UGenesisi 24
1 UAbrahama wayesemdala eselezinsuku ezinengi; leNkosi yayimbusisile kukho konke.
By now Abraham was old and well along in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
2 UAbrahama wasesithi encekwini yakhe, endala yendlu yakhe, ebusa phezu kwakho konke alakho: Ake ubeke isandla sakho ngaphansi kwethangazi lami,
So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
3 ukuze ngikufungise ngeNkosi, uNkulunkulu wamazulu loNkulunkulu womhlaba, ukuthi kawuyikuyithathela indodana yami umfazi emadodakazini amaKhanani, engihlala phakathi kwawo;
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 kodwa uzakuya elizweni lakithi lezihlotsheni zami, uyithathele umfazi indodana yami uIsaka.
but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.”
5 Inceku yasisithi kuye: Mhlawumbe owesifazana angafuni ukungilandela kulelilizwe, ngingayibuyisela lokuyibuyisela yini indodana yakho elizweni owaphuma kulo?
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 UAbrahama wasesithi kuye: Qaphela ukuthi ungayibuyiseli khona indodana yami.
Abraham replied, “Make sure that you do not take my son back there.
7 INkosi, uNkulunkulu wamazulu, eyangithatha endlini kababa lelizweni lokuzalwa kwami, eyakhuluma kimi, eyafunga kimi isithi: Ngizalinika inzalo yakho lelilizwe; yona izathuma ingilosi yayo phambi kwakho, ukuze uyithathele khona umfazi indodana yami.
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 Kodwa uba owesifazana engafuni ukukulandela, uzakuba ukhululekile kulesisifungo sami; kuphela ungayibuyiseli indodana yami khona.
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 Inceku yasibeka isandla sayo ngaphansi kwethangazi likaAbrahama inkosi yayo, yafunga kuye ngaloludaba.
So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
10 Njalo inceku yasithatha amakamela alitshumi kuwo amakamela enkosi yayo, yahamba, lakho konke okuhle kwenkosi yayo kwakusesandleni sayo, yasisukuma yaya eMesopotamiya emzini kaNahori.
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 Yasiguqisa amakamela ngaphandle komuzi emthonjeni wamanzi ngesikhathi santambama, ngesikhathi sokuphuma kwabakhi bamanzi besifazana.
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 Yasisithi: Nkosi, Nkulunkulu wenkosi yami uAbrahama, ake ungiphumelelise lamuhla, uyenzele umusa inkosi yami uAbrahama.
“O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13 Khangela, ngimi emthonjeni wamanzi, kuphuma amadodakazi amadoda omuzi ukukha amanzi.
Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.
14 Njalo kuzakuthi intombazana engizakuthi kuyo: Ake ukhothamise imbiza yakho ukuze nginathe, ibisisithi: Natha, lamakamela akho ngizawanathisa; yiyo oyimisele inceku yakho uIsaka; ngalokho-ke ngizakwazi ukuthi uyenzele umusa inkosi yami.
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 Kwasekusithi ingakaqedi ukukhuluma, khangela-ke, uRebeka waphuma, owazalelwa uBethuweli indodana kaMilka, umkaNahori umfowabo kaAbrahama, njalo elembiza ehlombe lakhe.
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 Njalo inkazana yayikhangeleka kuhle kakhulu, intombi emsulwa, okungelandoda eyaziyo; yasisehlela emthonjeni, yagcwalisa imbiza yayo, yenyuka.
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 Inceku yasigijima ukuyihlangabeza yathi: Ake unginathise amanzi amalutshwana embizeni yakho.
So the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jar.”
18 Yasisithi: Natha, nkosi yami. Yaphangisa yehlisela imbiza yayo esandleni sayo, yayinathisa.
“Drink, my lord,” she replied, and she quickly lowered her jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
19 Isiqedile ukuyinathisa yathi: Ngizakhelela lamakamela akho aze aqede ukunatha.
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 Yasiphangisa yathululela isigxingi sayo emkolweni wokunathela, yabuya yagijimela emthonjeni ukuyakukha, yakhelelela amakamela ayo wonke.
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 Indoda yasiyikhangelisisa ithule ukuze yazi ukuthi iNkosi iyiphumelelisile indlela yayo kumbe hatshi.
Meanwhile, the man watched her silently to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey a success.
22 Kwasekusithi amakamela eseqedile ukunatha, indoda yasithatha icici legolide, osisindo salo sasiyingxenye yeshekeli, lamasongo amabili ezandleni zayo, isisindo sawo saba ngamashekeli alitshumi egolide.
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 Yasisithi: Uyindodakazi kabani? Ake utsho. Kukhona indawo yethu yini endlini kayihlo ukuthi silale?
“Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
24 Yasisithi kuyo: Ngiyindodakazi kaBethuweli indodana kaMilka owayizalela uNahori.
She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor.”
25 Yathi kuyo futhi: Silakho konke amahlanga lokudla kwezinyamazana okunengi, lendawo yokulala.
Then she added, “We have plenty of straw and feed, as well as a place for you to spend the night.”
26 Indoda yasikhothama, yakhonza iNkosi,
Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,
27 yasisithi: Ibusisiwe iNkosi, uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami uAbrahama, engayekelanga umusa wayo lobuqotho bayo enkosini yami; mina-ke, ngisendleleni, iNkosi ingikhokhelele endlini yabafowabo benkosi yami.
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 Intombi yasigijima, yazisa abendlu kanina ngalezizinto.
The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things.
29 Njalo uRebeka wayelomnewabo obizo lakhe lalinguLabani; uLabani wasegijimela phandle endodeni emthonjeni.
Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he rushed out to the man at the spring.
30 Kwasekusithi esebonile icici lamasongo ezandleni zikadadewabo, esezwile amazwi kaRebeka udadewabo okuthi: Itsho njalo indoda kimi; wasesiya endodeni, khangela-ke, yayimi ngasemakameleni emthonjeni.
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 Wasesithi: Ngena wena obusisiweyo weNkosi; umeleni ngaphandle? Ngoba mina sengilungisile indlu lendawo yamakamela.
“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 Indoda yasisiza endlini, yakhulula amakamela; wasenika amakamela amahlanga lokudla kwenyamazana, lamanzi okugeza inyawo zayo lenyawo zamadoda ayelayo.
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 Kwasekubekwa ukudla phambi kwayo; kodwa yathi: Kangiyikudla ngize ngikhulume indaba zami. Wasesithi: Khuluma.
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 Yasisithi: Ngiyinceku kaAbrahama.
“I am Abraham’s servant,” he replied.
35 Futhi iNkosi iyibusisile kakhulu inkosi yami, yaze yaba nkulu. Yayinika izimvu lezinkomo, lesiliva legolide, lezinceku lezincekukazi, lamakamela labobabhemi.
“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 Njalo uSara inkosikazi yenkosi yami uyizalele inkosi yami indodana emva kokuba esemdala; yasiyinika konke elakho.
My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns.
37 Inkosi yami yasingifungisa isithi: Ungayithatheli indodana yami umfazi kumadodakazi amaKhanani, engihlala elizweni lawo;
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 kodwa uzakuya endlini kababa lezihlotsheni zami, ubusuyithathela indodana yami umfazi.
but you shall go to my father’s house and to my kindred to take a wife for my son.’
39 Ngasengisithi enkosini yami: Mhlawumbe owesifazana kayikungilandela.
Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’
40 Yasisithi kimi: INkosi, engihamba phambi kwayo, izathuma ingilosi yayo lawe, izaphumelelisa indlela yakho, njalo uzayithathela indodana yami umfazi ezihlotsheni zami lendlini kababa.
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 Emva kwalokho uzakhululeka esifungweni sami uba uye ezihlotsheni zami njalo uba bengakuniki yena, uzakhululeka-ke esifungweni sami.
And when you go to my kindred, if they refuse to give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’
42 Kuthe ngifika emthonjeni lamuhla, ngathi: Nkosi, Nkulunkulu wenkosi yami uAbrahama, uba-ke uphumelelisa indlela yami, engihamba ngayo;
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 khangela, ngimi emthonjeni wamanzi; njalo kakuthi intombi ezaphuma ukukha lengizakuthi kuyo: Ake unginathise amanzi amalutshwana esigxingini sakho;
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 ibisisithi kimi: Natha lawe, futhi ngizakhelelela lamakamela akho; kayibe nguye owesifazana iNkosi emmisele indodana yenkosi yami.
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 Ngingakaqedi ukukhuluma enhliziyweni yami, khangela-ke, uRebeka waphuma lesigxingi sisehlombe lakhe; wehlela emthonjeni, wakha. Ngasengisithi kuye: Akunginathise.
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 Wasephangisa, wethula isigxingi kuye wathi: Natha, futhi ngizanathisa lamakamela akho. Ngasenginatha, wasenathisa lamakamela.
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 Ngasengimbuza ngathi: Uyindodakazi kabani? Wasesithi: Indodakazi kaBethuweli, indodana kaNahori uMilka amzalela yona; ngasengifaka icici emakhaleni akhe lamasongo ezandleni zakhe.
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 Ngasengikhothama, ngakhonza iNkosi, ngabusisa iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami uAbrahama, engikhokhele endleleni elungileyo ukuthi indodakazi yomfowabo wenkosi yami ngiyithathele indodana yayo.
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 Khathesi-ke uba lizayenzela inkosi yami umusa lobuqotho, ngitshelani; uba-ke kungenjalo, ngitshelani, ukuze ngiphendukele ngakwesokunene loba ngakwesokhohlo.
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 Khona oLabani loBethuweli baphendula, bathi: Le into ivela eNkosini; kasilakutsho lutho kuwe, olubi kumbe oluhle.
Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter.
51 Khangela, uRebeka uphambi kwakho; mthathe uhambe, ukuze abe ngumkandodana yenkosi yakho, njengoba iNkosi ikhulumile.
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 Kwasekusithi inceku kaAbrahama isizwile amazwi abo yakhothamela emhlabathini phambi kweNkosi.
When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.
53 Inceku yasikhupha imiceciso yesiliva, lemiceciso yegolide, lezembatho, yakunika uRebeka, yabanika lomnewabo lonina impahla eziligugu.
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 Basebesidla banatha, yona lamadoda ayelayo, balala; bavuka ekuseni, yasisithi: Ngiyekelani ngiye enkosini yami.
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 Kodwa umnewabo lonina bathi: Kayihlale lathi intombazana izinsuku loba ezilitshumi, emva kwalokho ihambe.
But her brother and mother said, “Let the girl remain with us ten days or so. After that, she may go.”
56 Yasisithi kubo: Lingangibambeleli, lokhu iNkosi iphumelelisile indlela yami; ngiyekelani ngihambe ukuze ngiye enkosini yami.
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 Basebesithi: Asiyibize intombi, sizwe emlonyeni wayo.
So they said, “We will call the girl and ask her opinion.”
58 Basebembiza uRebeka, bathi kuye: Uzahamba lalindoda yini? Wasesithi: Ngizahamba.
They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she replied.
59 Basebemyekela ehamba uRebeka udadewabo lomlizane wakhe, lenceku kaAbrahama lamadoda ayo.
So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men.
60 Basebembusisa uRebeka, bathi kuye: Wena dadewethu, woba zinkulungwane zezigidi, lenzalo yakho ibe ngumnikazi wesango labayizondayo!
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 URebeka wasesukuma lamantombazana akhe, bagada amakamela, balandela indoda; inceku yasimthatha uRebeka, yahamba.
Then Rebekah and her servant girls got ready, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.
62 UIsaka wasefika lapho abavelela khona emthonjeni iLahayi-Royi, njalo wayehlala elizweni leningizimu.
Now Isaac had just returned from Beer-lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negev.
63 UIsaka wasephuma ukuyazindla ensimini sekuntambama; waphakamisa amehlo akhe wabona, khangela-ke, amakamela ayesiza.
Early in the evening, Isaac went out to the field to meditate, and looking up, he saw the camels approaching.
64 LoRebeka waphakamisa amehlo akhe; esembonile uIsaka waziwisa ekamelweni.
And when Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel
65 Wasesithi encekwini: Ngubani lindoda ehamba emasimini ukusihlangabeza? Inceku yasisithi: Yinkosi yami. Wasethatha isimbombozo, wazigubuzela.
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 Inceku yasilandisa kuIsaka zonke indaba ezenzileyo.
Then the servant told Isaac all that he had done.
67 UIsaka wasemngenisa ethenteni likaSara unina, wamthatha uRebeka, waba ngumkakhe, wamthanda. UIsaka waseduduzwa emva kokufa kukanina.
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.
