創世記 24
1
亞伯拉罕年紀老邁、向來在一切事上、耶和華都賜福給他。

Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.

2
亞伯拉罕對管理他全業最老的僕人說、請你把手放在我大腿底下。

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

3
我要叫你指著耶和華天地的主起誓、不要為我兒子娶這迦南地中的女子為妻。

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
你要往我本地本族去、為我的兒子以撒娶一個妻子。

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

5
僕人對他說、倘若女子不肯跟我到這地方來、我必須將你的兒子帶回你原出之地麼。

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
亞伯拉罕對他說、你要謹慎、不要帶我的兒子回那裡去.

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

7
耶和華天上的主、曾帶領我離開父家和本族的地、對我說話向我起誓、說、我要將這地賜給你的後裔.他必差遣使者在你面前、你就可以從那裡為我兒子娶一個妻子。

"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
倘若女子不肯跟你來、我使你起的誓就與你無干了、只是不可帶我的兒子回那裡去。

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
僕人就把手放在他主人亞伯拉罕的大腿底下、為這事向他起誓。

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

10
那僕人從他主人的駱駝裡取了十匹駱駝、並帶些他主人各樣的財物、起身往米所波大米去、到了拿鶴的城。

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

11
天將晚、眾女子出來打水的時候、他便叫駱駝跪在城外的水井那裡。

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
他說、耶和華我主人亞伯拉罕的 神阿、求你施恩給我主人亞伯拉罕、使我今日遇見好機會。

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

13
我現今站在井旁、城內居民的女子們正出來打水。

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

14
我向那一個女子說、請你拿下水瓶來、給我水喝。他若說、請喝、我也給你的駱駝喝、願那女子就作你所豫定給你僕人以撒的妻、這樣、我便知道你施恩給我主人了。

May it be that when I say to a girl, '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
話還沒有說完、不料、利百加肩頭上扛著水瓶出來、利百加是彼土利所生的、彼土利是亞伯拉罕兄弟拿鶴妻子密迦的兒子。

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

16
那女子容貌極其俊美、還是處女、也未曾有人親近他、他下到井旁打滿了瓶、又上來.

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

17
僕人跑上前去迎著他說、求你將瓶裡的水給我一點喝。

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

18
女子說、我主請喝.就急忙拿下瓶來、托在手上給他喝。

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

19
女子給他喝了、就說、我再為你的駱駝打水、叫駱駝也喝足。

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

20
他就急忙把瓶裡的水倒在槽裡、又跑到井旁打水、就為所有的駱駝打上水來。

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
那人定睛看他、一句話也不說、要曉得耶和華賜他通達的道路沒有。

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

22
駱駝喝足了、那人就拿一個金環、重半舍客勒、兩個金鐲、重十舍客勒、給了那女子、

When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels.

23
說、請告訴我、你是誰的女兒、你父親家裡有我們住宿的地方沒有。

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
女子說、我是密迦與拿鶴之子彼土利的女兒.

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

25
又說、我們家裡足有糧草、也有住宿的地方。

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

26
那人就低頭向耶和華下拜、

Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,

27
說、耶和華我主人亞伯拉罕的 神是應當稱頌的、因他不斷的以慈愛誠實待我主人.至於我、耶和華在路上引領我、直走到我主人的兄弟家裡。

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
女子跑回去、照著這些話告訴他母親和他家裡的人。

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

29
利百加有一個哥哥、名叫拉班、看見金環、又看見金鐲在他妹子的手上、並聽見他妹子利百加的話、說、那人對我如此如此說、拉班就跑出來往井旁去、到那人跟前、見他仍站在駱駝旁邊的井旁那裡.

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

30
見上節

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
便對他說、你這蒙耶和華賜福的、請進來、為甚麼站在外邊、我已經收拾了房屋、也為駱駝豫備了地方。

"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
那人就進了拉班的家.拉班卸了駱駝、用草料餧上、拿水給那人和跟隨的人洗腳。

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
把飯擺在他面前、叫他喫、他卻說、我不喫、等我說明白我的事情再喫、拉班說、請說。

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
他說、我是亞伯拉罕的僕人。

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

35
耶和華大大地賜福給我主人、使他昌大.又賜給他羊群、牛群、金銀、僕婢、駱駝、和驢。

The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys.

36
我主人的妻子撒拉年老的時候、給我主人生了一個兒子.我主人也將一切所有的都給了這個兒子。

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

37
我主人叫我起誓說、你不要為我兒子娶迦南地的女子為妻.

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
你要往我父家、我本族那裡去、為我的兒子娶一個妻子。

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

39
我對我主人說、恐怕女子不肯跟我來。

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

40
他就說、我所事奉的耶和華必要差遣他的使者與你同去、叫你的道路通達.你就得以在我父家、我本族那裡、給我的兒子娶一個妻子。

"He replied, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, 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
只要你到了我本族那裡、我使你起的誓、就與你無干、他們若不把女子交給你、我使你起的誓也與你無干。

Then, when you go to my clan, you will be released from my oath even if they refuse to give her to you--you will be released from my oath.'

42
我今日到了井旁、便說、耶和華我主人亞伯拉罕的 神阿、願你叫我所行的道路通達.

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

43
我如今站在井旁、對那一個出來打水的女子說、請你把你瓶裡的水給我一點喝.

See, I am standing beside this spring; if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar,"

44
他若說、你只管喝、我也為你的駱駝打水.願那女子就作耶和華給我主人兒子所豫定的妻。

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
我心裡的話還沒有說完、利百加就出來、肩頭上扛著水瓶、下到井旁打水.我便對他說、請你給我水喝。

"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
他就急忙從肩頭上拿下瓶來、說、請喝、我也給你的駱駝喝.我便喝了.他又給我的駱駝喝了。

"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
我問他說、你是誰的女兒、他說、我是密迦與拿鶴之子彼土利的女兒、我就把環子戴在他鼻子上、把鐲子戴在他兩手上。

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

48
隨後我低頭向耶和華下拜、稱頌耶和華我主人亞伯拉罕的 神、因為他引導我走合式的道路、使我得著我主人兄弟的孫女、給我主人的兒子為妻。

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
現在你們若願以慈愛誠實待我主人、就告訴我.若不然、也告訴我、使我可以或向左、或向右。

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
拉班和彼土利回答說、這事乃出於耶和華、我們不能向你說好說歹。

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

51
看哪、利百加在你面前、可以將他帶去、照著耶和華所說的、給你主人的兒子為妻。

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

52
亞伯拉罕的僕人聽見他們這話、就向耶和華俯伏在地。

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

53
當下僕人拿出金器、銀器、和衣服送給利百加、又將寶物送給他哥哥、和他母親。

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
僕人和跟從他的人、喫了喝了、住了一夜、早晨起來、僕人就說、請打發我回我主人那裡去罷。

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
利百加的哥哥和他母親說、讓女子同我們再住幾天、至少十天、然後他可以去。

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

56
僕人說、耶和華既賜給我通達的道路、你們不要耽誤我、請打發我走、回我主人那裡去罷。

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
他們說、我們把女子叫來問問他、

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

58
就叫了利百加來、問他說、你和這人同去麼、利百加說、我去。

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

59
於是他們打發妹子利百加和他的乳母、同亞伯拉罕的僕人、並跟從僕人的、都走了。

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

60
他們就給利百加祝福、說、我們的妹子阿、願你作千萬人的母、願你的後裔、得著仇敵的城門。

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

61
利百加和他的使女們起來、騎上駱駝、跟著那僕人.僕人就帶著利百加走了。

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

62
那時、以撒住在南地、剛從庇耳拉海萊回來。

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

63
天將晚、以撒出來在田間默想.舉目一看、見來了些駱駝。

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

64
利百加舉目看見以撒、就急忙下了駱駝.

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

65
問那僕人說、這田間走來迎接我們的是誰、僕人說、是我的主人.利百加就拿帕子蒙上臉。

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
僕人就將所辦的一切事、都告訴以撒。

Then the servant told Isaac all he had done.

67
以撒便領利百加進了他母親撒拉的帳棚、娶了他為妻.並且愛他。以撒自從他母親不在了、這纔得了安慰。

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.