1 N ow Abraham was old. He had lived many years. And the Lord had brought good to Abraham in every way.

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

2 A braham said to the oldest servant in his house and the one who took care of all that he owned, “Place your hand under my hip,

And 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;

3 a nd I will have you promise by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth. Promise that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, who live around me.

And 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,

4 B ut go to my country and to those of my family. Take a wife for my son Isaac from there.”

But you shall go to my country and to my relatives and take a wife for my son Isaac.

5 T he servant said to Abraham, “What if the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land? Should I take your son to the land you came from?”

The 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?

6 A braham said to him, “Make sure that you do not take my son there.

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

7 T he Lord, the God of heaven, Who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, spoke to me and promised me. He said, ‘I will give this land to your children and to their children’s children.’ He will send His angel in front of you. And you will take a wife for my son from there.

The 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.

8 B ut if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this promise to me. Only do not take my son there.”

And 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.

9 S o the servant placed his hand under the hip of Abraham, and he promised to do this.

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

10 T hen the servant took ten of Abraham’s camels and left. He took with him all kinds of gifts from Abraham. Then he went to the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia.

And 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.

11 H e made the camels get down on their knees outside the city by the well of water in the evening. It was the time when women go out to get water.

And 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.

12 H e said, “O Lord, the God of my boss Abraham, let all go well for me today. Show loving-kindness to my boss Abraham.

And 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.

13 S ee, I am standing here by the well of water. And the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to get water.

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

14 I f I say to a girl, ‘Let down your jar so that I may drink,’ and she answers, ‘Drink, and I will give water to your camels also,’ let her be the one whom You have chosen for your servant Isaac. I will know by this that You have shown loving-kindness to my boss.”

And 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.

15 B efore he had finished speaking, Rebekah came out, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor, the brother of Abraham. She had a jar on her shoulder.

Before 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.

16 T he girl was very beautiful and had never lain with a man. She went down to the well, filled her jar and came up.

And 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.

17 T hen the servant ran to meet her. He said, “Let me drink a little water from your jar.”

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

18 S he said, “Drink, my lord.” And she was quick to lift her jar to her hand and give him a drink.

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

19 W hen she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will get water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.”

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

20 S he was quick to empty her jar into the animals’ drinking place. Then she ran to the well for more water, and got enough for all his camels.

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

21 T he man was quiet and watched her, waiting to know if the Lord had made all go well or not during his visit.

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

22 W hen the camels had finished drinking, the man took a heavy gold ring and two heavy gold objects to wear on her arms.

And 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,

23 H e said, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, is there a place for us to stay in your father’s house?”

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

24 S he said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor.”

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

25 S he also said, “We have both enough straw and food, and a place to stay.”

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

26 T hen the man bowed low and worshiped the Lord.

The man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord

27 H e said, “Honor and thanks be to the Lord, the God of my boss Abraham. He has not kept His loving-kindness and His truth from my boss. He has led me in the way to the house of my boss’s brothers.”

And 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.

28 T hen the girl ran and told about all this to those in her mother’s house.

The girl related to her mother’s household what had happened.

29 R ebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. And Laban ran outside to the man at the well.

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

30 W hen he saw the gold objects his sister was wearing, and heard his sister Rebekah saying, “This is what the man said to me,” he went to the man. He saw him standing by the camels at the well.

For 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.

31 L aban said, “Come in, you who receive good from the Lord! Why do you stand outside? I have made the house ready, and a place for the camels.”

He 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.

32 S o the man came into the house. Laban took the load off the camels, and gave them straw and food. He got water to wash the feet of Abraham’s servant and the feet of the men who were with him.

So 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.

33 T hen food was set in front of the man to eat. But he said, “I will not eat until I have told you why I came here.” Laban said, “Tell it.”

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

34 S o he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.

And he said, I am Abraham’s servant.

35 A nd the Lord has brought much good to my boss. He has become rich. The Lord has given him flocks and cattle, silver and gold, men and women servants, and camels and donkeys.

And 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.

36 M y boss’s wife Sarah gave birth to my boss’s son when she was very old. And he has given him all he has.

And 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.

37 “ My boss made me promise, saying, ‘Do not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live.

And 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,

38 B ut go to my father’s house, to those of my family, and take a wife for my son there.’

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

39 I said to my owner, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’

And I said to my master, But suppose the woman will not follow me.

40 H e said to me, ‘The Lord, Whom I have always obeyed, will send His angel with you to make all go well during your visit there. You will take a wife for my son from those of my family and from my father’s house.

And 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.

41 T hen you will be free from your promise to me. When you come to those of my family, and if they do not give her to you, then you will be free from your promise to me.’

Then 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.

42 “ So I came to the well today. I said, ‘O Lord, the God of my boss Abraham, may all go well during my visit here.

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—

43 S ee, I am standing by the well of water. If I say to the girl who comes out for water, “Let me drink a little water from your jar,”

See, 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,

44 a nd she says, “You drink, and I will get water for your camels also,” then let her be the woman whom the Lord has chosen for my boss’s son.’

And 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.

45 B efore I had finished speaking in my heart, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the well and got water. I asked her, ‘Let me drink.’

And 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.

46 A nd she was quick to take down her jar from her shoulder. She said, ‘Drink, and I will give water to your camels also.’ So I drank and she gave water to the camels also.

And 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.

47 T hen I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah and Nahor.’ And I put the gold objects on her nose and arms.

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.

48 T hen I bowed low and worshiped the Lord. I gave honor and thanks to the Lord, the God of my boss Abraham. For He had led me in the right way to take the daughter of my boss’s brother for his son.

And 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.

49 S o now if you will show kindness and be true to my boss, tell me. And if not, tell me so I may know which way to turn.”

And 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.

50 T hen Laban and Bethuel answered, “This thing comes from the Lord. We cannot speak for or against it.

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

51 S ee, Rebekah is in front of you. Take her and go. Let her be the wife of your boss’s son, as the Lord has spoken.”

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

52 W hen Abraham’s servant heard their words, he put his face to the ground before the Lord.

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

53 H e brought out things made of silver and gold, and clothes, and gave them to Rebekah. He gave things of much worth to her brother and mother also.

And 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.

54 T hen he and the men with him ate and drank and stayed the night there. When they got up in the morning, he said, “Send me away to my boss.”

Then 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.

55 B ut her brother and her mother said, “Let the girl stay with us a few days, at least ten. Then she may go.”

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

56 B ut he said to them, “Do not make me stay any more days, since the Lord has made my way go well. Send me away so I may go to my boss.”

But 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.

57 T hey said, “We will call the girl and ask her what she wants to do.”

And they said, We will call the girl and ask her her desire.

58 T hey called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.”

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

59 S o they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse. They went with Abraham’s servant and the men who were with him.

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

60 T hey prayed that good would come to Rebekah, and said to her, “You are our sister. May you become the mother of millions. May your children and all their children’s children after them take over the cities of those who hate them.”

And 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.

61 T hen Rebekah and her servants got up on the camels and followed the man. So the servant of Abraham took Rebekah and left.

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

62 N ow Isaac had come from Beerlahairoi, and was living in the Negev.

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

63 I saac had gone out to pray in the field in the evening. He looked up and saw that camels were coming.

And 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.

64 A nd Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She got off the camel

And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel.

65 a nd said to Abraham’s servant, “Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?” Abraham’s servant said, “He is my boss.” So she took a cloth and covered her face.

For 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.

66 T he servant told Isaac all the things he had done.

And the servant told Isaac everything that he had done.

67 T hen Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent, and she became his wife. And he loved her. So Isaac found comfort after his mother’s death.

And 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.