1 Mose 24
1 Na Abraham anyini a ne mfeɛ kɔ ɛkan yie. Awurade hyiraa no akwan ahodoɔ nyinaa so.
Now Abraham was old and of many days. And the Lord had blessed him in all things.
2 Ɛda koro bi, Abraham ka kyerɛɛ ne ɔsomfoɔ panin a ɔhwɛ nʼagyapadeɛ nyinaa so sɛ, “Fa wo nsa ka me srɛ ase.
And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was in charge of all that he had: “Place your hand under my thigh,
3 Mepɛ sɛ woka Awurade a ɔyɛ ɔsoro ne asase Onyankopɔn ntam sɛ, worenware Kanaanfoɔ a me ne wɔn te yi babaa biara mma me babarima Isak.
so that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.
4 Na mmom, wobɛkɔ me ɔman mu, mʼabusuafoɔ nkyɛn, akɔware ɔbaa abrɛ no.”
But that you will proceed to my land and kindred, and from there take a wife for my son Isaac.”
5 Ɔsomfoɔ no bisaa Abraham sɛ, “Me wura, na sɛ ɛba sɛ ɔbaa no ampene so sɛ ɔne me bɛba ɔman yi mu a, na mereyɛ no ɛdeɛn? Memfa wo babarima no nkɔ wo ɔman no mu anaa?”
The servant responded, “If the woman is not willing to come with me into this land, must I lead your son back to the place from which you departed?”
6 Abraham kaa sɛ, “Hwɛ yie na woamfa me babarima no ankɔ hɔ da.
And Abraham said: “Beware that you never lead my son back to that place.
7 Awurade, ɔsoro Onyankopɔn a ɔde me firi mʼagya fie ne mʼasase so baa ha, na ɔkaa ntam hyɛɛ me bɔ sɛ, ‘Mede saa asase yi bɛma wʼasefoɔ no.’ Ɔno ara na ɔbɛsoma ne ɔbɔfoɔ adi wʼanim akɔ sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a, wobɛnya ɔyere afiri hɔ ama me babarima no.
The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my nativity, who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ himself will send his Angel before you, and you will take from there a wife for my son.
8 Sɛ ɛba sɛ, ɔbaa no ampene sɛ ɔne wo bɛba a, wo ntam a wokaeɛ no nkyekyere wo. Ɛnsɛ sɛ wode me babarima no kɔ hɔ.”
But if the woman is not willing to follow you, you will not be held by the oath. Only do not lead my son back to that place.”
9 Enti, ɔsomfoɔ no de ne nsa kaa ne wura Abraham srɛ ase, kaa saa asɛm yi ho ntam.
Therefore, the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his lord, and he swore to him on his word.
10 Afei, ɔsomfoɔ no faa ne wura nyoma no mu edu kɔeɛ. Ɔrebɛkɔ no, ɔgyee ne wura Abraham nkyɛn nnepa ahodoɔ bebree kaa ho. Ɔde nʼani kyerɛɛ Mesopotamia, kɔduruu Nahor kuro mu.
And he took ten camels from his lord’s herd, and he went forth, carrying with him things from all of his goods. And he set out, and continued on, to the city of Nahor, in Mesopotamia.
11 Ɔduruu Nahor kurotia no, ɔmaa nyoma no butubutuu abura bi a ɛwɔ hɔ ho. Na onwunu adwo a ɛyɛ ɛberɛ a mmaa bɛto nsuo wɔ abura no mu.
And when he had made the camels lie down outside of the town, near a well of water, in the evening, at the time when women are accustomed to go out to draw water, he said:
12 Na ɔsomfoɔ no bɔɔ mpaeɛ sɛ, “Ao, Awurade, me wura Abraham Onyankopɔn, hunu me wura Abraham mmɔbɔ, na boa me, na mʼakwantuo yi nsi yie.
“O Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, meet with me today, I beg you, and show mercy to my lord Abraham.
13 Hwɛ, megyina abura yi so, na kuro yi mu mmabaawa rebɛto nsuo.
Behold, I stand near the fountain of water, and the daughters of the inhabitants of this city will go forth to draw water.
14 Ma ɛmmra mu sɛ, ababaawa biara a mɛka akyerɛ no sɛ, ‘Mesrɛ wo, soɛ na ma me wo sukuruwa no mu nsuo no bi nnom no,’ sɛ ɔka sɛ, ‘Nom bi, na mɛma wo yoma no nso bi anom’ a, ɔnyɛ ababaawa a woapa no ama wʼakoa Isak. Ɛnam yei so bɛma mahunu sɛ, woahunu me wura mmɔbɔ.”
Therefore, the girl to whom I will say, ‘Tip your pitcher, so that I may drink,’ and she will respond, ‘Drink. In fact, I will give your camels a drink also,’ the same one is she whom you have prepared for your servant Isaac. And by this, I will understand that you have shown mercy to my lord.”
15 Ɔgu so rebɔ mpaeɛ no na Rebeka baeɛ a ne sukuruwa si nʼabati so. Saa Rebeka no yɛ Betuel ba. Betuel no nso yɛ Abraham nuabarima Nahor ne ne yere Milka babarima.
But he had not yet completed these words within himself, when, behold, Rebekah went out, the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, the brother of Abraham, having a pitcher on her shoulder.
16 Na Rebeka no yɛ ɔbaabunu a ne ho yɛ fɛ yie. Na ɔbarima biara mfaa ne ho nkaa no da. Ɔsiane kɔɔ abura no so, kɔhyɛɛ ne sukuruwa no nsuo ma, sane baeɛ.
She was an exceedingly elegant girl, and a most beautiful virgin, and unknown by man. And she descended to the spring, and she filled her pitcher, and then was returning.
17 Ɔsomfoɔ no de ahoɔherɛ kɔhyiaa Rebeka, ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Mesrɛ wo, hwie wo sukuruwa no mu nsuo no kakra ma mennom.”
And the servant ran to meet her, and he said, “Provide me with a little water to drink from your pitcher.”
18 Ntɛm ara, ɔsoɛɛ ne sukuruwa no kaa sɛ, “Me wura, gye bi nom.”
And she responded, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly brought down the pitcher on her arm, and she gave him a drink.
19 Rebeka maa ɔsomfoɔ no nsuo no bi nom wieeɛ no, ɔkaa sɛ, “Mɛsane akɔtwe nsuo no bi abrɛ wo nyoma no nyinaa nso anom.”
And after he drank, she added, “In fact, I will draw water for your camels also, until they all drink.”
20 Enti, Rebeka de ahoɔherɛ hwiee ne nsuo no guu anomeeɛ bi mu, sane kɔtwee nsuo a ɛbɛso nyoma no nyinaa nom de baeɛ.
And pouring out the pitcher into the troughs, she ran back to the well to draw water; and having drawn, she gave it to all the camels.
21 Ɔsomfoɔ no hwɛɛ Rebeka komm, karii no pɛɛ sɛ ɔhunu sɛ Awurade ama nʼakwantuo no asi no yie anaa.
But he was contemplating her silently, wanting to know whether the Lord had caused his journey to prosper or not
22 Nyoma no nom nsuo no wieeɛ no, ɔsomfoɔ no yii sikakɔkɔɔ hwenemukawa a emu duru kari gram nsia ne sikakɔkɔɔ nkapo mmienu a ɛno nso mu duru yɛ gram ɔha dunan.
Then, after the camels drank, the man took out gold earrings, weighing two shekels, and the same number of bracelets, ten shekels in weight.
23 Afei, ɔbisaa sɛ, “Hwan ba ne wo? Mesrɛ wo, yɛbɛnya daberɛ wɔ wo agya fie ama adeɛ akye anaa?”
And he said to her: “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, is there any place in your father’s house to lodge?”
24 Rebeka buaa no sɛ, “Betuel babaa ne me. Me nananom ne Milka ne Nahor.”
She responded, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, to whom she gave birth for Nahor.”
25 Ɔka kaa ho sɛ, “Yɛwɔ ɛserɛ ne mmoa aduane bebree ne baabi a, mo nso, mobɛda.”
And she continued, saying, “There is very much straw and hay with us, and a spacious place to stay.”
26 Afei, ɔsomfoɔ no buu nkotodwe, sɔree Awurade Onyankopɔn sɛ,
The man bowed himself down, and he adored the Lord,
27 “Nhyira nka Awurade, me wura Abraham Onyankopɔn, sɛ ɔnnyaee nokorɛdie ne ayamyɛ a ɔyɛ ma me wura no. Me deɛ, Awurade adi mʼanim wɔ mʼakwantuo yi mu, de me abɛduru me wura abusuafoɔ fie.”
saying, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, who has not taken away his mercy and truth from my lord, and who has led me on a direct journey to the house of the brother of my lord.”
28 Rebeka tuu mmirika kɔkaa nsɛm a asisie no nyinaa kyerɛɛ ne maame fiefoɔ.
And so the girl ran, and she reported all that she had heard in the house of her mother.
29 Na Rebeka wɔ nuabarima bi a ne din de Laban. Laban tee asɛm no, ɔde ahoɔherɛ kɔɔ ɔbarima no nkyɛn wɔ abura no so.
Now Rebekah had a brother, named Laban, who went out quickly to the man, where the spring was.
30 Laban hunuu hwenemukawa no ne nkapo a ɛgu ne nuabaa no nsa no, na ɔtee asɛm a ɔbarima no ka kyerɛɛ Rebeka no, ɔkɔɔ ɔbarima no nkyɛn kɔhunuu sɛ ɔgyina nyoma no ho wɔ asubura no so.
And when he had seen the earrings and bracelets in his sister’s hands, and he had heard all the words being repeated, “This is what the man spoke to me,” he came to the man who stood by the camels and near the spring of water,
31 Laban ka kyerɛɛ ɔsomfoɔ no sɛ, “Bra, wo a Awurade ahyira wo.” Ɔbisaa ɔsomfoɔ no sɛ, “Adɛn enti na wogyina kurotia ha? Masiesie wo daberɛ ne baabi a nyoma no nso bɛda.”
and he said to him: “Enter, O blessed of the Lord. Why do you stand outside? I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.”
32 Enti, ɔsomfoɔ no kɔɔ efie hɔ maa Laban yiyii nneɛma a ɛsoso nyoma no. Wɔmaa nyoma no ɛserɛ ne aduane, afei Laban maa ɔsomfoɔ no ne nnipa a wɔka ne ho no nsuo de hohoroo wɔn nan ho.
And he brought him into his guest quarters. And he unharnessed the camels, and he distributed straw and hay, and water to wash his feet and that of the men who arrived with him.
33 Yei akyiri no, ɔtoo wɔn ɛpono. Nanso, ɔsomfoɔ no kaa sɛ, “Merempɛ sɛ mɛdidi, gye sɛ mabɔ mʼamanneɛ.” Laban kaa sɛ, “Bɔ wʼamanneɛ ɛ.”
And bread was set out in his sight. But he said, “I will not eat, until I have spoken my words.” He answered him, “Speak.”
34 Enti, ɔsomfoɔ no bɔɔ nʼamanneɛ sɛ, “Meyɛ Abraham ɔsomfoɔ.
Then he said: “I am the servant of Abraham.
35 Awurade ahyira me wura bebree, ama wayɛ ɔdefoɔ. Wama no nnwan ne anantwie, dwetɛ ne sikakɔkɔɔ, nkoa ne mfenaa ne nyoma ne mfunumu.
And the Lord has blessed my lord greatly, and he has become great. And he has given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold, men servants and women servants, camels and donkeys.
36 Bio, me wura yere Sara awo ɔbabarima ama no wɔ ne mmerewaberɛ mu; Awurade na ɔde deɛ ɔwɔ nyinaa ama no.
And Sarah, the wife of my lord, has given birth to a son for my lord in her old age, and he has given him all that he had.
37 Me wura maa mekaa ntam sɛ, ‘Worenware Kanaanfoɔ a me ne wɔn te yi babaa biara mma me babarima Isak.
And my lord made me swear, saying: ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell.
38 Na mmom, wobɛkɔ me ɔman mu, mʼabusuafoɔ nkyɛn, akɔware ɔbaa wɔ hɔ abrɛ me babarima Isak.’
But you shall travel to my father’s house, and you shall take a wife of my own kindred for my son.’
39 “Na mebisaa me wura sɛ, ‘Na sɛ ɛba sɛ, ɔbaa no ampene so sɛ ɔne me bɛba ɔman yi mu a, na mereyɛ no ɛdeɛn?’
But truly, I answered my lord, ‘What if the woman is not willing to come with me?’
40 “Me wura Abraham buaa sɛ, ‘Awurade a manante nʼanim no bɛsoma ne ɔbɔfoɔ, adi wʼanim, sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a, wʼakwantuo no bɛsi yie, na woanya ɔyere ama me babarima afiri mʼabusua mu a ɛyɛ mʼagya fie no mu.
‘The Lord,’ he said, ‘in whose sight I walk, will send his Angel with you, and he will direct your way. And you shall take a wife for my son from my own kindred and from my father’s house.
41 Afei, sɛ ɛba sɛ, woba mʼabusua mu, na sɛ wɔamfa ɔbaa no amma wo a, wo ntam a wokaeɛ no renkyekyere wo.’
But you will be innocent of my curse, if, when you will arrive at my close relatives, they will not grant this to you.’
42 “Mebaa asubura no so ɛnnɛ no, mesrɛɛ sɛ, ‘Ao, Awurade, me wura Abraham Onyankopɔn, sɛ ɛyɛ wo pɛ a, ma akwantuo yi nsi me yie!
And so, today I arrived at the well of water, and I said: ‘O Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, if you have directed my way, in which I now walk,
43 Hwɛ, megyina abura yi so. Sɛ ababaawa bi bɛto nsuo wɔ ha, na meka kyerɛ no sɛ, “Mesrɛ wo, soɛ na ma me wo sukuruwa no mu nsuo no kakra nnom” no,
behold, I stand next to the well of water, and the virgin, who will go forth to draw water, will hear from me, “Give me a little water to drink from your pitcher.”
44 na sɛ ɔka sɛ, “Nom bi, na mɛma wo nyoma no nso bi anom” a, ɔnyɛ ababaawa a Awurade apa no ama me wura Abraham babarima Isak no.’
And she will say to me, “You drink, and I will also draw for your camels.” Let the same be the woman, whom the Lord has prepared for the son of my lord.’
45 “Ansa na mɛwie mʼakoma mu mpaeɛbɔ no, Rebeka puee a sukuruwa si ne batiri so. Rebeka kɔɔ abura no so, kɔtoo nsuo, na meka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, ‘Mesrɛ wo, ma me nsuo no bi nnom.’
And while I thought over these things silently within myself, Rebekah appeared, arriving with a pitcher, which she carried on her shoulder. And she descended to the spring and drew water. And I said to her, ‘Give me a little to drink.’
46 “Ntɛm ara, ɔsoɛɛ ne sukuruwa no kaa sɛ, ‘Me wura, gye bi nom na mɛsane atwe nsuo no bi abrɛ wo nyoma no nyinaa nso anom.’ Enti, menom nsuo no bi, na ɔmaa nyoma no nyinaa nso bi nomeeɛ.
And she quickly let down the pitcher from her arm, and said to me, ‘You drink, and to your camels I will also distribute drinking water.’ I drank, and she watered the camels.
47 “Mebisaa no sɛ, ‘Hwan ba ne wo?’ “Rebeka buaa sɛ, ‘Betuel ba ne me. Me nananom ne Milka ne Nahor.’ “Ɛhɔ ara na mede hwenemukawa no hyɛɛ ne hwenemu, ɛnna mede nkapo no nso guu ne nsa.
And I questioned her, saying, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she responded, ‘I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ And so, I hung the earrings on her, to adorn her face, and I put the bracelets on her hands.
48 Afei, mebɔɔ me mu ase sɔree Awurade. Mekamfoo Awurade a ɔyɛ me wura, Abraham Onyankopɔn, a wadi mʼanim de me afa ɛkwan pa so, ama manya me wura nuabarima nana aware ama ne babarima no.
And falling prostrate, I adored the Lord, blessing the Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, who has led me along the straight path so as to take the daughter of my lord’s brother to his son.
49 Afei, sɛ wobɛyɛ me wura adɔeɛ adi no nokorɛ a, ka kyerɛ me. Sɛ ɛnte saa nso a, ka kyerɛ me, sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a, mɛhunu ɛkwan ko a mɛfa so.”
For this reason, if you would act according to mercy and truth with my lord, tell me so. But if it pleases you otherwise, say that to me also, so that I may go either to the right, or to the left.”
50 Laban ne Betuel buaa sɛ, “Saa asɛm yi firi Awurade enti, yɛnni ho asɛm biara.
And Laban and Bethuel responded: “A word has proceeded from the Lord. We are not able to speak anything else to you, beyond what pleases him.
51 Rebeka ni. Momfa no nkɔ, na ɔnkɔware mo wura no babarima no, sɛdeɛ Awurade ahyɛ no.”
Lo, Rebekah is in your sight. Take her and continue on, and let her be the wife of the son of your lord, just as the Lord has spoken.”
52 Ɛberɛ a Abraham ɔsomfoɔ no tee deɛ wɔkaeɛ no, ɔbuu nkotodwe wɔ Awurade anim.
When Abraham’s servant had heard this, falling down to the ground, he adored the Lord.
53 Afei, ɔsomfoɔ no yii sikakɔkɔɔ ne dwetɛ nnwinneɛ ne ntadeɛ maa Rebeka. Ɔsane de nneɛma a ɛsom bo yie yɛɛ Rebeka nuabarima ne ne maame ayɛ.
And bringing forth vessels of silver and gold, as well as garments, he gave them to Rebekah as a tribute. Likewise, he offered gifts to her brothers and her mother.
54 Afei, ɔsomfoɔ no ne nnipa a wɔka ne ho no didi nomeeɛ, na wɔda maa adeɛ kyeeɛ. Adeɛ kyee anɔpa a wɔsɔreeɛ no, ɔsomfoɔ no kaa sɛ, “Monnya me ɛkwan, na mensane nkɔ me wura nkyɛn.”
And a banquet began, and they feasted and drank together, and they lodged there. And rising up in the morning, the servant said, “Release me, so that I may go to my lord.”
55 Nanso, Rebeka nuabarima no ne ne maame buaa ɔsomfoɔ no sɛ, “Ma ababaawa no ntena yɛn nkyɛn bɛyɛ sɛ dadu bi, na ɛno akyiri, wode no akɔ.”
And her brothers and mother responded, “Let the girl remain for at least ten days with us, and after that, she will continue on.”
56 Akoa no buaa wɔn sɛ, “Awurade ahyira mʼakwantuo yi so ama me yi deɛ, mesrɛ mo, monnnye me nka ha. Monnya me ɛkwan, na mensane nkɔ me wura nkyɛn.”
“Do not be willing,” he said, “to delay me, for the Lord has directed my way. Release me, so that I may journey to my lord.”
57 Afei, wɔsii gyinaeɛ sɛ, “Momma yɛmfrɛ ababaawa no, na yɛmmisa nʼadwene.”
And they said, “Let us call the girl, and ask her will.”
58 Enti, wɔfrɛɛ Rebeka bisaa no sɛ, “Wopɛ sɛ wo ne saa ɔbarima yi kɔ anaa?” Rebeka buaa sɛ, “Aane, mɛkɔ!”
And when, having been called, she arrived, they wanted to know, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.”
59 Enti, wɔgyaa Rebeka ne ɔbaa a ɔgyegyee no ne nkwadaaberɛm ne Abraham ɔsomfoɔ no ne ne nkurɔfoɔ ɛkwan.
Therefore, they released her and her nurse, and the servant of Abraham and his companions,
60 Wɔhyiraa Rebeka sɛ, “Onuabaa, Awurade nka wo ho, na wʼase nnɔ mpempem! Awurade mma wʼasefoɔ no nni wɔn atamfoɔ nyinaa so nkonim.”
wishing prosperity for their sister, by saying: “You are our sister. May you increase to thousands of thousands. And may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.”
61 Afei, Rebeka ne ne mmaawa siesiee wɔn ho, tenatenaa wɔn nyoma so ne Abraham ɔsomfoɔ no kɔeɛ. Yei ne ɛkwan a Abraham ɔsomfoɔ no faa so de Rebeka kɔeɛ.
And so, Rebekah and her maids, riding upon camels, followed the man, who quickly returned to his lord.
62 Saa ɛberɛ no, na Isak a na anka ɔte Negeb no firi hɔ abɛtena Beer-Lahai-Roi.
Then, at the same time, Isaac was walking along the way that leads to the well, whose name is: ‘of the One who lives and who sees.’ For he dwelt in the southern land.
63 Ɛda koro anwummerɛ bi a Isak kɔtuu mpase srɛ so refa adwene no, ɔtoo nʼani hunuu sɛ nyoma sa so reba.
And he had gone out to meditate in the field, as daylight was now declining. And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels advancing from afar.
64 Rebeka nso too nʼani, na ɔhunuu Isak. Rebeka si firii ne yoma no so,
Likewise, Rebekah, having seen Isaac, descended from the camel.
65 bisaa Abraham ɔsomfoɔ no sɛ, “Ɔbarima bɛn na ɔnam ɛserɛ yi so rebɛhyia yɛn yi?” Ɔsomfoɔ no buaa sɛ, “Ɔyɛ me wura babarima.” Enti, Rebeka yii ne nkatanimu de kataa nʼanim.
And she said to the servant, “Who is that man who advances to meet us through the field?” And he said to her, “That is my lord.” And so, quickly taking up her cloak, she covered herself.
66 Abraham ɔsomfoɔ no bɔɔ Isak nsɛm a asisie no nyinaa ho amaneɛ.
Then the servant explained to Isaac all that he had done.
67 Isak de Rebeka kɔɔ ne maame Sara ntomadan mu. Na ɔwaree no, ma ɔbɛyɛɛ ne yere. Na ɔdɔ no yie. Yei maa Isak werɛ kyekyereeɛ wɔ ne maame Sara wuo akyiri.
And he led her into the tent of Sarah his mother, and he accepted her as wife. And he loved her so very much, that it tempered the sorrow which befell him at his mother’s death.
