1 N ow Abraham was old, well advanced in age; 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 S o Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, 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 I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell;

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 family, 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 A nd the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land 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 B ut Abraham said to him, “Beware 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 God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

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 is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath; only do 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 T hen the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, for all his master’s goods were in his hand. And he arose and went 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 kneel down outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time 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 T hen he said, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, 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 B ehold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out 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 N ow let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’— let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness 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 A nd it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher 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 N ow the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, 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, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.”

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

18 S o she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to 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 A nd when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished 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 T hen she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew 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 A nd the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.

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

22 S o it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of 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? Tell me, please, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?”

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 S o she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to Nahor.”

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

25 M oreover she said to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge.”

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

26 T hen the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord.

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

27 A nd he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”

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 S o the young woman ran and told her mother’s household these things.

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 by the well.

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

30 S o it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, “Thus the man spoke to me,” that he went to the man. And there he stood 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 A nd he said, “Come in, O blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and 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 T hen the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash 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 F ood was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told about my errand.” And he 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 S o he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.

And he said, I am Abraham’s slave.

35 T he Lord has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.

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 N ow 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 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, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’

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

40 B ut he said to me, ‘The Lord, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family 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 Y ou will be clear from this oath when you arrive among my family; for if they will not give her to you, then you will be released from 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 “ And this day I came to the well and said, ‘O Lord God of my master Abraham, if You will now prosper the way in which I go,

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 b ehold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher 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 she says to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,”— let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed 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 “ But before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah, coming out with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her, ‘Please let me 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 made haste and let her pitcher down from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels a drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels a 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 T hen I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the nose ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.

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 my head and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master’s brother for 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 N ow if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand 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 and said, “The thing comes from the Lord; we cannot speak to you either bad or good.

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

51 H ere is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the Lord has spoken.”

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 it came to pass, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, that he worshiped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth.

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

53 T hen the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to 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 A nd he and the men who were with him ate and drank and stayed all night. Then they arose in the morning, 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 her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us a few days, at least ten; after that 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 A nd he said to them, “Do not hinder me, since the Lord has prospered my way; send me away so 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 S o they said, “We will call the young woman and ask her personally.”

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

58 T hen 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: “Our sister, may you become The mother of thousands of ten thousands; And may your descendants possess The gates of those who hate them.”

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 T hen Rebekah and her maids arose, and they rode on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.

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 came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the South.

¶ 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 in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, 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 T hen Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel;

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

65 f or she had said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took a veil and covered herself.

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 all the things that he had done.

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

67 T hen Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So 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.