Genesis 24
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New International VersionNew American Standard Bible 1995
1Abraham was now very old, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.1Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in every way.
2He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh.2Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he owned, "Please place your hand under my thigh,
3I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,3and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live,
4but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac."4but you will go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac."
5The servant asked him, "What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?"5The servant said to him, "Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?"
6"Make sure that you do not take my son back there," Abraham said.6Then Abraham said to him, "Beware that you do not take my son back there!
7"The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land'--he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.7"The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, 'To your descendants I will give this land,' He will send His angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son from there.
8If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there."8"But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this my oath; only do not take my son back there."
9So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.9So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
10Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master's camels loaded with all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor.10Then the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master, and set out with a variety of good things of his master's in his hand; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
11He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.11He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water.
12Then he prayed, "LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.12He said, "O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham.
13See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.13"Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water;
14May it be that when I say to a young woman, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'--let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."14now may it be that the girl to whom I say, 'Please let down your jar so that I may drink,' and who answers, 'Drink, and I will water your camels also '-- may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master."
15Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor.15Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor, came out with her jar on her shoulder.
16The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.16The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, and no man had had relations with her; and she went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.
17The servant hurried to meet her and said, "Please give me a little water from your jar."17Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar."
18"Drink, my lord," she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.18She said, "Drink, my lord"; and she quickly lowered her jar to her hand, and gave him a drink.
19After she had given him a drink, she said, "I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink."19Now when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw also for your camels until they have finished drinking."
20So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.20So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran back to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels.
21Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.21Meanwhile, the man was gazing at her in silence, to know whether the LORD had made his journey successful or not.
22When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels.22When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half-shekel and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels in gold,
23Then he asked, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"23and said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room for us to lodge in your father's house?"
24She answered him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor."24She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."
25And she added, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night."25Again she said to him, "We have plenty of both straw and feed, and room to lodge in."
26Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,26Then the man bowed low and worshiped the LORD.
27saying, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."27He said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master; as for me, the LORD has guided me in the way to the house of my master's brothers."
28The young woman ran and told her mother's household about these things.28Then the girl ran and told her mother's household about these things.
29Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he hurried out to the man at the spring.29Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran outside to the man at the spring.
30As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring.30When he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "This is what the man said to me," he went to the man; and behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.
31"Come, you who are blessed by the LORD," he said. "Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels."31And he said, "Come in, blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside since I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels?"
32So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet.32So the man entered the house. Then Laban unloaded the camels, and he gave straw and feed to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
33Then food was set before him, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say." "Then tell us," Laban said.33But when food was set before him to eat, he said, "I will not eat until I have told my business." And he said, "Speak on."
34So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.34So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.
35The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.35"The LORD has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys.
36My master's wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns.36"Now Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master in her old age, and he has given him all that he has.
37And my master made me swear an oath, and said, 'You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,37"My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live;
38but go to my father's family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.'38but you shall go to my father's house and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.'
39"Then I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not come back with me?'39"I said to my master, 'Suppose the woman does not follow me.'
40"He replied, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked faithfully, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father's family.40"He said to me, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you to make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father's house;
41You will be released from my oath if, when you go to my clan, they refuse to give her to you--then you will be released from my oath.'41then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my relatives; and if they do not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.'
42"When I came to the spring today, I said, 'LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come.42"So I came today to the spring, and said, 'O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now You will make my journey on which I go successful;
43See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar,"43behold, I am standing by the spring, and may it be that the maiden who comes out to draw, and to whom I say, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar";
44and if she says to me, "Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels too," let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master's son.'44and she will say to me, "You drink, and I will draw for your camels also"; let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.'
45"Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'45"Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder, and went down to the spring and drew, and I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'
46"She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too.' So I drank, and she watered the camels also.46"She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will water your camels also'; so I drank, and she watered the camels also.
47"I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' "She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milkah bore to him.' "Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms,47"Then I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' And she said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him'; and I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her wrists.
48and I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son.48"And I bowed low and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had guided me in the right way to take the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son.
49Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn."49"So now if you are going to deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, let me know, that I may turn to the right hand or the left."
50Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other.50Then Laban and Bethuel replied, "The matter comes from the LORD; so we cannot speak to you bad or good.
51Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has directed."51"Here is Rebekah before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has spoken."
52When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.52When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground before the LORD.
53Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother.53The servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.
54Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, "Send me on my way to my master."54Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night. When they arose in the morning, he said, "Send me away to my master."
55But her brother and her mother replied, "Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so; then you may go."55But her brother and her mother said, "Let the girl stay with us a few days, say ten; afterward she may go."
56But he said to them, "Do not detain me, now that the LORD has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master."56He said to them, "Do not delay me, since the LORD has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master."
57Then they said, "Let's call the young woman and ask her about it."57And they said, "We will call the girl and consult her wishes."
58So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Will you go with this man?" "I will go," she said.58Then they called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she said, "I will go."
59So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham's servant and his men.59Thus they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse with Abraham's servant and his men.
60And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the cities of their enemies."60They blessed Rebekah and said to her, "May you, our sister, Become thousands of ten thousands, And may your descendants possess The gate of those who hate them."
61Then Rebekah and her attendants got ready and mounted the camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.61Then Rebekah arose with her maids, and they mounted the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.
62Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev.62Now Isaac had come from going to Beer-lahai-roi; for he was living in the Negev.
63He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching.63Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening; and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, camels were coming.
64Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel64Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from the camel.
65and asked the servant, "Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?" "He is my master," the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.65She said to the servant, "Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?" And the servant said, "He is my master." Then she took her veil and covered herself.
66Then the servant told Isaac all he had done.66The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
67Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.67Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; thus Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
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Genesis 23
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