1 Abraham was old, and well advanced in age. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh. 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. 4 But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac."
5 The 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?"
6 Abraham said to him, "Beware that you don’t bring my son there again. 7 Yahweh, 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. 8 If 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."
9 The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter. 10 The servant took ten 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. 11 He 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. 12 He said, "Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ then she says, ‘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."
15 Before 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. 16 The 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. 17 The servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher."
18 She said, "Drink, my lord." She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him a drink. 19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished drinking." 20 She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.
21 The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not. 22 As 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, 23 and said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay?"
24 She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor." 25 She said moreover to him, "We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge in."
26 The man bowed his head, and worshiped Yahweh. 27 He 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."
28 The young lady ran, and told her mother’s house about these words. 29 Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring. 30 When 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. 31 He said, "Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels."
32 The 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. 33 Food was set before him to eat, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told my message."
Laban said, "Speak on."
34 He said, "I am Abraham’s servant. 35 Yahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. Yahweh has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys. 36 Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him. 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, 38 but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’ 39 I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’ 40 He 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. 41 Then you will 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.’ 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— 43 behold, 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," 44 then she tells me, "Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,"—let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master’s son.’ 45 Before 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.’ 46 She 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. 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. 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. 49 Now 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."
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can’t speak to you bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Yahweh has spoken."
52 When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh. 53 The 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. 54 They 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."
55 Her brother and her mother said, "Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go."
56 He said to them, "Don’t hinder me, since Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master."
57 They said, "We will call the young lady, and ask her." 58 They called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?"
She said, "I will go."
59 They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men. 60 They 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."
61 Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 62 Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South. 63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked. Behold, there were camels coming. 64 Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she got off the camel. 65 She 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. 66 The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
1 亚伯拉罕老迈了， 年事已高， 耶和华在一切事上都赐福给他。
2 亚伯拉罕对他家中， 管理所有产业的老仆人说： "请把你的手放在我的大腿底下。
3 我要你指着耶和华天地的 神起誓， 不可从我现在居住的迦南人中， 为我的儿子娶他们的女子为妻。
4 你却要到我的故乡、我的亲族那里去， 为我的儿子以撒娶妻。"
5 仆人问亚伯拉罕： "如果那女子不愿跟我到这地方来， 我必须把你的儿子带回你原出之地去吗？"
6 亚伯拉罕对他说： "你要谨慎， 切不可带我的儿子回到那里去。
7 耶和华天上的 神， 就是领我离开我的父家和我亲族之地， 曾经对我说话， 又向我起誓的那位说： ‘我必把这地赐给你的后裔。’他必在你前面差派他的使者， 你就可以从那里为我的儿子娶妻。
8 如果那女子不愿跟你来， 我叫你所起的这誓就与你无关了。只是不可带我的儿子回到那里去。"
9 于是， 仆人把手放在他主人亚伯拉罕的大腿下， 为这事向亚伯拉罕起誓。
10 那仆人从他主人的骆驼里取了十匹骆驼， 带着主人各样的美物， 起程往两河之间的亚兰去， 到了拿鹤的城。
11 黄昏时分， 女人出来打水的时候， 那仆人就叫骆驼跪在城外的水井旁边，
12 然后祷告说： "耶和华我主人亚伯拉罕的 神啊， 求你今日使我遇见好机会， 施慈爱给我的主人亚伯拉罕。
13 我现在站在水泉旁边， 城内居民的女儿正出来打水。
14 我对哪一个少女说： ‘请你放下水瓶来， 让我喝点水。’如果她回答： ‘请喝， 我也给你的骆驼喝。’愿那少女就作你选定给你仆人以撒的妻子。这样， 我就知道你施慈爱给我的主人了。"
15 话还没有说完， 不料， 利百加肩头上扛着水瓶出来了。利百加是彼土利所生的。彼土利是亚伯拉罕兄弟拿鹤的妻子密迦的儿子。
16 那少女容貌非常美丽， 还是个处女， 没有男人亲近过她。她下到水泉那里， 打满了水瓶， 又上来。
17 仆人就跑去迎着她， 说： "请你把瓶里的水给我喝一点。"
18 那少女回答： "我主请喝。"就急忙把水瓶拿下来， 托在手上给他喝。
19 他喝足了， 少女就说： "我也要为你的骆驼打水， 直到它们都喝足了。"
20 于是急忙把水瓶里的水倒在槽里， 又跑到井旁去打水， 给他所有的骆驼打上水来。
21 那人一句话也不说， 只注视着她， 要知道耶和华使他的道路亨通不亨通。
22 骆驼喝足了， 那人就拿出一个重近六克的金鼻环， 戴在她的鼻子上， 又拿出两个重一百一十四克的金手镯， 套在她的手上，
23 然后问她： "请你告诉我， 你是谁的女儿？你父亲的家里有地方给我们住宿没有？"
24 她回答： "我是密迦给拿鹤所生的儿子彼土利的女儿。"
25 她又说： "我们有很多粮草和饲料， 也有住宿的地方。"
26 那人就跪下敬拜耶和华，
27 说： "耶和华我主人亚伯拉罕的 神是应当称颂的， 因为他不断以慈爱和信实待我的主人； 耶和华也一路引导我， 到了我主人的兄弟家里。"
28 那少女就跑回去， 把这些事都告诉了她母亲家里的人。
29 利百加有一个哥哥， 名叫拉班。
30 他看见了妹妹的鼻环和手上的手镯， 又听见了妹妹利百加说： "那人对我这样这样说"， 就跑去见外面水泉旁边的那人。他来到那人跟前的时候， 见他仍然站在骆驼旁边的水泉那里。
31 拉班说： "你这蒙耶和华赐福的， 请进来吧， 为什么站在外面呢？我已经收拾好了房间， 也为骆驼预备了地方。"
32 那人就进了拉班的家。拉班卸了骆驼， 拿粮草和饲料给骆驼吃， 又拿水给那人和与他同来的人洗脚。
33 然后在他面前摆上食物， 但那人说： "除非等我说完了我的事， 我不会吃。"拉班说： "请说。"
34 那人说： "我是亚伯拉罕的仆人。
35 耶和华厚厚地赐福我主人， 他就昌大起来； 耶和华又赐给他羊群、牛群、金银、仆婢、骆驼和驴。
36 我主人的妻子撒拉年老的时候， 给我主人生了一个儿子。我主人也把他一切所有的都给了这个儿子。
37 我主人要我起誓， 说： ‘你不可从我现在居住的迦南地中， 为我的儿子娶迦南的女子为妻。
38 你要到我的父家， 和我的族人那里去， 为我的儿子娶一个妻子。’
39 我问我主人： ‘如果那女子不愿跟我回来呢？’
40 他回答： ‘我行事为人都在他面前的耶和华， 必差派他的使者与你同去， 使你的道路亨通， 你就可以从我的族人和我的父家， 给我的儿子娶一个妻子。
41 只要你到了我的族人那里去， 我叫你起的誓就与你无关； 他们若不把女子交给你， 我叫你起的誓也与你无关。’
42 我今天到了水泉那里， 就说： ‘耶和华我主人亚伯拉罕的 神啊， 你若叫我所走的道路亨通，
43 那么， 我现在站在水泉旁边， 但愿有一个少女出来打水， 我要对她说： "请你把瓶里的水给我喝一点。"
44 她若对我说： "你请喝， 我还要打水给你的骆驼喝。"愿那女子就作耶和华给我主人的儿子所选定的妻子。’
45 我心里的话还没有说完， 利百加就肩头扛着水瓶出来了， 她下到水泉那里去打水； 我就对她说： ‘请给我水喝。’
46 她急忙从肩上拿下水瓶来， 说： ‘请喝， 我还要给你的骆驼喝。’我喝了， 她也打水给我的骆驼喝。
47 于是我问她， 说： ‘你是谁的女儿？’她回答： ‘我是密迦给拿鹤所生的儿子彼土利的女儿。’我就把鼻环戴在她的鼻子上， 把手镯套在她的两手上。
48 然后我跪下敬拜耶和华， 称颂耶和华我主人亚伯拉罕的 神， 因为他引导我走恰当的路， 使我得到我主人的兄弟的孙女， 作我主人的儿子的妻子。
49 现在你们若愿意以慈爱和信实待我的主人， 就请告诉我。如果不愿意， 也请你们告诉我； 使我可以知道怎样行。"
50 拉班和彼土利回答， 说： "这事既然出于耶和华， 我们就不能对你说好说歹。
51 看哪， 利百加就在你面前， 你可以把她带去， 照着耶和华所说的， 作你主人儿子的妻子。"
52 亚伯拉罕的仆人听到了他们这些话， 就俯伏在地敬拜耶和华。
53 那仆人拿出金器、银器和衣服送给利百加， 又把贵重的礼物送给她的哥哥和她的母亲。
54 然后， 仆人和与他同来的人才吃喝， 并且住了一夜。他们早晨起来， 仆人就说： "请打发我回到我主人那里去吧！ "
55 利百加的哥哥和母亲说： "让这女孩子和我们同住多几天， 或是十天， 然后她可以离去。"
56 仆人回答他们： "你们不要挽留我， 耶和华既然使我的道路亨通， 就请打发我回到我主人那里去。"
57 他们说： "我们可以把那女孩子叫来， 问问她的意思。"
58 他们把利百加叫了来， 问她： "你愿意与这人同去吗？"她回答： "我愿意去。"
59 于是， 他们把自己的妹妹利百加， 她的乳母和亚伯拉罕的仆人， 以及同来的人， 都打发走了。
60 他们给利百加祝福， 对她说： "我们的妹妹啊， 愿你作千万人之母； 愿你的后裔， 占领仇敌的城门。"
61 利百加和她的众使女就起来， 骑上骆驼， 跟着那人走； 那仆人就带着利百加走了。
62 那时， 以撒刚从庇耳．拉海．莱回来， 他原本是住在南地的。
63 黄昏的时候， 以撒出来田间默想。他举目观看， 忽然看见来了些骆驼。
64 利百加举目观看， 看见了以撒， 就下了骆驼，
65 问那仆人： "在田间走来迎接我们的这人是谁？"仆人回答： "他是我的主人。"利百加就拿面纱蒙在面上。
66 仆人把所作的一切事， 都告诉以撒。
67 以撒领利百加进了他母亲撒拉的帐棚， 并且娶了她。利百加就作了以撒的妻子。以撒爱利百加。以撒自从他母亲去世后， 这才得了安慰。