Genesis, 24

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

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

2. Abraham said to the senior servant in his household, the steward of all his property, 'Place your hand under my thigh:

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. I am going to make you swear by Yahweh, God of heaven and God of earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live

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. but will go to my native land and my own kinsfolk to choose a wife for my son Isaac.'

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

5. The servant asked him, 'What if the girl does not want to follow me to this country? Should I then take your son back to the country from which you come?'

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. Abraham replied, 'On no account are you to take my son back there.

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

7. Yahweh, God of heaven and God of earth, who took me from my father's home, and from the land of my kinsfolk, and who promised me on oath, "I shall give this country to your descendants"-he will now send his angel ahead of you, so that you can get a wife for my son from there.

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. If then the girl refuses to follow you, you will be quit of this oath to me. Only do not take my son back there.'

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

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

10. The servant took ten of his master's camels and, carrying all kinds of gifts from his master, set out for the city of Nahor in Aram Naharaim.

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. In the evening, at the time when women come out to draw water, he made the camels kneel outside the town near the well.

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. And he said, 'Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, give me success today and show faithful love to my master 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. While I stand by the spring as the young women from the town come out to draw water,

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. I shall say to one of the girls, "Please lower your pitcher and let me drink." And if she answers, "Drink, and I shall water your camels too," let her be the one you have decreed for your servant Isaac; by this I shall know you have shown faithful love to my master'

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

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. The girl was very beautiful, and a virgin; no man had touched her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher and came up again.

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. Running towards her, the servant said, 'Please give me a sip of water from your pitcher.'

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

18. She replied, 'Drink, my lord,' and quickly lowered her pitcher on her arm and gave him a drink.

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

19. When she had finished letting him drink, she said, 'I shall draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough.'

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

20. She quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran to the well again to draw, and drew for all the camels.

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. All the while, the man stood watching her, not daring to speak, wondering whether Yahweh had made his journey successful or not.

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

22. When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing half a shekel, and put it through her nose, and put two bracelets weighing ten gold shekels on her arms,

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. and said, 'Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room at your father's house for us to spend the night?'

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

24. She replied, 'I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son whom Milcah bore to Nahor.'

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

25. And she went on, 'We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.'

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

26. Then the man bowed down and worshipped Yahweh

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

27. saying, 'Blessed be Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, for not withholding his faithful love from my master. Yahweh has led me straight to the house of my master's brother.'

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. The girl ran to her mother's house to tell what had happened.

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

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

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

30. As soon as he had seen the ring and the bracelets his sister was wearing, and had heard his sister Rebekah saying, 'This is what the man said to me,' he went to the man and found him still standing by his camels at the spring.

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. He said to him, 'Come in, blessed of Yahweh, why stay out here when I have cleared the house and made room for the camels?'

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. The man went to the house, and Laban unloaded the camels. He provided straw and fodder for the camels and water for him and his companions to wash their feet.

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. They offered him food, but he said, 'I will eat nothing before I have said what I have to say.' Laban said, 'Speak.'

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. He said, 'I am Abraham's servant.

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

35. Yahweh has loaded my master with blessings, and Abraham is now very rich. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, men and women slaves, camels and donkeys.

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. Sarah, my master's wife, bore my master a son in his old age, and he has made over all his property to him.

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. My master made me take this oath, "You are not to choose a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose country I live.

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. Instead, you are to go to my father's home and to my own kinsfolk to choose a wife for my son."

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

39. I said to my master, "Suppose the girl will not agree to come with me?"

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

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

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. Then you will be quit of my curse: if you go to my family and they refuse you, you will be quit of my curse."

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. Arriving today at the spring I said, "Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, please grant a successful outcome to the course I propose to take.

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. While I stand by the spring, if a girl comes out to draw water and I say to her, 'Please give me a little water to drink from your pitcher,'

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. if she replies, 'Drink by all means, and I shall draw water for your camels too,' let her be the girl whom Yahweh has decreed for my master's son."

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. I was still saying this in my mind when Rebekah came out, her pitcher on her shoulder. She came down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, "Please give me a drink."

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. Quickly she lowered her pitcher saying, "Drink, and I shall water your camels too."

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. I asked her, "Whose daughter are you?" She replied, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, whom Milcah bore to Nahor." Then I put this ring through her nose and these bracelets on her arms.

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. I bowed down and worshipped Yahweh, and I blessed Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, who had led me by a direct path to choose the daughter of my master's brother for his son.

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. Now tell me whether you are prepared to show constant and faithful love to my master; if not, say so, and I shall know what to do.'

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. Laban and Bethuel replied, 'This is from Yahweh; it is not for us to say yes or no to you.

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

51. Rebekah is there before you. Take her and go; and let her become the wife of your master's son, as Yahweh has decreed.'

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. On hearing this, Abraham's servant bowed to the ground before Yahweh.

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

53. He brought out silver and gold ornaments and clothes which he gave to Rebekah; he also gave rich presents to her brother and to her mother.

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. They ate and drank, he and his companions, and spent the night there. Next morning when they were up, he said, 'Let me go back to my master.'

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. Rebekah's brother and mother replied, 'Let the girl stay with us for ten days or so; then she can go.'

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. But he replied, 'Do not delay me, since Yahweh has made my journey successful; let me leave and go back to my master.'

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. They replied, 'Let us call the girl and find out what she has to say.'

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

58. They called Rebekah and asked her, 'Will you go with this man?' She replied, 'I will.'

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

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

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

60. They blessed Rebekah and said to her: Sister of ours, from you may there spring thousands and tens of thousands! May your descendants gain possession of the gates of their enemies!

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. And forthwith, Rebekah and her maids mounted the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah and departed.

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 meanwhile had come back from the well of Lahai Roi and was living in the Negeb.

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

63. While Isaac was out walking towards evening in the fields, he looked up and saw camels approaching.

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. And Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She jumped down from her camel,

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

65. and asked the servant, 'Who is that man walking through the fields towards us?' The servant replied, 'That is my master.' So she took her veil and covered herself up.

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. The servant told Isaac the whole story.

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

67. Then Isaac took her into his tent. He married Rebekah and made her his wife. And in his love for her, Isaac was consoled for the loss of his mother.

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.