1 N ow Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.

¶ And Abraham was old and well stricken in age, and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.

2 A nd Abraham said to the eldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, I beg of you, put your hand under my thigh;

And Abraham said unto his eldest slave of his house, who ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh,

3 A nd you shall 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 have settled,

and I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of the heavens 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 B ut you shall go to my country and to my relatives and take a wife for my son Isaac.

but thou shalt go unto my country and to my kindred and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

5 T he servant said to him, But perhaps the woman will not be willing to come along after me to this country. Must I take your son to the country from which you came?

And the slave said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land, must I therefore bring thy son again unto the land from which thou didst come?

6 A braham said to him, See to it that you do not take my son back there.

And Abraham said unto him, Beware that thou not bring my son there again.

7 T he Lord, the God of heaven, Who took me from my father’s house, from the land of my family and my birth, Who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, To your offspring I will give this land—He will send His Angel before you, and you will take a wife from there for my son.

The LORD God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred and who spoke unto me and swore 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 there.

8 A nd if the woman should not be willing to go along after you, then you will be clear from this oath; only you must not take my son back there.

And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be free from this my oath; only do not bring my son there again.

9 S o the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.

Then the slave put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning that matter.

10 A nd the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, taking some of all his master’s treasures with him; thus he journeyed to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.

¶ And the slave took ten camels of the camels of his master and departed with the best of what his master had in his hand; and he arose and went to Ara-naharaim, unto the city of Nahor.

11 A nd he made his camels to kneel down outside the city by a well of water at the time of the evening when women go out to draw water.

And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.

12 A nd he said, O Lord, God of my master Abraham, I pray You, cause me to meet with good success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

And he said, O LORD, God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, to have a good encounter this day and show mercy unto my master Abraham.

13 S ee, I stand here by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming to draw water.

Behold, I stand here by the fountain of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come out for water:

14 A nd let it so be that the girl to whom I say, I pray you, let down your jar that I may drink, and she replies, Drink, and I will give your camels drink also—let her be the one whom You have selected and appointed and indicated for Your servant Isaac; and by it I shall know that You have shown kindness and faithfulness to my master.

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 to drink also; let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy slave Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shown mercy unto my master.

15 B efore he had finished speaking, behold, out came Rebekah, who was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Nahor the brother of Abraham, with her water jar on her shoulder.

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 A nd the girl was very beautiful and attractive, chaste and modest, and unmarried. And she went down to the well, filled her water jar, and came up.

And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, whom no man had known; and she went down to the fountain and filled her pitcher and was coming back up.

17 A nd the servant ran to meet her, and said, I pray you, let me drink a little water from your water jar.

Then the slave ran to meet her and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

18 A nd she said, Drink, my lord; and she quickly let down her jar onto her hand and gave him a drink.

And she said, Drink, my lord, and she hastened to let down her pitcher upon her hand and gave him drink.

19 W hen she had given him a drink, she said, I will draw water for your camels also, until they finish drinking.

And when she had finished giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also until they have finished drinking.

20 S o she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well and drew water for all his camels.

And she hastened and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water and drew for all his camels.

21 T he man stood gazing at her in silence, waiting to know if the Lord had made his trip prosperous.

And the man marveled at her in silence, to see whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not.

22 A nd when the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold earring or nose ring of half a shekel in weight, and for her hands two bracelets of ten shekels in weight in gold,

And it came to pass as the camels had finished drinking that the man took a golden pendant of half a shekel weight and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold

23 A nd said, Whose daughter are you? I pray you, tell me: Is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge there?

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 A nd she said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah and Nahor.

And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she gave birth unto Nahor.

25 S he said also to him, We have both straw and provender (fodder) enough, and also room in which to lodge.

She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and fodder enough and room to lodge in.

26 T he man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord

Then the man bowed down his head and worshipped the LORD.

27 A nd said, Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, Who has not left my master bereft and destitute of His loving-kindness and steadfastness. As for me, going on the way the Lord led me to the house of my master’s kinsmen.

And he said, Blessed be the LORD, God of my master Abraham, who has not lifted his mercy and his truth from my master, the LORD leading me in the way to the house of my master’s brethren.

28 T he girl related to her mother’s household what had happened.

And the damsel ran and told those of her mother’s house these things.

29 N ow Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man at the well.

¶ And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban; and Laban ran out unto the man to the fountain.

30 F or when he saw the earring or nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and when he heard Rebekah his sister saying, The man said this to me, he went to the man and found him standing by the camels at the well.

And it came to pass when he saw the pendant and the bracelets upon his sister’s hands, she said, Thus spoke the man unto me; then he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the fountain.

31 H e cried, Come in, you blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside? For I have made the house ready and have prepared a place for the camels.

And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; why dost thou stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and the place for the camels.

32 S o the man came into the house; and ungirded his camels and gave straw and provender for the camels and water to bathe his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

Then the man came into the house, and Laban ungirded his camels and gave straw and fodder for the camels and water to wash his feet and the men’s feet that were with him.

33 A meal was set before him, but he said, I will not eat until I have told of my errand. And said, Speak on.

And they set food before him to eat, but he said, I will not eat until I have told my errand. And he said unto him, Speak on.

34 A nd he said, I am Abraham’s servant.

And he said, I am Abraham’s slave.

35 A nd the Lord has blessed my master mightily, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks, herds, silver, gold, menservants, maidservants, camels, and asses.

And the LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he is become great; and he has given him flocks and herds and silver and gold and menslaves and maidslaves and camels and asses.

36 A nd Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has.

And Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old, unto whom he has given all that he has.

37 A nd my master made me swear, saying, You must not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell,

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 B ut you shall go to my father’s house and to my family and take a wife for my son.

but thou shalt go unto my father’s house and to my kindred and take from there a wife for my son.

39 A nd I said to my master, But suppose the woman will not follow me.

And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.

40 A nd he said to me, The Lord, in Whose presence I walk, will send His Angel with you and prosper your way, and you will take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father’s house.

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 lineage and of my father’s house;

41 T hen you shall be clear from my oath, when you come to my kindred; and if they do not give her to you, you shall be free and innocent of my oath.

then shalt thou be free from this my oath, when thou hast come unto my lineage; and if they give her not unto thee, thou shalt be free from my oath.

42 I came today to the well and said, O Lord, God of my master Abraham, if You are now causing me to go on my way prosperously—

And I came this day unto the fountain and said, O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if now thou dost prosper my way by which I go,

43 S ee, I am standing by the well of water; now let it be that when the maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, I pray you, give me a little water from your jar to drink,

behold, I stand by the fountain of water; let it come to pass, therefore, that the virgin who comes forth to draw water unto whom I say, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;

44 A nd if she says to me, You drink, and I will draw water for your camels also, let that same woman be the one whom the Lord has selected and indicated for my master’s son.

and if she shall say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels, let the same be the woman whom the LORD has prepared for my master’s son.

45 A nd before I had finished praying in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her, I pray you, let me have a drink.

And before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder, and she went down unto the fountain and drew water, and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.

46 A nd she quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, Drink, and I will water your camels also. So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also.

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 gave to drink unto the camels also.

47 I asked her, Whose daughter are you? She said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him. And I put the earring or nose ring on her face and the bracelets on her arms.

And I asked her and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore unto him. Then I put the pendant over her nose and the bracelets upon her hands.

48 A nd I bowed down my head and worshiped the Lord and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, Who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter to his son.

And I bowed down my head and worshipped the LORD and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of the truth to take my master’s brother’s daughter unto his son.

49 A nd now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right or to the left.

And now if ye will deal in mercy and truth with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.

50 T hen Laban and Bethuel answered, The thing comes forth from the Lord; we cannot speak bad or good to you.

Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceeds from the LORD; we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

51 R ebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has said.

Behold, Rebekah is before thee; take her and go and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the LORD has spoken.

52 A nd when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground before the Lord.

And it came to pass that when Abraham’s slave heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.

53 A nd the servant brought out jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and garments and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and her mother.

And the slave brought forth vessels of silver and vessels of gold and raiment and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

54 T hen they ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed there all night. And in the morning they arose, and he said. Send me away to my master.

¶ And they ate and drank, he and the men that were with him, and slept; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.

55 B ut brother and mother said, Let the girl stay with us a few days—at least ten; then she may go.

Then 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 B ut said to them, Do not hinder and delay me, seeing that the Lord has caused me to go prosperously on my way. Send me away, that I may go to my master.

And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD has prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.

57 A nd they said, We will call the girl and ask her her desire.

Then they said, We will call the damsel and enquire at her mouth.

58 S o they called Rebekah and said to her, Will you go with this man? And she said, I will go.

And they called Rebekah and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

59 S o they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men.

So they sent away Rebekah, their sister, and her nurse and Abraham’s slave and his men.

60 A nd they blessed Rebekah and said to her, You are our sister; may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your posterity possess the gate of their enemies.

And they blessed Rebekah and said unto her, Thou art our sister; be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those who hate them.

61 A nd Rebekah and her maids arose and followed the man upon their camels. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went on his way.

And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels and followed the man; and the slave took Rebekah and went away.

62 N ow Isaac had returned from going to the well Beer-lahai-roi, for he dwelt in the South country (the Negeb).

¶ And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the land of the Negev.

63 A nd Isaac went out to meditate and bow down in the open country in the evening; and he looked up and saw that, behold, the camels were coming.

And Isaac had gone out to pray in the field at the evening hour; and he lifted up his eyes and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.

64 A nd Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel.

And Rebekah also lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

65 F or she said to the servant, Who is that man walking across the field to meet us? And the servant said, He is my master. So she took a veil and concealed herself with it.

For she had asked the slave, What man is this that walks in the field to meet us? And the slave had said, This is my master; therefore she took a veil and covered herself.

66 A nd the servant told Isaac everything that he had done.

Then the slave told Isaac all the things that he had done.

67 A nd 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.

And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent and took Rebekah as his wife; and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.