创世纪 24

1Now Abraham was old; and advanced in age: and the Lord had blessed him in all things.

2And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was ruler over all he had: Put thy hand under my thigh,

3That 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:

4But that thou go to my own country and kindred, and take a wife from thence for my son Isaac.

5The 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?

6And Abraham said: Beware thou never bring my son back again thither.

7The 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: To 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.

8But if the woman will not follow thee, thou shalt not be bound by the oath; only bring not my son back thither again.

9The servant therefore put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his lord, and swore to him upon this word.

10And he took ten camels of his master’s herd, and departed, carrying something of all his goods with him, and he set forward and went on to Mesopotamia to the city of Nachor.

11And 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:

12O Lord the God of my master Abraham, meet me today, I beseech thee, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

13Behold I stand nigh the spring of water, and the daughters of the inhabitants of this city will come out to draw water.

14Now, 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.

15He 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:

16An exceeding 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.

17And the servant ran to meet her, and said: Give me a little water to drink of thy pitcher.

18And she answered: Drink, my lord. And quickly she let down the pitcher upon her arm, and gave him drink.

19And when he had drunk, she said: I will draw water for thy camels also, till they all drink.

20And 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.

21But he musing beheld her with silence, desirous to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.

22And after that the camels had drunk, the man took out golden earrings, weighing two sicles: and as many bracelets of ten sicles weight.

23And he said to her: Whose daughter art thou? tell me: is there any place in thy father’s house to lodge?

24And she answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Melcha, whom she bore to Nachor.

25And she said moreover to him: We have good store of both straw and hay, and a large place to lodge in.

26The man bowed himself down, and adored the Lord,

27Saying: 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.

28Then the maid ran, and told in her mother’s house, all that she had heard.

29And Rebecca had a brother named Laban, who went out in haste to the man, to the well.

30And 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,

31And 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.

32And he brought him in 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.

33And bread was set before him. But he said: I will not eat, till I tell my message. He answered him: Speak.

34And he said: I am the servant of Abraham:

35And 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.

36And Sara my master’s wife hath borne my master a son in her old age, and he hath given him all that he had.

37And my master made me swear, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the Chanaanites, in whose land I dwell:

38But thou shalt go to my father’s house, and shalt take a wife of my own kindred for my son:

39But I answered my master: What if the woman will not come with me?

40The 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.

41But thou shalt be clear from my curse, when thou shalt come to my kindred, if they will not give thee one.

42And 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,

43Behold 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:

44And 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.

45And 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.

46And 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.

47And 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.

48And 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.

49Wherefore 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.

50And Laban and Bathuel answered: The word hath proceeded from the Lord, we cannot speak any other thing to thee but his pleasure.

51Behold 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.

52Which when Abraham’s servant heard, falling down to the ground he adored the Lord.

53And 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.

54And 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.

55And her brother and mother answered: Let the maid stay at least ten days with us, and afterwards she shall depart.

56Stay me not, said he, because the Lord hath prospered my way: send me away, that I may go to my master.

57And they said: Let us call the maid, and ask her will.

58And they called her, and when she was come, they asked: Wilt thou go with this man? She said: I will go.

59So they sent her away, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his company,

60Wishing 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.

61So Rebecca and her maids, being set upon camels, followed the man: who with speed returned to his master.

62At 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.

63And 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.

64Rebecca also, when she saw Isaac, lighted off the camel,

65And 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.

66And the servant told Isaac all that he had done.

67Who 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.

1Erat autem Abraham senex, dierumque multorum: et Dominus in cunctis benedixerat ei.

2Dixitque ad servum seniorem domus suæ, qui præerat omnibus quæ habebat: Pone manum tuam subter femur meum,

3ut adjurem te per Dominum Deum cæli et terræ, ut non accipias uxorem filio meo de filiabus Chananæorum, inter quos habito:

4sed ad terram et cognationem meam proficiscaris et inde accipias uxorem filio meo Isaac.

5Respondit servus: Si noluerit mulier venire mecum in terram hanc, numquid reducere debeo filium tuum ad locum, de quo egressus es?

6Dixitque Abraham: Cave nequando reducas filium meum illuc.

7Dominus Deus cæli, qui tulit me de domo patris mei, et de terra nativitatis meæ, qui locutus est mihi, et juravit mihi, dicens: Semini tuo dabo terram hanc: ipse mittet angelum suum coram te, et accipies inde uxorem filio meo:

8sin autem mulier noluerit sequi te, non teneberis juramento: filium meum tantum ne reducas illuc.

9Posuit ergo servus manum sub femore Abraham domini sui, et juravit illi super sermone hoc.

10Tulitque decem camelos de grege domini sui, et abiit, ex omnibus bonis ejus portans secum, profectusque perrexit in Mesopotamiam ad urbem Nachor.

11Cumque camelos fecisset accumbere extra oppidum juxta puteum aquæ vespere, tempore quo solent mulieres egredi ad hauriendam aquam, dixit:

12Domine Deus domini mei Abraham, occurre, obsecro, mihi hodie, et fac misericordiam cum domino meo Abraham.

13Ecce ego sto prope fontem aquæ, et filiæ habitatorum hujus civitatis egredientur ad hauriendam aquam.

14Igitur puella, cui ego dixero: Inclina hydriam tuam ut bibam: et illa responderit: Bibe, quin et camelis tuis dabo potum: ipsa est quam præparasti servo tuo Isaac: et per hoc intelligam quod feceris misericordiam cum domino meo.

15Necdum intra se verba compleverat, et ecce Rebecca egrediebatur, filia Bathuel, filii Melchæ uxoris Nachor fratris Abraham, habens hydriam in scapula sua:

16puella decora nimis, virgoque pulcherrima, et incognita viro: descenderat autem ad fontem, et impleverat hydriam, ac revertebatur.

17Occurritque ei servus, et ait: Pauxillum aquæ mihi ad bibendum præbe de hydria tua.

18Quæ respondit: Bibe, domine mi: celeriterque deposuit hydriam super ulnam suam, et dedit ei potum.

19Cumque ille bibisset, adjecit: Quin et camelis tuis hauriam aquam, donec cuncti bibant.

20Effundensque hydriam in canalibus, recurrit ad puteum ut hauriret aquam: et haustam omnibus camelis dedit.

21Ipse autem contemplabatur eam tacitus, scire volens utrum prosperum iter suum fecisset Dominus, an non.

22Postquam autem biberunt cameli, protulit vir inaures aureas, appendentes siclos duos, et armillas totidem pondo siclorum decem.

23Dixitque ad eam: Cujus es filia? indica mihi, est in domo patris tui locus ad manendum?

24Quæ respondit: Filia sum Bathuelis, filii Melchæ, quem peperit ipsi Nachor.

25Et addidit, dicens: Palearum quoque et fœni plurimum est apud nos, et locus spatiosus ad manendum.

26Inclinavit se homo, et adoravit Dominum,

27dicens: Benedictus Dominus Deus domini mei Abraham, qui non abstulit misericordiam et veritatem suam a domino meo, et recto itinere me perduxit in domum fratris domini mei.

28Cucurrit itaque puella, et nuntiavit in domum matris suæ omnia quæ audierat.

29Habebat autem Rebecca fratrem nomine Laban, qui festinus egressus est ad hominem, ubi erat fons.

30Cumque vidisset inaures et armillas in manibus sororis suæ, et audisset cuncta verba referentis: Hæc locutus est mihi homo: venit ad virum qui stabat juxta camelos, et prope fontem aquæ:

31dixitque ad eum: Ingredere, benedicte Domini: cur foris stas? præparavi domum, et locum camelis.

32Et introduxit eum in hospitium: ac destravit camelos, deditque paleas et fœnum, et aquam ad lavandos pedes ejus, et virorum qui venerant cum eo.

33Et appositus est in conspectu ejus panis. Qui ait: Non comedam, donec loquar sermones meos. Respondit ei: Loquere.

34At ille: Servus, inquit, Abraham sum:

35et Dominus benedixit domino meo valde, magnificatusque est: et dedit ei oves et boves, argentum et aurum, servos et ancillas, camelos et asinos.

36Et peperit Sara uxor domini mei filium domino meo in senectute sua, deditque illi omnia quæ habuerat.

37Et adjuravit me dominus meus, dicens: Non accipies uxorem filio meo de filiabus Chananæorum, in quorum terra habito:

38sed ad domum patris mei perges, et de cognatione mea accipies uxorem filio meo.

39Ego vero respondi domino meo: Quid si noluerit venire mecum mulier?

40Dominus, ait, in cujus conspectu ambulo, mittet angelum suum tecum, et diriget viam tuam: accipiesque uxorem filio meo de cognatione mea, et de domo patris mei.

41Innocens eris a maledictione mea, cum veneris ad propinquos meos, et non dederint tibi.

42Veni ergo hodie ad fontem aquæ, et dixi: Domine Deus domini mei Abraham, si direxisti viam meam, in qua nunc ambulo,

43ecce sto juxta fontem aquæ, et virgo, quæ egredietur ad hauriendam aquam, audierit a me: Da mihi pauxillum aquæ ad bibendum ex hydria tua:

44et dixerit mihi: Et tu bibe, et camelis tuis hauriam: ipsa est mulier, quam præparavit Dominus filio domini mei.

45Dumque hæc tacitus mecum volverem, apparuit Rebecca veniens cum hydria, quam portabat in scapula: descenditque ad fontem, et hausit aquam. Et aio ad eam: Da mihi paululum bibere.

46Quæ festinans deposuit hydriam de humero, et dixit mihi: Et tu bibe, et camelis tuis tribuam potum. Bibi, et adaquavit camelos.

47Interrogavique eam, et dixi: Cujus es filia? Quæ respondit: Filia Bathuelis sum, filii Nachor, quem peperit ei Melcha. Suspendi itaque inaures ad ornandam faciem ejus, et armillas posui in manibus ejus.

48Pronusque adoravi Dominum, benedicens Domino Deo domini mei Abraham, qui perduxit me recto itinere, ut sumerem filiam fratris domini mei filio ejus.

49Quam ob rem si facitis misericordiam et veritatem cum domino meo, indicate mihi: sin autem aliud placet, et hoc dicite mihi, ut vadam ad dextram, sive ad sinistram.

50Responderuntque Laban et Bathuel: A Domino egressus est sermo: non possumus extra placitum ejus quidquam aliud loqui tecum.

51En Rebecca coram te est, tolle eam, et proficiscere, et sit uxor filii domini tui, sicut locutus est Dominus.

52Quod cum audisset puer Abraham, procidens adoravit in terram Dominum.

53Prolatisque vasis argenteis, et aureis, ac vestibus, dedit ea Rebeccæ pro munere: fratribus quoque ejus et matri dona obtulit.

54Inito convivio, vescentes pariter et bibentes manserunt ibi. Surgens autem mane, locutus est puer: Dimitte me, ut vadam ad dominum meum.

55Responderuntque fratres ejus et mater: Maneat puella saltem decem dies apud nos, et postea proficiscetur.

56Nolite, ait, me retinere, quia Dominus direxit viam meam: dimittite me ut pergam ad dominum meum.

57Et dixerunt: Vocemus puellam, et quæramus ipsius voluntatem.

58Cumque vocata venisset, sciscitati sunt: Vis ire cum homine isto? Quæ ait: Vadam.

59Dimiserunt ergo eam, et nutricem illius, servumque Abraham, et comites ejus,

60imprecantes prospera sorori suæ, atque dicentes: Soror nostra es, crescas in mille millia, et possideat semen tuum portas inimicorum suorum.

61Igitur Rebecca et puellæ illius, ascensis camelis, secutæ sunt virum: qui festinus revertebatur ad dominum suum.

62Eo autem tempore deambulabat Isaac per viam quæ ducit ad puteum, cujus nomen est Viventis et videntis: habitabat enim in terra australi:

63et egressus fuerat ad meditandum in agro, inclinata jam die: cumque elevasset oculos, vidit camelos venientes procul.

64Rebecca quoque, conspecto Isaac, descendit de camelo,

65et ait ad puerum: Quis est ille homo qui venit per agrum in occursum nobis? Dixitque ei: Ipse est dominus meus. At illa tollens cito pallium, operuit se.

66Servus autem cuncta, quæ gesserat, narravit Isaac.

67Qui introduxit eam in tabernaculum Saræ matris suæ, et accepit eam uxorem: et in tantum dilexit eam, ut dolorem, qui ex morte matris ejus acciderat, temperaret.

1Now Abraham was old and of many days. And the Lord had blessed him in all things.

2And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was in charge of all that he had: “Place your hand under my thigh,

3so that I may make you 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 live.

4But that you will proceed to my land and kindred, and from there take a wife for my son Isaac.”

5The servant responded, “If the woman is not willing to come with me into this land, must I lead your son back to the place from which you departed?”

6And Abraham said: “Beware that you never lead my son back to that place.

7The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my nativity, who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ himself will send his Angel before you, and you will take from there a wife for my son.

8But if the woman is not willing to follow you, you will not be held by the oath. Only do not lead my son back to that place.”

9Therefore, the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his lord, and he swore to him on his word.

10And he took ten camels from his lord’s herd, and he went forth, carrying with him things from all of his goods. And he set out, and continued on, to the city of Nahor, in Mesopotamia.

11And when he had made the camels lie down outside of the town, near a well of water, in the evening, at the time when women are accustomed to go out to draw water, he said:

12“O Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, meet with me today, I beg you, and show mercy to my lord Abraham.

13Behold, I stand near the fountain of water, and the daughters of the inhabitants of this city will go forth to draw water.

14Therefore, the girl to whom I will say, ‘Tip your pitcher, so that I may drink,’ and she will respond, ‘Drink. In fact, I will give your camels a drink also,’ the same one is she whom you have prepared for your servant Isaac. And by this, I will understand that you have shown mercy to my lord.”

15But he had not yet completed these words within himself, when, behold, Rebekah went out, the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, the brother of Abraham, having a pitcher on her shoulder.

16She was an exceedingly elegant girl, and a most beautiful virgin, and unknown by man. And she descended to the spring, and she filled her pitcher, and then was returning.

17And the servant ran to meet her, and he said, “Provide me with a little water to drink from your pitcher.”

18And she responded, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly brought down the pitcher on her arm, and she gave him a drink.

19And after he drank, she added, “In fact, I will draw water for your camels also, until they all drink.”

20And pouring out the pitcher into the troughs, she ran back to the well to draw water; and having drawn, she gave it to all the camels.

21But he was contemplating her silently, wanting to know whether the Lord had caused his journey to prosper or not

22Then, after the camels drank, the man took out gold earrings, weighing two shekels, and the same number of bracelets, ten shekels in weight.

23And he said to her: “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, is there any place in your father’s house to lodge?”

24She responded, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, to whom she gave birth for Nahor.”

25And she continued, saying, “There is very much straw and hay with us, and a spacious place to stay.”

26The man bowed himself down, and he adored the Lord,

27saying, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, who has not taken away his mercy and truth from my lord, and who has led me on a direct journey to the house of the brother of my lord.”

28And so the girl ran, and she reported all that she had heard in the house of her mother.

29Now Rebekah had a brother, named Laban, who went out quickly to the man, where the spring was.

30And when he had seen the earrings and bracelets in his sister’s hands, and he had heard all the words being repeated, “This is what the man spoke to me,” he came to the man who stood by the camels and near the spring of water,

31and he said to him: “Enter, O blessed of the Lord. Why do you stand outside? I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.”

32And he brought him into his guest quarters. And he unharnessed the camels, and he distributed straw and hay, and water to wash his feet and that of the men who arrived with him.

33And bread was set out in his sight. But he said, “I will not eat, until I have spoken my words.” He answered him, “Speak.”

34Then he said: “I am the servant of Abraham.

35And the Lord has blessed my lord greatly, and he has become great. And he has given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold, men servants and women servants, camels and donkeys.

36And Sarah, the wife of my lord, has given birth to a son for my lord in her old age, and he has given him all that he had.

37And my lord made me swear, saying: ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell.

38But you shall travel to my father’s house, and you shall take a wife of my own kindred for my son.’

39But truly, I answered my lord, ‘What if the woman is not willing to come with me?’

40‘The Lord,’ he said, ‘in whose sight I walk, will send his Angel with you, and he will direct your way. And you shall take a wife for my son from my own kindred and from my father’s house.

41But you will be innocent of my curse, if, when you will arrive at my close relatives, they will not grant this to you.’

42And so, today I arrived at the well of water, and I said: ‘O Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, if you have directed my way, in which I now walk,

43behold, I stand next to the well of water, and the virgin, who will go forth to draw water, will hear from me, “Give me a little water to drink from your pitcher.”

44And she will say to me, “You drink, and I will also draw for your camels.” Let the same be the woman, whom the Lord has prepared for the son of my lord.’

45And while I thought over these things silently within myself, Rebekah appeared, arriving with a pitcher, which she carried on her shoulder. And she descended to the spring and drew water. And I said to her, ‘Give me a little to drink.’

46And she quickly let down the pitcher from her arm, and said to me, ‘You drink, and to your camels I will also distribute drinking water.’ I drank, and she watered the camels.

47And I questioned her, saying, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she responded, ‘I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ And so, I hung the earrings on her, to adorn her face, and I put the bracelets on her hands.

48And falling prostrate, I adored the Lord, blessing the Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, who has led me along the straight path so as to take the daughter of my lord’s brother to his son.

49For this reason, if you would act according to mercy and truth with my lord, tell me so. But if it pleases you otherwise, say that to me also, so that I may go either to the right, or to the left.”

50And Laban and Bethuel responded: “A word has proceeded from the Lord. We are not able to speak anything else to you, beyond what pleases him.

51Lo, Rebekah is in your sight. Take her and continue on, and let her be the wife of the son of your lord, just as the Lord has spoken.”

52When Abraham’s servant had heard this, falling down to the ground, he adored the Lord.

53And bringing forth vessels of silver and gold, as well as garments, he gave them to Rebekah as a tribute. Likewise, he offered gifts to her brothers and her mother.

54And a banquet began, and they feasted and drank together, and they lodged there. And rising up in the morning, the servant said, “Release me, so that I may go to my lord.”

55And her brothers and mother responded, “Let the girl remain for at least ten days with us, and after that, she will continue on.”

56“Do not be willing,” he said, “to delay me, for the Lord has directed my way. Release me, so that I may journey to my lord.”

57And they said, “Let us call the girl, and ask her will.”

58And when, having been called, she arrived, they wanted to know, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.”

59Therefore, they released her and her nurse, and the servant of Abraham and his companions,

60wishing prosperity for their sister, by saying: “You are our sister. May you increase to thousands of thousands. And may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.”

61And so, Rebekah and her maids, riding upon camels, followed the man, who quickly returned to his lord.

62Then, at the same time, Isaac was walking along the way that leads to the well, whose name is: ‘of the One who lives and who sees.’ For he dwelt in the southern land.

63And he had gone out to meditate in the field, as daylight was now declining. And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels advancing from afar.

64Likewise, Rebekah, having seen Isaac, descended from the camel.

65And she said to the servant, “Who is that man who advances to meet us through the field?” And he said to her, “That is my lord.” And so, quickly taking up her cloak, she covered herself.

66Then the servant explained to Isaac all that he had done.

67And he led her into the tent of Sarah his mother, and he accepted her as wife. And he loved her so very much, that it tempered the sorrow which befell him at his mother’s death.