UGenesisi 24
1 UAbrahama wayesemdala eselezinsuku ezinengi; leNkosi yayimbusisile kukho konke.
Now Abraham was old, well advanced in days, and YHWH had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 UAbrahama wasesithi encekwini yakhe, endala yendlu yakhe, ebusa phezu kwakho konke alakho: Ake ubeke isandla sakho ngaphansi kwethangazi lami,
And Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household, who was in charge over all that he had, "Please put 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 make you swear by the God of heaven and earth, that you must not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,
4 kodwa uzakuya elizweni lakithi lezihlotsheni zami, uyithathele umfazi indodana yami uIsaka.
but you must go to my country and to my relatives, and get a wife for my son Isaac."
5 Inceku yasisithi kuye: Mhlawumbe owesifazana angafuni ukungilandela kulelilizwe, ngingayibuyisela lokuyibuyisela yini indodana yakho elizweni owaphuma kulo?
And the servant asked him, "What if the woman isn't willing to follow me to this land? Must I then bring your son back to the land from which you came?"
6 UAbrahama wasesithi kuye: Qaphela ukuthi ungayibuyiseli khona indodana yami.
Then Abraham told him, "Be careful 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.
Now the God of heaven, who took me from my father's household and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'I will give this land to your offspring' -- he will send his angel before you, and you will get a wife for my son from there.
8 Kodwa uba owesifazana engafuni ukukulandela, uzakuba ukhululekile kulesisifungo sami; kuphela ungayibuyiseli indodana yami khona.
But if the woman isn't willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath to me. Only you must not bring my son back there."
9 Inceku yasibeka isandla sayo ngaphansi kwethangazi likaAbrahama inkosi yayo, yafunga kuye ngaloludaba.
So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and gave his 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 camels from his master's camels and departed, having a variety of good things from his master at his disposal, and he set out and went to Aram Naharaim, to the city of Nahor.
11 Yasiguqisa amakamela ngaphandle komuzi emthonjeni wamanzi ngesikhathi santambama, ngesikhathi sokuphuma kwabakhi bamanzi besifazana.
And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.
12 Yasisithi: Nkosi, Nkulunkulu wenkosi yami uAbrahama, ake ungiphumelelise lamuhla, uyenzele umusa inkosi yami uAbrahama.
Then he said, "God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13 Khangela, ngimi emthonjeni wamanzi, kuphuma amadodakazi amadoda omuzi ukukha amanzi.
Look, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city 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 young woman to whom I will say, 'Please lower your jug that I may drink,' and she answers, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,'—her you have chosen 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.
And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that look, Rebekah was coming out with her jug on her shoulder—who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother.
16 Njalo inkazana yayikhangeleka kuhle kakhulu, intombi emsulwa, okungelandoda eyaziyo; yasisehlela emthonjeni, yagcwalisa imbiza yayo, yenyuka.
Now the young woman was very beautiful in appearance, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. And she went down to the spring and filled her jug and came up.
17 Inceku yasigijima ukuyihlangabeza yathi: Ake unginathise amanzi amalutshwana embizeni yakho.
Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please give me a little water to drink from your jug."
18 Yasisithi: Natha, nkosi yami. Yaphangisa yehlisela imbiza yayo esandleni sayo, yayinathisa.
So she said, "Drink, my lord." And she hurried and let down her jug to her hands, and gave him a drink.
19 Isiqedile ukuyinathisa yathi: Ngizakhelela lamakamela akho aze aqede ukunatha.
Now when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished drinking."
20 Yasiphangisa yathululela isigxingi sayo emkolweni wokunathela, yabuya yagijimela emthonjeni ukuyakukha, yakhelelela amakamela ayo wonke.
So she hurried and emptied her jug into the trough and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.
21 Indoda yasiyikhangelisisa ithule ukuze yazi ukuthi iNkosi iyiphumelelisile indlela yayo kumbe hatshi.
And the man watched her in silence so as to know whether God had made his journey successful or not.
22 Kwasekusithi amakamela eseqedile ukunatha, indoda yasithatha icici legolide, osisindo salo sasiyingxenye yeshekeli, lamasongo amabili ezandleni zayo, isisindo sawo saba ngamashekeli alitshumi egolide.
And it happened, as the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a gold ring weighing a beka, which he put on her nose, and two bracelets for her hands weighing ten pieces of gold,
23 Yasisithi: Uyindodakazi kabani? Ake utsho. Kukhona indawo yethu yini endlini kayihlo ukuthi silale?
and said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to lodge?"
24 Yasisithi kuyo: Ngiyindodakazi kaBethuweli indodana kaMilka owayizalela uNahori.
Then she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."
25 Yathi kuyo futhi: Silakho konke amahlanga lokudla kwezinyamazana okunengi, lendawo yokulala.
And she also said to him, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room to lodge."
26 Indoda yasikhothama, yakhonza iNkosi,
Then the man bowed his head and worshiped God,
27 yasisithi: Ibusisiwe iNkosi, uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami uAbrahama, engayekelanga umusa wayo lobuqotho bayo enkosini yami; mina-ke, ngisendleleni, iNkosi ingikhokhelele endlini yabafowabo benkosi yami.
and said, "Blessed be the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, he has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."
28 Intombi yasigijima, yazisa abendlu kanina ngalezizinto.
Then the young woman ran, and told her mother's household about these words.
29 Njalo uRebeka wayelomnewabo obizo lakhe lalinguLabani; uLabani wasegijimela phandle endodeni emthonjeni.
Now Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban, and he ran 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.
And it happened, when he saw the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "This is what the man said to me," that he went to the man. And look, he was standing by the camels at the spring.
31 Wasesithi: Ngena wena obusisiweyo weNkosi; umeleni ngaphandle? Ngoba mina sengilungisile indlu lendawo yamakamela.
And he said, "Come in, you blessed of God. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and room for the camels."
32 Indoda yasisiza endlini, yakhulula amakamela; wasenika amakamela amahlanga lokudla kwenyamazana, lamanzi okugeza inyawo zayo lenyawo zamadoda ayelayo.
So the man went into the house and he unloaded the camels. And he gave straw and fodder for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
33 Kwasekubekwa ukudla phambi kwayo; kodwa yathi: Kangiyikudla ngize ngikhulume indaba zami. Wasesithi: Khuluma.
And he set before him food to eat, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told my message." And he said, "Say it."
34 Yasisithi: Ngiyinceku kaAbrahama.
So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.
35 Futhi iNkosi iyibusisile kakhulu inkosi yami, yaze yaba nkulu. Yayinika izimvu lezinkomo, lesiliva legolide, lezinceku lezincekukazi, lamakamela labobabhemi.
And the Lord has blessed my master greatly, so that he has become great, and he has given him sheep and cattle, and silver and gold, and male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys.
36 Njalo uSara inkosikazi yenkosi yami uyizalele inkosi yami indodana emva kokuba esemdala; yasiyinika konke elakho.
And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has.
37 Inkosi yami yasingifungisa isithi: Ungayithatheli indodana yami umfazi kumadodakazi amaKhanani, engihlala elizweni lawo;
Now my master put me under oath, saying, 'You must not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,
38 kodwa uzakuya endlini kababa lezihlotsheni zami, ubusuyithathela indodana yami umfazi.
but you must go to my father's house, and to my relatives, and get a wife for my son.'
39 Ngasengisithi enkosini yami: Mhlawumbe owesifazana kayikungilandela.
And I said to my master, 'What if the woman will not follow me?'
40 Yasisithi kimi: INkosi, engihamba phambi kwayo, izathuma ingilosi yayo lawe, izaphumelelisa indlela yakho, njalo uzayithathela indodana yami umfazi ezihlotsheni zami lendlini kababa.
But he said to me, 'God, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and make your journey successful, and you will get a wife for my son from my relatives, and of my father's house.
41 Emva kwalokho uzakhululeka esifungweni sami uba uye ezihlotsheni zami njalo uba bengakuniki yena, uzakhululeka-ke esifungweni sami.
Then will you be free from my oath, when you come to my relatives. And if they do not give her to you, then you will be free from my oath.'
42 Kuthe ngifika emthonjeni lamuhla, ngathi: Nkosi, Nkulunkulu wenkosi yami uAbrahama, uba-ke uphumelelisa indlela yami, engihamba ngayo;
So today I came to the spring, and said, 'God of my master Abraham, if now you will make my journey successful in which I go—
43 khangela, ngimi emthonjeni wamanzi; njalo kakuthi intombi ezaphuma ukukha lengizakuthi kuyo: Ake unginathise amanzi amalutshwana esigxingini sakho;
look, I am standing by this spring of water, and may it happen that the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I will say, "Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,"
44 ibisisithi kimi: Natha lawe, futhi ngizakhelelela lamakamela akho; kayibe nguye owesifazana iNkosi emmisele indodana yenkosi yami.
and she will say to me, "Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,"—may she be the woman who has been chosen for my master's son.'
45 Ngingakaqedi ukukhuluma enhliziyweni yami, khangela-ke, uRebeka waphuma lesigxingi sisehlombe lakhe; wehlela emthonjeni, wakha. Ngasengisithi kuye: Akunginathise.
Before I had finished praying in my heart, look, Rebekah came out with her jug on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring, and drew. And I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'
46 Wasephangisa, wethula isigxingi kuye wathi: Natha, futhi ngizanathisa lamakamela akho. Ngasenginatha, wasenathisa lamakamela.
And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.' So I drank, and she also gave the camels water.
47 Ngasengimbuza ngathi: Uyindodakazi kabani? Wasesithi: Indodakazi kaBethuweli, indodana kaNahori uMilka amzalela yona; ngasengifaka icici emakhaleni akhe lamasongo ezandleni zakhe.
Then I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' And she replied, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, 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 my head and worshiped God, and blessed the God of my master Abraham, who had guided me on the right road to find 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 truth to my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left."
50 Khona oLabani loBethuweli baphendula, bathi: Le into ivela eNkosini; kasilakutsho lutho kuwe, olubi kumbe oluhle.
Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The matter comes from God. We can't speak to you bad or good.
51 Khangela, uRebeka uphambi kwakho; mthathe uhambe, ukuze abe ngumkandodana yenkosi yakho, njengoba iNkosi ikhulumile.
Look, Rebekah is before you. Take, and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as God has spoken."
52 Kwasekusithi inceku kaAbrahama isizwile amazwi abo yakhothamela emhlabathini phambi kweNkosi.
And it happened when Abraham's servant heard their words, that he bowed himself down to the ground.
53 Inceku yasikhupha imiceciso yesiliva, lemiceciso yegolide, lezembatho, yakunika uRebeka, yabanika lomnewabo lonina impahla eziligugu.
Then the servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. And he also gave valuable gifts to her brother and to her mother.
54 Basebesidla banatha, yona lamadoda ayelayo, balala; bavuka ekuseni, yasisithi: Ngiyekelani ngiye enkosini yami.
Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and spent the night. Then they got up in the morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master."
55 Kodwa umnewabo lonina bathi: Kayihlale lathi intombazana izinsuku loba ezilitshumi, emva kwalokho ihambe.
But her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman stay 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 said to them, "Do not delay me, seeing that he has made my journey successful. Send me away that I may go to my master."
57 Basebesithi: Asiyibize intombi, sizwe emlonyeni wayo.
Then they said, "We will call the young woman and ask her."
58 Basebembiza uRebeka, bathi kuye: Uzahamba lalindoda yini? Wasesithi: Ngizahamba.
So they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she replied, "I will go."
59 Basebemyekela ehamba uRebeka udadewabo lomlizane wakhe, lenceku kaAbrahama lamadoda ayo.
So they sent away their sister Rebekah, and 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 be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and may your descendants possess the gate of those who hate them."
61 URebeka wasesukuma lamantombazana akhe, bagada amakamela, balandela indoda; inceku yasimthatha uRebeka, yahamba.
And Rebekah and her female servants got ready, and they rode on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went on his way.
62 UIsaka wasefika lapho abavelela khona emthonjeni iLahayi-Royi, njalo wayehlala elizweni leningizimu.
Now Isaac had come from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the land of the Negev.
63 UIsaka wasephuma ukuyazindla ensimini sekuntambama; waphakamisa amehlo akhe wabona, khangela-ke, amakamela ayesiza.
And Isaac went out in the field to think in the early evening. And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and look, he saw camels approaching.
64 LoRebeka waphakamisa amehlo akhe; esembonile uIsaka waziwisa ekamelweni.
And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel.
65 Wasesithi encekwini: Ngubani lindoda ehamba emasimini ukusihlangabeza? Inceku yasisithi: Yinkosi yami. Wasethatha isimbombozo, wazigubuzela.
And she asked the servant, "Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?" And the servant said, "It is my master." Then she took her veil and covered herself.
66 Inceku yasilandisa kuIsaka zonke indaba ezenzileyo.
And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
67 UIsaka wasemngenisa ethenteni likaSara unina, wamthatha uRebeka, waba ngumkakhe, wamthanda. UIsaka waseduduzwa emva kokufa kukanina.
Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. And he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
