1 Era Abraão já idoso, bem avançado em anos; e o Senhor em tudo o havia abençoado. 2 Disse Abraão ao seu mais antigo servo da casa, que governava tudo o que possuía: Põe a mão por baixo da minha coxa, 3 para que eu te faça jurar pelo Senhor, Deus do céu e da terra, que não tomarás esposa para meu filho das filhas dos cananeus, entre os quais habito; 4 mas irás à minha parentela e daí tomarás esposa para Isaque, meu filho. 5 Disse-lhe o servo: Talvez não queira a mulher seguir-me para esta terra; nesse caso, levarei teu filho à terra donde saíste? 6 Respondeu-lhe Abraão: Cautela! Não faças voltar para lá meu filho. 7 O Senhor, Deus do céu, que me tirou da casa de meu pai e de minha terra natal, e que me falou, e jurou, dizendo: À tua descendência darei esta terra, ele enviará o seu anjo, que te há de preceder, e tomarás de lá esposa para meu filho. 8 Caso a mulher não queira seguir-te, ficarás desobrigado do teu juramento; entretanto, não levarás para lá meu filho. 9 Com isso, pôs o servo a mão por baixo da coxa de Abraão, seu senhor, e jurou fazer segundo o resolvido.

10 Tomou o servo dez dos camelos do seu senhor e, levando consigo de todos os bens dele, levantou-se e partiu, rumo da Mesopotâmia, para a cidade de Naor. 11 Fora da cidade, fez ajoelhar os camelos junto a um poço de água, à tarde, hora em que as moças saem a tirar água. 12 E disse consigo: Ó Senhor, Deus de meu senhor Abraão, rogo-te que me acudas hoje e uses de bondade para com o meu senhor Abraão! 13 Eis que estou ao pé da fonte de água, e as filhas dos homens desta cidade saem para tirar água; 14 dá-me, pois, que a moça a quem eu disser: inclina o cântaro para que eu beba; e ela me responder: Bebe, e darei ainda de beber aos teus camelos, seja a que designaste para o teu servo Isaque; e nisso verei que usaste de bondade para com o meu senhor.

15 Considerava ele ainda, quando saiu Rebeca, filha de Betuel, filho de Milca, mulher de Naor, irmão de Abraão, trazendo um cântaro ao ombro. 16 A moça era mui formosa de aparência, virgem, a quem nenhum homem havia possuído; ela desceu à fonte, encheu o seu cântaro e subiu. 17 Então, o servo saiu-lhe ao encontro e disse: Dá-me de beber um pouco da água do teu cântaro. 18 Ela respondeu: Bebe, meu senhor. E, prontamente, baixando o cântaro para a mão, lhe deu de beber. 19 Acabando ela de dar a beber, disse: Tirarei água também para os teus camelos, até que todos bebam. 20 E, apressando-se em despejar o cântaro no bebedouro, correu outra vez ao poço para tirar mais água; tirou-a e deu-a a todos os camelos. 21 O homem a observava, em silêncio, atentamente, para saber se teria o Senhor levado a bom termo a sua jornada ou não.

22 Tendo os camelos acabado de beber, tomou o homem um pendente de ouro de meio siclo de peso e duas pulseiras para as mãos dela, do peso de dez siclos de ouro; 23 e lhe perguntou: De quem és filha? Peço-te que me digas. Haverá em casa de teu pai lugar em que eu fique, e a comitiva? 24 Ela respondeu: Sou filha de Betuel, filho de Milca, o qual ela deu à luz a Naor. 25 E acrescentou: Temos palha, e muito pasto, e lugar para passar a noite. 26 Então, se inclinou o homem e adorou ao Senhor. 27 E disse: Bendito seja o Senhor, Deus de meu senhor Abraão, que não retirou a sua benignidade e a sua verdade de meu senhor; quanto a mim, estando no caminho, o Senhor me guiou à casa dos parentes de meu senhor.

28 E a moça correu e contou aos da casa de sua mãe todas essas coisas. 29 Ora, Rebeca tinha um irmão, chamado Labão; este correu ao encontro do homem junto à fonte. 30 Pois, quando viu o pendente e as pulseiras nas mãos de sua irmã, tendo ouvido as palavras de Rebeca, sua irmã, que dizia: Assim me falou o homem, foi Labão ter com ele, o qual estava em pé junto aos camelos, junto à fonte. 31 E lhe disse: Entra, bendito do Senhor, por que estás aí fora? Pois já preparei a casa e o lugar para os camelos. 32 Então, fez entrar o homem; descarregaram-lhe os camelos e lhes deram forragem e pasto; deu-se-lhe água para lavar os pés e também aos homens que estavam com ele. 33 Diante dele puseram comida; porém ele disse: Não comerei enquanto não expuser o propósito a que venho. Labão respondeu-lhe: Dize. 34 Então, disse: Sou servo de Abraão. 35 O Senhor tem abençoado muito ao meu senhor, e ele se tornou grande; deu-lhe ovelhas e bois, e prata e ouro, e servos e servas, e camelos e jumentos. 36 Sara, mulher do meu senhor, era já idosa quando lhe deu à luz um filho; a este deu ele tudo quanto tem. 37 E meu senhor me fez jurar, dizendo: Não tomarás esposa para meu filho das mulheres dos cananeus, em cuja terra habito; 38 porém irás à casa de meu pai e à minha família e tomarás esposa para meu filho. 39 Respondi ao meu senhor: Talvez não queira a mulher seguir-me. 40 Ele me disse: O Senhor, em cuja presença eu ando, enviará contigo o seu Anjo e levará a bom termo a tua jornada, para que, da minha família e da casa de meu pai, tomes esposa para meu filho. 41 Então, serás desobrigado do meu juramento, quando fores à minha família; se não ta derem, desobrigado estarás do meu juramento.

42 Hoje, pois, cheguei à fonte e disse comigo: ó Senhor, Deus de meu senhor Abraão, se me levas a bom termo a jornada em que sigo, 43 eis-me agora junto à fonte de água; a moça que sair para tirar água, a quem eu disser: dá-me um pouco de água do teu cântaro, 44 e ela me responder: Bebe, e também tirarei água para os teus camelos, seja essa a mulher que o Senhor designou para o filho de meu senhor.

45 Considerava ainda eu assim, no meu íntimo, quando saiu Rebeca trazendo o seu cântaro ao ombro, desceu à fonte e tirou água. E eu lhe disse: peço-te que me dês de beber. 46 Ela se apressou e, baixando o cântaro do ombro, disse: Bebe, e também darei de beber aos teus camelos. Bebi, e ela deu de beber aos camelos. 47 Daí lhe perguntei: de quem és filha? Ela respondeu: Filha de Betuel, filho de Naor e Milca. Então, lhe pus o pendente no nariz e as pulseiras nas mãos. 48 E, prostrando-me, adorei ao Senhor e bendisse ao Senhor, Deus do meu senhor Abraão, que me havia conduzido por um caminho direito, a fim de tomar para o filho do meu senhor uma filha do seu parente. 49 Agora, pois, se haveis de usar de benevolência e de verdade para com o meu senhor, fazei-mo saber; se não, declarai-mo, para que eu vá, ou para a direita ou para a esquerda.

50 Então, responderam Labão e Betuel: Isto procede do Senhor, nada temos a dizer fora da sua verdade. 51 Eis Rebeca na tua presença; toma-a e vai-te; seja ela a mulher do filho do teu senhor, segundo a palavra do Senhor.

52 Tendo ouvido o servo de Abraão tais palavras, prostrou-se em terra diante do Senhor; 53 e tirou joias de ouro e de prata e vestidos e os deu a Rebeca; também deu ricos presentes a seu irmão e a sua mãe. 54 Depois, comeram, e beberam, ele e os homens que estavam com ele, e passaram a noite. De madrugada, quando se levantaram, disse o servo: Permiti que eu volte ao meu senhor. 55 Mas o irmão e a mãe da moça disseram: Fique ela ainda conosco alguns dias, pelo menos dez; e depois irá. 56 Ele, porém, lhes disse: Não me detenhais, pois o Senhor me tem levado a bom termo na jornada; permiti que eu volte ao meu senhor. 57 Disseram: Chamemos a moça e ouçamo-la pessoalmente. 58 Chamaram, pois, a Rebeca e lhe perguntaram: Queres ir com este homem? Ela respondeu: Irei. 59 Então, despediram a Rebeca, sua irmã, e a sua ama, e ao servo de Abraão, e a seus homens. 60 Abençoaram a Rebeca e lhe disseram: És nossa irmã; sê tu a mãe de milhares de milhares, e que a tua descendência possua a porta dos seus inimigos. 61 Então, se levantou Rebeca com suas moças e, montando os camelos, seguiram o homem. O servo tomou a Rebeca e partiu.

62 Ora, Isaque vinha de caminho de Beer-Laai-Roi, porque habitava na terra do Neguebe. 63 Saíra Isaque a meditar no campo, ao cair da tarde; erguendo os olhos, viu, e eis que vinham camelos. 64 Também Rebeca levantou os olhos, e, vendo a Isaque, apeou do camelo, 65 e perguntou ao servo: Quem é aquele homem que vem pelo campo ao nosso encontro? É o meu senhor, respondeu. Então, tomou ela o véu e se cobriu. 66 O servo contou a Isaque todas as coisas que havia feito. 67 Isaque conduziu-a até à tenda de Sara, mãe dele, e tomou a Rebeca, e esta lhe foi por mulher. Ele a amou; assim, foi Isaque consolado depois da morte de sua mãe.

1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and Jehovah had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 3 and I will make thee swear by Jehovah, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that thou wilt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: 4 but thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac. 5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? 6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. 7 Jehovah, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my nativity, and who spake unto me, and who sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he will send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife for my son from thence. 8 And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath; only thou shalt not bring my son thither again. 9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning this matter.

10 And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his master, and departed, having all goodly things of his master’s in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. 11 And he made the camels to kneel down without the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water. 12 And he said, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, send me, I pray thee, good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I am standing by the fountain of water; and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water: 14 and let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master. 15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. 16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the fountain, and filled her pitcher, and came up. 17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Give me to drink, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher. 18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. 19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. 20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw, and drew for all his camels. 21 And the man looked stedfastly on her, holding his peace, to know whether Jehovah had made his journey prosperous or not. 22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that 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 art thou? Tell me, I pray thee. Is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in? 24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bare unto Nahor. 25 She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in. 26 And the man bowed his head, and worshipped Jehovah. 27 And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not forsaken his lovingkindness and his truth toward my master: as for me, Jehovah hath led me in the way to the house of my master’s brethren.

28 And the damsel ran, and told her mother’s house according to these words. 29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the fountain. 30 And it came to pass, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he was standing by the camels at the fountain. 31 And he said, Come in, thou blessed of Jehovah; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels. 32 And the man came into the house, and he ungirded the camels; and he gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men that were with him. 33 And there was set food before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on. 34 And he said, I am Abraham’s servant. 35 And Jehovah hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and men-servants and maid-servants, and camels and asses. 36 And Sarah my master’s wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath. 37 And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell: 38 but thou shalt go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son. 39 And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me. 40 And he said unto me, Jehovah, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father’s house: 41 then shalt thou be clear from my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give her not to thee, thou shalt be clear from my oath. 42 And I came this day unto the fountain, and said, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go: 43 behold, I am standing by the fountain of water; and let it come to pass, that the maiden that cometh forth to draw, to whom I shall say, Give me, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher to drink; 44 and she shall say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom Jehovah hath appointed for my master’s son. 45 And before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the fountain, and drew: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee. 46 And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also. 47 And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the ring upon her nose, and the bracelets upon her hands. 48 And I bowed my head, and worshipped Jehovah, and blessed Jehovah, 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 And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.

50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from Jehovah: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as Jehovah hath spoken. 52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth unto Jehovah. 53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. 54 And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master. 55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go. 56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing Jehovah hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master. 57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth. 58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. 59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them.

61 And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 62 And Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the land of the South. 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming. 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel. 65 And she said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant said, It is my master: and she took her veil, and covered herself. 66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

1 Abraham was now very old, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.

2 He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh.

3 I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,

4 but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac."

5 The servant asked him, "What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?"

6 "Make sure that you do not take my son back there," Abraham said.

7 "The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offspring "I will give this land' —he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.

8 If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there."

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

10 Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master's camels loaded with all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim "and made his way to the town of Nahor.

11 He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.

12 Then he prayed, "LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.

14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too' —let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."

15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor.

16 The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.

17 The servant hurried to meet her and said, "Please give me a little water from your jar."

18 "Drink, my lord," she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.

19 After she had given him a drink, she said, "I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink."

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

21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.

22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka "and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels. [^4]

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

24 She answered him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor."

25 And she added, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night."

26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,

27 saying, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."

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

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

30 As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring.

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

32 So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet.

33 Then food was set before him, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say." "Then tell us," Laban said.

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

35 The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.

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

37 And my master made me swear an oath, and said, 'You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,

38 but go to my father's family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.'

39 "Then I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not come back with me?'

40 "He replied, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked faithfully, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father's family.

41 You will be released from my oath if, when you go to my clan, they refuse to give her to you —then you will be released from my oath.'

42 "When I came to the spring today, I said, 'LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come.

43 See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar,"

44 and if she says to me, "Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels too," let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master's son.'

45 "Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'

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

47 "I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' "She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milkah bore to him.' "Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms,

48 and I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son.

49 Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn."

50 Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other.

51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has directed."

52 When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.

53 Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother.

54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, "Send me on my way to my master."

55 But her brother and her mother replied, "Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so; then you "may go."

56 But he said to them, "Do not detain me, now that the LORD has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master."

57 Then they said, "Let's call the young woman and ask her about it."

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

59 So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham's servant and his men.

60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the cities of their enemies."

61 Then Rebekah and her attendants got ready and mounted the camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.

62 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev.

63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, "and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching.

64 Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel

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

66 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done.

67 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.