Abraham’s Servant Finds a Wife for Isaac
1By that time Abraham was very old. The Lord had blessed Abraham in every way. 2The best servant in his house was in charge of everything Abraham had. Abraham said to him, “Put your hand under my thigh. 3The Lord is the God of heaven and the God of earth. I want you to make a promise to me in his name. I’m living among the people of Canaan. But I want you to promise me that you won’t get a wife for my son from their daughters. 4Instead, promise me that you will go to my country and to my own relatives. Get a wife for my son Isaac from there.”
5The servant asked Abraham, “What if the woman doesn’t want to come back with me to this land? Then should I take your son back to the country you came from?”
6“Make sure you don’t take my son back there,” Abraham said. 7“The Lord, the God of heaven, took me away from my father’s family. He brought me out of my own land. He made me a promise. He said, ‘I will give this land to your family after you.’ The Lord will send his angel ahead of you. So you will be able to get a wife for my son from there. 8The woman may not want to come back with you. If she doesn’t, you will be free from your promise. But don’t take my son back there.” 9So the servant put his hand under Abraham’s thigh. He promised to do what his master wanted.
10The servant chose ten of his master’s camels and left. He loaded the camels with all kinds of good things from his master. He started out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. 11He stopped near the well outside the town. There he made the camels get down on their knees. It was almost evening, the time when women go out to get water.
12Then he prayed, “Lord, you are the God of my master Abraham. Make me successful today. Be kind to my master Abraham. 13I’m standing beside this spring. The daughters of the people who live in the town are coming out here to get water. 14I will speak to a young woman. I’ll say to her, ‘Please lower your jar so I can have a drink.’ Suppose she says, ‘Have a drink of water, and I’ll get some for your camels too.’ Then let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. That’s how I’ll know you have been kind to my master.”
15Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out. She was carrying a jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Milkah’s son Bethuel. Milkah was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16The young woman was very beautiful. No man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring. She filled her jar and came up again.
17The servant hurried to meet her. He said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”
18“Have a drink, sir,” she said. She quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
19After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll get water for your camels too. I’ll keep doing it until they have had enough to drink.” 20So she quickly emptied her jar into the stone tub. Then she ran back to the well to get more water. She got enough for all his camels. 21The man didn’t say a word. He watched her closely. He wanted to learn whether the Lord had given him success on the journey he had made.
22The camels finished drinking. Then the man took out a gold nose ring. It weighed about a fifth of an ounce. He also took out two gold bracelets. They weighed about four ounces. 23Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? And please tell me something else. Is there room in your father’s house for us? Can we spend the night there?”
24She answered, “I’m the daughter of Bethuel. He’s the son Milkah had by Nahor.” 25She continued, “We have plenty of straw and feed for your camels. We also have room for you to spend the night.”
26Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord. 27He said, “I praise the Lord, the God of my master Abraham. The Lord hasn’t stopped being kind and faithful to my master. The Lord has led me on this journey. He has brought me to the house of my master’s relatives.”
28The young woman ran home. She told her mother’s family what had happened. 29Rebekah had a brother named Laban. He hurried out to the spring to meet the man. 30Laban had seen the nose ring. He had seen the bracelets on his sister’s arms. And he had heard Rebekah tell what the man had said to her. So Laban went out to the man. He found him standing by the camels near the spring. 31“The Lord has given you his blessing,” he said. “So come with me. Why are you standing out here? I’ve prepared my house for you. I also have a place for the camels.”
32So the man went to the house. The camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought for the camels. And water was brought for him and his men to wash their feet. 33Then food was placed in front of him. But he said, “I won’t eat until I’ve told you what I have to say.”
“Then tell us,” Laban said.
34So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35The Lord has blessed my master greatly, and he has become rich. The Lord has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold. He has also given him male and female servants, camels and donkeys. 36My master’s wife Sarah had a son by him when she was old. He has given that son everything he owns. 37My master made me promise him. He said, ‘I’m living in the land of the people of Canaan. But promise me that you won’t get a wife for my son from their daughters. 38Instead, go to my father’s family and to my own relatives. Get a wife for my son there.’
39“Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman won’t come back with me?’
40“He replied, ‘I have walked faithfully with the Lord. He will send his angel with you. He will give you success on your journey. So you will be able to get a wife for my son. She will be from my own relatives and from my father’s family. 41When you go to my relatives, suppose they refuse to give her to you. Then you will be free from the promise you made to me.’
42“Today I came to the spring. I said, ‘Lord, you are the God of my master Abraham. Please make me successful on this journey I’ve made. 43I’m standing beside this spring. A young woman will come out to get water. I’ll say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar.” 44Suppose she says, “Have a drink of water, and I’ll get some for your camels too.” Then 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. She was carrying a jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and got water. I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’
46“She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder. She said, ‘Have a drink, and I’ll get water for your camels too.’ So I drank. She also got water for the camels.
47“I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’
“She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel. He’s the son Milkah had by Nahor.’
“Then I put the ring in her nose. I put the bracelets on her arms. 48And I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham. He had led me on the right road. He had led me to get for my master’s son the granddaughter of my master’s brother. 49Now will you be kind and faithful to my master? If you will, tell me. And if you won’t, tell me. Then I’ll know which way to turn.”
50Laban and Bethuel answered, “The Lord has done all of this. We can’t say anything to you one way or the other. 51Here is Rebekah. Take her and go. Let her become the wife of your master’s son, just as the Lord has said.”
52Abraham’s servant heard what they said. So he bowed down to the Lord with his face to the ground. 53He brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing. He gave all of them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and her mother. 54Then Abraham’s servant and the men who were with him ate and drank. They spent the night there.
When they got up the next morning, Abraham’s servant said, “Send me back to my master.”
55But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the young woman stay with us ten days or so. Then you can go.”
56But he said to them, “Don’t make me wait. The Lord has given me success on my journey. Send me on my way so I can go to my master.”
57Then they said, “Let’s get Rebekah and ask her about it.” 58So they sent for her and asked, “Will you go with this man?”
“Yes, I’ll go,” she said.
59So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way with Abraham’s servant and his men. They also sent Rebekah’s servant with her. 60And they gave Rebekah their blessing. They said to her,
“Dear sister, may your family grow
by thousands and thousands.
May they take over
the cities of their enemies.”
61Then Rebekah and her female servants got ready. They got on their camels to go back with the man. So Abraham’s servant took Rebekah and left.
62By that time Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi. He was living in the Negev Desert. 63One evening he went out to the field. He wanted to spend some time thinking. When he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel. 65She asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”
“He’s my master,” the servant answered. So she covered her face with her veil.
66Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done. 67Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent that had belonged to his mother Sarah. And he married Rebekah. She became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother died.
Isake ndi Rebeka
1Tsopano Abrahamu anali atakalamba kwambiri, ndipo Yehova anamudalitsa mu zonse anachita. 2Tsiku lina Abrahamu anawuza wantchito wake wamkulu amene ankayangʼanira zonse anali nazo, kuti “Ika dzanja lako pansi pa ntchafu yanga. 3Ndikufuna kuti ulumbire pamaso pa Yehova, Mulungu wakumwamba ndi dziko lapansi, kuti sudzamupezera mwana wanga mkazi pakati pa atsikana Achikanaani a kuno kumene ndikukhala, 4koma kuti udzapita ku dziko la kwathu ndi kukamupezera mkazi mwana wanga Isake pakati pa abale anga.”
5Wantchito uja anafunsa kuti, “Nanga atakhala kuti mkaziyo sakufuna kubwera nane kuno? Kodi ine ndingadzatenge mwana wanu ndi kubwerera naye ku dziko kumene munachokera?”
6Abrahamu anati, “Uwonetsetse kuti usadzabwerere naye mwana wanga kumeneko. 7Yehova Mulungu wakumwamba amene ananditenga kwa makolo anga nanditulutsa mʼdziko lobadwira, ameneyo anayankhula nane molumbira kuti, ‘Kwa zidzukulu zako ndidzapereka dziko ili.’ Iyeyu adzatumiza mngelo wake kuti akutsogolere kumeneko kukapezera mwana wanga mkazi. 8Ngati mkaziyo adzakana kubwerera nawe ndiye kuti udzakhala womasuka ku lumbiro langa. Koma usadzamutenge mwana wanga ndi kubwerera naye kumeneko.” 9Choncho wantchitoyo anayika dzanja lake pansi pa ntchafu ya mbuye wake Abrahamu nalumbira kwa iye kuti adzachitadi monga mwa mawu a Abrahamu.
10Tsono wantchito uja anatengapo ngamira khumi mwa ngamira za mbuye wake pamodzi ndi zinthu zabwino za mitundumitundu. Ndipo ananyamuka kupita ku mzinda wa Nahori, mʼdziko la Mesopotamiya. 11Atafika, anagwaditsa pansi ngamira zija pafupi ndi chitsime chimene chinali kunja kwa mzinda uja. Awa anali madzulo ndithu, nthawi imene amayi amapita kukatunga madzi.
12Ndipo wantchito uja anapemphera nati, “Haa, Yehova, Mulungu wa mbuye wanga Abrahamu, mulole kuti zinthu zindiyendere ine lero, ndipo muonetseni mbuye wanga Abrahamu kukoma mtima kwanu kosasinthika. 13Taonani ndayima pambali pa chitsimechi, ndipo atsikana a mu mzindawu akubwera kudzatunga madzi. 14Ine ndipempha mtsikana wina kuti, ‘Chonde tula mtsuko wako kuti ndimweko madzi.’ Tsono iye akayankha kuti ‘Imwani,’ ndipo ndidzapatsanso ngamira zanu madziwo, ameneyo akhale mkazi amene mwasankhira mtumiki wanu Isake.” Zimenezi zikachitika, ndidzadziwa kuti mwaonetsadi kukoma mtima kwanu kosasinthika kwa mbuye wanga.
15Asanatsirize kupemphera, anangoona Rebeka watulukira atasenza mtsuko wake pa phewa. Iyeyu anali mwana wa Betueli mwana wa Milika, mkazi wa Nahori mʼbale wake wa Abrahamu. 16Mtsikanayo anali wokongola kwambiri, namwali amene sanadziwe mwamuna. Iye anatsikira ku chitsime nadzaza mtsuko nakweranso ku mtunda.
17Wantchito uja anathamanga kukakumana naye nati, “Chonde patseko madzi pangʼono a mu mtsuko wakowo kuti ndimwe.”
18Mtsikanayo anati, “Imwani mbuye wanga.” Ndipo mofulumira anatsitsa mtsuko uja nawuyika mʼmanja ndi kumupatsa kuti amwe.
19Atatha kupereka madzi akumwa kwa mlendo uja, mtsikanayo anati, “Ndikatungiranso ngamira madzi kuti zimwe mpaka zitakwana.” 20Choncho anafulumira kukhuthula madzi a mu mtsuko aja momwera ziweto, nathamanga kubwerera ku chitsime kukatunga madzi ena, ndipo anatunga okwanira ngamira zake zonse. 21Modekha, munthu uja anayangʼanitsitsa kwambiri mtsikana uja kuti adziwedi ngati Yehova anamutsogolera pa ulendo wake uja kapena ayi.
22Ngamira zija zitatha kumwa, mlendo uja anatulutsa chipini chagolide cholemera theka la sekeli ndi zibangiri zagolide ziwiri zolemera masekeli 100. 23Kenaka anafunsa namwaliyo kuti, “Chonde tandiwuza, kodi ndiwe mwana wa yani? Ndipo kodi malo alipo kwanu woti ife nʼkugona?”
24Anamuyankha kuti, “Ine ndine mwana wa Betueli, mwana amene Milika anaberekera Nahori.” 25Ndipo anapitiriza kunena kuti, “Chakudya chodyetsa nyamazi chilipo kwathu ndipo malo woti mugone aliponso.”
26Kenaka munthuyo anawerama pansi napembedza Yehova, 27nati, “Alemekezeke Yehova, Mulungu wa mbuye wanga Abrahamu, amene waonetsa kukoma mtima kwake kosasintha ndi kukhulupirika kwake kwa mbuye wanga. Yehova wanditsogolera pa ulendo wanga mpaka ndafika ku nyumba kwa abale ake a mbuye wanga.”
28Mtsikana uja anathamanga nakafotokozera zimenezi anthu a kwa amayi ake. 29Tsono Rebeka anali ndi mlongo wake dzina lake Labani. 30Iyeyu atangoona chipini pa mphuno ndi zibangiri pa mikono ya mlongo wake komanso kumva zimene mlendo uja ananena kwa Rebekayo, anathamangira kwa mlendo uja, ndipo anamupeza atangoyima ndi ngamira zake pafupi ndi chitsime. 31Iye anati, “Tiyeni kwathu, ndinu munthu amene Yehova wamudalitsa. Bwanji mwangoyimirira panja pano? Ine ndakukonzerani malo ogona inu ndi ngamira zanu.”
32Choncho munthu uja analowa mʼnyumba. Labani anatsitsa katundu anali pa ngamira uja. Kenaka anazipatsa ngamira zija chakudya, ndiponso anapereka madzi wosamba mapazi kwa mlendo uja ndi anthu ena onse. 33Chakudya chitabwera mlendo uja anati, “Sindidya mpaka nditakuwuzani zimene ndadzera kuno.”
Labani anati, “Yankhulani.”
34Motero iye anati, “Ine ndine wantchito wa Abrahamu. 35Yehova wadalitsa mbuye wanga kwambiri, ndiponso walemera. Wamupatsa nkhosa ndi ngʼombe, siliva ndi golide, antchito aamuna ndi antchito aakazi, komanso ngamira ndi abulu. 36Sara, mkazi wa mbuye wanga anamubalira iye mwana wamwamuna ngakhale kuti Sarayo anali wokalamba. Tsono mbuye wanga wamupatsa mwanayo chuma chonse. 37Tsono mbuye wanga anandilumbiritsa kuti ndisunge mawu ake akuti, ‘Usadzamupezere mwana wanga mkazi kuchokera mwa atsikana a dziko lino la Kanaani, 38koma upite ku banja la abambo anga ndi kwa abale anga kuti ukamupezere mkazi mwana wanga.’ ”
39“Ndipo ine ndinati kwa mbuye wanga, ‘Nanga mkaziyo akakapanda kubwera nane pamodzi?’
40“Iye anayankha, ‘Yehova amene ndakhala ndikumumvera nthawi zonse, adzatumiza mngelo wake kuti akuperekeze ndipo adzakuthandiza mpaka ukamupezere mwana wanga mkazi kuchokera ku mtundu wanga, wa fuko langa. 41Ukadzachita zimenezi udzakhala mfulu wosamangidwa ndi lumbiro langali. Koma tsono ukadzafika kwa fuko langa, ndipo ngati sadzalola kukupatsa mbeta ya mwana wanga, aponso udzamasuka ku lumbiro langali.’ ”
42“Tsono lero lino pamene ndafika pa chitsime, ndinapempha kuti, ‘Yehova, Mulungu wa mbuye wanga, Abrahamu, ngati Inu mwandidalitsadi pa ulendowu, 43taonani ndayima pambali pa chitsime ichi; ndipo ndidzati kwa namwali amene atabwere kudzatunga kuti, chonde nditamwako madzi a mu mtsuko wakowu,’ 44ndipo ngati adzandiyankha kuti, ‘Imwani ndipo ndizimwetsanso madzi ngamira zanuzi,’ ameneyo akhale yemwe Yehova wamusankhira mwana wa mbuye wanga.”
45“Ndisanatsirize kupemphera, ndinangoona Rebeka akutulukira mtsuko wake uli pa phewa. Anatsetserekera ku chitsime kukatunga madzi ndipo ndinati kwa iye, ‘Chonde patseko madzi akumwa.’
46“Mofulumira, anatsitsa mtsuko wake pa phewa pake nati, ‘Imwani ndiponso ndizimwetsa madzi ngamira zanuzi.’ Kotero ine ndinamwa ndipo anamwetsanso ngamirazo.
47“Ndinamufunsa kuti, ‘Ndiwe mwana wa yani?’
“Iye anati, ‘Ndine mwana wa Betueli mwana wa Nahori, amene Milika anamuberekera.’
“Tsono ndinayika chipini pa mphuno yake ndi kumveka zibangiri mʼmikono yake, 48kenaka ndinawerama pansi ndi kupembedza Yehova. Ndipo ndinatamanda Yehova, Mulungu wa mbuye wanga Abrahamu, amene anandilondolera mokhulupirika njira yanga. Iye wandifikitsa kwa mʼbale wake kumene ndapezera mbeta mwana wa mbuye wanga. 49Tsono ngati mukufuna kuonetsa kukoma mtima kwanu kwa mbuye wanga, ndikuonetsa kukhulupirika kwanu, ndiwuzeni; ndipo ngati si choncho ndiwuzeninso kuti ndidziwe chochita.”
50Labani ndi Betueli anayankha nati, “Izi ndi zochokera kwa Yehova, ndipo ife sitinganenepo kanthu. 51Nayu Rebeka, mutengeni muzipita naye kuti akakhale mkazi wa mwana wa mbuye wanu, monga Yehova wanenera.”
52Wantchito wa Abrahamu uja atamva zimene anawerama pansi pamaso pa Yehova. 53Kenaka wantchitoyo anatulutsa ziwiya zagolide ndi zasiliva ndi zovala nazipereka kwa Rebeka. Anaperekanso mphatso zina za mtengowapatali kwa mlongo wake ndi amayi ake a Rebeka. 54Tsono wantchito uja ndi anthu amene anali naye anadya, kumwa nagona komweko.
Kutacha mmawa wake, wantchito uja anati, “Mundilole ndibwerere kwa mbuye wanga.”
55Koma mlongo wake ndi amayi ake a Rebeka anayankha kuti, “Muloleni mtsikanayu abakhala nafe masiku khumi kapena kupyolerapo, kenaka mukhoza kupita.”
56Koma iye anawawuza kuti, “Chonde musandichedwetse. Yehova wandithandiza kale pa ulendo wanga. Mundilole ndibwerere kwa mbuye wanga.”
57Koma iwo anati, “Bwanji timuyitane mtsikanayo ndipo timufunse ngati afuna kupita nanu panopa.” 58Choncho iwo anamuyitana Rebeka uja namufunsa kuti, “Kodi ukufuna kupita ndi munthuyu panopa?”
Iye anayankha kuti, “Ndipita.”
59Kotero anamulola Rebeka pamodzi ndi mlezi wake kuti apite ndi wantchito wa Abrahamu pamodzi ndi anthu amene anali naye. 60Ndipo iwo anadalitsa Rebeka ndi kumuwuza kuti,
“Iwe ndiwe mlongo wathu, Mulungu akudalitse iwe, ukhale
mayi wa anthu miyandamiyanda;
ndi kuti zidzukulu zako zidzalanda
mizinda ya adani awo.”
61Kenaka Rebeka ndi antchito ake ananyamuka kukakwera ngamira zawo ndipo anapita naye pamodzi munthu uja. Choncho wantchito uja anatenga Rebeka nʼkumapita.
62Pa nthawiyi nʼkuti Isake atafika kuchokera ku chitsime cha Wamoyo Wondipenya (Beeri-lahai-roi), popeza tsopano ankakhala ku Negevi. 63Tsiku lina chakumadzulo, Isake anatuluka kukayendayenda ku munda, ndipo atakweza maso anaona ngamira zikubwera. 64Rebeka nayenso anatukula maso naona Isake. Ndipo anatsika pa ngamira yake 65nafunsa wantchito uja kuti, “Kodi munthu uyo ndi ndani akuyenda mʼmundamo kubwera kudzakumana nafe?”
Wantchitoyo anayankha, “Ndiye mbuye wanga.” Choncho Rebeka anatenga nsalu ndi kufunda kumaso.
66Tsono wantchito uja anawuza Isake zonse zimene anazichita. 67Isake analowa naye Rebeka mu tenti ya amayi ake Sara, ndipo anakhala mkazi wake. Isake anamukonda kwambiri Rebeka mkazi wake motero kuti zimenezi zinamutonthoza imfa ya amayi ake.
