1 A braham was old, and well stricken in age. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things.

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

2 A braham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh.

Abraham 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,

3 I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.

and 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.

4 B ut you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

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

5 T he servant said to him, “What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?”

The 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?”

6 A braham said to him, “Beware that you don’t bring my son there again.

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

7 Y ahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, ‘I will give this land to your offspring. He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

The 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.

8 I f the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son there again.”

But 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.”

9 T he servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.

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

10 T he servant took ten camels, of his master’s camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.

Then 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.

11 H e made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.

He 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.

12 H e said, “Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

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

13 B ehold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.

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

14 L et it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ and she will say, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,’—let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”

If 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.”

15 B efore he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder.

Before 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.

16 T he young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin. No man had known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up.

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

17 T he servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher.”

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

18 S he said, “Drink, my lord.” She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him drink.

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

19 W hen she had done giving him drink, she said, “I will also draw for your camels, until they have done drinking.”

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

20 S he hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.

She 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.

21 T he man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not.

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

22 A s the camels had done drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold,

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

23 a nd said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge in?”

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

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

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

25 S he said moreover to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge in.”

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

26 T he man bowed his head, and worshiped Yahweh.

Then the man bowed low and worshiped the Lord.

27 H e said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me on the way to the house of my master’s relatives.”

He 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.”

28 T he young lady ran, and told her mother’s house about these words.

Then the girl ran and told about all this to those in her mother’s house.

29 R ebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring.

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

30 W hen he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “This is what the man said to me,” he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.

When 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.

31 H e said, “Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.”

Laban 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.”

32 T he man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

So 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.

33 F ood was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told my message.” He said, “Speak on.”

Then 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.”

34 H e said, “I am Abraham’s servant.

So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.

35 Y ahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys.

And 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.

36 S arah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him.

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

37 M y 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,

“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.

38 b ut you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’

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

39 I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’

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

40 H e said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my relatives, and of my father’s house.

He 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.

41 T hen will you be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.’

Then 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.’

42 I came today to the spring, and said, ‘Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go—

“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.

43 b ehold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes out to draw, to whom I will say, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,”

See, 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,”

44 a nd she will tell me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”—let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master’s son.’

and 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.’

45 B efore I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’

Before 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.’

46 S he hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ So I drank, and she also gave the camels a drink.

And 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.

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

Then 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.

48 I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son.

Then 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.

49 N ow if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.”

So 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.”

50 T hen Laban and Bethuel answered, “The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can’t speak to you bad or good.

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

51 B ehold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Yahweh has spoken.”

See, 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.”

52 W hen Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh.

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

53 T he servant brought out jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and her mother.

He 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.

54 T hey ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and he said, “Send me away to my master.”

Then 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.”

55 H er brother and her mother said, “Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go.”

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

56 H e said to them, “Don’t hinder me, since Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.”

But 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.”

57 T hey said, “We will call the young lady, and ask her.”

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

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

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

59 T hey sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men.

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

60 T hey blessed Rebekah, and said to her, “Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your offspring possess the gate of those who hate them.”

They 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.”

61 R ebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

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

62 I saac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South.

Now Isaac had come from Beerlahairoi, and was living in the Negev.

63 I saac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming.

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

64 R ebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel.

And Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She got off the camel

65 S he said to the servant, “Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” She took her veil, and covered herself.

and 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.

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

The servant told Isaac all the things he had done.

67 I saac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Then 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.