Genesis 24

VULGATA	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Erat autem Abraham senex, dierumque multorum : et Dominus in cunctis benedixerat ei.	1 Now Abraham was old and of many days. And the Lord had blessed him in all things.
2 Dixitque ad servum seniorem domus suæ, qui præerat omnibus quæ habebat : Pone manum tuam subter femur meum,	2 And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was in charge of all that he had: “Place your hand under 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 so that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not take a 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 that you will proceed to my land and kindred, and from there take 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 responded, “If the woman is not willing to come with me into this land, must I lead your son back to the place from which you departed?”
6 Dixitque Abraham : Cave nequando reducas filium meum illuc.	6 And Abraham said: “Beware that you never lead my son back to that place.
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 The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my nativity, who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ himself will send his Angel before you, and you will take from there a wife for my son.
8 sin autem mulier noluerit sequi te, non teneberis juramento : filium meum tantum ne reducas illuc.	8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, you will not be held by the oath. Only do not lead my son back to that place.”
9 Posuit ergo servus manum sub femore Abraham domini sui, et juravit illi super sermone hoc.	9 Therefore, the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his lord, and he swore to him on his word.
10 Tulitque decem camelos de grege domini sui, et abiit, ex omnibus bonis ejus portans secum, profectusque perrexit in Mesopotamiam ad urbem Nachor.	10 And he took ten camels from his lord’s herd, and he went forth, carrying with him things from all of his goods. And he set out, and continued on, to the city of Nahor, in Mesopotamia.
11 Cumque camelos fecisset accumbere extra oppidum juxta puteum aquæ vespere, tempore quo solent mulieres egredi ad hauriendam aquam, dixit :	11 And when he had made the camels lie down outside of the town, near a well of water, in the evening, at the time when women are accustomed to go out to draw water, he said:
12 Domine Deus domini mei Abraham, occurre, obsecro, mihi hodie, et fac misericordiam cum domino meo Abraham.	12 “O Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, meet with me today, I beg you, and show mercy to my lord Abraham.
13 Ecce ego sto prope fontem aquæ, et filiæ habitatorum hujus civitatis egredientur ad hauriendam aquam.	13 Behold, I stand near the fountain of water, and the daughters of the inhabitants of this city will go forth 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 Therefore, the girl to whom I will say, ‘Tip your pitcher, so that I may drink,’ and she will respond, ‘Drink. In fact, I will give your camels a drink also,’ the same one is she whom you have prepared for your servant Isaac. And by this, I will understand that you have shown mercy to my lord.”
15 Necdum intra se verba compleverat, et ecce Rebecca egrediebatur, filia Bathuel, filii Melchæ uxoris Nachor fratris Abraham, habens hydriam in scapula sua :	15 But he had not yet completed these words within himself, when, behold, Rebekah went out, the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, the brother of Abraham, having a pitcher on her shoulder.
16 puella decora nimis, virgoque pulcherrima, et incognita viro : descenderat autem ad fontem, et impleverat hydriam, ac revertebatur.	16 She was an exceedingly elegant girl, and a most beautiful virgin, and unknown by man. And she descended to the spring, and she filled her pitcher, and then was returning.
17 Occurritque ei servus, et ait : Pauxillum aquæ mihi ad bibendum præbe de hydria tua.	17 And the servant ran to meet her, and he said, “Provide me with a little water to drink from your pitcher.”
18 Quæ respondit : Bibe, domine mi : celeriterque deposuit hydriam super ulnam suam, et dedit ei potum.	18 And she responded, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly brought down the pitcher on her arm, and she gave him a drink.
19 Cumque ille bibisset, adjecit : Quin et camelis tuis hauriam aquam, donec cuncti bibant.	19 And after he drank, she added, “In fact, I will draw water for your camels also, until they all drink.”
20 Effundensque hydriam in canalibus, recurrit ad puteum ut hauriret aquam : et haustam omnibus camelis dedit.	20 And pouring out the pitcher into the troughs, she ran back to the well to draw water; and having drawn, she gave it to all the camels.
21 Ipse autem contemplabatur eam tacitus, scire volens utrum prosperum iter suum fecisset Dominus, an non.	21 But he was contemplating her silently, wanting to know whether the Lord had caused his journey to prosper or not
22 Postquam autem biberunt cameli, protulit vir inaures aureas, appendentes siclos duos, et armillas totidem pondo siclorum decem.	22 Then, after the camels drank, the man took out gold earrings, weighing two shekels, and the same number of bracelets, ten shekels in weight.
23 Dixitque ad eam : Cujus es filia ? indica mihi, est in domo patris tui locus ad manendum ?	23 And he said to her: “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, is there any place in your father’s house to lodge?”
24 Quæ respondit : Filia sum Bathuelis, filii Melchæ, quem peperit ipsi Nachor.	24 She responded, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, to whom she gave birth for Nahor.”
25 Et addidit, dicens : Palearum quoque et f?ni plurimum est apud nos, et locus spatiosus ad manendum.	25 And she continued, saying, “There is very much straw and hay with us, and a spacious place to stay.”
26 Inclinavit se homo, et adoravit Dominum,	26 The man bowed himself down, and he adored the Lord,
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 the Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, who has not taken away his mercy and truth from my lord, and who has led me on a direct journey to the house of the brother of my lord.”
28 Cucurrit itaque puella, et nuntiavit in domum matris suæ omnia quæ audierat.	28 And so the girl ran, and she reported all that she had heard in the house of her mother.
29 Habebat autem Rebecca fratrem nomine Laban, qui festinus egressus est ad hominem, ubi erat fons.	29 Now Rebekah had a brother, named Laban, who went out quickly to the man, where the spring was.
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 And when he had seen the earrings and bracelets in his sister’s hands, and he had heard all the words being repeated, “This is what the man spoke to me,” he came to the man who stood by the camels and near the spring of water,
31 dixitque ad eum : Ingredere, benedicte Domini : cur foris stas ? præparavi domum, et locum camelis.	31 and he said to him: “Enter, O blessed of the Lord. Why do you stand outside? I have prepared the house, and a place 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 And he brought him into his guest quarters. And he unharnessed the camels, and he distributed straw and hay, and water to wash his feet and that of the men who arrived with him.
33 Et appositus est in conspectu ejus panis. Qui ait : Non comedam, donec loquar sermones meos. Respondit ei : Loquere.	33 And bread was set out in his sight. But he said, “I will not eat, until I have spoken my words.” He answered him, “Speak.”
34 At ille : Servus, inquit, Abraham sum :	34 Then he said: “I am the servant of Abraham.
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 And the Lord has blessed my lord greatly, and he has become great. And he has given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold, men servants and women servants, camels and donkeys.
36 Et peperit Sara uxor domini mei filium domino meo in senectute sua, deditque illi omnia quæ habuerat.	36 And Sarah, the wife of my lord, has given birth to a son for my lord in her old age, and he has given him all that he had.
37 Et adjuravit me dominus meus, dicens : Non accipies uxorem filio meo de filiabus Chananæorum, in quorum terra habito :	37 And my lord made me swear, saying: ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell.
38 sed ad domum patris mei perges, et de cognatione mea accipies uxorem filio meo.	38 But you shall travel to my father’s house, and you shall take a wife of my own kindred for my son.’
39 Ego vero respondi domino meo : Quid si noluerit venire mecum mulier ?	39 But truly, I answered my lord, ‘What if the woman is not willing 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 ‘The Lord,’ he said, ‘in whose sight I walk, will send his Angel with you, and he will direct your way. And you shall take a wife for my son from my own kindred and from my father’s house.
41 Innocens eris a maledictione mea, cum veneris ad propinquos meos, et non dederint tibi.	41 But you will be innocent of my curse, if, when you will arrive at my close relatives, they will not grant this to you.’
42 Veni ergo hodie ad fontem aquæ, et dixi : Domine Deus domini mei Abraham, si direxisti viam meam, in qua nunc ambulo,	42 And so, today I arrived at the well of water, and I said: ‘O Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, if you have directed my way, in which I now walk,
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 behold, I stand next to the well of water, and the virgin, who will go forth to draw water, will hear from me, “Give me a little water 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 And she will say to me, “You drink, and I will also draw for your camels.” Let the same be the woman, whom the Lord has prepared for the son of my lord.’
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 And while I thought over these things silently within myself, Rebekah appeared, arriving with a pitcher, which she carried on her shoulder. And she descended to the spring and drew water. And I said to her, ‘Give me a little to drink.’
46 Quæ festinans deposuit hydriam de humero, et dixit mihi : Et tu bibe, et camelis tuis tribuam potum. Bibi, et adaquavit camelos.	46 And she quickly let down the pitcher from her arm, and said to me, ‘You drink, and to your camels I will also distribute drinking water.’ I drank, and she watered the camels.
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 And I questioned her, saying, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she responded, ‘I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ And so, I hung the earrings on her, to adorn her face, and I put the bracelets on her hands.
48 Pronusque adoravi Dominum, benedicens Domino Deo domini mei Abraham, qui perduxit me recto itinere, ut sumerem filiam fratris domini mei filio ejus.	48 And falling prostrate, I adored the Lord, blessing the Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, who has led me along the straight path so as to take the daughter of my lord’s brother to 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 For this reason, if you would act according to mercy and truth with my lord, tell me so. But if it pleases you otherwise, say that to me also, so that I may go either to the right, or to the left.”
50 Responderuntque Laban et Bathuel : A Domino egressus est sermo : non possumus extra placitum ejus quidquam aliud loqui tecum.	50 And Laban and Bethuel responded: “A word has proceeded from the Lord. We are not able to speak anything else to you, beyond what pleases him.
51 En Rebecca coram te est, tolle eam, et proficiscere, et sit uxor filii domini tui, sicut locutus est Dominus.	51 Lo, Rebekah is in your sight. Take her and continue on, and let her be the wife of the son of your lord, just as the Lord has spoken.”
52 Quod cum audisset puer Abraham, procidens adoravit in terram Dominum.	52 When Abraham’s servant had heard this, falling down to the ground, he adored the Lord.
53 Prolatisque vasis argenteis, et aureis, ac vestibus, dedit ea Rebeccæ pro munere : fratribus quoque ejus et matri dona obtulit.	53 And bringing forth vessels of silver and gold, as well as garments, he gave them to Rebekah as a tribute. Likewise, he offered gifts to her brothers and 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 And a banquet began, and they feasted and drank together, and they lodged there. And rising up in the morning, the servant said, “Release me, so that I may go to my lord.”
55 Responderuntque fratres ejus et mater : Maneat puella saltem decem dies apud nos, et postea proficiscetur.	55 And her brothers and mother responded, “Let the girl remain for at least ten days with us, and after that, she will continue on.”
56 Nolite, ait, me retinere, quia Dominus direxit viam meam : dimittite me ut pergam ad dominum meum.	56 “Do not be willing,” he said, “to delay me, for the Lord has directed my way. Release me, so that I may journey to my lord.”
57 Et dixerunt : Vocemus puellam, et quæramus ipsius voluntatem.	57 And they said, “Let us call the girl, and ask her will.”
58 Cumque vocata venisset, sciscitati sunt : Vis ire cum homine isto ? Quæ ait : Vadam.	58 And when, having been called, she arrived, they wanted to know, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.”
59 Dimiserunt ergo eam, et nutricem illius, servumque Abraham, et comites ejus,	59 Therefore, they released her and her nurse, and the servant of Abraham and his companions,
60 imprecantes prospera sorori suæ, atque dicentes : Soror nostra es, crescas in mille millia, et possideat semen tuum portas inimicorum suorum.	60 wishing prosperity for their sister, by saying: “You are our sister. May you increase to thousands of thousands. And may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.”
61 Igitur Rebecca et puellæ illius, ascensis camelis, secutæ sunt virum : qui festinus revertebatur ad dominum suum.	61 And so, Rebekah and her maids, riding upon camels, followed the man, who quickly returned to his lord.
62 Eo autem tempore deambulabat Isaac per viam quæ ducit ad puteum, cujus nomen est Viventis et videntis : habitabat enim in terra australi :	62 Then, at the same time, Isaac was walking along the way that leads to the well, whose name is: ‘of the One who lives and who sees.’ For he dwelt in the southern land.
63 et egressus fuerat ad meditandum in agro, inclinata jam die : cumque elevasset oculos, vidit camelos venientes procul.	63 And he had gone out to meditate in the field, as daylight was now declining. And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels advancing from afar.
64 Rebecca quoque, conspecto Isaac, descendit de camelo,	64 Likewise, Rebekah, having seen Isaac, descended from the 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 she said to the servant, “Who is that man who advances to meet us through the field?” And he said to her, “That is my lord.” And so, quickly taking up her cloak, she covered herself.
66 Servus autem cuncta, quæ gesserat, narravit Isaac.	66 Then the servant explained to Isaac all that he had done.
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 And he led her into the tent of Sarah his mother, and he accepted her as wife. And he loved her so very much, that it tempered the sorrow which befell him at his mother’s death.