Genesis, 24

1. And Abraham was old, [and] well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.

1. Abraham was now old and well on in years, and Yahweh had blessed him in every way.

2. And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

2. Abraham said to his senior servant, who was his steward, "Put your hand under my thigh

3. And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

3. and you will swear to me by Yahweh, God of heaven and earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom we live;

4. But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

4. rather it is to my country and my kinsfolk that you will go to choose a wife for my son, Isaac."

5. And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?

5. The servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman will not want to follow me to this country. In that case should I take your son to the country you came from?"

6. And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.

6. Abraham said to him, "In no way will you take my son back.

7. The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

7. For Yahweh, God of heaven and God of earth, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, spoke to me and swore to me that he would give this country to my race. He will send his angel before you, that you may find a wife for my son.

8. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.

8. But if the woman is unwilling to follow you, you will be free of this oath. In any case you are not to take my son down there."

9. And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

9. So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his master, and swore to him that he would do it.

10. And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master [were] in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

10. The servant took ten of his master's camels and set out, taking with him something of the best from all that his master owned. He rose and went off in the direction of Aram Naharaim, towards the town of Nahor.

11. And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, [even] the time that women go out to draw [water].

11. And he made the camels kneel outside the town, near the well, in the evening when the women go to draw water.

12. And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.

12. The steward then prayed, "Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, be with me and show your loving kindness to Abraham, my master.

13. Behold, I stand [here] by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

13. See, I am standing at the spring while the girls of the city are coming to draw water.

14. And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: [let the same be] she [that] thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

14. Now I will ask them like this: 'Please tilt your pitcher that I may drink.' Now, the first girl who will say: 'Drink and I will water your camels as well'; let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. In this way I shall know you have shown kindness to my master."

15. And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

15. He had not finished praying when Rebekah came out. She was the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, wife of Abraham's brother, Nahor. She had a pitcher on her shoulder.

16. And the damsel [was] very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

16. The girl was very beautiful and a virgin, for no man had lain with her. She went down to the well, filled her pitcher and came up again.

17. And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

17. The servant ran to meet her and said, "Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher."

18. And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

18. She said, "Drink, my lord!" and at once lowering her pitcher to her hand she let him drink.

19. And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw [water] for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

19. When she had finished letting him drink, she said, "I am going to water your camels as well, until they have had enough."

20. And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw [water], and drew for all his camels.

20. She hurried to empty her pitcher into the trough, and then ran again to draw water for all his camels,

21. And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

21. while the man watched in silence to find out whether Yahweh was making his journey successful or not.

22. And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten [shekels] weight of gold;

22. So when the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing half a shekel and for her arms two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels.

23. And said, Whose daughter [art] thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room [in] thy father's house for us to lodge in?

23. He then said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me! Is there room in your father's house where we can spend the night?"

24. And she said unto him, I [am] the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.

24. She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son Milcah bore to Nahor."

25. She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.

25. She continued, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room for you to spend the night."

26. And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.

26. Then the man knelt and wor-shiped Yahweh

27. And he said, Blessed [be] the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I [being] in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.

27. saying, "Blessed be Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, who has not stopped showing kindness and faithfulness to my master. Yahweh has guided me to the house of my master's brother."

28. And the damsel ran, and told [them of] her mother's house these things.

28. The girl ran to her mother's house and related all these things.

29. And Rebekah had a brother, and his name [was] Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.

29. Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban and Laban ran out to the man, near the spring.

30. And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

30. As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms, as soon as he heard his sister Rebekah saying, "This is what the man said to me...," he came towards Abraham's steward who was standing near the camels by the spring.

31. And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

31. He said to him, "Come in, you who are blessed by Yahweh. Why do you stay outside? I have prepared the house and there is room for your camels."

32. And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that [were] with him.

32. So the man entered the house and unloaded the camels. Straw and fodder were given to the camels and water to wash the feet of the man and of those who were with him.

33. And there was set [meat] before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.

33. Then they gave him food to eat, but he said, "I won't eat until I have said what I have to say!" Laban said, "Speak!"

34. And he said, I [am] Abraham's servant.

34. Then he spoke like this, "I am the servant of Abraham. Yahweh has greatly blessed my master and he has become very rich.

35. And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.

35. Yahweh has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys.

36. And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.

36. Now Sarah, my master's wife, bore him a son in her old age;

37. And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:

37. so my master has given him all he owns and he made me swear an oath saying: 'You will not choose a wife for my son from the daughters of these Canaanites in whose country I live;

38. But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.

38. rather you will go to my father's house, to my kinsfolk and there you will choose a wife for my son.'

39. And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.

39. I then said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not agree to come with me!'

40. And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:

40. And his reply was: 'Yahweh, in whose presence I have walked, will send his angel with you and make your journey successful. You will choose a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father's house.

41. Then shalt thou be clear from [this] my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee [one], thou shalt be clear from my oath.

41. This is what you have to do to be released from your oath. Whether they refuse you or not you will be free of the oath.'

42. And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:

42. So on arriving at the spring, I prayed, 'Yahweh, God of my master, Abraham, if you wish my journey to be successful, let it happen like this:

43. Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw [water], and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;

43. as I stand by the spring a girl will come to draw water and I will say to her: Let me drink a little from your pitcher.

44. And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: [let] the same [be] the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son.

44. If she answers me: Yes, drink, and I will draw water for your camels as well, let it be that she is the wife Yahweh has chosen for my master's son.' I was still thinking this over,

45. And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew [water]: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.

45. when Rebekah came out with a pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, 'Please, let me drink!'

46. And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her [shoulder], and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.

46. She immediately lowered the pitcher and said, 'Drink! I will water your camels as well!' I drank and she watered the camels.

47. And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter [art] thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

47. I questioned her saying, 'Who is your father?' And she said, 'I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor and Milcah.' I then put this ring through her nostril and bracelets on her arms.

48. And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.

48. Then I knelt in worship and blessed Yahweh, God of my master, Abraham, who had led me to choose the daughter of my master's brother for his son.

49. And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.

49. Now let me know whether you intend to show kindness and faithfulness to my master; if not, tell me and I shall know which way to turn."

50. Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

50. Laban and Bethuel replied, "This is God's doing. It is not for us to decide either way.

51. Behold, Rebekah [is] before thee, take [her], and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.

51. Here is Rebekah, take her and go. Let her become the wife of your master's son as Yahweh has directed."

52. And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, [bowing himself] to the earth.

52. When Abraham's servant heard this answer, he bowed to the ground before Yahweh.

53. And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave [them] to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

53. He then took the gold and silver jewelry as well as the clothes and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave costly gifts to her brother and mother.

54. And they did eat and drink, he and the men that [were] with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.

54. They ate and drank, he and his companions, and spent the night there. When they were up next morning, the servant said, "Let me return to my master."

55. And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us [a few] days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.

55. Rebekah's mother and brother replied, "Let the girl remain with us for a few days, about ten. After that she may go."

56. And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.

56. He said, "Do not delay me; since Yahweh has made my journey successful, let me leave and return to my master."

57. And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.

57. They then said, "Call the girl and ask her about it."

58. And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

58. They called and questioned Rebekah, "Do you want to leave with this man?" She said, "I will go."

59. And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.

59. So they let Rebekah, their sister, go with her nurse and Abraham's servant and his men.

60. And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou [art] our sister, be thou [the mother] of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.

60. They blessed Rebekah with these words, "Sister of ours, may you increase to thousands upon thousands, may your descendants take possession of the cities of their enemies."

61. And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

61. Then Rebekah and her maids got ready, mounted the camels and followed Abraham's servant. So it was that he departed bringing Rebekah.

62. And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.

62. Now Isaac had come from the well of Lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negeb.

63. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels [were] coming.

63. As Isaac went out in the early evening to meditate in the field, he looked up and saw camels coming.

64. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

64. Rebekah also looked up and when she saw Isaac she alighted from her camel

65. For she [had] said unto the servant, What man [is] this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant [had] said, It [is] my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

65. and said to the servant, "Who is this man in the field coming to meet us?" He replied, "It is my master!" She then covered her face with her veil.

66. And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.

66. The servant related to Isaac all that he had done

67. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's [death].

67. and Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent of Sarah, his mother. He made her his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.