Genesis 24

1And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and Jehovah had blessed Abraham in all things.

1Abraham was now very old, and the LORD had blessed him in every part of his life.

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

2Abraham spoke to the oldest servant in his house, the man in charge of everything he owned, and said, "Please, put your hand under my thigh.

3and I will make thee swear by Jehovah, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that thou wilt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

3I want you to swear an oath by the LORD, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live.

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

4Instead, you must go to my own country and to my own relatives to find a wife for my son Isaac."

5And 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?

5The servant asked him, "What if the woman is not willing to follow me back to this land? Should I take your son back to the country you came from?"

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

6Abraham said to him, "Make sure you do not take my son back there.

7Jehovah, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my nativity, and who spake unto me, and who sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he will send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife for my son from thence.

7The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from my native land, spoke to me and promised me with an oath, 'I will give this land to your descendants.' He will send His angel ahead of you so that you can find a wife for my son there.

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

8If the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine. Only, you must never take my son back there."

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

9So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath regarding this matter.

10And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his master, and departed, having all goodly things of his master’s in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

10The servant took ten of his master's camels and left, taking with him all kinds of expensive gifts from his master. He traveled to Mesopotamia, to the city where Nahor lived.

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

11He made the camels kneel down outside the city near the well. It was evening, the time when the women come out to draw water.

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

12He prayed, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, grant me success today and show your kindness to my master Abraham.

13Behold, I am standing by the fountain of water; and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water:

13Look, I am standing here by the spring, and the daughters of the people of the city are coming out to draw water.

14and 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 showed kindness unto my master.

14Let it be that the young woman to whom I say, 'Please lower your jar so I can drink,' and who replies, 'Drink, and I will water your camels too'—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."

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

15Before he had even finished praying, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Milcah and Nahor, Abraham’s brother.

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

16The girl was very beautiful and was a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came back up.

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

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

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

18"Drink, my lord," she said. She quickly lowered her jar to her hands and gave him a drink.

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

19After she had given him a drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking."

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

20She quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all ten of his camels.碎

21And the man looked stedfastly on her, holding his peace, to know whether Jehovah had made his journey prosperous or not.

21The man watched her in silence, wondering if the LORD had made his trip successful or not.

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

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

23and said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee. Is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?

23He asked, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?"

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

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

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

25She added, "We have plenty of straw and feed, and a place for you to stay."

26And the man bowed his head, and worshipped Jehovah.

26Then the man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD.碎

27And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not forsaken his lovingkindness and his truth toward my master: as for me, Jehovah hath led me in the way to the house of my master’s brethren.

27He said, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld his kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on this journey to the house of my master's relatives."

28And the damsel ran, and told her mother’s house according to these words.

28The girl ran and told her mother’s household about everything that had happened.

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

29Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban. He ran out toward the man at the spring.

30And it came to pass, when he saw the ring, and the 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 was standing by the camels at the fountain.

30Laban had seen the ring and the bracelets on his sister's wrists and heard Rebekah's story about what the man said to her. He went out and found the man standing by the camels near the spring.

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

31He said, "Come in, you who are blessed by the LORD! Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels."碎

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

32So the man went to the house. Laban unloaded the camels and provided straw and feed for them, as well as water for the man and his companions to wash their feet.

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

33Then food was set before him, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told you why I am here." Laban said, "Please, tell us."

34And he said, I am Abraham’s servant.

34He said, "I am Abraham's servant.

35And Jehovah hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and men-servants and maid-servants, and camels and asses.

35The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become a wealthy man. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.

36And 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.

36My master’s wife Sarah gave birth to a son for him in her old age, and he has given that son everything he owns.

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

37My master made me swear an oath, saying, 'Do not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live.

38but thou shalt go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son.

38Instead, go to my father’s house and to my own relatives to find a wife for my son.'

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

39I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not follow me?'

40And he said unto me, Jehovah, 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:

40He told me, 'The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you and make your mission successful, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own relatives and my father’s house.

41then shalt thou be clear from my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give her not to thee, thou shalt be clear from my oath.

41Then you will be free from my oath: when you go to my relatives, if they refuse to give her to you, you will be released from the oath.'

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

42When I came to the spring today, I prayed, 'O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if it pleases you, give me success on the journey I have taken.

43behold, I am standing by the fountain of water; and let it come to pass, that the maiden that cometh forth to draw, to whom I shall say, Give me, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher to drink;

43Look, I am standing by this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, "Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,"

44and she shall say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom Jehovah hath appointed for my master’s son.

44and she says to me, "Drink, and I will also draw water for your camels," let her be the woman the LORD has chosen for my master’s son.'

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

45Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'

46And 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.

46She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I will water your camels too.' So I drank, and she gave the camels water as well.

47And 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 ring upon her nose, and the bracelets upon her hands.

47I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor and Milcah.' Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.

48And I bowed my head, and worshipped Jehovah, and blessed Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son.

48I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to find the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.

49And 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.

49Now, tell me if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master. If not, tell me so I will know which way to turn."

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

50Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the LORD; we have nothing to say against it.

51Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as Jehovah hath spoken.

51Here is Rebekah. Take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, just as the LORD has spoken."

52And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth unto Jehovah.

52When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.

53And 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.

53Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver and gold and clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave expensive gifts to her brother and her mother.

54And 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.

54He and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, "Send me on my way back to my master."

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

55But her brother and mother said, "Let the girl stay with us for a while, at least ten days. After that she may go."

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

56But he said to them, "Do not delay me, since the LORD has made my mission successful. Send me away so I can go back to my master."

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

57They said, "We will call the girl and ask her what she wants to do."

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

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

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

59So they sent their sister Rebekah away with her childhood nurse, along with Abraham’s servant and his men.

60And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them.

60They blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you become the mother of millions! May your descendants conquer the cities of their enemies."

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

61Then Rebekah and her servant girls got ready, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.

62And Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the land of the South.

62Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negev region.

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

63He went out to the field in the evening to meditate. As he looked up, he saw camels approaching.

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

64Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel.碎

65And she said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant said, It is my master: and she took her veil, and covered herself.

65She asked the servant, "Who is that man walking through the field to meet us?" The servant answered, "He is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself.

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

66The servant told Isaac everything he had done.

67And 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.

67Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and he married Rebekah. She became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.