Genesis 24

VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Erat autem Abraham senex, dierumque multorum : et Dominus in cunctis benedixerat ei.	1 By now Abraham was an old man, well on in years, and Yahweh had blessed Abraham in every way.
2 Dixitque ad servum seniorem domus suæ, qui præerat omnibus quæ habebat : Pone manum tuam subter femur meum,	2 Abraham said to the senior servant in his household, the steward of al his property, 'Place your handunder my thigh:
3 ut adjurem te per Dominum Deum cæli et terræ, ut non accipias uxorem filio meo de filiabus Chananæorum, inter quos habito :	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 sed ad terram et cognationem meam proficiscaris et inde accipias uxorem filio meo Isaac.	4 but wil go to my native land and my own kinsfolk to choose a wife for my son Isaac.'
5 Respondit servus : Si noluerit mulier venire mecum in terram hanc, numquid reducere debeo filium tuum ad locum, de quo egressus es ?	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 Dixitque Abraham : Cave nequando reducas filium meum illuc.	6 Abraham replied, 'On no account are you to take my son back there.
7 Dominus Deus cæli, qui tulit me de domo patris mei, et de terra nativitatis meæ, qui locutus est mihi, et juravit mihi, dicens : Semini tuo dabo terram hanc : ipse mittet angelum suum coram te, et accipies inde uxorem filio meo :	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 sin autem mulier noluerit sequi te, non teneberis juramento : filium meum tantum ne reducas illuc.	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 Posuit ergo servus manum sub femore Abraham domini sui, et juravit illi super sermone hoc.	9 And the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham, and swore to him that hewould do it.
10 Tulitque decem camelos de grege domini sui, et abiit, ex omnibus bonis ejus portans secum, profectusque perrexit in Mesopotamiam ad urbem Nachor.	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 Cumque camelos fecisset accumbere extra oppidum juxta puteum aquæ vespere, tempore quo solent mulieres egredi ad hauriendam aquam, dixit :	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 Domine Deus domini mei Abraham, occurre, obsecro, mihi hodie, et fac misericordiam cum domino meo Abraham.	12 And he said, 'Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, give me success today and show faithful love tomy master Abraham.
13 Ecce ego sto prope fontem aquæ, et filiæ habitatorum hujus civitatis egredientur ad hauriendam aquam.	13 While I stand by the spring as the young women from the town come out to draw water,
14 Igitur puella, cui ego dixero : Inclina hydriam tuam ut bibam : et illa responderit : Bibe, quin et camelis tuis dabo potum : ipsa est quam præparasti servo tuo Isaac : et per hoc intelligam quod feceris misericordiam cum domino meo.	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 Necdum intra se verba compleverat, et ecce Rebecca egrediebatur, filia Bathuel, filii Melchæ uxoris Nachor fratris Abraham, habens hydriam in scapula sua :	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 puella decora nimis, virgoque pulcherrima, et incognita viro : descenderat autem ad fontem, et impleverat hydriam, ac revertebatur.	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 Occurritque ei servus, et ait : Pauxillum aquæ mihi ad bibendum præbe de hydria tua.	17 Running towards her, the servant said, 'Please give me a sip of water from your pitcher.'
18 Quæ respondit : Bibe, domine mi : celeriterque deposuit hydriam super ulnam suam, et dedit ei potum.	18 She replied, 'Drink, my lord,' and quickly lowered her pitcher on her arm and gave him a drink.
19 Cumque ille bibisset, adjecit : Quin et camelis tuis hauriam aquam, donec cuncti bibant.	19 When she had finished letting him drink, she said, 'I shall draw water for your camels, too, until theyhave had enough.'
20 Effundensque hydriam in canalibus, recurrit ad puteum ut hauriret aquam : et haustam omnibus camelis dedit.	20 She quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran to the wel again to draw, and drew for althe camels.
21 Ipse autem contemplabatur eam tacitus, scire volens utrum prosperum iter suum fecisset Dominus, an non.	21 Al the while, the man stood watching her, not daring to speak, wondering whether Yahweh hadmade his journey successful or not.
22 Postquam autem biberunt cameli, protulit vir inaures aureas, appendentes siclos duos, et armillas totidem pondo siclorum decem.	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 Dixitque ad eam : Cujus es filia ? indica mihi, est in domo patris tui locus ad manendum ?	23 and said, 'Whose daughter are you? Please tel me. Is there room at your father's house for us tospend the night?'
24 Quæ respondit : Filia sum Bathuelis, filii Melchæ, quem peperit ipsi Nachor.	24 She replied, 'I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son whom Milcah bore to Nahor.'
25 Et addidit, dicens : Palearum quoque et f?ni plurimum est apud nos, et locus spatiosus ad manendum.	25 And she went on, 'We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.'
26 Inclinavit se homo, et adoravit Dominum,	26 Then the man bowed down and worshipped Yahweh
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.	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 Cucurrit itaque puella, et nuntiavit in domum matris suæ omnia quæ audierat.	28 The girl ran to her mother's house to tel what had happened.
29 Habebat autem Rebecca fratrem nomine Laban, qui festinus egressus est ad hominem, ubi erat fons.	29 Now Rebekah had a brother cal ed Laban, and Laban ran out to the man at the spring.
30 Cumque vidisset inaures et armillas in manibus sororis suæ, et audisset cuncta verba referentis : Hæc locutus est mihi homo : venit ad virum qui stabat juxta camelos, et prope fontem aquæ :	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 dixitque ad eum : Ingredere, benedicte Domini : cur foris stas ? præparavi domum, et locum camelis.	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 Et introduxit eum in hospitium : ac destravit camelos, deditque paleas et f?num, et aquam ad lavandos pedes ejus, et virorum qui venerant cum eo.	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 Et appositus est in conspectu ejus panis. Qui ait : Non comedam, donec loquar sermones meos. Respondit ei : Loquere.	33 They offered him food, but he said, 'I wil eat nothing before I have said what I have to say.' Labansaid, 'Speak.'
34 At ille : Servus, inquit, Abraham sum :	34 He said, 'I am Abraham's servant.
35 et Dominus benedixit domino meo valde, magnificatusque est : et dedit ei oves et boves, argentum et aurum, servos et ancillas, camelos et asinos.	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 Et peperit Sara uxor domini mei filium domino meo in senectute sua, deditque illi omnia quæ habuerat.	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 Et adjuravit me dominus meus, dicens : Non accipies uxorem filio meo de filiabus Chananæorum, in quorum terra habito :	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 sed ad domum patris mei perges, et de cognatione mea accipies uxorem filio meo.	38 Instead, you are to go to my father's home and to my own kinsfolk to choose a wife for my son."
39 Ego vero respondi domino meo : Quid si noluerit venire mecum mulier ?	39 I said to my master, "Suppose the girl wil not agree to come with me?"
40 Dominus, ait, in cujus conspectu ambulo, mittet angelum suum tecum, et diriget viam tuam : accipiesque uxorem filio meo de cognatione mea, et de domo patris mei.	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 Innocens eris a maledictione mea, cum veneris ad propinquos meos, et non dederint tibi.	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 Veni ergo hodie ad fontem aquæ, et dixi : Domine Deus domini mei Abraham, si direxisti viam meam, in qua nunc ambulo,	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 ecce sto juxta fontem aquæ, et virgo, quæ egredietur ad hauriendam aquam, audierit a me : Da mihi pauxillum aquæ ad bibendum ex hydria tua :	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 et dixerit mihi : Et tu bibe, et camelis tuis hauriam : ipsa est mulier, quam præparavit Dominus filio domini mei.	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 Dumque hæc 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.	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 Quæ festinans deposuit hydriam de humero, et dixit mihi : Et tu bibe, et camelis tuis tribuam potum. Bibi, et adaquavit camelos.	46 Quickly she lowered her pitcher saying, "Drink, and I shal water your camels too."
47 Interrogavique eam, et dixi : Cujus es filia ? Quæ respondit : Filia Bathuelis sum, filii Nachor, quem peperit ei Melcha. Suspendi itaque inaures ad ornandam faciem ejus, et armillas posui in manibus ejus.	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 Pronusque adoravi Dominum, benedicens Domino Deo domini mei Abraham, qui perduxit me recto itinere, ut sumerem filiam fratris domini mei filio ejus.	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 Quam ob rem si facitis misericordiam et veritatem cum domino meo, indicate mihi : sin autem aliud placet, et hoc dicite mihi, ut vadam ad dextram, sive ad sinistram.	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 Responderuntque Laban et Bathuel : A Domino egressus est sermo : non possumus extra placitum ejus quidquam aliud loqui tecum.	50 Laban and Bethuel replied, 'This is from Yahweh; it is not for us to say yes or no to you.
51 En Rebecca coram te est, tolle eam, et proficiscere, et sit uxor filii domini tui, sicut locutus est Dominus.	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 Quod cum audisset puer Abraham, procidens adoravit in terram Dominum.	52 On hearing this, Abraham's servant bowed to the ground before Yahweh.
53 Prolatisque vasis argenteis, et aureis, ac vestibus, dedit ea Rebeccæ pro munere : fratribus quoque ejus et matri dona obtulit.	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 Inito convivio, vescentes pariter et bibentes manserunt ibi. Surgens autem mane, locutus est puer : Dimitte me, ut vadam ad dominum meum.	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 Responderuntque fratres ejus et mater : Maneat puella saltem decem dies apud nos, et postea proficiscetur.	55 Rebekah's brother and mother replied, 'Let the girl stay with us for ten days or so; then she can go.'
56 Nolite, ait, me retinere, quia Dominus direxit viam meam : dimittite me ut pergam ad dominum meum.	56 But he replied, 'Do not delay me, since Yahweh has made my journey successful; let me leave andgo back to my master.'
57 Et dixerunt : Vocemus puellam, et quæramus ipsius voluntatem.	57 They replied, 'Let us cal the girl and find out what she has to say.'
58 Cumque vocata venisset, sciscitati sunt : Vis ire cum homine isto ? Quæ ait : Vadam.	58 They cal ed Rebekah and asked her, 'Wil you go with this man?' She replied, 'I will.'
59 Dimiserunt ergo eam, et nutricem illius, servumque Abraham, et comites ejus,	59 Accordingly they let their sister Rebekah go, with her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men.
60 imprecantes prospera sorori suæ, atque dicentes : Soror nostra es, crescas in mille millia, et possideat semen tuum portas inimicorum suorum.	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 Igitur Rebecca et puellæ illius, ascensis camelis, secutæ sunt virum : qui festinus revertebatur ad dominum suum.	61 And forthwith, Rebekah and her maids mounted the camels, and fol owed the man. The servant tookRebekah and departed.
62 Eo autem tempore deambulabat Isaac per viam quæ ducit ad puteum, cujus nomen est Viventis et videntis : habitabat enim in terra australi :	62 Isaac meanwhile had come back from the wel of Lahai Roi and was living in the Negeb.
63 et egressus fuerat ad meditandum in agro, inclinata jam die : cumque elevasset oculos, vidit camelos venientes procul.	63 While Isaac was out walking towards evening in the fields, he looked up and saw camelsapproaching.
64 Rebecca quoque, conspecto Isaac, descendit de camelo,	64 And Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She jumped down from her camel,
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 pallium, operuit se.	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 Servus autem cuncta, quæ gesserat, narravit Isaac.	66 The servant told Isaac the whole story.
67 Qui introduxit eam in tabernaculum Saræ matris suæ, et accepit eam uxorem : et in tantum dilexit eam, ut dolorem, qui ex morte matris ejus acciderat, temperaret.	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.