Genesis 24
1 erat autem Abraham senex dierumque multorum et Dominus in cunctis benedixerat ei
Abraham was old, and well advanced in age. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 dixitque ad servum seniorem domus suae qui praeerat omnibus quae habebat pone manum tuam subter femur meum
Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh.
3 ut adiurem te per Dominum Deum caeli et terrae ut non accipias uxorem filio meo de filiabus Chananeorum inter quos habito
I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.
4 sed ad terram et ad cognationem meam proficiscaris et inde accipias uxorem filio meo Isaac
But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”
5 respondit servus si noluerit mulier venire mecum in terram hanc num reducere debeo filium tuum ad locum de quo egressus es
The servant said to him, “What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?”
6 dixit Abraham cave nequando reducas illuc filium meum
Abraham said to him, “Beware that you don’t bring my son there again.
7 Dominus Deus caeli qui tulit me de domo patris mei et de terra nativitatis meae qui locutus est mihi et iuravit dicens semini tuo dabo terram hanc ipse mittet angelum suum coram te et accipies inde uxorem filio meo
Yahweh, the God of heaven—who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, ‘I will give this land to your offspring—he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
8 sin autem noluerit mulier sequi te non teneberis iuramento filium tantum meum ne reducas illuc
If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son there again.”
9 posuit ergo servus manum sub femore Abraham domini sui et iuravit illi super sermone hoc
The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
10 tulitque decem camelos de grege domini sui et abiit ex omnibus bonis eius portans secum profectusque perrexit Mesopotamiam ad urbem Nahor
The servant took ten of his master’s camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
11 cumque camelos fecisset accumbere extra oppidum iuxta puteum aquae vespere eo tempore quo solent mulieres egredi ad hauriendam aquam dixit
He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.
12 Domine Deus domini mei Abraham occurre obsecro hodie mihi et fac misericordiam cum domino meo Abraham
He said, “Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13 ecce ego sto propter fontem aquae et filiae habitatorum huius civitatis egredientur ad hauriendam aquam
Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw 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 intellegam quod feceris misericordiam cum domino meo
Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ then she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,’—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 necdum intra se verba conpleverat et ecce Rebecca egrediebatur filia Bathuel filii Melchae uxoris Nahor fratris Abraham habens hydriam in scapula
Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder.
16 puella decora nimis virgoque pulcherrima et incognita viro descenderat autem ad fontem et impleverat hydriam ac revertebatur
The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin. No man had known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up.
17 occurritque ei servus et ait pauxillum mihi ad sorbendum praebe aquae de hydria tua
The servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher.”
18 quae respondit bibe domine mi celeriterque deposuit hydriam super ulnam suam et dedit ei potum
She said, “Drink, my lord.” She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him a drink.
19 cumque ille bibisset adiecit quin et camelis tuis hauriam aquam donec cuncti bibant
When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished drinking.”
20 effundensque hydriam in canalibus recurrit ad puteum ut hauriret aquam et haustam omnibus camelis dedit
She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.
21 ille autem contemplabatur eam tacitus scire volens utrum prosperum fecisset iter suum Dominus an non
The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 postquam ergo biberunt cameli protulit vir inaures aureas adpendentes siclos duos et armillas totidem pondo siclorum decem
As the camels had done drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold,
23 dixitque ad eam cuius es filia indica mihi est in domo patris tui locus ad manendum
and said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay?”
24 quae respondit filia Bathuelis sum filii Melchae quem peperit Nahor
She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.”
25 et addidit dicens palearum quoque et faeni plurimum est apud nos et locus spatiosus ad manendum
She said moreover to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge in.”
26 inclinavit se homo et adoravit Dominum
The man bowed his head, and worshiped Yahweh.
27 dicens benedictus Dominus Deus domini mei Abraham qui non abstulit misericordiam et veritatem suam a domino meo et recto me itinere perduxit in domum fratris domini mei
He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me on the way to the house of my master’s relatives.”
28 cucurrit itaque puella et nuntiavit in domum matris suae omnia quae audierat
The young lady ran, and told her mother’s house about these words.
29 habebat autem Rebecca fratrem nomine Laban qui festinus egressus est ad hominem ubi erat fons
Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring.
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 propter fontem aquae
When he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “This is what the man said to me,” he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.
31 dixitque ad eum ingredere benedicte Domini cur foris stas praeparavi domum et locum camelis
He said, “Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.”
32 et introduxit eum hospitium ac destravit camelos deditque paleas et faenum et aquam ad lavandos pedes camelorum et virorum qui venerant cum eo
The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
33 et adpositus est in conspectu eius panis qui ait non comedam donec loquar sermones meos respondit ei loquere
Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told my message.” Laban said, “Speak on.”
34 at ille servus inquit Abraham sum
He 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 blessed my master greatly. He has become great. Yahweh has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
36 et peperit Sarra uxor domini mei filium domino meo in senectute sua deditque illi omnia quae habuerat
Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him.
37 et adiuravit me dominus meus dicens non accipies uxorem filio meo de filiabus Chananeorum in quorum terra habito
My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,
38 sed ad domum patris mei perges et de cognatione mea accipies uxorem filio meo
but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’
39 ego vero respondi domino meo quid si noluerit venire mecum mulier
I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow 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 said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my relatives, and of my father’s house.
41 innocens eris a maledictione mea cum veneris ad propinquos meos et non dederint tibi
Then you will be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.’
42 veni ergo hodie ad fontem et dixi Domine Deus domini mei Abraham si direxisti viam meam in qua nunc ambulo
I came today to the spring, and said, ‘Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go—
43 ecce sto iuxta fontem aquae et virgo quae egredietur ad hauriendam aquam audierit a me da mihi pauxillum aquae ad bibendum ex hydria tua
behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes out to draw, to whom I will say, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,”
44 et dixerit mihi et tu bibe et camelis tuis hauriam ipsa est mulier quam praeparavit Dominus filio domini mei
then she tells me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”—let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master’s son.’
45 dum haec mecum tacitus 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 had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’
46 quae festina deposuit hydriam de umero et dixit mihi et tu bibe et camelis tuis potum tribuam bibi et adaquavit camelos
She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ So I drank, and she also gave the camels a drink.
47 interrogavique eam et dixi cuius es filia quae respondit filia Bathuelis sum filii Nahor quem peperit illi Melcha suspendi itaque inaures ad ornandam faciem eius et armillas posui in manibus
I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands.
48 pronusque adoravi Dominum benedicens Domino Deo domini mei Abraham qui perduxisset me recto itinere ut sumerem filiam fratris domini mei filio eius
I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son.
49 quam ob rem si facitis misericordiam et veritatem cum domino meo indicate mihi sin autem aliud placet et hoc dicite ut vadam ad dextram sive ad sinistram
Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.”
50 responderunt Laban et Bathuel a Domino egressus est sermo non possumus extra placitum eius quicquam aliud tecum loqui
Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can’t speak to you bad or good.
51 en Rebecca coram te est tolle eam et proficiscere et sit uxor filii domini tui sicut locutus est Dominus
Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Yahweh has spoken.”
52 quod cum audisset puer Abraham adoravit in terra Dominum
When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh.
53 prolatisque vasis argenteis et aureis ac vestibus dedit ea Rebeccae pro munere fratribus quoque eius et matri dona obtulit
The servant brought out jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and her mother.
54 initoque convivio vescentes pariter et bibentes manserunt ibi surgens autem mane locutus est puer dimittite me ut vadam ad dominum meum
They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and he said, “Send me away to my master.”
55 responderunt fratres eius et mater maneat puella saltem decem dies apud nos et postea proficiscetur
Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go.”
56 nolite ait me retinere quia Dominus direxit viam meam dimittite me ut pergam ad dominum meum
He said to them, “Don’t hinder me, since Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.”
57 dixerunt vocemus puellam et quaeramus ipsius voluntatem
They said, “We will call the young lady, and ask her.”
58 cumque vocata venisset sciscitati sunt vis ire cum homine isto quae ait vadam
They called Rebekah, and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.”
59 dimiserunt ergo eam et nutricem illius servumque Abraham et comites eius
They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men.
60 inprecantes prospera sorori suae atque dicentes soror nostra es crescas in mille milia et possideat semen tuum portas inimicorum suorum
They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, “Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your offspring possess the gate of those who hate them.”
61 igitur Rebecca et puellae illius ascensis camelis secutae sunt virum qui festinus revertebatur ad dominum suum
Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
62 eo tempore Isaac deambulabat per viam quae ducit ad puteum cuius nomen est Viventis et videntis habitabat enim in terra australi
Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South.
63 et egressus fuerat ad meditandum in agro inclinata iam die cumque levasset oculos vidit camelos venientes procul
Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked. Behold, there were camels coming.
64 Rebecca quoque conspecto Isaac descendit de camelo
Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she got off the camel.
65 et ait ad puerum quis est ille homo qui venit per agrum in occursum nobis dixit ei ipse est dominus meus at illa tollens cito pallium operuit se
She said to the servant, “Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” She took her veil, and covered herself.
66 servus autem cuncta quae gesserat narravit Isaac
The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
67 qui introduxit eam in tabernaculum Sarrae matris suae et accepit uxorem et in tantum dilexit ut dolorem qui ex morte matris acciderat temperaret
Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
