Olubereberye 24
1 Ibulayimu yawangaala n’akaddiwa nnyo; era Mukama yamuwa emikisa mingi mu byonna.
By now Abraham was old and well along in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
2 Awo Ibulayimu n’agamba omuddu asinga obukulu mu nnyumba ye, eyali afuga byonna Ibulayimu bye yalina nti, “Teeka omukono gwo wansi w’ekisambi kyange
So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
3 ndyoke nkulayize mu maaso ga Mukama Katonda w’eggulu era Katonda w’ensi, nga toliwasiza mutabani wange mukazi kuva mu bawala ba nsi ya Bakanani, mwe mbeera,
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 wabula ng’oligenda mu nsi yange mu bantu bange n’owasiza mutabani wange Isaaka omukazi.”
but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.”
5 Omuddu kwe ku mubuuza nti, “Omukazi bw’ataliyagala kujja nange mu nsi eno, ndizzaayo mutabani wo mu nsi mwe wava?”
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 Ibulayimu n’addamu nti, “Togezanga n’ozzaayo mutabani wange.
Abraham replied, “Make sure that you do not take my son back there.
7 Mukama, Katonda w’eggulu, eyanzigya mu nnyumba ya kitange, mu nsi mwe nazaalibwa eyayogera nange era n’andayirira nti, ‘Ezadde lyo ndiriwa ensi eno,’ alituma malayika we n’akukulembera owasirize mutabani wange omukazi era omuggyeyo.
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 Naye omukazi bw’aligaana okujja naawe, olwo ekirayiro kino kiriba tekikyakusiba. Kyokka togezanga n’ozzaayo omwana wange.”
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 Awo omuddu kwe kuteeka omukono gwe wansi w’ekisambi kya mukama we Ibulayimu.
So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
10 Awo omuddu n’atwala ku ŋŋamira za mukama we n’agenda ng’atutte buli ngeri ya kirabo okuva ku bya mukama we. N’ayimuka n’agenda e Mesopotamiya mu kibuga kya Nakoli.
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 Obudde bwe bwawungeera n’atuuka ebweru w’ekibuga n’afukamiza awo eŋŋamira okumpi n’oluzzi obudde nga buwungedde abakazi we bagendera okukima amazzi.
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 N’asaba nti, “Ayi Mukama Katonda wa mukama wange Ibulayimu mpa obuwanguzi leero nkwegayiridde, olage mukama wange Ibulayimu okwagala kwo okutaggwaawo.
“O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13 Laba nnyimiridde okumpi n’oluzzi, ne bawala b’abantu ab’omu kibuga bajja okusena amazzi.
Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.
14 Kale omuwala gwe nnaagamba nti, ‘Nkwegayiridde mpa ku mazzi ag’omu nsuwa yo nnyweko,’ n’amala agamba nti, ‘Kale nnywa, era n’eŋŋamira zo nnaazinywesa,’ oyo y’aba abeera gw’olonze okuba mukazi w’omuddu wo Isaaka. Ku kino kwe nnaategeerera nti olaze mukama wange ekisa kyo ekitaggwaawo.”
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 Laba, bwe yali nga tannamaliriza kusaba, Lebbeeka muwala wa Besweri mutabani wa Mirika muka Nakoli, muganda wa Ibulayimu, n’ajja ng’atadde ensuwa ye ey’amazzi ku kibegabega kye.
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 Omuwala oyo yali mulungi okulabako nga muwala mbeerera, n’akka mu luzzi n’ajjuza ensuwa ye n’avaayo.
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 Awo omuddu n’ayanguwa n’amusisinkana, n’amugamba nti, “Nkusaba ompe ku tuzzi ku nsuwa yo.”
So the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jar.”
18 N’amuddamu nti, “Nywako mukama wange.” Amangwago n’assa ensuwa mu mikono gye, n’agikwata mu mukono gwe n’amuwa amazzi.
“Drink, my lord,” she replied, and she quickly lowered her jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
19 Bwe yamala okumuwa amazzi, n’amugamba nti, “N’eŋŋamira zo nazo nnaazisenera amazzi okutuusa lwe zinaamala okunywa.”
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 Bw’atyo n’ayanguwa n’ayiwa ensuwa ye ey’amazzi n’agimalira mu kyesero, n’adduka n’asena amalala agaali gamala eŋŋamira ze zonna,
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 omusajja ng’asirise ng’amwekaliriza amaaso okumanya obanga Mukama awadde olugendo lwe omukisa oba nedda.
Meanwhile, the man watched her silently to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey a success.
22 Eŋŋamira bwe zaamala okunywa, omusajja n’addira empeta ya zaabu ey’oku matu erimu gulaamu ttaano n’obutundu musanvu n’ebikomo ebya zaabu bibiri eby’oku mikono bya gulamu kikumi mu kkumi na ttaano n’abiwa omuwala abyenaanike.
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 N’amubuuza nti, “Oli muwala w’ani? Mu nnyumba ya kitaawo mulimu ekisenge mwe tuyinza okusuzibwa?”
“Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
24 N’amuddamu nti, “Ndi muwala wa Besweri, mutabani wa Mirika gwe yazaalira Nakoli.”
She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor.”
25 N’ayongerako nti, “Tulina omuddo omukalu n’emmere endala ebimala, era n’ekisenge eky’okusulamu tukirina.”
Then she added, “We have plenty of straw and feed, as well as a place for you to spend the night.”
26 Awo omusajja n’akutamya omutwe gwe n’asinza Mukama.
Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,
27 N’agamba nti, “Yeebazibwe Mukama Katonda wa mukama wange Ibulayimu atalese kisa kye ekitaggwaawo n’obwesigwa bwe eri mukama wange. Era nze ku lwange Mukama ankulembedde mu kkubo n’antuusa mu nnyumba ya booluganda lwa mukama wange.”
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 Awo omuwala n’adduka n’ategeeza ab’ennyumba ya nnyina ebintu ebyo byonna.
The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things.
29 Lebbeeka yalina mwannyina, Labbaani, eyayanguwa okulaga ku luzzi eri omusajja,
Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he rushed out to the man at the spring.
30 Labbaani bwe yalaba empeta n’ebikomo ku mikono gya mwannyina, era bwe yawulira ebigambo bya mwannyina ng’omusajja bw’amugambye, n’agenda eri omusajja. Laba omusajja yali ng’ayimiridde awali eŋŋamira ku luzzi.
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 Labbaani n’amugamba nti, “Jjangu gwe aweereddwa Mukama omukisa. Lwaki obeera eno? Ntegesse ennyumba era n’ekifo ky’eŋŋamira.”
“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 Awo, omusajja n’alaga ku nnyumba, n’asumulula eŋŋamira, ne baziwa essubi n’ebyokulya ne bamuleetera n’amazzi ye n’abasajja be yali nabo banaabe ebigere.
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 Oluvannyuma ne bamuleetera emmere alye. Kyokka ye n’agamba nti, “Sijja kulya nga sinnayogera kindeese.” Labbaani n’amugamba nti, “Yogera.”
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 Awo n’agamba nti, “Ndi muddu wa Ibulayimu.
“I am Abraham’s servant,” he replied.
35 Mukama yawa mukama wange emikisa mingi, era afuuse mukulu, amuwadde ebisibo by’endiga n’amagana g’ente, ne ffeeza ne zaabu, abaweereza abasajja n’abaweereza abakazi era n’eŋŋamira awamu n’endogoyi.
“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 Era Saala muka mukama wange bwe yali ng’akaddiye yamuzaalira omwana owoobulenzi, era mukama wange awadde oyo byonna by’alina.
My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns.
37 Mukama wange yandayiza n’aŋŋamba nti, ‘Towasizanga mutabani wange mukazi ava mu Bakanani ba nnyini nsi mwe mbeera.
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 Wabula oligenda mu nnyumba ya kitange, mu bantu bange, n’owasiza mutabani wange omukazi okuva omwo.’
but you shall go to my father’s house and to my kindred to take a wife for my son.’
39 “Ne mbuuza mukama wange nti, ‘Omukazi bw’atalikkiriza kujja nange?’
Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’
40 “Ye n’anziramu nti, ‘Mukama oyo gwe ntambulira mu maaso ge alikutumira malayika we mu lugendo lwo era alikuwa omukisa, n’owasiza mutabani wange omukazi okuva mu bantu bange, era mu nnyumba ya kitange.
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 Naye ekirayiro kyange tekirikubaako bw’olituuka mu bantu bange ne batamukuwa, nga ggwe toliiko musango.’
And when you go to my kindred, if they refuse to give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’
42 “Leero bwe ntuuse ku luzzi, ne ŋŋamba nti, ‘Ayi Mukama, Katonda wa mukama wange Ibulayimu, obanga onoowa omukisa olugendo luno lwe ndiko,
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 laba, nnyimiridde awali oluzzi, kale omuwala anajja okusena amazzi, ne mugamba nti, “Nkusaba ku tuzzi mu nsuwa yo nyweko,”
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 n’anziramu nti, “Nnywa, era n’eŋŋamira zo nazo nzija kuzisenera,” oyo y’aba abeera omukazi Mukama gw’alondedde mutabani wa mukama wange.’
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 “Laba, bwe nabadde nga nkyayogera mu mutima gwange, Lebbeeka n’avaayo n’ensuwa ye ng’eri ku kibegabega kye, n’aserengeta ku luzzi n’asena amazzi. Ne mugamba nti, ‘Nkusaba ompe nyweko.’
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 “Nassa mangu ensuwa ye okuva ku kibegabega kye, n’agamba nti, ‘Nnywa, era nnaanywesa n’eŋŋamira zo.’
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 “Kwe ku mubuuza nti, ‘Oli muwala w’ani?’ N’anziramu nti, ‘Ndi muwala wa Besweri, mutabani wa Nakoli, Mirika gwe yamuzaalira.’ Ne nteeka empeta ku nnyindo ye n’ebikomo ku mikono gye.
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 Awo ne nkutamya omutwe gwange ne nsinza Mukama ne muwa ekitiibwa, Katonda wa mukama wange Ibulayimu eyankulembera nannuŋŋamya mu lugendo lwange okuwasiriza mutabani wa mukama wange omukazi okuva mu bantu ba mukama wange.
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 Kale kaakano obanga mu mazima munaakolera mukama wange ebyekisa, mumbuulire, era obanga si bwe kityo mumbuulire; ndyoke mmanye eky’okukola.”
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 Awo Labbaani ne Besweri ne baddamu nti, “Kino kivudde wa Mukama, tetuyinza kukuddamu kino oba kiri.
Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter.
51 Laba, Lebbeeka wuuyo, mutwale, agende abeere muka mutabani wa mukama wo, nga Mukama bw’alagidde.”
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 Omuddu wa Ibulayimu bwe yawulira ebigambo byabwe n’avuunama wansi mu maaso ga Mukama.
When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.
53 N’aggyayo eby’obugagga ebya ffeeza ne zaabu, n’ebyambalo n’abiwa Lebbeeka, era n’awa mwannyina ne nnyina ebirabo eby’omuwendo omungi.
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 Awo ye n’abasajja be yali nabo ne balyoka balya era ne banywa; ne basulayo ekiro ekyo. Bwe baagolokoka enkya n’agamba nti, “Ka nzireyo eri mukama wange.”
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 Mwannyina ne nnyina ne bamuddamu nti, “Leka omuwala abeereko naffe akaseera, wakiri ennaku kkumi, olwo mulyoke mugende.”
But her brother and mother said, “Let the girl remain with us ten days or so. After that, she may go.”
56 Ye n’abaddamu nti, “Temundwisa, kubanga Mukama awadde olugendo lwange omukisa.”
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 Ne bagamba nti, “Ka tuyite omuwala tumubuuze.”
So they said, “We will call the girl and ask her opinion.”
58 Ne bayita Lebbeeka, ne bamubuuza nti, “Onoogenda n’omusajja ono?” N’addamu nti, “Nnaagenda.”
They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she replied.
59 Awo ne basiibula Lebbeeka mwannyinaabwe, n’omuweereza we omuwala, n’omuweereza wa Ibulayimu omusajja awamu n’abasajja be.
So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men.
60 Ne basabira Lebbeeka omukisa ne bamugamba nti, “Mwannyinaffe beera nnyina w’enkumi n’enkumi, abaana n’abazzukulu bo balyenga ebibuga by’abalabe baabwe.”
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 Awo Lebbeeka n’abaweereza be ne basituka ne beebagala eŋŋamira ne bagenda n’omuweereza wa Ibulayimu omusajja, bw’atyo omuddu n’atwala Lebbeeka ne bagenda.
Then Rebekah and her servant girls got ready, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.
62 Olwo Isaaka yali ng’avudde e Beerirakayiroyi ng’ali mu Negevu.
Now Isaac had just returned from Beer-lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negev.
63 Awo bwe yali ng’atambula nga bw’afumiitiriza mu nnimiro akawungeezi, n’ayimusa amaaso ge n’alengera eŋŋamira nga zijja.
Early in the evening, Isaac went out to the field to meditate, and looking up, he saw the camels approaching.
64 Ne Lebbeeka n’ayimusa amaaso ge. Bwe yalengera Isaaka n’ava ku ŋŋamira,
And when Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel
65 n’abuuza omuddu nti, “Ani oyo gwe nnengera mu nnimiro ajja okutusisinkana?” Omuddu n’addamu nti, “Ye mukama wange.” Lebbeeka kwe kutoola omunagiro gwe ne yeebikkirira.
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 Awo omuddu n’ategeeza Isaaka byonna nga bwe byagenda.
Then the servant told Isaac all that he had done.
67 Awo Isaaka n’atwala Lebbeeka n’amuyingiza mu weema eyali eya Saala nnyina, n’afuuka mukazi we n’amwagala. Isaaka n’alyoka afuna essanyu kasookedde afiirwa nnyina.
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.
