1 And Abraham was old, and of many days, and our Lord had blessed him in all things.
1 Now Abraham was old, and advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed him in all things.
2 And he said to the elder servant of his house, which was ruler over all that he had: Put thy hand under my thigh,
2 And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was ruler over all he had: ¹Put thy hand under my thigh,
3 that I may adjure thee by our Lord God of heaven and earth, that thou take not a wife for my son of the daughters of the Chananites, among whom I dwell:
3 That I may make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that thou take not a wife for my son, of the daughters of the Chanaanites, among whom I dwell:
4 but that thou go unto mine own country and kindred, and thence take a wife for my son Isaac.
4 But that thou go to my own country and kindred, and take a wife from thence for my son Isaac.
5 The servant answered: If the woman will not come with me into this land, whether must I bring thy son back again to the place, from whence thou didst come forth?
5 The servant answered: If the woman will not come with me into this land, must I bring thy son back again to the place from whence thou camest out?
6 And Abraham said: Beware thou never bring my son back again thither.
6 And Abraham said: Beware thou never bring my son back again thither.
7 Our Lord God of heaven, which took me out of my father's house, and out of my native country, which spake to me, and sware to me, saying: To thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his Angel before thee, and thou shall take from thence a wife for my son:
7 The Lord God of heaven, who took me out of my father’s house, and out of my native country, who spoke to me, and swore to me, saying: ²To thy seed will I give this land: he will send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take from thence a wife for my son.³
8 but if the woman will not follow thee, thou shalt not be bound by the oath: only bring not my son thither again.
8 But if the woman will not follow thee, thou shalt not be bound by the oath: only bring not my son back thither again.
9 The servant therefore put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his lord, and sware to him upon this word.
9 The servant, therefore, put his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his lord, and swore to him upon his word.
10 And he took ten camels of his lord's herd, and departed, of all his goods carrying something with him, and setting forward went on into Mesopotamia to the city of Nachor.
10 And he took ten camels of his master’s herd, and departed, carrying something of all his goods with him, and he set forth and went on to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nachor.
11 And when he had made the camels lie down without the town beside a well of water at even, at the time when women are wont to come forth to draw water, he said:
11 And when he had made the camels lie down without the town, near a well of water, in the evening, at the time when women are wont to come out to draw water, he said:
12 O Lord God of my lord Abraham, meet me today, I beseech thee, and do mercifully with my master Abraham.
12 O Lord, the God of my master, Abraham, meet me today, I beseech thee, and show kindness to my master, Abraham.
13 Behold I stand nigh to the fountain of water and the daughters of the inhabiters of this city will come forth to draw water.
13 Behold, I stand nigh the spring of water, and the daughters of the inhabitants of this city will come out to draw water:
14 Therefore the maid, to whom I shall say: Bow down thy tankard that I may drink; and she shall answer: Drink, yea to thy camels also will I give drink; she it is, whom thou hast provided for thy servant Isaac: and by this I shall understand, that thou hast dealt mercifully with my master.
14 Now, therefore, the maid to whom I shall say: Let down thy pitcher that I may drink: and she shall answer, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let it be the same whom thou hast provided for thy servant Isaac: and by this, I shall understand that thou hast shown kindness to my master.
15 Neither had he yet ended these words within himself, & behold Rebecca came forth, the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Melcha, wife to Nachor the brother of Abraham, having a tankard on her shoulder;
15 He had not yet ended these words within himself, and behold Rebecca came out, the daughter of Bathuel, son of Melcha, wife to Nachor the brother of Abraham, having a pitcher on her shoulder:⁴
16 a passing comely maid, & most beautiful virgin, & not known to man: and she was gone down to the fountain, and had filled her tankard, and came back.
16 An exceedingly comely maid, and a most beautiful virgin, and not known to man: and she went down to the spring, and filled her pitcher, and was coming back.
17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said: Give me a little water to drink of thy tankard.
17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said: Give me a little water to drink of thy pitcher.
18 Who answered: Drink my lord. And quickly she let down the tankard upon her arm, and gave him drink.
18 And she answered: Drink, my lord. And quickly she let down the pitcher upon her arm, and gave him drink.
19 And when he had drunk, she added: but for thy camels also I will draw water, till all do drink.
19 And when he had drunk, she said: I will draw water for thy camels also, till they all drink.
20 And pouring out the tankard into the troughs, she ran back to the well to draw water: and being drawn gave it to all the camels.
20 And pouring out the pitcher into the troughs, she ran back to the well to draw water; and having drawn, she gave to all the camels.
21 But he musing beheld her with silence, desirous to know whether our Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.
21 But he musing, beheld her with silence, desirous to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 And after that the camels had drunk, the man plucked forth golden earlets, weighing two sicles, and as many bracelets of ten sicles weight.
22 And after that the camels had drunk, the man took out golden earrings, weighing two sicles; and as many bracelets, of ten sicles weight.
23 And he said to her: Whose daughter art thou? Shew me; is there any place in thy father's house to lodge?
23 And he said to her: Whose daughter art thou? Tell me: is there any place in thy father’s house to lodge?
24 Who answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Melcha, whom she bare to Nachor.
24 And she answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Melcha, whom she bore to Nachor.
25 And she added, saying: Of straw also and hay we have good store, and a large place to lodge in.
25 And she said, moreover, to him: We have good store of both straw and hay, and a large place to lodge in.
26 The man bowed himself, and adored our Lord,
26 The man bowed himself down, and adored the Lord,
27 saying: blessed be the Lord God of my lord Abraham, that hath not taken away his mercy & truth from my lord, and hath brought me the straight way into the house of my lord's brother.
27 Saying: Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not taken away his mercy and truth from my master, and hath brought me the straight way into the house of my master’s brother.
28 The maid therefore ran, and reported into her mother's house all things that she had heard.
28 Then the maid ran, and told in her mother’s house all that she had heard.
29 And Rebecca had a brother named Laban, who in all haste went forth to the man, where the fountain was.
29 And Rebecca had a brother, named Laban, who went out in haste to the man, to the well.
30 And when he had seen the earlets and bracelets in his sister's hands, and hand heard all her words reporting: These words spake the man unto me; he came to the man which stood beside the camels, and nigh to the fountain of water:
30 And when he had seen the earrings and bracelets in his sister’s hands, and had heard all that she related, saying, Thus and thus the man spoke to me: he came to the man who stood by the camels, and near to the spring of water,
31 and said to him: Come in, thou blessed of our Lord: Why standest thou without? I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.
31 And said to him: Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; why standest thou without? I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.
32 And he brought him into his lodging: and he unharnessed the camels, and gave straw and hay, and water to wash his feet, and of the men that were come with him.
32 And he brought him into his lodging; and he unharnessed the camels, and gave straw and hay, and water to wash his feet, and the feet of the men that were come with him.
33 And bread was set before him. Who said: I will not eat till I speak my message. He answered him: Speak.
33 And bread was set before him. But he said: I will not eat, till I tell my message. He answered him: Speak.
34 And he said: I am the servant of Abraham:
34 And he said: I am the servant of Abraham:
35 And our Lord hath blessed my lord wonderfully, and he is magnified: and he hath given him sheep, & oxen, silver and gold, men servants & women servants, camels, and asses.
35 And the Lord hath blessed my master wonderfully, and he is become great: and he hath given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold, men servants and women servants, camels and asses.
36 And Sara my lord's wife hath born my lord a son in her old age, and he hath given him all things that he had.
36 And Sara, my master’s wife, hath borne my master a son in her old age, and he hath given him all that he had.
37 And my lord adjured me saying: Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the Chananites, in whose land I dwell:
37 And my master made me swear, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the Chanaanites, in whose land I dwell:
38 but thou shalt go to my father's house, and of mine own kindred shalt thou take a wife for my son:
38 But thou shalt go to my father’s house, and shalt take a wife of my own kindred for my son:
39 but I answered my lord: What if the woman will not come with me?
39 But I answered my master: What if the woman will not come with me?
40 Our Lord, saith he, in whose sight I walk, will send his Angel with thee, & will direct thy way: and thou shalt take a wife for my son of mine own kindred, and of my father's house.
40 The Lord, said he, in whose sight I walk, will send his angel with thee, and will direct thy way: and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my own kindred, and of my father’s house.
41 Thou shalt be innocent from my curse, when thou shalt come to my kin, and they will not give her thee.
41 But thou shalt be clear from my curse, when thou shalt come to my kindred, if they will not give thee one.
42 I came therefore today to the well of water, and said: O Lord God of my lord Abraham, if thou hast directed my way, wherein I now walk,
42 And I came today to the well of water, and said: O Lord God of my master Abraham, if thou hast prospered my way, wherein I now walk,
43 behold I stand besides the well of water, and the virgin, that shall come forth to draw water, when she shall hear me say: Give me a little water to drink of thy tankard;
43 Behold, I stand by the well of water, and the virgin, that shall come out to draw water, who shall hear me say: Give me a little water to drink of thy pitcher:
44 and she shall say to me: Drink both thou and for thy camels I will draw also; that is the woman, which our Lord hath prepared for my master's son.
44 And shall say to me: Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman, whom the Lord hath prepared for my master’s son.
45 And whilst I pondered these things secretly with myself, Rebecca appeared coming with a tankard, which she carried upon her shoulder: & she went down to the fountain, & drew water.
45 And whilst I pondered these things secretly with myself, Rebecca appeared, coming with a pitcher, which she carried on her shoulder: and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her: Give me a little to drink.
46 And I said to her: Give me a little to drink. Who speedily let down the tankard from her shoulder, and said to me: Drink Both thou, and to thy camels I will give drink. I drank, and she watered the camels.
46 And she speedily let down the pitcher from her shoulder, and said to me: Both drink thou, and to thy camels I will give drink. I drank, and she watered the camels.
47 And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? Who answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Nachor, whom Melcha bare him. I hung therefore earlets to adorn her face, and I put bracelets upon her hands.
47 And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? And she answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Nachor, whom Melcha bore to him. So I put earrings on her to adorn her face, and I put bracelets on her hands.
48 And prostrate I adored our Lord, blessing the Lord God of my lord Abraham, who hath brought me the straight way to take the daughter of my lord's brother for his son.
48 And falling down, I adored the Lord, blessing the Lord God of my master, Abraham, who hath brought me the straight way to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son.
49 Wherefore if you do according to mercy and truth with my lord, shew me: but if it please you otherwise, that also tell me, that I may go to the right hand or to the left.
49 Wherefore, if you do according to mercy and truth with my master, tell me: but if it please you otherwise, tell me that also, that I may go to the right hand, or to the left.
50 And Laban and Bathuel answered: From our Lord the word hath proceeded: we cannot speak any other thing with thee besides his pleasure.
50 And Laban and Bathuel answered: The word hath proceeded from the Lord: we cannot speak any other thing to thee but his pleasure.
51 Behold Rebecca is before thee, take her and go thy ways, & let her be the wife of thy lord's son, as our Lord hath spoken.
51 Behold, Rebecca is before thee, take her and go thy way, and let her be the wife of thy master’s son, as the Lord hath spoken.
52 Which when Abraham's servant heard, falling down he adored our Lord to the ground.
52 Which when Abraham’s servant heard, falling down to the ground, he adored the Lord.
53 And taking forth vessels of silver, and gold, and garments, gave them to Rebecca for a present. To her brothers also, and to her mother he offered gifts.
53 And bringing forth vessels of silver and gold, and garments, he gave them to Rebecca, for a present. He offered gifts also to her brothers, and to her mother.
54 Abanquet was made, and eating and drinking together they lodged there. And in the morning the servant arose, and said: Dismiss me, that I may go to my lord.
54 And a banquet was made, and they ate and drank together, and lodged there. And in the morning, the servant arose, and said: Let me depart, that I may go to my master.
55 And her brother and mother answered: Let the maid tarry at the least ten days with us, & after she shall depart.
55 And her brother and mother answered: Let the maid stay, at least, ten days with us, and afterwards she shall depart.
56 Stay me not, said he, because our Lord hath directed my way: dismiss me that I may go on to my lord.
56 Stay me not, said he, because the Lord hath prospered my way: send me away, that I may go to my master.
57 And they said: Let us call the maid, and ask her will.
57 And they said: Let us call the maid, and ask her will.
58 And being called, when she was come, they asked: Wilt thou go with this man? Who said: I will go.
58 And they called her, and when she was come, they asked: Wilt thou go with this man? She said: I will go.
59 They dismissed her therefore, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his company,
59 So they sent her away, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his company.
60 wishing prosperity to their sister, and saying: Thou art our sister, increase thou into thousand thousands, and thy seed possess the gates of their enemies.
60 Wishing prosperity to their sister, and saying: Thou art our sister, mayst thou increase to thousands of thousands; and may thy seed possess the gates of their enemies.
61 Therefore Rebecca and her maids being set upon camels, followed the man: who with speed returned unto his lord; and
61 So Rebecca and her maids, being set upon camels, followed the man: who with speed returned to his master.
62 the same time Isaac walked along the way, that leadeth to the well of the Living and the seeing, so called; for he dwelt in the south country:
62 At the same time, Isaac was walking along the way to the well which is called Of the living and the seeing: for he dwelt in the south country:
63 and he was gone forth to meditate in the field, the day now being well spent: and when he head cast up his eyes, he saw camels coming a far off.
63 And he was gone forth to meditate in the field, the day being now well spent: and when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels coming afar off.
64 Rebecca also, when she saw Isaac, lighted off the camel,
64 Rebecca also, when she saw Isaac, lighted off the camel,
65 and said to the servant: Who is that man which cometh towards us along the field? And he said to her: The same is my lord. But she quickly taking her cloak, covered herself.
65 And said to the servant: Who is that man who cometh towards us along the field? And he said to her: That man is my master. But she quickly took her cloak, and covered herself.
66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
66 And the servant told Isaac all that he had done.
67 Who brought her into the tent of Sara his mother, & took her to wife: and he loved her so much, that it did moderate the sorrow which was chanced of his mother's death.
67 Who brought her into the tent of Sara his mother, and took her to wife: and he loved her so much, that it moderated the sorrow which was occasioned by his mother’s death.