Genesis 24

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Abraham had now reached a ripe old age, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.	1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 Abraham said to the senior servant of his household, who had charge of all his possessions: "Put your hand under my thigh,	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:
3 and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not procure a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live,	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:
4 but that you will go to my own land and to my kindred to get a wife for my son Isaac."	4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
5 The servant asked him: "What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I then take your son back to the land from which you migrated?"	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?
6 "Never take my son back there for any reason," Abraham told him.	6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
7 "The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and the land of my kin, and who confirmed by oath the promise he then made to me, 'I will give this land to your descendants'--he will send his messenger before you, and you will obtain a wife for my son there.	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.
8 If the woman is unwilling to follow you, you will be released from this oath. But never take my son back there!"	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.
9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore to him in this undertaking.	9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
10 The servant then took ten of his master's camels, and bearing all kinds of gifts from his master, he made his way to the city of Nahor in Aram Naharaim.	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.
11 Near evening, at the time when women go out to draw water, he made the camels kneel by the well outside the city.	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.
12 Then he prayed: "LORD, God of my master Abraham, let it turn out favorably for me today and thus deal graciously with my master Abraham.	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.
13 While I stand here at the spring and the daughters of the townsmen are coming out to draw water,	13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
14 if I say to a girl, 'Please lower your jug, that I may drink,' and she answers, 'Take a drink, and let me give water to your camels, too,' let her be the one whom you have decided upon for your servant Isaac. In this way I shall know that you have dealt graciously with my master."	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.
15 He had scarcely finished these words when Rebekah (who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor) came out with a jug on her shoulder.	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.
16 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, untouched by man. She went down to the spring and filled her jug. As she came up,	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.
17 the servant ran toward her and said, "Please give me a sip of water from your jug."	17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
18 "Take a drink, sir," she replied, and quickly lowering the jug onto her hand, she gave him a drink.	18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
19 When she had let him drink his fill, she said, "I will draw water for your camels, too, until they have drunk their fill."	19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
20 With that, she quickly emptied her jug into the drinking trough and ran back to the well to draw more water, until she had drawn enough for all the camels.	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.
21 The man watched her the whole time, silently waiting to learn whether or not the LORD had made his errand successful.	21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold ring weighing half a shekel, which he fastened on her nose, and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels, which he put on her wrists.	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;
23 Then he asked her: "Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please. And is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"	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?
24 She answered: "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.	24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
25 There is plenty of straw and fodder at our place," she added, "and room to spend the night."	25 She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
26 The man then bowed down in worship to the LORD,	26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
27 saying: "Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not let his constant kindness toward my master fail. As for myself also, the LORD has led me straight to the house of my master's brother."	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.
28 Then the girl ran off and told her mother's household about it.	28 And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.
29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban.	29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
30 As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister Rebekah and heard her words about what the man had said to her, Laban rushed outside to the man at the spring. When he reached him, he was still standing by the camels at 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.
31 So he said to him: "Come, blessed of the LORD! Why are you staying outside when I have made the house ready for you, as well as a place for the camels?"	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.
32 The man then went inside; and while the camels were being unloaded and provided with straw and fodder, water was brought to bathe his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.	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.
33 But when the table was set for him, he said, "I will not eat until I have told my tale." "Do so," they replied.	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.
34 "I am Abraham's servant," he began.	34 And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
35 "The LORD has blessed my master so abundantly that he has become a wealthy man; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, and camels and asses.	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.
36 My master's wife Sarah bore a son to my master in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns.	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.
37 My master put me under oath, saying: 'You shall not procure a wife for my son among the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I live;	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:
38 instead, you shall go to my father's house, to my own relatives, to get a wife for my son.'	38 But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.
39 When I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not follow me?,'	39 And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
40 he replied: 'The LORD, in whose presence I have always walked, will send his messenger with you and make your errand successful, and so you will get a wife for my son from my own kindred of my father's house.	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:
41 Then you shall be released from my ban. If you visit my kindred and they refuse you, then, too, you shall be released from my ban.'	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.
42 "When I came to the spring today, I prayed: 'LORD, God of my master Abraham, may it be your will to make successful the errand I am engaged on!	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;
43 While I stand here at the spring, if I say to a young woman who comes out to draw water, Please give me a little water from your jug,	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;
44 and she answers, Not only may you have a drink, but I will give water to your camels, too--let her be the woman whom the LORD has decided upon for my master's son.'	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.
45 "I had scarcely finished saying this prayer to myself when Rebekah came out with a jug on her shoulder. After she went down to the spring and drew water, I said to her, 'Please let me have a drink.'	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.
46 She quickly lowered the jug she was carrying and said, 'Take a drink, and let me bring water for your camels, too.' So I drank, and she watered the camels also.	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.
47 When I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' she answered, 'The daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, borne to Nahor by Milcah.' So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.	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.
48 Then I bowed down in worship to the LORD, blessing the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to obtain the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son.	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.
49 If, therefore, you have in mind to show true loyalty to my master, let me know; but if not, let me know that, too. I can then proceed accordingly."	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.
50 Laban and his household said in reply: "This thing comes from the LORD; we can say nothing to you either for or against it.	50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
51 Here is Rebekah, ready for you; take her with you, that she may become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has said."	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.
52 When Abraham's servant heard their answer, he bowed to the ground before the LORD.	52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
53 Then he brought out objects of silver and gold and articles of clothing and presented them to Rebekah; he also gave costly presents to her brother and mother.	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.
54 After he and the men with him had eaten and drunk, they spent the night there. When they were up the next morning, he said, "Give me leave to return to my master."	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.
55 Her brother and mother replied, "Let the girl stay with us a short while, say ten days; after that she may go."	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.
56 But he said to them, "Do not detain me, now that the LORD has made my errand successful; let me go back to my master."	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.
57 They answered, "Let us call the girl and see what she herself has to say about it."	57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.
58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Do you wish to go with this man?" She answered, "I do."	58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
59 At this they allowed their sister Rebekah and her nurse to take leave, along with Abraham's servant and his men.	59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
60 Invoking a blessing on Rebekah, they said: "Sister, may you grow into thousands of myriads; And may your descendants gain possession of the gates of their enemies!"	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.
61 Then Rebekah and her maids started out; they mounted their camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went on his way.	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.
62 Meanwhile Isaac had gone from Beer-lahai-roi and was living in the region of the Negeb.	62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the south country.
63 One day toward evening he went out. . . in the field, and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching.	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.
64 Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him, she alighted from her camel	64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
65 and asked the servant, "Who is the man out there, walking through the fields toward us?" "That is my master," replied the servant. Then she covered herself with her veil.	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.
66 The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done.	66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
67 Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent; he married her, and thus she became his wife. In his love for her Isaac found solace after the death of his mother Sarah.	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.