Olubereberye 24
1 Ibulayimu yawangaala n’akaddiwa nnyo; era Mukama yamuwa emikisa mingi mu byonna.
Abraham by now was old, really old, and the Lord had blessed him in every possible 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
At that time Abraham told his oldest servant who was in charge of his whole household, “Put 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 swear an oath by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you won't arrange for my son to marry any daughter of the these Canaanite people that I'm living among.
4 wabula ng’oligenda mu nsi yange mu bantu bange n’owasiza mutabani wange Isaaka omukazi.”
Instead, go to my homeland where my relatives live, and find a wife there 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?”
“What if the woman refuses to come back with me to this country?” the servant asked. “Should I take your son back to the country you came from?”
6 Ibulayimu n’addamu nti, “Togezanga n’ozzaayo mutabani wange.
“No, you mustn't take my son back there,” Abraham replied.
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, took me from my family home and my own country. He spoke to me and swore an oath to me in which he promised, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’ He is the one who will send his angel ahead of you so that you can find a wife there for my son.
8 Naye omukazi bw’aligaana okujja naawe, olwo ekirayiro kino kiriba tekikyakusiba. Kyokka togezanga n’ozzaayo omwana wange.”
However, if the woman refuses to return here with you, then you are released from this oath. But make sure you don't take my son back there.”
9 Awo omuddu kwe kuteeka omukono gwe wansi w’ekisambi kya mukama we Ibulayimu.
The servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to do as he had been told.
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 arranged for ten of his master's camels to carry all kinds of valuable gifts from Abraham and left for the town of Nahor 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.
Arriving in the evening, he had the camels kneel down by the spring that was outside the town. This was the time when women went out to fetch water.
12 N’asaba nti, “Ayi Mukama Katonda wa mukama wange Ibulayimu mpa obuwanguzi leero nkwegayiridde, olage mukama wange Ibulayimu okwagala kwo okutaggwaawo.
He prayed, “Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please let me be successful today, and please show your faithfulness to my master Abraham.
13 Laba nnyimiridde okumpi n’oluzzi, ne bawala b’abantu ab’omu kibuga bajja okusena amazzi.
Look, I'm standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming to get 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.”
May it happen like this. The young woman that I ask, ‘Please hold your water jar so I can have a drink,’ and she replies, ‘Please drink, and I'll give your camels water too’ —may she be the one you've chosen as a wife for your servant Isaac. This way I'll know that you've shown your faithfulness 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.
He hadn't even finished praying when he saw Rebekah coming to get water, carrying her water jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milkah. Milkah was 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.
She was very beautiful, a virgin—no one had slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came back up.
17 Awo omuddu n’ayanguwa n’amusisinkana, n’amugamba nti, “Nkusaba ompe ku tuzzi ku nsuwa yo.”
The servant ran over to meet her and asked, “Please let me drink a few sips of 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.
“Please drink, my lord,” she replied. She quickly lifted the jar down from her shoulder and held it for him to drink.
19 Bwe yamala okumuwa amazzi, n’amugamba nti, “N’eŋŋamira zo nazo nnaazisenera amazzi okutuusa lwe zinaamala okunywa.”
After she finished giving him a drink, she said, “Let me get water for your camels too until they've had enough.”
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,
She quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran back to the spring to get more water. She brought enough for all his camels.
21 omusajja ng’asirise ng’amwekaliriza amaaso okumanya obanga Mukama awadde olugendo lwe omukisa oba nedda.
The man observed her in silence to see if the Lord had made his journey successful or not.
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.
Once the camels had finished drinking, he gave her a gold nose-ring and two heavy gold bracelets for her wrists.
23 N’amubuuza nti, “Oli muwala w’ani? Mu nnyumba ya kitaawo mulimu ekisenge mwe tuyinza okusuzibwa?”
Then he asked her, “Whose daughter are you? Also could you 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'm the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor.” Then she added, “We have plenty of straw and food for the camels,
25 N’ayongerako nti, “Tulina omuddo omukalu n’emmere endala ebimala, era n’ekisenge eky’okusulamu tukirina.”
and yes, we have room for you to spend the night.”
26 Awo omusajja n’akutamya omutwe gwe n’asinza Mukama.
The man kneeled down and bowed in worship to 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.”
“Thank you Lord, the God of my master Abraham,” he prayed. “You have not forgotten your commitment and faithfulness to my master. And Lord, you have led me directly to the home of my master's relatives!”
28 Awo omuwala n’adduka n’ategeeza ab’ennyumba ya nnyina ebintu ebyo byonna.
She ran to her mother's house and told her family what had happened.
29 Lebbeeka yalina mwannyina, Labbaani, eyayanguwa okulaga ku luzzi eri omusajja,
Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he ran out to meet the man who had remained 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.
He'd noticed the nose-ring and the bracelets she was wearing, and he'd heard his sister Rebekah explaining, “This is what the man told me.” When he arrived the man was still there, standing with his camels beside the spring.
31 Labbaani n’amugamba nti, “Jjangu gwe aweereddwa Mukama omukisa. Lwaki obeera eno? Ntegesse ennyumba era n’ekifo ky’eŋŋamira.”
“Please come home with me, you who are blessed by the Lord,” said Laban. “What are you standing out here for? I've got a room at home ready for you, and a place for the camels to stay.”
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 went home with him. Laban unloaded the camels and gave them straw and food to eat. He also provided water for the man to wash his feet, as well as for the men who were with him.
33 Oluvannyuma ne bamuleetera emmere alye. Kyokka ye n’agamba nti, “Sijja kulya nga sinnayogera kindeese.” Labbaani n’amugamba nti, “Yogera.”
Then Laban had food brought in. But the man told him, “I'm not going to eat until I've explained why I'm here.” “Please explain,” Laban replied.
34 Awo n’agamba nti, “Ndi muddu wa Ibulayimu.
“I'm Abraham's servant,” the man began.
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 blessed my master so much, and now he is a wealthy and powerful man. The Lord has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
36 Era Saala muka mukama wange bwe yali ng’akaddiye yamuzaalira omwana owoobulenzi, era mukama wange awadde oyo byonna by’alina.
His wife Sarah has had a son for my master even 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, saying, ‘You must not arrange for my son to marry any daughter of the Canaanite people in whose land I'm living.
38 Wabula oligenda mu nnyumba ya kitange, mu bantu bange, n’owasiza mutabani wange omukazi okuva omwo.’
Instead, go to my family home where my relatives live, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.’
39 “Ne mbuuza mukama wange nti, ‘Omukazi bw’atalikkiriza kujja nange?’
I said to my master, ‘What if the woman refuses to 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.
He told me, ‘The Lord, in whose presence I have lived my life, will send his angel with you, and he will make your journey successful—you will find a wife for my son from my relatives, from my father's family.
41 Naye ekirayiro kyange tekirikubaako bw’olituuka mu bantu bange ne batamukuwa, nga ggwe toliiko musango.’
You will be released from the oath you swear to me if, when you go to my family, they refuse to let her return with you.’
42 “Leero bwe ntuuse ku luzzi, ne ŋŋamba nti, ‘Ayi Mukama, Katonda wa mukama wange Ibulayimu, obanga onoowa omukisa olugendo luno lwe ndiko,
Today when I arrived at the spring, I prayed, Lord, God of my master Abraham, please let the journey I have taken be successful.
43 laba, nnyimiridde awali oluzzi, kale omuwala anajja okusena amazzi, ne mugamba nti, “Nkusaba ku tuzzi mu nsuwa yo nyweko,”
Look, I'm standing here beside this spring. May it happen like this. If a young woman comes to get water, and I say, ‘Please give me a few sips of water to drink,’
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 says to me, ‘Please drink, and I'll get water for your camels too’ —may she be the one you've chosen as a wife for your servant Isaac.”
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.’
“I hadn't even finished praying silently when I saw Rebekah coming to get water, carrying her water jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring to get water, and 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 lifted the jar down from her shoulder and she said, ‘Please drink, and I'll get water for your camels too.’ So I drank, and she got water for 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.
I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘I'm the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor.’ So I put the ring in 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 kneeled down and bowed in worship to the Lord. I thanked the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, for he led me directly to find my master's niece for his son.
49 Kale kaakano obanga mu mazima munaakolera mukama wange ebyekisa, mumbuulire, era obanga si bwe kityo mumbuulire; ndyoke mmanye eky’okukola.”
So please tell me now, will you show commitment and faithfulness to my master? Please tell me yes or no so I can decide what to do next.”
50 Awo Labbaani ne Besweri ne baddamu nti, “Kino kivudde wa Mukama, tetuyinza kukuddamu kino oba kiri.
Laban and Bethuel replied, “Clearly all this is from the Lord, so we can't argue one way or the other.
51 Laba, Lebbeeka wuuyo, mutwale, agende abeere muka mutabani wa mukama wo, nga Mukama bw’alagidde.”
Rebekah's here, you can take her and leave. She can become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has decided.”
52 Omuddu wa Ibulayimu bwe yawulira ebigambo byabwe n’avuunama wansi mu maaso ga Mukama.
As soon as Abraham's servant heard their decision, he bowed down in worship to 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 unpacked silver and gold jewelry and expensive clothes and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave valuable presents 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.”
He and the men with him ate and drank, and spent the night there. When they got up in the morning, he said, “Let me leave now and go home 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 her mother said, “Let her stay with us for another ten days or so. She can leave after that.”
56 Ye n’abaddamu nti, “Temundwisa, kubanga Mukama awadde olugendo lwange omukisa.”
“Please don't delay me,” he told them. “The Lord has made my journey successful, so let me leave and go back to my master.”
57 Ne bagamba nti, “Ka tuyite omuwala tumubuuze.”
“Let's call Rebekah and find out what she wants to do,” they suggested.
58 Ne bayita Lebbeeka, ne bamubuuza nti, “Onoogenda n’omusajja ono?” N’addamu nti, “Nnaagenda.”
They called Rebekah in and asked her, “Do you want to go with this man now?” “Yes, I'll go,” she replied.
59 Awo ne basiibula Lebbeeka mwannyinaabwe, n’omuweereza we omuwala, n’omuweereza wa Ibulayimu omusajja awamu n’abasajja be.
So they let Laban's sister Rebekah leave with Abraham's servant and his men, together with the woman who had nursed her as a child.
60 Ne basabira Lebbeeka omukisa ne bamugamba nti, “Mwannyinaffe beera nnyina w’enkumi n’enkumi, abaana n’abazzukulu bo balyenga ebibuga by’abalabe baabwe.”
They asked a blessing on her, saying, “Our dear sister, may you become the mother to thousands and thousands of descendants, and may they conquer 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 on the camels. They followed Abraham's servant and left.
62 Olwo Isaaka yali ng’avudde e Beerirakayiroyi ng’ali mu Negevu.
Meanwhile Isaac, who was living in the Negev, had just come back from Beer-lahai-roi.
63 Awo bwe yali ng’atambula nga bw’afumiitiriza mu nnimiro akawungeezi, n’ayimusa amaaso ge n’alengera eŋŋamira nga zijja.
He went out into the fields one evening to think things over. He looked into the distance and saw camels coming.
64 Ne Lebbeeka n’ayimusa amaaso ge. Bwe yalengera Isaaka n’ava ku ŋŋamira,
Rebekah was also keeping a look out. When she 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.
She asked the servant, “Who is this walking through the fields to meet us?” “He's my master, Isaac,” he replied. So she put on her veil to cover herself.
66 Awo omuddu n’ategeeza Isaaka byonna nga bwe byagenda.
The servant told Isaac everything he'd 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.
Isaac took Rebekah into his mother Sarah's tent, and he married her. He loved her, and she brought him comfort after his grief over his mother's death.
