Genesis 24

NEW JERUSALEM	NOVA VULGATA
1 By now Abraham was an old man, well on in years, and Yahweh had blessed Abraham in every way.	1 Erat autem Abraham senex dierumque multorum; et Do minus in cunctis benedixerat ei.
2 Abraham said to the senior servant in his household, the steward of al his property, 'Place your handunder my thigh:	2 Dixitque Abraham ad servum seniorem domus suae, qui praeerat omnibus, quae habebat: “Pone manum tuam subter femur meum,
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 ut adiurem te per Dominum, Deum caeli et Deum terrae, ut non accipias uxorem filio meo de filiabus Chananaeorum, inter quos habito;
4 but wil go to my native land and my own kinsfolk to choose a wife for my son Isaac.'	4 sed ad terram et cognationem meam proficiscaris et inde accipias uxorem filio meo 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 Respondit servus: “Si noluerit mulier venire mecum in terram hanc, num reducere debeo filium tuum ad terram, a quo tu egressus es?”.
6 Abraham replied, 'On no account are you to take my son back there.	6 Dixit Abraham: “Cave, ne quando reducas illuc filium meum.
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 Dominus, Deus caeli, qui tulit me de domo patris mei et de terra nativitatis meae, qui locutus est mihi et iuravit mihi dicens: "Semini tuo dabo terram hanc", ipse mittet angelum suum coram te, et accipies inde uxorem filio meo.
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 Sin autem noluerit mulier sequi te, non teneberis iuramento; filium tantum meum ne reducas illuc”.
9 And the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham, and swore to him that hewould do it.	9 Posuit ergo servus manum sub femore Abraham domini sui et iuravit illi super hac re.
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 Tulitque servus decem camelos de grege domini sui et abiit ex omnibus bonis eius portans secum; profectusque perrexit in Aram Naharaim ad urbem Nachor.
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 Cumque camelos fecisset accumbere extra oppidum iuxta puteum aquae vespere, tempore quo solent mulieres egredi ad hauriendam aquam, dixit:
12 And he said, 'Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, give me success today and show faithful love tomy master Abraham.	12 “Domine,Deus domini mei Abraham, occurre obsecro mihi hodie et fac misericordiam cum domino meo Abraham.
13 While I stand by the spring as the young women from the town come out to draw water,	13 Ecce ego sto prope fontem aquae, et filiae habitatorum huius civitatis egredientur ad hauriendam aquam.
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 Igitur puella, cui ego dixero: "Inclina hydriam tuam, ut bibam", et illa responderit: "Bibe, quin et camelis tuis dabo potum", ipsa est, quam praeparasti servo tuo Isaac, et per hoc intellegam quod feceris misericordiam cum domino meo”.
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 Necdum intra se verba compleverat, et ecce Rebecca egrediebatur filia Bathuel filii Melchae uxoris Nachor fratris Abraham habens hydriam in scapula:
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 puella decora nimis, virgo et incognita viro. Descendit ad fontem et implevit hydriam ac revertebatur.
17 Running towards her, the servant said, 'Please give me a sip of water from your pitcher.'	17 Occurritque ei servus et ait: “Pauxillum mihi ad sorbendum praebe aquae de hydria tua”.
18 She replied, 'Drink, my lord,' and quickly lowered her pitcher on her arm and gave him a drink.	18 Quae respondit: “Bibe, domine mi”. Celeriterque deposuit hydriam super ulnam suam et dedit ei potum.
19 When she had finished letting him drink, she said, 'I shall draw water for your camels, too, until theyhave had enough.'	19 Cumque ille bibisset, adiecit: “Quin et camelis tuis hauriam aquam, donec cuncti bibant”.
20 She quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran to the wel again to draw, and drew for althe camels.	20 Effundensque hydriam in canalibus recurrit ad puteum, ut hauriret aquam; et haustam omnibus camelis dedit.
21 Al the while, the man stood watching her, not daring to speak, wondering whether Yahweh hadmade his journey successful or not.	21 Ille autem contemplabatur eam tacitus, scire volens utrum prosperum fecisset iter suum Dominus an non.
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 Postquam ergo biberunt cameli, protulit vir anulum aureum pondo dimidii sicli pro naribus et duas armillas pro manibus eius pondo siclorum decem;
23 and said, 'Whose daughter are you? Please tel me. Is there room at your father's house for us tospend the night?'	23 dixitque: “Cuius es filia? lndica mihi. Est in domo patris tui locus nobis ad pernoctandum?”.
24 She replied, 'I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son whom Milcah bore to Nahor.'	24 Quae respondit: “Filia Bathuelis sum filii Melchae, quem peperit Nachor”.
25 And she went on, 'We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.'	25 Et addidit dicens: “Palearum quoque et pabuli plurimum est apud nos et locus ad pernoctandum”.
26 Then the man bowed down and worshipped Yahweh	26 Inclinavit se homo et adoravit Dominum
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 dicens: “Benedictus Dominus, Deus domini mei Abraham, qui non abstulit misericordiam et veritatem suam a domino meo et recto itinere me perduxit in domum fratris domini mei”.
28 The girl ran to her mother's house to tel what had happened.	28 Cucurrit itaque puella et nuntiavit in domum matris suae omnia, quae evenerant.
29 Now Rebekah had a brother cal ed Laban, and Laban ran out to the man at the spring.	29 Habebat autem Rebecca fratrem nomine Laban, qui festinus egressus est ad hominem, ubi erat fons.
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 Cumque vidisset anulum in naribus et armillas in manibus sororis suae et audisset cuncta verba referentis: “Haec locutus est mihi homo”, venit ad virum, qui stabat iuxta camelos et prope fontem aquae;
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 dixitque ad eum: “Ingredere, benedicte Domini, cur foris stas? Praeparavi domum et locum camelis”.
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 Et introduxit eum in hospitium ac destravit camelos; deditque paleas et pabulum camelis et aquam ad lavandos pedes eius et virorum, qui venerant cum eo.
33 They offered him food, but he said, 'I wil eat nothing before I have said what I have to say.' Labansaid, 'Speak.'	33 Et apposuit in conspectu eius panem. Qui ait: “Non comedam, donec loquar sermones meos”. Respondit: “Loquere”.
34 He said, 'I am Abraham's servant.	34 At ille: “Servus, inquit, Abraham sum;
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 et Dominus benedixit domino meo valde, magnificatusque est; et dedit ei oves et boves, argentum et aurum, servos et ancillas, camelos et asinos.
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 Et peperit Sara uxor domini mei filium domino meo in senectute sua; deditque illi omnia, quae habuerat.
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 Et adiuravit me dominus meus dicens: "Non accipies uxorem filio meo de filiabus Chananaeorum, in quorum terra habito;
38 Instead, you are to go to my father's home and to my own kinsfolk to choose a wife for my son."	38 sed ad domum patris mei perges et de cognatione mea accipies uxorem filio meo".
39 I said to my master, "Suppose the girl wil not agree to come with me?"	39 Ego vero respondi domino meo: Quid, si noluerit venire mecum mulier?
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 "Dominus, ait, in cuius conspectu ambulo, mittet angelum suum tecum et diriget viam tuam; accipiesque uxorem filio meo de cognatione mea et de domo patris mei.
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 Innocens eris a maledictione mea, cum veneris ad propinquos meos, et non dederint tibi; tunc innocens eris a maledictione mea".
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 Veni ergo hodie ad fontem et dixi: Domine, Deus domini mei Abraham, si direxisti viam meam, in qua nunc ambulo,
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 ecce sto iuxta fontem aquae; et virgo, quae egredietur ad hauriendam aquam, audierit a me: "Da mihi pauxillum aquae ad bibendum ex hydria tua";
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 et dixerit mihi: "Et tu bibe, et camelis tuis hauriam", ipsa est mulier, quam praeparavit Dominus filio domini mei.
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 Dum haec tacitus mecum volverem, apparuit Rebecca veniens cum hydria, quam portabat in scapula; descenditque ad fontem et hausit aquam. Et aio ad eam: Da mihi paululum bibere.
46 Quickly she lowered her pitcher saying, "Drink, and I shal water your camels too."	46 Quae festina deposuit hydriam de umero et dixit mihi: "Et tu bibe, et camelis tuis potum tribuam". Bibi, et adaquavit camelos.
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 Interrogavique eam et dixi: Cuius es filia? Quae respondit: "Filia Bathuelis sum filii Nachor, quem peperit illi Melcha". Suspendi itaque anulum in naribus eius et armillas posui in manibus eius.
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 Pronusque adoravi Dominum benedicens Domino, Deo domini mei Abraham, qui perduxit me recto itinere, ut sumerem filiam fratris domini mei filio eius.
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 Quam ob rem, si facitis misericordiam et veritatem cum domino meo, indicate mihi; sin autem aliud placet, et hoc dicite mihi, ut vadam ad dexteram sive ad sinistram”.
50 Laban and Bethuel replied, 'This is from Yahweh; it is not for us to say yes or no to you.	50 Responderunt Laban et Bathuel: “A Domino egressus est sermo; non possumus extra placitum eius quidquam aliud loqui tecum.
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 En Rebecca coram te est; tolle eam et proficiscere, et sit uxor filii domini tui, sicut locutus est Dominus”.
52 On hearing this, Abraham's servant bowed to the ground before Yahweh.	52 Quod cum audisset puer Abraham, procidens adoravit in terram Dominum.
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 Prolatisque vasis argenteis et aureis ac vestibus, dedit ea Rebeccae; res pretiosas dedit fratri eius et matri.
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 Tunc comederunt et biberunt ipse et viri, qui erant cum eo, et pernoctaverunt ibi. Surgens autem mane locutus est puer: “Dimittite me, ut vadam ad dominum meum”.
55 Rebekah's brother and mother replied, 'Let the girl stay with us for ten days or so; then she can go.'	55 Responderuntque frater eius et mater: “Maneat puella saltem decem dies apud nos et postea proficiscetur”.
56 But he replied, 'Do not delay me, since Yahweh has made my journey successful; let me leave andgo back to my master.'	56 “Nolite, ait, me retinere, quia Dominus direxit viam meam; dimittite me, ut pergam ad dominum meum”.
57 They replied, 'Let us cal the girl and find out what she has to say.'	57 Dixerunt: “Vocemus puellam et quaeramus ipsius voluntatem”.
58 They cal ed Rebekah and asked her, 'Wil you go with this man?' She replied, 'I will.'	58 Cumque vocata venisset, sciscitati sunt: “Vis ire cum homine isto?”. Quae ait: “Vadam”.
59 Accordingly they let their sister Rebekah go, with her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men.	59 Dimiserunt ergo Rebeccam sororem eorum et nutricem illius servumque Abraham et comites eius,
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 imprecantes prospera sorori suae atque dicentes: “Soror nostra es, crescas in mille milia, et possideat semen tuum portas inimicorum suorum!”.
61 And forthwith, Rebekah and her maids mounted the camels, and fol owed the man. The servant tookRebekah and departed.	61 Igitur surrexit Rebecca et puellae illius et, ascensis camelis, secutae sunt virum; sumpsitque servus Rebeccam et abiit.
62 Isaac meanwhile had come back from the wel of Lahai Roi and was living in the Negeb.	62 Isaac autem venerat a regione putei Lahairoi et habitabat in terra Nageb.
63 While Isaac was out walking towards evening in the fields, he looked up and saw camelsapproaching.	63 Et egressus est Isaac ad lamentandum in agro, inclinata iam die. Cumque levasset oculos, vidit camelos venientes.
64 And Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She jumped down from her camel,	64 Rebecca quoque levavit oculos et vidit Isaac; descenditque de camelo
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 et ait ad puerum: “Quis est ille homo, qui venit per agrum in occursum nobis?”. Dixitque ei: “Ipse est dominus meus”. At illa tollens cito velum operuit se.
66 The servant told Isaac the whole story.	66 Servus autem cuncta, quae gesserat, narravit Isaac;
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 qui introduxit eam in tabernaculum Sarae matris suae et accepit Rebeccam uxorem; et dilexit eam et consolatus est a morte matris suae.