Genesis 24
1 Erat autem Abraham senex, dierumque multorum: et Dominus in cunctis benedixerat ei.
Abraham was now a very old man. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in many ways.
2 Dixitque ad servum seniorem domus suae, qui praeerat omnibus quae habebat: Pone manum tuam subter femur meum,
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 ut adiurem te per Dominum, Deum caeli et terrae, ut non accipias uxorem filio meo de filiabus Chananaeorum, inter quos habito:
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 sed ad terram et cognationem meam proficiscaris, et inde accipias uxorem filio meo Isaac.
Instead, go back to my country and to my relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac from among them.”
5 Respondit servus: Si noluerit mulier venire mecum in terram hanc, numquid reducere debeo filium tuum ad locum, de quo egressus es?
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 Dixitque Abraham: Cave nequando reducas filium meum illuc.
Abraham replied to him, “No! Be certain that you don’t take my son there!
7 Dominus Deus caeli, qui tulit me de domo patris mei, et de terra nativitatis meae, qui locutus est mihi, et iuravit mihi, dicens: Semini tuo dabo terram hanc: ipse mittet Angelum suum coram te, et accipies inde uxorem filio meo:
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 sin autem mulier noluerit sequi te, non teneberis iuramento: filium meum tantum ne reducas illuc.
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 Posuit ergo servus manum sub femore Abraham domini sui, et iuravit illi super sermone hoc.
So the servant put his hand between Abraham’s thighs and made a solemn promise about the matter.
10 Tulitque decem camelos de grege domini sui, et abiit, ex omnibus bonis eius portans secum, profectusque perrexit in Mesopotamiam ad urbem Nachor.
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 Cumque camelos fecisset accumbere extra oppidum iuxta puteum aquae vespere, tempore quo solent mulieres egredi ad hauriendam aquam, dixit:
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 Domine Deus domini mei Abraham, occurre, obsecro, mihi hodie, et fac misericordiam cum domino meo Abraham.
The servant prayed, “Yahweh God whom my master Abraham worships, enable me to be successful today! Act kindly to my master, Abraham!
13 Ecce ego sto prope fontem aquae, et filiae habitatorum huius civitatis egredientur ad hauriendam aquam.
Listen to me. I am standing near a well of water, and the young women of the city are coming to get water.
14 Igitur puella, cui ego dixero: Inclina hydriam tuam ut bibam: et illa responderit, Bibe, quin et camelis tuis dabo potum: ipsa est, quam praeparasti servo tuo Isaac: et per hoc intelligam quod feceris misericordiam cum domino meo.
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 Necdum intra se verba compleverat, et ecce Rebecca egrediebatur, filia Bathuel, filii Melchae uxoris Nachor fratris Abraham, habens hydriam in scapula sua:
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 puella decora nimis, virgoque pulcherrima, et incognita viro: descenderat autem ad fontem, et impleverat hydriam, ac revertebatur.
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 Occurritque ei servus, et ait: Pauxillum aquae mihi ad bibendum praebe de hydria tua.
Abraham’s servant immediately ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”
18 Quae respondit: Bibe domine mi. celeriterque deposuit hydriam super ulnam suam, et dedit ei potum.
She replied, “Drink some, sir!” She lowered her jar from her shoulder to her hands and gave him a drink.
19 Cumque ille bibisset, adiecit: Quin et camelis tuis hauriam aquam, donec cuncti bibant.
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 Effundensque hydriam in canalibus, recurrit ad puteum ut hauriret aquam: et haustam omnibus camelis dedit.
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 Ipse autem contemplabatur eam tacitus, scire volens utrum prosperum iter suum fecisset Deus, an non.
The servant just watched her, without saying anything. He wanted to know if Yahweh had caused his trip to be successful or not.
22 Postquam autem biberunt cameli, protulit vir inaures aureas, appendentes siclos duos, et armillas totidem pondo siclorum decem.
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 Dixitque ad eam: Cuius es filia? indica mihi: est in domo patris tui locus ad manendum?
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 Quae respondit: Filia sum Bathuelis, filii Nachor, quem peperit ei Melcha.
She replied, “My father’s name is Bethuel. He is the son of Nahor and his wife Milcah.
25 Et addidit, dicens: Palearum quoque et foeni plurimum est apud nos, et locus spatiosus ad manendum.
Yes, we have room where you all can sleep tonight, and we also have plenty of straw and grain to feed the camels.”
26 Inclinavit se homo, et adoravit Dominum,
The servant bowed and worshiped Yahweh.
27 dicens: Benedictus Dominus Deus domini mei Abraham, qui non abstulit misericordiam et veritatem suam a domino meo, et recto itinere me perduxit in domum fratris domini mei.
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 Cucurrit itaque puella, et nunciavit in domum matris suae omnia quae audierat.
The girl ran and told everyone in her mother’s household about what had happened.
29 Habebat autem Rebecca fratrem nomine Laban, qui festinus egressus est ad hominem, ubi erat fons.
Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban went quickly to Abraham’s servant, who was still by the well.
30 Cumque vidisset inaures et armillas in manibus sororis suae, et audisset cuncta verba referentis: Haec locutus est mihi homo: venit ad virum, qui stabat iuxta camelos, et prope fontem aquae:
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 dixitque ad eum: Ingredere, benedicte Domini: cur foris stas? praeparavi domum, et locum camelis.
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 Et introduxit eum in hospitium: ac destravit camelos, deditque paleas et foenum, et aquam ad lavandos pedes eius, et virorum qui venerant cum eo.
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 Et appositus est in conspectu eius panis. Qui ait: Non comedam, donec loquar sermones meos. Respondit ei: Loquere.
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 At ille: Servus, inquit, Abraham sum:
So the servant said, “I am Abraham’s servant.
35 et Dominus benedixit domino meo valde, magnificatusque est: et dedit ei oves et boves, argentum et aurum, servos et ancillas, camelos et asinos.
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 Et peperit Sara uxor domini mei filium domino meo in senectute sua, deditque illi omnia quae habuerat.
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 Et adiuravit me dominus meus, dicens: Non accipies uxorem filio meo de filiabus Chananaeorum, in quorum terra habito:
My master made me solemnly promise, saying, ‘Do not get a wife for my son from the women here in Canaan.
38 sed ad domum patris mei perges, et de cognatione mea accipies uxorem filio meo:
Instead, go back to my father’s family, to my own clan, and get from them a wife for my son.’
39 ego vero respondi domino meo: Quid si noluerit venire mecum mulier?
Then I asked my master, ‘What shall I do if the woman you show me will not come back with me?’
40 Dominus, ait, in cuius conspectu ambulo, mittet angelum suum tecum, et diriget viam tuam: accipiesque uxorem filio meo de cognatione mea, et de domo patris mei.
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 Innocens eris a maledictione mea, cum veneris ad propinquos meos, et non dederit tibi.
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 Veni ergo hodie ad fontem aquae, et dixi: Domine Deus domini mei Abraham, si direxisti viam meam, in qua nunc ambulo,
“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 ecce sto iuxta fontem aquae, et virgo, quae egredietur ad hauriendam aquam, audierit a me: Da mihi pauxillum aquae ad bibendum de hydria tua:
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 et dixerit mihi: Et tu bibe, et camelis tuis hauriam: ipsa est mulier quam praeparavit Dominus filio domini mei.
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 Dumque haec tacitus mecum volverem, apparuit Rebecca veniens cum hydria, quam portabat in scapula: descenditque ad fontem, et hausit aquam. Et aio ad eam: Da mihi paululum bibere.
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 Quae festinans deposuit hydriam de humero, et dixit mihi: Et tu bibe, et camelis tuis tribuam potum. Bibi, et adaquavit camelos.
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 Interrogavique eam, et dixi: Cuius es filia? Quae respondit: Filia Bathuelis sum, filii Nachor, quem peperit ei Melcha. Suspendi itaque inaures ad ornandam faciem eius, et armillas posui in manibus eius.
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 Pronusque adoravi Dominum, benedicens Domino Deo domini mei Abraham, qui perduxit me recto itinere, ut sumerem filiam fratris domini mei filio eius.
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 Quamobrem si facitis misericordiam et veritatem cum domino meo, indicate mihi: sin autem aliud placet, et hoc dicite mihi, ut vadam ad dextram, sive ad sinistram.
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 Responderuntque Laban et Bathuel: A Domino egressus est sermo: non possumus extra placitum eius quidquam aliud loqui tecum.
Laban and Bethuel answered, “It is clear that Yahweh has caused this to happen. So we two cannot say anything more.
51 En Rebecca coram te est, tolle eam, et proficiscere, et sit uxor filii domini tui, sicut locutus est Dominus.
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 Quod cum audisset puer Abraham, procidens adoravit in terra Dominum.
When Abraham’s servant heard these words, he bowed down to the ground to [thank] Yahweh.
53 Prolatisque vasis argenteis, et aureis, ac vestibus, dedit ea Rebeccae pro munere: fratribus quoque eius, et matri dona obtulit.
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 Inito convivio, vescentes pariter et bibentes manserunt ibi. Surgens autem mane, locutus est puer: Dimitte me, ut vadam ad dominum meum.
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 Responderuntque fratres eius, et mater: Maneat puella saltem decem dies apud nos, et postea proficiscetur.
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 Nolite, ait, me retinere, quia Dominus direxit viam meam: dimittite me ut pergam ad dominum meum.
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 Et dixerunt: Vocemus puellam, et quaeramus ipsius voluntatem.
They said, “Let’s call Rebekah and ask her what she wants to do.” [MTY]
58 Cumque vocata venisset, sciscitati sunt: Vis ire cum homine isto? Quae ait: Vadam.
So they summoned Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man now?” She replied, “Yes, I will go.”
59 Dimiserunt ergo eam, et nutricem illius, servumque Abraham, et comites eius,
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 imprecantes prospera sorori suae, atque dicentes: Soror nostra es, crescas in mille millia, et possideat semen tuum portas inimicorum suorum.
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 Igitur Rebecca, et puellae illius, ascensis camelis, secutae sunt virum: qui festinus revertebatur ad dominum suum:
Then Rebekah and her maid servants got ready and got on their camels and went with Abraham’s servant.
62 eo autem tempore deambulabat Isaac per viam quae ducit ad Puteum, cuius nomen est Viventis, et videntis: habitabat enim in terra australi:
At that time, Isaac was living in the Negev desert. He had gone there from Beer-Lahai-Roi.
63 et egressus fuerat ad meditandum in agro, inclinata iam die: cumque elevasset oculos, vidit camelos venientes procul.
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 Rebecca quoque, conspecto Isaac, descendit de camelo,
Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got off the camel,
65 et ait ad puerum: Quis est ille homo qui venit per agrum in occursum nobis? Dixitque ei: Ipse est dominus meus. At illa tollens cito pallium suum, operuit se.
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 Servus autem cuncta, quae gesserat, narravit domino suo Isaac.
The servant told Isaac everything that had happened.
67 Qui introduxit eam in tabernaculum Sarae matris suae, et accepit eam uxorem: et in tantum dilexit eam, ut dolorem, qui ex morte matris eius acciderat, temperaret.
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.
