Liber Genesis, 24

1. Erat autem Abraham senex dierumque multorum; et Do minus in cunctis benedixerat ei.

1. Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.

2. Dixitque Abraham ad servum seniorem domus suae, qui praeerat omnibus, quae habebat: “Pone manum tuam subter femur meum,

2. And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his house, who had charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh,

3. ut adiurem te per Dominum, Deum caeli et Deum terrae, ut non accipias uxorem filio meo de filiabus Chananaeorum, inter quos habito;

3. and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell,

4. sed ad terram et cognationem meam proficiscaris et inde accipias uxorem filio meo Isaac”.

4. but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac."

5. Respondit servus: “Si noluerit mulier venire mecum in terram hanc, num reducere debeo filium tuum ad terram, a quo tu egressus es?”.

5. The servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land; must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?"

6. Dixit Abraham: “Cave, ne quando reducas illuc filium meum.

6. Abraham said to him, "See to it that you do not take my son back there.

7. Dominus, Deus caeli, qui tulit me de domo patris mei et de terra nativitatis meae, qui locutus est mihi et iuravit mihi dicens: "Semini tuo dabo terram hanc", ipse mittet angelum suum coram te, et accipies inde uxorem filio meo.

7. The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and swore to me, `To your descendants I will give this land,' he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

8. Sin autem noluerit mulier sequi te, non teneberis iuramento; filium tantum meum ne reducas illuc”.

8. But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there."

9. Posuit ergo servus manum sub femore Abraham domini sui et iuravit illi super hac re.

9. So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.

10. Tulitque servus decem camelos de grege domini sui et abiit ex omnibus bonis eius portans secum; profectusque perrexit in Aram Naharaim ad urbem Nachor.

10. Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose, and went to Mesopota'mia, to the city of Nahor.

11. Cumque camelos fecisset accumbere extra oppidum iuxta puteum aquae vespere, tempore quo solent mulieres egredi ad hauriendam aquam, dixit:

11. 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. “Domine,Deus domini mei Abraham, occurre obsecro mihi hodie et fac misericordiam cum domino meo Abraham.

12. And he said, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, grant me success today, I pray thee, and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.

13. Ecce ego sto prope fontem aquae, et filiae habitatorum huius civitatis egredientur ad hauriendam aquam.

13. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.

14. Igitur puella, cui ego dixero: "Inclina hydriam tuam, ut bibam", et illa responderit: "Bibe, quin et camelis tuis dabo potum", ipsa est, quam praeparasti servo tuo Isaac, et per hoc intellegam quod feceris misericordiam cum domino meo”.

14. Let the maiden to whom I shall say, `Pray let down your jar that I may drink,' and who shall say, `Drink, and I will water your camels' -- let her be the one whom thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac. By this I shall know that thou hast shown steadfast love to my master."

15. Necdum intra se verba compleverat, et ecce Rebecca egrediebatur filia Bathuel filii Melchae uxoris Nachor fratris Abraham habens hydriam in scapula:

15. Before he had done speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethu'el the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her water jar upon her shoulder.

16. puella decora nimis, virgo et incognita viro. Descendit ad fontem et implevit hydriam ac revertebatur.

16. The maiden was very fair to look upon, a virgin, whom no man had known. She went down to the spring, and filled her jar, and came up.

17. Occurritque ei servus et ait: “Pauxillum mihi ad sorbendum praebe aquae de hydria tua”.

17. Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Pray give me a little water to drink from your jar."

18. Quae respondit: “Bibe, domine mi”. Celeriterque deposuit hydriam super ulnam suam et dedit ei potum.

18. She said, "Drink, my lord"; and she quickly let down her jar upon her hand, and gave him a drink.

19. Cumque ille bibisset, adiecit: “Quin et camelis tuis hauriam aquam, donec cuncti bibant”.

19. When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw for your camels also, until they have done drinking."

20. Effundensque hydriam in canalibus recurrit ad puteum, ut hauriret aquam; et haustam omnibus camelis dedit.

20. So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels.

21. Ille autem contemplabatur eam tacitus, scire volens utrum prosperum fecisset iter suum Dominus an non.

21. The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not.

22. Postquam ergo biberunt cameli, protulit vir anulum aureum pondo dimidii sicli pro naribus et duas armillas pro manibus eius pondo siclorum decem;

22. When the camels had done drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels,

23. dixitque: “Cuius es filia? lndica mihi. Est in domo patris tui locus nobis ad pernoctandum?”.

23. and said, "Tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father's house for us to lodge in?"

24. Quae respondit: “Filia Bathuelis sum filii Melchae, quem peperit Nachor”.

24. She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethu'el the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."

25. Et addidit dicens: “Palearum quoque et pabuli plurimum est apud nos et locus ad pernoctandum”.

25. She added, "We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in."

26. Inclinavit se homo et adoravit Dominum

26. The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD,

27. dicens: “Benedictus Dominus, Deus domini mei Abraham, qui non abstulit misericordiam et veritatem suam a domino meo et recto itinere me perduxit in domum fratris domini mei”.

27. and said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me in the way to the house of my master's kinsmen."

28. Cucurrit itaque puella et nuntiavit in domum matris suae omnia, quae evenerant.

28. Then the maiden ran and told her mother's household about these things.

29. Habebat autem Rebecca fratrem nomine Laban, qui festinus egressus est ad hominem, ubi erat fons.

29. Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran out to the man, to the spring.

30. Cumque vidisset anulum in naribus et armillas in manibus sororis suae et audisset cuncta verba referentis: “Haec locutus est mihi homo”, venit ad virum, qui stabat iuxta camelos et prope fontem aquae;

30. When he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, "Thus the man spoke to me," he went to the man; and behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.

31. dixitque ad eum: “Ingredere, benedicte Domini, cur foris stas? Praeparavi domum et locum camelis”.

31. He said, "Come in, O blessed of the LORD; why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels."

32. Et introduxit eum in hospitium ac destravit camelos; deditque paleas et pabulum camelis et aquam ad lavandos pedes eius et virorum, qui venerant cum eo.

32. So the man came into the house; and Laban ungirded the camels, and gave him straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

33. Et apposuit in conspectu eius panem. Qui ait: “Non comedam, donec loquar sermones meos”. Respondit: “Loquere”.

33. Then food was set before him to eat; but he said, "I will not eat until I have told my errand." He said, "Speak on."

34. At ille: “Servus, inquit, Abraham sum;

34. So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.

35. et Dominus benedixit domino meo valde, magnificatusque est; et dedit ei oves et boves, argentum et aurum, servos et ancillas, camelos et asinos.

35. The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and asses.

36. Et peperit Sara uxor domini mei filium domino meo in senectute sua; deditque illi omnia, quae habuerat.

36. 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. Et adiuravit me dominus meus dicens: "Non accipies uxorem filio meo de filiabus Chananaeorum, in quorum terra habito;

37. My master made me swear, saying, `You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell;

38. sed ad domum patris mei perges et de cognatione mea accipies uxorem filio meo".

38. but you shall go to my father's house and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son.'

39. Ego vero respondi domino meo: Quid, si noluerit venire mecum mulier?

39. I said to my master, `Perhaps the woman will not follow me.'

40. "Dominus, ait, in cuius conspectu ambulo, mittet angelum suum tecum et diriget viam tuam; accipiesque uxorem filio meo de cognatione mea et de domo patris mei.

40. But he said to me, `The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father's house;

41. Innocens eris a maledictione mea, cum veneris ad propinquos meos, et non dederint tibi; tunc innocens eris a maledictione mea".

41. then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my kindred; and if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.'

42. Veni ergo hodie ad fontem et dixi: Domine, Deus domini mei Abraham, si direxisti viam meam, in qua nunc ambulo,

42. "I came today to the spring, and said, `O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now thou wilt prosper the way which I go,

43. ecce sto iuxta fontem aquae; et virgo, quae egredietur ad hauriendam aquam, audierit a me: "Da mihi pauxillum aquae ad bibendum ex hydria tua";

43. behold, I am standing by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, "Pray give me a little water from your jar to drink,"

44. et dixerit mihi: "Et tu bibe, et camelis tuis hauriam", ipsa est mulier, quam praeparavit Dominus filio domini mei.

44. and who will say to me, "Drink, and I will draw for your camels also," let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.'

45. Dum haec tacitus mecum volverem, apparuit Rebecca veniens cum hydria, quam portabat in scapula; descenditque ad fontem et hausit aquam. Et aio ad eam: Da mihi paululum bibere.

45. "Before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, `Pray let me drink.'

46. Quae festina deposuit hydriam de umero et dixit mihi: "Et tu bibe, et camelis tuis potum tribuam". Bibi, et adaquavit camelos.

46. She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, `Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.' So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also.

47. Interrogavique eam et dixi: Cuius es filia? Quae respondit: "Filia Bathuelis sum filii Nachor, quem peperit illi Melcha". Suspendi itaque anulum in naribus eius et armillas posui in manibus eius.

47. Then I asked her, `Whose daughter are you?' She said, The daughter of Bethu'el, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her arms.

48. Pronusque adoravi Dominum benedicens Domino, Deo domini mei Abraham, qui perduxit me recto itinere, ut sumerem filiam fratris domini mei filio eius.

48. Then I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to take the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son.

49. Quam ob rem, si facitis misericordiam et veritatem cum domino meo, indicate mihi; sin autem aliud placet, et hoc dicite mihi, ut vadam ad dexteram sive ad sinistram”.

49. Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand or to the left."

50. Responderunt Laban et Bathuel: “A Domino egressus est sermo; non possumus extra placitum eius quidquam aliud loqui tecum.

50. Then Laban and Bethu'el answered, "The thing comes from the LORD; we cannot speak to you bad or good.

51. En Rebecca coram te est; tolle eam et proficiscere, et sit uxor filii domini tui, sicut locutus est Dominus”.

51. Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has spoken."

52. Quod cum audisset puer Abraham, procidens adoravit in terram Dominum.

52. When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the LORD.

53. Prolatisque vasis argenteis et aureis ac vestibus, dedit ea Rebeccae; res pretiosas dedit fratri eius et matri.

53. And the servant brought forth jewelry of silver and of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments.

54. Tunc comederunt et biberunt ipse et viri, qui erant cum eo, et pernoctaverunt ibi. Surgens autem mane locutus est puer: “Dimittite me, ut vadam ad dominum meum”.

54. And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they arose in the morning, he said, "Send me back to my master."

55. Responderuntque frater eius et mater: “Maneat puella saltem decem dies apud nos et postea proficiscetur”.

55. Her brother and her mother said, "Let the maiden remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go."

56. “Nolite, ait, me retinere, quia Dominus direxit viam meam; dimittite me, ut pergam ad dominum meum”.

56. But he said to them, "Do not delay me, since the LORD has prospered my way; let me go that I may go to my master."

57. Dixerunt: “Vocemus puellam et quaeramus ipsius voluntatem”.

57. They said, "We will call the maiden, and ask her."

58. Cumque vocata venisset, sciscitati sunt: “Vis ire cum homine isto?”. Quae ait: “Vadam”.

58. And they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will go."

59. Dimiserunt ergo Rebeccam sororem eorum et nutricem illius servumque Abraham et comites eius,

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

60. imprecantes prospera sorori suae atque dicentes: “Soror nostra es, crescas in mille milia, et possideat semen tuum portas inimicorum suorum!”.

60. And they blessed Rebekah, and said to her, "Our sister, be the mother of thousands of ten thousands; and may your descendants possess the gate of those who hate them!"

61. Igitur surrexit Rebecca et puellae illius et, ascensis camelis, secutae sunt virum; sumpsitque servus Rebeccam et abiit.

61. Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and rode upon the camels and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

62. Isaac autem venerat a regione putei Lahairoi et habitabat in terra Nageb.

62. Now Isaac had come from Beer-la'hai-roi, and was dwelling in the Negeb.

63. Et egressus est Isaac ad lamentandum in agro, inclinata iam die. Cumque levasset oculos, vidit camelos venientes.

63. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there were camels coming.

64. Rebecca quoque levavit oculos et vidit Isaac; descenditque de camelo

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

65. et ait ad puerum: “Quis est ille homo, qui venit per agrum in occursum nobis?”. Dixitque ei: “Ipse est dominus meus”. At illa tollens cito velum operuit se.

65. and said to the servant, "Who is the man yonder, walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself.

66. Servus autem cuncta, quae gesserat, narravit Isaac;

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

67. qui introduxit eam in tabernaculum Sarae matris suae et accepit Rebeccam uxorem; et dilexit eam et consolatus est a morte matris suae.

67. Then Isaac brought her into the tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.