Genesis 24

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Abraham had now reached a ripe old age, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.	1 By now Abraham was an old man, well on in years, and Yahweh had blessed Abraham in every way.
2 Abraham said to the senior servant of his household, who had charge of all his possessions: "Put your hand under my thigh,	2 Abraham said to the senior servant in his household, the steward of al his property, 'Place your handunder 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 I am going to make you swear by Yahweh, God of heaven and God of earth, that you wil not choosea wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live
4 but that you will go to my own land and to my kindred to get a wife for my son Isaac."	4 but wil go to my native land and my own kinsfolk to choose a wife for 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 The servant asked him, 'What if the girl does not want to fol ow me to this country? Should I then takeyour son back to the country from which you come?'
6 "Never take my son back there for any reason," Abraham told him.	6 Abraham replied, 'On no account are you to take my son back there.
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 Yahweh, God of heaven and God of earth, who took me from my father's home, and from the land ofmy kinsfolk, and who promised me on oath, "I shal give this country to your descendants"-he will now send hisangel ahead of you, so that you can get a wife for my son from there.
8 If the woman is unwilling to follow you, you will be released from this oath. But never take my son back 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 backthere.'
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 placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham, and swore to him that hewould do it.
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 The servant took ten of his master's camels and, carrying all kinds of gifts from his master, set out forthe city of Nahor in Aram Naharaim.
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 In the evening, at the time when women come out to draw water, he made the camels kneel outsidethe town near the wel .
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, 'Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, give me success today and show faithful love tomy master Abraham.
13 While I stand here at the spring and the daughters of the townsmen are coming out to draw water,	13 While I stand by the spring as the young women from the town 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 I shal say to one of the girls, "Please lower your pitcher and let me drink." And if she answers,"Drink, and I shal water your camels too," let her be the one you have decreed for your servant Isaac; by this Ishall know you have shown faithful love to 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 He had not finished speaking when out came Rebekah -- who was the daughter of Bethuel son ofMilcah, the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor -- with a pitcher on 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 The girl was very beautiful, and a virgin; no man had touched her. She went down to the spring, fil edher pitcher and came up again.
17 the servant ran toward her and said, "Please give me a sip of water from your jug."	17 Running towards her, the servant said, 'Please give me a sip of water from your pitcher.'
18 "Take a drink, sir," she replied, and quickly lowering the jug onto her hand, she gave him a drink.	18 She replied, 'Drink, my lord,' and quickly lowered her pitcher on her arm and gave him a 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 When she had finished letting him drink, she said, 'I shall draw water for your camels, too, until theyhave had enough.'
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 She quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran to the wel again to draw, and drew for althe camels.
21 The man watched her the whole time, silently waiting to learn whether or not the LORD had made his errand successful.	21 Al the while, the man stood watching her, not daring to speak, wondering whether Yahweh hadmade his journey successful 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 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing half a shekel, and put itthrough her nose, and put two bracelets weighing ten gold shekels on her arms,
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 are you? Please tel me. Is there room at your father's house for us tospend the night?'
24 She answered: "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.	24 She replied, 'I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son whom Milcah bore to Nahor.'
25 There is plenty of straw and fodder at our place," she added, "and room to spend the night."	25 And she went on, 'We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.'
26 The man then bowed down in worship to the LORD,	26 Then the man bowed down and worshipped Yahweh
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 saying, 'Blessed be Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, for not withholding his faithful love frommy master. Yahweh has led me straight to the house of my master's brother.'
28 Then the girl ran off and told her mother's household about it.	28 The girl ran to her mother's house to tel what had happened.
29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban.	29 Now Rebekah had a brother cal ed Laban, and Laban ran out to the man at the spring.
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 As soon as he had seen the ring and the bracelets his sister was wearing, and had heard his sisterRebekah saying, 'This is what the man said to me,' he went to the man and found him stil standing by hiscamels at the spring.
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 He said to him, 'Come in, blessed of Yahweh, why stay out here when I have cleared the house andmade 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 The man went to the house, and Laban unloaded the camels. He provided straw and fodder for thecamels and water for him and his companions to wash their feet.
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 They offered him food, but he said, 'I wil eat nothing before I have said what I have to say.' Labansaid, 'Speak.'
34 "I am Abraham's servant," he began.	34 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 Yahweh has loaded my master with blessings, and Abraham is now very rich. He has given himflocks and herds, silver and gold, men and women slaves, camels and donkeys.
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 Sarah, my master's wife, bore my master a son in his old age, and he has made over al his propertyto him.
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 My master made me take this oath, "You are not to choose a wife for my son from the daughters ofthe Canaanites in whose country I live.
38 instead, you shall go to my father's house, to my own relatives, to get a wife for my son.'	38 Instead, you are to go to my father's home and to my own kinsfolk to choose a wife for my son."
39 When I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not follow me?,'	39 I said to my master, "Suppose the girl wil not agree to come with 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 his reply was, "Yahweh, in whose presence I have walked, will send his angel with you andmake your journey successful, for you to choose a wife for my son from my own kinsfolk, from 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 you wil be quit of my curse: if you go to my family and they refuse you, you will be quit of mycurse."
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 Arriving today at the spring I said, "Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, please grant a successfuloutcome to the course I propose to take.
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 While I stand by the spring, if a girl comes out to draw water and I say to her, 'Please give me a littlewater to drink from your pitcher,'
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 if she replies, 'Drink by all means, and I shall draw water for your camels too,' let her be the girlwhom Yahweh has decreed 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 I was stil saying this in my mind when Rebekah came out, her pitcher on her shoulder. She camedown to the spring and drew water. I said to her, "Please give me a drink."
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 Quickly she lowered her pitcher saying, "Drink, and I shal water your camels too."
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 I asked her, "Whose daughter are you?" She replied, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, whom Milcahbore to Nahor." Then I put this ring through her nose and these bracelets on her arms.
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 I bowed down and worshipped Yahweh, and I blessed Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, whohad led me by a direct path to choose the daughter of my master's brother for 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 Now tel 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.'
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 Laban and Bethuel replied, 'This is from Yahweh; it is not for us to say yes or no to you.
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 Rebekah is there before you. Take her and go; and let her become the wife of your master's son, asYahweh has decreed.'
52 When Abraham's servant heard their answer, he bowed to the ground before the LORD.	52 On hearing this, Abraham's servant bowed to the ground before Yahweh.
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 He brought out silver and gold ornaments and clothes which he gave to Rebekah; he also gave richpresents to her brother and to her mother.
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 They ate and drank, he and his companions, and spent the night there. Next morning when theywere up, he said, 'Let me go back to 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 Rebekah's brother and mother replied, 'Let the girl stay with us for ten days or so; then she can 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 But he replied, 'Do not delay me, since Yahweh has made my journey successful; let me leave andgo back to my master.'
57 They answered, "Let us call the girl and see what she herself has to say about it."	57 They replied, 'Let us cal the girl and find out what she has to say.'
58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Do you wish to go with this man?" She answered, "I do."	58 They cal ed Rebekah and asked her, 'Wil you go with this man?' She replied, 'I will.'
59 At this they allowed their sister Rebekah and her nurse to take leave, along with Abraham's servant and his men.	59 Accordingly they let their sister Rebekah go, with 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 They blessed Rebekah and said to her: Sister of ours, from you may there spring thousands andtens of thousands! May your descendants gain possession of the gates of their enemies!
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 forthwith, Rebekah and her maids mounted the camels, and fol owed the man. The servant tookRebekah and departed.
62 Meanwhile Isaac had gone from Beer-lahai-roi and was living in the region of the Negeb.	62 Isaac meanwhile had come back from the wel of Lahai Roi and was living in the Negeb.
63 One day toward evening he went out. . . in the field, and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching.	63 While Isaac was out walking towards evening in the fields, he looked up and saw camelsapproaching.
64 Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him, she alighted from her camel	64 And Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She jumped down from her 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 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.
66 The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done.	66 The servant told Isaac the whole story.
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 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.