ na nwaagbọghọ ahụ achọghị isoro m lọghachi nʼebe a, m ga-akpọrọ nwa gị nwoke laghachi nʼobodo i si bịa?”
The servant asked him, “If I find a woman among your relatives, what if she is not willing to come back with me to this land? Shall I take your son back there to the country you came from, [so he can find a wife and live there]?”
6 Ebraham sịrị ya, “Lezie anya hụ na ị kpọghachighị nwa m nwoke nʼebe ahụ.
Abraham replied to him, “No! Be certain that you don’t take my son there!
7 Onyenwe anyị, Chineke nke eluigwe, bụ onye kpọpụtara m site nʼụlọ nna m nakwa obodo nke aka m, onye ahụ gwara m okwu ma kwem nkwa site nʼịṅụ iyi nye sị, ‘Aga m enye ụmụ ụmụ gị ala a.’ Ọ ga-ezipụ mmụọ ozi ya ka ọ gaa nʼihu gị ka i nwee ike inwetara nwa m nwoke nwunye site nʼebe ahụ.
Yahweh God, who created the heavens, brought me here. He brought me from my father’s household, and from the land where my relatives lived. He spoke to me and made a solemn promise to me, saying, ‘I will give this land [of Canaan] to your descendants.’ He will send an angel who will go there ahead of you, and enable you to get a wife for my son [there and bring her to live here].
8 Ma ọ bụrụ na nwanyị ahụ achọghị isoro gị lọghachi, mgbe ahụ, ị ga-abụ onye nwere onwe ya pụọ nʼiyi a ị ṅụrụ. Naanị na ị gaghị eme ka nwa m nwoke laghachi nʼebe ahụ.”
But if the woman you find will not come back with you, you are free to disregard the promise you are making. The only thing that you must not do is to take my son to live there!”
9 Ya mere, ohu ahụ tinyere aka ya nʼokpuru apata nna ya ukwu Ebraham, ṅụọ iyi banyere okwu ndị a.
So the servant put his hand between Abraham’s thighs and made a solemn promise about the matter.
10 Emesịa, ohu a duuru ịnyịnya kamel iri nʼime ndị nna ya ukwu nwere pụọ. O sitekwara nʼaka nna ya ukwu were ihe ọma dị iche iche maka njem a, gawa Aram Naharaim, rute nʼobodo Nahọ.
Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and loaded them with all kinds of goods that his master gave him to take along. Then he left to go to Aram-Naharaim, [which is in (northern Mesopotamia/Syria)]. He arrived in Nahor city.
11 O mere ka ịnyịnya kamel ndị ahụ makpuru ala nʼakụkụ olulu mmiri dị nʼazụ obodo ahụ. Ọ bụ nʼoge anyasị, oge ụmụ nwanyị ji apụta iseta mmiri nʼebe ahụ.
It was late in the afternoon, at the time when the women go to the well to get water, when he arrived there. He made the camels kneel down near the well, which was outside the city.
12 Mgbe ahụ, o kpere ekpere sị, “Onyenwe anyị, Chineke nke nna m ukwu Ebraham, mee ka ihe gaara m nke ọma taa. Gosi nna m ukwu Ebraham obi ebere gị.
The servant prayed, “Yahweh God whom my master Abraham worships, enable me to be successful today! Act kindly to my master, Abraham!
13 Lee, ana m eguzo nʼakụkụ isi iyi mmiri a, ụmụ nwanyị ndị obodo a na-abịa iseta mmiri.
Listen to me. I am standing near a well of water, and the young women of the city are coming to get water.
14 Kwere ka o si otu a dịrị na nwaagbọghọ nke m ga-asị, ‘Biko, zie ite gị ka m ṅụrụ mmiri.’ Ọ bụrụ na onye ahụ asị m, ‘Ṅụọ, aga m ekutekwa mmiri nke ịnyịnya kamel gị ga-aṅụ,’ ka onye ahụ bụrụ onye ị họpụtara ohu gị Aịzik. Nʼụzọ dị otu a ka m ga-esi mata na i gosila nna m ukwu obi ebere.”
I am asking you this: ‘I will say to some girl, “Please lower your jar so that I may drink some water.” If she says, “Drink some, and I will draw some water [from the well] for your camels, too,” I will know that she is the woman whom you chose to be a wife for your servant, Isaac, and I will know that you have been kind to my master.’”
15 Tupu o kpechaa ekpere a, lekwa Ribeka ada Betuel, nwa nwoke Milka, onye bụ nwunye Nahọ, nwanne Ebraham. Ọ na-apụta bukwasị ite nʼubu ya.
Before he finished praying, [amazingly], Rebekah arrived there, carrying a jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s younger brother Nahor.
16 Ọ bụ nwaagbọghọ mara mma nke ukwuu, onye na-amatabeghị nwoke, nke nwoke ọbụla na-edinabeghị. Ọ gara nʼolulu mmiri kujuo ite ya si nʼebe ahụ na-arịgopụta.
She was very beautiful and still a virgin. She went down to the edge of the well, filled her jar with water, and then came back up.
17 Ohu ahụ mere ngwangwa jekwuru ya sị ya, “Biko nyetụ m mmiri si nʼite mmiri gị.”
Abraham’s servant immediately ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”
18 Ọ mere ngwangwa budata ite ahụ nʼaka ya, hulata ya si ya, “Ṅụọ, onyenwe m.”
She replied, “Drink some, sir!” She lowered her jar from her shoulder to her hands and gave him a drink.
19 Mgbe o nyechara ya mmiri, ọ sịrị, “Aga m ekutekwa mmiri nye ịnyịnya kamel gị ndị a ruo mgbe ha ṅụjuru afọ.”
After she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will also get some water for your camels, until they have had enough to drink.”
20 Ngwangwa, ọ wụpụrụ mmiri dị nʼite ya nʼime ihe anụ ụlọ ji aṅụ mmiri, gbara ọsọ gaa kute mmiri ọzọ na-agbanye nʼime ihe ahụ. O kugidere mmiri tutu ruo mgbe ịnyịnya kamel ndị ahụ ṅụjuchara afọ.
She quickly emptied the water in her jar into the trough [for giving water to animals], and then ran back to the well, and kept getting water for all the camels.
21 Mgbe ihe ndị a na-eme, ohu ahụ gbara nkịtị na-ele ya anya ịchọpụta ma Onyenwe anyị emeela ka ije ya bụrụ ihe gara nke ọma.
The servant just watched her, without saying anything. He wanted to know if Yahweh had caused his trip to be successful or not.
22 Mgbe ịnyịnya kamel ndị ahụ ṅụsịrị mmiri, nwoke ahụ wepụtara mgbanimi ọlaedo nke ọtụtụ ya bụ otu beka, na mgbaaka ọlaedo abụọ nke ọtụtụ ha bụ shekel iri.
Finally, after the camels finished drinking, the servant took out a gold nose ring that weighed (two ounces/6 grams), and two large gold bracelets for her arms, and gave them to Rebekah [and told her to put them on].
23 Ọ jụrụ ya sị, “Nwa onye ka ị bụ? Ohere ọ dị nʼụlọ nna gị ebe mụ na ịnyịnya kamel ndị a ga-anọ nʼabalị a?”
Then he said, “Tell me whose daughter you are. Also, tell me, is there room in your father’s house for me and my men to sleep there tonight?”
24 Ọ zara sị ya, “Abụ m nwa Betuel, nwa Milka nwunye Nahọ.”
She replied, “My father’s name is Bethuel. He is the son of Nahor and his wife Milcah.
25 Ọ sịkwara, “Anyị nwere nri anụ ụlọ, nweekwa ebe ị ga-edina nʼabalị a.”
Yes, we have room where you all can sleep tonight, and we also have plenty of straw and grain to feed the camels.”
26 Nwoke ahụ hulatara ala kpọọ isiala nye Onyenwe anyị.
The servant bowed and worshiped Yahweh.
27 Kwuo sị, “Ngọzị dịrị Onyenwe anyị, bụ Chineke nna m ukwu Ebraham, onye na-esitebeghị nʼebe nna m ukwu nọ wezuga ebere ya na ikwesi ntụkwasị obi ya. Ma banyere mụ onwe m, Onyenwe anyị e duola m nʼije a, kpọrọ m rute nʼụlọ ndị ikwu nna m ukwu.”
He said, “I thank you, Yahweh God, whom my master Abraham worships. You have continued to be kind and faithful to my master. You led me on this journey straight/directly to the house of my master’s relatives!”
28 Nwaagbọghọ ahụ gbalara gaa kọọrọ ndị ezinaụlọ nne ya ihe ndị a.
The girl ran and told everyone in her mother’s household about what had happened.
29 Ribeka nwere otu nwanne nwoke aha ya bụ Leban. Leban gbara ọsọ gbakwuje nwoke ahụ nʼisi iyi mmiri ahụ.
Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban went quickly to Abraham’s servant, who was still by the well.
30 Mgbe ọ hụrụ mgbanimi, na mgbaaka ndị ahụ nwanne ya nwanyị yi nʼaka ya, ma nụkwa ihe Ribeka kwuru banyere ihe nwoke ahụ gwara ya, o jekwuru nwoke ahụ, hụ ya ka ya na ịnyịnya kamel ya guzo nʼakụkụ olulu mmiri.
He was surprised to have seen the bracelets on his sister’s arms and the nose ring and to have heard Rebekah tell what the man had said to her. So he went out and saw the man standing near the camels, close to the well.
31 Ọ sịrị ya, “Bịa, gị onye Onyenwe anyị gọziri. Gịnị mere i ji guzo nʼebe a. Edozielara m gị ụlọ ebe ị ga-edina na ebe ịnyịnya kamel ndị a ga-anọ.”
He said to the man, “You who have been blessed by Yahweh, come with me! (Why are standing out here?/You should not keep standing out here!) [RHQ] I have prepared a room for you in the house, and a place for the camels to stay.”
32 Ya mere, nwoke ahụ gara nʼụlọ, ebe Leban nyere aka butukwaara ya ibu nke ịnyịnya kamel ndị ahụ bu. E wetara nri nye ịnyịnya kamel ndị ahụ, wetara ya mmiri nke ya na ndị ikom so ya ji saa ụkwụ ha.
So the servant went to the house, and Laban’s servants unloaded the camels, and brought straw and grain for the camels, and water for him and the men with him to wash their feet.
33 E doziri ya ihe oriri, ma ọ zara sị, “Agaghị m eri ihe ọbụla tutu ruo mgbe m kwuru ihe m ji bịa.” Leban sịrị, “Ngwa, kwuonụ.”
They set food in front of him for him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I tell you (what I need to tell you/why I have come).” So Laban said, “Tell us!”
34 Ya mere, ọ sịrị, “Abụ m ohu Ebraham.
So the servant said, “I am Abraham’s servant.
35 Onyenwe anyị agọziela nna m ukwu, mee ya ka ọ bụrụ ọgaranya. O nyela ya igwe atụrụ, na igwe ehi, na ọlaọcha na ọlaedo, na ọtụtụ ndị ohu nwoke na nwanyị, na ịnyịnya kamel, na ịnyịnya ibu.
Yahweh has greatly blessed my master so that he has become very rich. Yahweh has given him many sheep and cattle, a lot of gold and silver, male and female servants, camels and donkeys.
36 Sera nwunye nna m ukwu mụtaara ya otu nwa nwoke mgbe o merela agadi. Ihe niile nna m ukwu nwere ka o nyefere nwa ahụ nʼaka.
My master’s wife, Sarah, bore a son for him when she was very old, and my master has given to his son everything he owns.
37 Nna m ukwu mere ka m ṅụọra ya iyi sị, ‘Ị gaghị esite nʼetiti ụmụ ndị inyom Kenan ndị anyị bi nʼala ha lụtara nwa m nwoke nwunye.
My master made me solemnly promise, saying, ‘Do not get a wife for my son from the women here in Canaan.
38 Kama ị ga-aga nʼezinaụlọ nna m, na nke ndị ikwu m chọtara nwa m nwoke nwunye.’
Instead, go back to my father’s family, to my own clan, and get from them a wife for my son.’
39 “Mgbe ahụ, ajụrụ m nna m ukwu, ‘Ọ bụrụkwanụ na nwanyị ahụ ekweghị iso m lọghachi?’
Then I asked my master, ‘What shall I do if the woman you show me will not come back with me?’
40 “Ọ sịrị, ‘Onyenwe anyị, onye m na-ejegharị nʼihu ya, ga-eziga mmụọ ozi ya ka o soro gị gaa ime ka ije gị nwee isi, ka i nwee ike chọtara nwa m nwoke nwanyị site nʼetiti ndị ikwu m na ezinaụlọ nna m.
He replied, ‘Yahweh, whom I have always obeyed [MTY], will send his angel with you, and he will cause your journey to be successful, with the result that you can get a wife for my son from my clan, from my father’s family.
41 Ị ga-abụ onye nwere onwe gị site nʼiyi ị ṅụrụ ma ọ bụrụ na mgbe i gakwuru ndị ikwu m, ha jụrụ ịkpọnye gị nwanyị ahụ. Ị ga-abụ onye nwere onwe gị site nʼiyi ị ṅụrụ m.’
But if my clan refuses to allow her to return with you, you will be freed from being cursed because of not obeying me.’
42 “Mgbe m rutere nʼisi iyi mmiri taa, ekwuru m sị, ‘Onyenwe anyị Chineke nna m ukwu Ebraham, ọ bụrụ na ọ masị gị, biko mee ka ije a m bịara bụrụ nke ga-aga nke ọma.
“When I came today to the well, I prayed, ‘Yahweh God whom my master, Abraham worships, if you are willing, please allow this journey of mine to be successful.
43 Lee, ka m na-eguzo nʼakụkụ isi iyi mmiri a, ka nwaagbọghọ ahụ bịara ikuru mmiri nke m ga-asị, “Biko kwere ka m si nʼite gị ṅụrụtụ ntakịrị mmiri,”
Listen to me. I am standing beside a well. A young woman may come to draw water. I will say to her, “Please, give me a little water to drink from your jar.”
44 ma ọ bụrụ na ọ sị m, “Ṅụọ, aga m ekutekwa mmiri nye ịnyịnya kamel gị ndị a,” ka onye dị otu a bụrụ nwanyị ahụ Onyenwe anyị chọtaara Aịzik nwa nna m ukwu.’
If she says to me, “Certainly, drink some! And I will also draw some water for your camels,” that will be the woman whom you have chosen for my master’s son!’
45 “Tupu m kpesịa ekpere a nʼobi m, lekwa Ribeka ka o bụ ite mmiri ya nʼubu ya na-abịa. Ọ gbadara nʼisi iyi mmiri ahụ kute mmiri. Asịrị m ya, ‘Biko nye m mmiri ka m ṅụọ.’
Before I finished praying, [amazingly], Rebekah approached with her water jar on her shoulder. She went down to the well and got some water. I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink!’
46 “Ngwangwa, o sitere nʼubu ya budata ite, sị m, ‘Ṅụọ, aga m ekutekwa mmiri nke ịnyịnya kamel ndị a ga-aṅụ.’ Ya mere, aṅụrụ m, o nyekwara ịnyịnya kamel m ndị ahụ mmiri ha ṅụrụ.
She quickly lowered her jar and said, ‘Drink some! And I will draw water [from the well] for your camels, too.’ So I drank some water, and she also got water for the camels.
47 “Mgbe ahụ, ajụrụ m ya, ‘Nwa onye ka ị bụ?’ “Ọ sịrị m, ‘Abụ m nwa Betuel onye bụ nwa Nahọ nke Milka mụtaara ya.’ “Mgbe ahụ etinyere m ya mgbanimi ahụ nʼimi ya, tinyekwa ọlaaka ahụ nʼaka ya abụọ.
Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor and his wife, Milcah.’ I had [a ring and bracelets with me, and] I put the ring in her nose and put the bracelets on her arms.
48 Ehulatara m ala kpọọ isiala nye Onyenwe anyị. Etoro m Onyenwe anyị, Chineke nke nna m ukwu Ebraham, onye duru m nʼezi ụzọ inweta nwa nwanne nna m ukwu dịka nwunye nwa ya nwoke.
Then I bowed and worshiped Yahweh, and I thanked Yahweh God, the one my master Abraham worships, the one who led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother to be a wife for my master’s son.
49 Ugbu a, ọ bụrụ na unu ga-egosi nna m ukwu obiọma na ikwesi ntụkwasị obi gwanụ m. Ọ bụrụkwanụ na ọ gaghị esi otu a dịrị, gwanụ m ka m mata ụzọ m ga-agbaso.”
Now, if you are kind and faithful to my master, tell me that you will do what I am asking. If you will not do that, tell me that also, so I may know what to do [MTY].”
50 Leban na Betuel zara sị ya, “Ihe niile si nʼaka Onyenwe anyị. Anyị enweghị ike ịgwa gị okwu ọjọọ maọbụ nke ọma.
Laban and Bethuel answered, “It is clear that Yahweh has caused this to happen. So we two cannot say anything more.
51 Lee Ribeka, kpọrọ ya laa, ka ọ bụrụ nwunye nwa nna gị ukwu, dịka Onyenwe anyị kwuru.”
Rebekah is here in front of you. Take her and go, and let her be a wife for your master’s son, just as Yahweh has indicated.”
52 Mgbe ohu Ebraham nụrụ ihe ha kwuru, ọ dara nʼala kpọọ isiala nye Onyenwe anyị.
When Abraham’s servant heard these words, he bowed down to the ground to [thank] Yahweh.
53 Mgbe ahụ kwa, ohu ahụ wepụtara ihe ịchọ mma ọlaedo, na ọlaọcha dị iche iche na uwe nye ha Ribeka. Ọ wepụtakwara onyinye ndị ọzọ dị oke ọnụahịa nye nwanne ya nwoke na nne ya.
Then the servant brought out silver and gold jewelry and clothes, and gave them to Rebekah. And he gave gifts to her brother Laban and to her mother.
54 Emesịa, mgbe ihe ndị a gasịrị, ya na ndị ikom so ya riri, ṅụọ, dinaakwa nʼabalị ahụ. Mgbe ha si nʼụra teta, o kwuru sị, “Zilaga m ka m lakwuru nna m ukwu.”
Then they ate a meal together. The men who were with Abraham’s servant also slept there that night. The next morning, the servant said, “Allow me now to return to my master.”
55 Ma Leban na nne ya zara sị ya, “Ka nwantakịrị nwanyị a nọnyere anyị ihe dịka ụbọchị iri tupu o soro gị laa.”
But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the girl remain with us for about ten days. After that, you may take her and go.”
56 Ma ọ zara ha sị, “Unu egbochila anyị. Ebe ọ bụ na Onyenwe anyị emeela ka ije m bụrụ ihe gara nke ọma, zilaga m ka m laghachikwuru nna m ukwu.”
But he replied to them, “Yahweh has made my journey successful, so do not detain me. Let me take her back to my master now!”
57 Ha zara sị ya, “Ka anyị kpọọ nwantakịrị nwanyị ahụ jụọ ya ihe bụ uche ya.”
They said, “Let’s call Rebekah and ask her what she wants to do.” [MTY]
58 Ya mere ha kpọrọ Ribeka jụọ ya sị, “Ị ga-eso nwoke a gaa?” Ọ zara sị, “E, aga m aga.”
So they summoned Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man now?” She replied, “Yes, I will go.”
59 Ya mere, ha zipụrụ nwanne ha nwanyị Ribeka, tinyere nwanyị lekọtara ya anya mgbe ọ dị na nwantakịrị, na ohu Ebraham na ndị ikom so ya.
So they allowed Rebekah, a woman who had taken care of her when she was very young, Abraham’s servant, and the men who had come with him. to go.
60 Ha gọziri Ribeka sị ya, “Nwanne anyị nwanyị mụọ ọmụmụ, mụruo puku kwụrụ puku, ka mkpụrụ afọ gị nwetara onwe ha, ọnụ ụzọ ama ndị iro ha.”
Before they all left, they [asked God to] bless Rebekah, and said to her, “Our sister, we ask that Yahweh will cause you to have millions of descendants, and allow them to completely defeat [MET] all those that hate them.”
61 Ribeka biliri, ya na ndị inyom na-ejere ya ozi, ha rigoro nʼelu ịnyịnya kamel ndị ahụ, soro nwoke ahụ. Ya mere, ohu ahụ duuru Ribeka laa.
Then Rebekah and her maid servants got ready and got on their camels and went with Abraham’s servant.
62 Nʼoge a, Aịzik bịara nʼebe mbata obodo Bịa-Lahai-Rọị nʼihi na o bi na Negev.
At that time, Isaac was living in the Negev desert. He had gone there from Beer-Lahai-Roi.
63 Aịzik pụtara ịtụgharị uche nʼọhịa nʼoge uhuruchi. Ọ lepụrụ anya hụ ọtụtụ ịnyịnya kamel na-abịanụ.
One evening he went out into the field to meditate as he walked. He looked up and [was surprised to] see some camels coming.
64 Ribeka nʼonwe ya lepụkwara anya hụ Aịzik. O sitere nʼelu ịnyịnya kamel rịdata,
Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got off the camel,
65 jụọ ohu ahụ sị, “Onye bụ nwoke a si nʼọhịa na-abịa izute anyị?” Ohu ahụ zara sị ya, “Ọ bụ nna m ukwu” Nʼihi nke a, Ribeka weere akwa mkpudo ya kpuchie ihu ya.
and asked the servant, “Who is that man who is approaching?” The servant replied, “That is Isaac, my master, [the man you will be marrying].” So she took her veil and covered her face, which was the custom for a woman who was about to be married.
66 Ohu ahụ kọọrọ Aịzik akụkọ otu ije ya niile si gaa.
The servant told Isaac everything that had happened.
67 Aịzik kpọbatara Ribeka nʼụlọ ikwu Sera, nne ya. Ọ lụrụ Ribeka, onye ghọrọ nwunye ya. Aịzik hụrụ ya nʼanya, ma nweta nkasiobi nʼihi ọnwụ nne ya.
Then Isaac took Rebekah into the tent that belonged to his mother, Sarah, and she became his wife. And he loved her. So Isaac was comforted about his mother’s death.