New American Standard Bible 1995

Holman Christian Standard Bible

1Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in every way.

1Abraham was now old, getting on in years, and the LORD had blessed him in everything.

2Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he owned, "Please place your hand under my thigh,

2Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who managed all he owned, "Place your hand under my thigh,

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

3and I will have you swear by the LORD, God of heaven and God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live,

4but you will go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac."

4but will go to my land and my family to take a wife for my son Isaac."

5The servant said to him, "Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?"

5The servant said to him, "Suppose the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I have your son go back to the land you came from?"

6Then Abraham said to him, "Beware that you do not take my son back there!

6Abraham answered him, "Make sure that you don't take my son back there.

7"The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, 'To your descendants I will give this land,' He will send His angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son from there.

7The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from my native land, who spoke to me and swore to me, 'I will give this land to your offspring--He will send His angel before you, and you can take a wife for my son from there.

8"But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this my oath; only do not take my son back there."

8If the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are free from this oath to me, but don't let my son go back there."

9So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.

9So the servant placed his hand under his master Abraham's thigh and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

10Then the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master, and set out with a variety of good things of his master's in his hand; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.

10The servant took 10 of his master's camels and departed with all kinds of his master's goods in hand. Then he set out for Nahor's town Aram-naharaim.

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

11He made the camels kneel beside a well of water outside the town at evening. This was the time when the women went out to draw water."

12He said, "O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham.

12 LORD, God of my master Abraham," he prayed, "give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

13"Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water;

13I am standing here at the spring where the daughters of the men of the town are coming out to draw water.

14now may it be that the girl to whom I say, 'Please let down your jar so that I may drink,' and who answers, 'Drink, and I will water your camels also '-- may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master."

14Let the girl to whom I say, 'Please lower your water jug so that I may drink,' and who responds, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels also--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."

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

15Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah--daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor--coming with a jug on her shoulder.

16The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, and no man had had relations with her; and she went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.

16Now the girl was very beautiful, a young woman who had not known a man intimately. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up.

17Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar."

17Then the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please let me have a little water from your jug."

18She said, "Drink, my lord"; and she quickly lowered her jar to her hand, and gave him a drink.

18She replied, "Drink, my lord." She quickly lowered her jug to her hand and gave him a drink.

19Now when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw also for your camels until they have finished drinking."

19When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I'll also draw water for your camels until they have had enough to drink."

20So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran back to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels.

20She quickly emptied her jug into the trough and hurried to the well again to draw water. She drew water for all his camels

21Meanwhile, the man was gazing at her in silence, to know whether the LORD had made his journey successful or not.

21while the man silently watched her to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey a success.

22When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half-shekel and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels in gold,

22After the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing half a shekel, and for her wrists two bracelets weighing 10 shekels of gold. "

23and said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room for us to lodge in your father's house?"

23Whose daughter are you?" he asked. "Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"

24She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."

24She answered him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."

25Again she said to him, "We have plenty of both straw and feed, and room to lodge in."

25She also said to him, "We have plenty of straw and feed and a place to spend the night."

26Then the man bowed low and worshiped the LORD.

26Then the man bowed down, worshiped the LORD,

27He said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master; as for me, the LORD has guided me in the way to the house of my master's brothers."

27and said, "Praise the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."

28Then the girl ran and told her mother's household about these things.

28The girl ran and told her mother's household about these things.

29Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran outside to the man at the spring.

29Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and Laban ran out to the man at the spring.

30When he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "This is what the man said to me," he went to the man; and behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.

30As soon as he had seen the ring and the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and when he had heard his sister Rebekah's words--"The man said this to me!"--he went to the man. He was standing there by the camels at the spring.

31And he said, "Come in, blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside since I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels?"

31Laban said, "Come, you who are blessed by the LORD. Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels."

32So the man entered the house. Then Laban unloaded the camels, and he gave straw and feed to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

32So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were given to the camels, and water was brought to wash his feet and the feet of the men with him.

33But when food was set before him to eat, he said, "I will not eat until I have told my business." And he said, "Speak on."

33A meal was set before him, but he said, "I will not eat until I have said what I have to say." So Laban said, "Please speak.""

34So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.

34I am Abraham's servant," he said. "

35"The LORD has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys.

35The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female slaves, and camels and donkeys.

36"Now Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master in her old age, and he has given him all that he has.

36Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns.

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;

37My master put me under this oath: 'You will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I live

38but you shall go to my father's house and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.'

38but will go to my father's household and to my family to take a wife for my son.'

39"I said to my master, 'Suppose the woman does not follow me.'

39But I said to my master, 'Suppose the woman will not come back with me?'

40"He said to me, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you to make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father's house;

40He said to me, 'The LORD before whom I have walked will send His angel with you and make your journey a success, and you will take a wife for my son from my family and from my father's household.

41then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my relatives; and if they do not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.'

41Then you will be free from my oath if you go to my family and they do not give her to you--you will be free from my oath.'"

42"So I came today to the spring, and said, 'O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now You will make my journey on which I go successful;

42Today when I came to the spring, I prayed: LORD, God of my master Abraham, if only You will make my journey successful!

43behold, I am standing by the spring, and may it be that the maiden who comes out to draw, and to whom I say, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar";

43I am standing here at a spring. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, and I say to her: Please let me drink a little water from your jug,

44and she will say to me, "You drink, and I will draw for your camels also"; let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.'

44and who responds to me, 'Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels also--let her be the woman the LORD has appointed for my master's son."

45"Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder, and went down to the spring and drew, and I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'

45Before I had finished praying silently, there was Rebekah coming with her jug on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her: Please let me have a drink.

46"She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will water your camels also'; so I drank, and she watered the camels also.

46She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels also.' So I drank, and she also watered the camels.

47"Then I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' And she said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him'; and I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her wrists.

47Then I asked her: Whose daughter are you? She responded, 'The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.

48"And I bowed low and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had guided me in the right way to take the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son.

48Then I bowed down, worshiped the LORD, and praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who guided me on the right way to take the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son.

49"So now if you are going to deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, let me know, that I may turn to the right hand or the left."

49Now, if you are going to show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; if not, tell me, and I will go elsewhere."

50Then Laban and Bethuel replied, "The matter comes from the LORD; so we cannot speak to you bad or good.

50Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter.

51"Here is Rebekah before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has spoken."

51Rebekah is here in front of you. Take her and go, and let her be a wife for your master's son, just as the LORD has spoken."

52When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground before the LORD.

52When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed to the ground before the LORD.

53The servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

53Then he brought out objects of silver and gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother.

54Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night. When they arose in the morning, he said, "Send me away to my master."

54Then he and the men with him ate and drank and spent the night. When they got up in the morning, he said, "Send me to my master."

55But her brother and her mother said, "Let the girl stay with us a few days, say ten; afterward she may go."

55But her brother and mother said, "Let the girl stay with us for about 10 days. Then she can go."

56He said to them, "Do not delay me, since the LORD has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master."

56But he responded to them, "Do not delay me, since the LORD has made my journey a success. Send me away so that I may go to my master."

57And they said, "We will call the girl and consult her wishes."

57So they said, "Let's call the girl and ask her opinion."

58Then they called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she said, "I will go."

58They called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She replied, "I will go."

59Thus they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse with Abraham's servant and his men.

59So they sent away their sister Rebekah with the one who had nursed and raised her, and Abraham's servant and his men.

60They blessed Rebekah and said to her, "May you, our sister, Become thousands of ten thousands, And may your descendants possess The gate of those who hate them."

60They blessed Rebekah, saying to her: Our sister, may you become thousands upon ten thousands. May your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.

61Then Rebekah arose with her maids, and they mounted the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.

61Then Rebekah and her female servants got up, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.

62Now Isaac had come from going to Beer-lahai-roi; for he was living in the Negev.

62Now Isaac was returning from Beer-lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negev region.

63Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening; and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, camels were coming.

63In the early evening Isaac went out to walk in the field, and looking up he saw camels coming.

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

64Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she got down from her camel

65She said to the servant, "Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?" And the servant said, "He is my master." Then she took her veil and covered herself.

65and asked the servant, "Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?" The servant answered, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself.

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

66Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done.

67Then 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.

67And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah to be his wife. Isaac loved her, and he was comforted after his mother's death.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.