Genesis 24

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 By now Abraham was an old man, well on in years, and Yahweh had blessed Abraham 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 in his household, the steward of al his property, 'Place your handunder 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 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	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 wil go to my native land and my own kinsfolk to choose 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 girl does not want to fol ow me to this country? Should I then takeyour son back to the country from which you come?'	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 Abraham replied, 'On no account are you to take my son back there.	6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
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.	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 then the girl refuses to follow you, you will be quit of this oath to me. Only do not take my son backthere.'	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 And the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham, and swore to him that hewould do it.	9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
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.	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 In the evening, at the time when women come out to draw water, he made the camels kneel outsidethe town near the wel .	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 And he said, 'Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, give me success today and show faithful love tomy 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 by the spring as the young women from the town come 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 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.'	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 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.	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, and a virgin; no man had touched her. She went down to the spring, fil edher pitcher and came up again.	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 Running towards her, the servant said, 'Please give me a sip of water from your pitcher.'	17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
18 She replied, 'Drink, my lord,' and quickly lowered her pitcher on her arm and 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 finished letting him drink, she said, 'I shall draw water for your camels, too, until theyhave had enough.'	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 She quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran to the wel again to draw, and drew for althe 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 Al the while, the man stood watching her, not daring to speak, wondering whether Yahweh hadmade his journey successful or not.	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 a gold ring weighing half a shekel, and put itthrough her nose, and put two bracelets weighing ten gold shekels on her arms,	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 and said, 'Whose daughter are you? Please tel me. Is there room at your father's house for us tospend 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 replied, 'I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son whom Milcah 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 And she went on, 'We have plenty of straw and fodder, 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 Then the man bowed down and worshipped Yahweh	26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
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.'	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 The girl ran to her mother's house to tel what had happened.	28 And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.
29 Now Rebekah had a brother cal ed Laban, and Laban ran out to the man at the spring.	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 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.	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 He said to him, 'Come in, blessed of Yahweh, why stay out here when I have cleared the house andmade room 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 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.	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 They offered him food, but he said, 'I wil eat nothing before I have said what I have to say.' Labansaid, 'Speak.'	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 He said, 'I am Abraham's servant.	34 And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
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.	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 Sarah, my master's wife, bore my master a son in his old age, and he has made over al his propertyto him.	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 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.	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 are to go to my father's home and to my own kinsfolk to choose 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 I said to my master, "Suppose the girl wil not agree to come with me?"	39 And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
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.	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 wil be quit of my curse: if you go to my family and they refuse you, you will be quit of mycurse."	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 Arriving today at the spring I said, "Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, please grant a successfuloutcome to the course I propose to take.	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 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,'	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 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."	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 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."	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 Quickly she lowered her pitcher saying, "Drink, and I shal water your camels too."	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 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.	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 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.	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 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.'	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 Bethuel replied, 'This is from Yahweh; it is not for us to say yes or no to you.	50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
51 Rebekah is there before you. Take her and go; and let her become the wife of your master's son, asYahweh has decreed.'	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 On hearing this, Abraham's servant bowed to the ground before Yahweh.	52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
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.	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 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.'	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 Rebekah's brother and mother replied, 'Let the girl stay with us for ten days or so; then she can 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 replied, 'Do not delay me, since Yahweh has made my journey successful; let me leave andgo 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 replied, 'Let us cal the girl and find out what she has to say.'	57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.
58 They cal ed Rebekah and asked her, 'Wil you go with this man?' She replied, 'I will.'	58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
59 Accordingly they let their sister Rebekah go, with her nurse, and 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 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!	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 And forthwith, Rebekah and her maids mounted the camels, and fol owed the man. The servant tookRebekah and departed.	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 Isaac meanwhile had come back from the wel of Lahai Roi and was living in the Negeb.	62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the south country.
63 While Isaac was out walking towards evening in the fields, he looked up and saw camelsapproaching.	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 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 lighted off 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 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 told Isaac the whole story.	66 And the servant told Isaac all 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 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.