A Wife for Isaac
1 Abraham was now a very old man. The Lord had made him rich, and he was successful in everything he did. 2 One day, Abraham called in his most trusted servant and said to him, “Solemnly promise me 3 in the name of the Lord, who rules heaven and earth, that you won't choose a wife for my son Isaac from the people here in the land of Canaan. 4 Instead, go back to the land where I was born and find a wife for him from among my relatives.”
5 But the servant asked, “What if the young woman I choose refuses to leave home and come here with me? Should I send Isaac there to look for a wife?”
6 “No!” Abraham answered. “Don't ever do that, no matter what. 7 The Lord who rules heaven brought me here from the land where I was born and promised that he would give this land to my descendants forever. When you go back there, the Lord will send his angel ahead of you to help you find a wife for my son. 8 If the woman refuses to come along, you don't have to keep this promise. But don't ever take my son back there.” 9 So the servant gave Abraham his word that he would do everything he had been told to do.
10 Soon after that, the servant loaded ten of Abraham's camels with valuable gifts. Then he set out for the city in northern Syria, where Abraham's brother Nahor lived.
11 When he got there, he let the camels rest near the well outside the city. It was late afternoon, the time when the women came out for water. 12 The servant prayed:
You, Lord, are the God my master Abraham worships. Please keep your promise to him and let me find a wife for Isaac today. 13 The young women of the city will soon come to this well for water, 14 and I'll ask one of them for a drink. If she gives me a drink and then offers to get some water for my camels, I'll know she is the one you have chosen and that you have kept your promise to my master.
15-16 While he was still praying, a beautiful unmarried young woman came by with a water jar on her shoulder. She was Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Abraham's brother Nahor and his wife Milcah. Rebekah walked past Abraham's servant, then went over to the well, and filled her water jar. When she started back, 17 Abraham's servant ran to her and said, “Please let me have a drink of water.”
18 “I'll be glad to,” she answered. Then she quickly took the jar from her shoulder and held it while he drank. 19-20 After he had finished, she said, “Now I'll give your camels all the water they want.” She quickly poured out water for them, and she kept going back for more, until his camels had drunk all they wanted. 21 Abraham's servant did not say a word, but he watched everything Rebekah did, because he wanted to know for certain if this was the woman the Lord had chosen.
22 The servant had brought along an expensive gold ring and two large gold bracelets. When Rebekah had finished bringing the water, he gave her the ring for her nose and the bracelets for her arms. 23 Then he said, “Please tell me who your father is. Does he have room in his house for me and my men to spend the night?”
24 She answered, “My father is Bethuel, the son of Nahor and Milcah. 25 We have a place where you and your men can stay, and we also have enough straw and feed for your camels.”
26 Then the servant bowed his head and prayed, 27 “I thank you, Lord God of my master Abraham! You have led me to his relatives and kept your promise to him.”
28 Rebekah ran straight home and told her family everything. 29-30 Her brother Laban heard her tell what the servant had said, and he saw the ring and the bracelets she was wearing. So Laban ran out to Abraham's servant, who was standing by his camels at the well. 31 Then Laban said, “The Lord has brought you safely here. Come home with me. There's no need for you to keep on standing outside. I have a room ready for you in our house, and there's also a place for your camels.”
32 Abraham's servant went home with Laban, where Laban's servants unloaded his camels and gave them straw and feed. Then they brought water into the house, so Abraham's servant and his men could wash their feet. 33 After that, they brought in food. But the servant said, “Before I eat, I must tell you why I have come.”
“Go ahead and tell us,” Laban answered.
34 The servant explained:
I am Abraham's servant. 35 The Lord has been good to my master and has made him very rich. He has given him many sheep, goats, cattle, camels, and donkeys, as well as a lot of silver and gold, and many slaves. 36 Sarah, my master's wife, didn't have any children until she was very old. Then she had a son, and my master has given him everything. 37 I solemnly promised my master that I would do what he said. And he told me, “Don't choose a wife for my son from the women in this land of Canaan. 38 Instead, go back to the land where I was born and find a wife for my son from among my relatives.”
39 I asked my master, “What if the young woman refuses to come with me?”
40 My master answered, “I have always obeyed the Lord, and he will send his angel to help you find my son a wife from among my own relatives. 41 But if they refuse to let her come back with you, then you are freed from your promise.”
42 When I came to the well today, I silently prayed, “You, Lord, are the God my master Abraham worships, so please lead me to a wife for his son 43 while I am here at the well. When a young woman comes out to get water, I'll ask her to give me a drink. 44 If she gives me a drink and offers to get some water for my camels, I'll know she is the one you have chosen.”
45 Even before I had finished praying, Rebekah came by with a water jar on her shoulder. When she had filled the jar, I asked her for a drink. 46 She quickly lowered the jar from her shoulder and said, “Have a drink. Then I'll get water for your camels.” So I drank, and after that she got some water for my camels. 47 I asked her who her father was, and she answered, “My father is Bethuel the son of Nahor and Milcah.” At once I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms. 48 Then I bowed my head and gave thanks to the God my master Abraham worships. The Lord had led me straight to my master's relatives, and I had found a wife for his son.
49 Now please tell me if you are willing to do the right thing for my master. Will you treat him fairly, or do I have to look for another young woman?
50 Laban and Bethuel answered, “The Lord has done this. We have no choice in the matter. 51 Take Rebekah with you; she can marry your master's son, just as the Lord has said.” 52 Abraham's servant bowed down and thanked the Lord. 53 Then he gave clothing, as well as silver and gold jewelry, to Rebekah. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and her mother.
54 Abraham's servant and the men with him ate and drank, then spent the night there. The next morning they got up, and the servant told Rebekah's mother and brother, “I would like to go back to my master now.”
55 “Let Rebekah stay with us for a week or ten days,” they answered. “Then she may go.”
56 But he said, “Don't make me stay any longer. The Lord has already helped me find a wife for my master's son. Now let us return.”
57 They answered, “Let's ask Rebekah what she wants to do.” 58 They called her and asked, “Are you willing to leave with this man at once?”
“Yes,” she answered.
59 So they agreed to let Rebekah and an old family servant woman leave immediately with Abraham's servant and his men. 60 They gave Rebekah their blessing and said, “We pray that God will give you many children and grandchildren and that he will help them defeat their enemies.” 61 Afterwards, Rebekah and the young women who were to travel with her prepared to leave. Then they got on camels and left with Abraham's servant and his men.
62 At that time Isaac was living in the southern part of Canaan near a place called “The Well of the Living One Who Sees Me.” 63-65 One evening he was walking out in the fields, when suddenly he saw a group of people approaching on camels. So he started toward them. Rebekah saw him coming; she got down from her camel, and asked, “Who is that man?”
“He is my master Isaac,” the servant answered. Then Rebekah covered her face with her veil.
66 The servant told Isaac everything that had happened.
67 Isaac took Rebekah into the tent where his mother had lived before she died, and Rebekah became his wife. He loved her and was comforted over the loss of his mother.
Līgava Īzakam
1 Ābrahāms bija vecs, jau gados, un Kungs bija svētījis Ābrahāmu it visā. 2 Un Ābrahāms teica savam kalpam, kas bija vecākais viņa namā un pārvaldīja visu, kas viņam piederēja: “Liec nu savu roku zem mana gurna, 3 un es tevi nozvērinu pie Kunga, debesu Dieva un zemes Dieva, ka tu neņemsi manam dēlam sievu no kanaāniešu meitām, pie kuriem es mītu, 4 bet gan iesi uz manu zemi, uz vietu, kur esmu dzimis, un tur ņemsi sievu manam dēlam Īzakam!” 5 Kalps viņam teica: “Varbūt tā sieva negribēs nākt man līdzi uz šo zemi, vai tad man jāved tavs dēls uz to zemi, no kuras tu esi nācis?” 6 Bet Ābrahāms sacīja: “Sargies, ka tu nevestu manu dēlu uz turieni atpakaļ! 7 Kungs, debesu Dievs, kas ņēma mani no mana tēva nama un zemes, kur esmu dzimis, un kas runāja uz mani un zvērēja, sacīdams: “Šo zemi es došu taviem pēcnācējiem,” – viņš sūtīs savu eņģeli tev pa priekšu, un tu ņemsi manam dēlam sievu no turienes! 8 Un, ja tā sieva negribēs iet tev līdzi, tad tu esi brīvs no šī zvēresta, – tikai neved manu dēlu atpakaļ uz turieni!” 9 Un kalps lika roku zem sava kunga Ābrahāma gurna un zvērēja viņam par to.
10 Un kalps ņēma desmit sava kunga kamieļus un devās ceļā – tam līdzi bija visādi viņa kunga labumi, un viņš cēlās un gāja uz Aram-Naharaimu, uz Nāhora pilsētu. 11 Viņš noguldīja savus kamieļus uz ceļiem pie ūdens akas ārpus pilsētas ap vakara laiku, kad sievas nāk smelt ūdeni. 12 Un viņš teica: “Kungs, mana kunga Ābrahāma Dievs! – lai jel šodien man tā notiek, ka tu parādi žēlastību manam kungam Ābrahāmam. 13 Redzi, es stāvu pie ūdens avota, un šīs pilsētas ļaužu meitas nāk smelt ūdeni. 14 Lai ir tā – kurai es teikšu: pasniedz jel savu krūku, ka padzeros, – un kura teiks: dzer un arī tavus kamieļus es padzirdīšu! – to tu būsi izraudzījis savam kalpam Īzakam, un tā es zināšu, ka tu esi parādījis žēlastību manam kungam!”
Rebeka
15 Pirms viņš vēl bija beidzis runāt, redzi, nāk Rebeka ar krūku uz pleca. Viņa bija dzimusi Betuēlam, Ābrahāma brāļa Nāhora sievas Milkas dēlam. 16 Meitene bija ļoti glīta – jaunava, un vīrs vēl nebija tai bijis klāt, un viņa nokāpa pie avota, piepildīja savu krūku un kāpa augšā. 17 Kalps skrēja viņai pretī un sacīja: “Ļauj man jel mazliet veldzēties ar ūdeni no tavas krūkas!” 18 Un viņa teica: “Dzer, mans kungs!” Viņa nocēla no pleca savu krūku un deva tam dzert. 19 Kad viņa bija to padzirdījusi, tā teica: “Es smelšu arī taviem kamieļiem, līdz tie būs padzēruši!” 20 Viņa steidza, tukšoja silē savu krūku un atkal skrēja uz aku smelt, un viņa smēla visiem viņa kamieļiem. 21 Un tas vīrs vērās viņā kā mēms, nezinādams, vai Kungs licis izdoties viņa ceļam vai ne. 22 Kad kamieļi beidza dzert, tas vīrs deva viņai pusšekeļa smagu zelta gredzenu un divas rokassprādzes – desmit zelta šekeļu svarā. 23 Un viņš teica: “Kā meita tu esi? Saki jel man – vai tava tēva namā ir vieta, kur mums pārnakšņot?” 24 Un viņa tam teica: “Es esmu Betuēla, Milkas dēla, meita, kuru viņa dzemdēja Nāhoram.” 25 Un viņa tam teica: “Gan salmu, gan barības mums ir daudz, gan vietas, kur pārnakšņot!” 26 Un tas vīrs klanījās un zemojās Kungam. 27 Viņš teica: “Slavēts Kungs, mana kunga Ābrahāma Dievs, kas nav atrāvis manam kungam savu žēlastību un uzticību – Kungs mani ir vadījis ceļā uz mana kunga brāļa namu!”
28 Un meitene skrēja un to visu izstāstīja savas mātes namā. 29 Rebekai bija brālis, vārdā Lābans, un Lābans skrēja laukā uz avotu pie tā vīra. 30 Un, kad viņš redzēja rokassprādzes uz savas māsas rokām un gredzenu un dzirdēja savas māsas Rebekas vārdus: tā runāja ar mani tas vīrs, – tad viņš devās pie tā vīra, un, redzi, šis ar kamieļiem stāvēja pie avota. 31 Un viņš teica: “Nāc! Kunga svētība! Kāpēc tu stāvi laukā? Es esmu sagatavojis māju un vietu kamieļiem!” 32 Un tas vīrs gāja uz namu un noņēma kamieļiem nastas. Lābans deva kamieļiem barību un salmus, un ūdeni, ar ko mazgāt kājas tam vīram un tiem, kuri bija kopā ar viņu. 33 Un viņam lika priekšā ēdienu, bet viņš teica: “Es neēdīšu, kamēr nebūšu pateicis savu sakāmo!” Un tas teica: “Runā!” 34 Un viņš teica: “Es esmu Ābrahāma kalps! 35 Un Kungs ir svētījis manu kungu tik ļoti, ka viņš ir kļuvis jo varens. Viņš ir devis viņam avis un vēršus, sudrabu un zeltu, vergus un verdzenes, kamieļus un ēzeļus! 36 Un Sāra, mana kunga sieva, manam kungam dzemdēja dēlu, kad jau bija kļuvusi veca, un viņš tam ir devis visu, kas tam ir! 37 Un mans kungs mani nozvērināja, sacīdams: neņem manam dēlam sievu no kanaāniešiem, kuru zemē es dzīvoju, 38 bet gan ej uz mana tēva namu, pie manas dzimtas, un ņem sievu manam dēlam tur. 39 Un es teicu savam kungam: varbūt tā sieva nenāks man līdzi?! 40 Bet viņš man teica: Kungs, kura priekšā es staigāju, sūtīs savu eņģeli tev līdzi un sekmēs tavu ceļu, un tu ņemsi manam dēlam sievu no manas dzimtas un mana tēva nama! 41 Tikai tad tu būsi brīvs no zvēresta man, ja būsi nonācis pie manas dzimtas, bet, ja viņi tev to nedos, tad tu esi brīvs no zvēresta!
42 Kad es šodien nonācu pie avota, es teicu: Kungs, mana kunga Ābrahāma Dievs! Ja tu esi gribējis, lai tiešām sokas mans ceļš, kurā esmu devies, 43 tad, redzi, es stāvu pie ūdens avota, un lai notiek tā – es teikšu tai jaunavai, kura nāks smelt: dod jel man mazliet padzerties no savas krūkas! 44 Un, ja viņa man teiks: dzer tu pats, un arī tavus kamieļus es padzirdīšu, – tad tā būs sieva, kuru Kungs izraudzījis mana kunga dēlam! 45 Pirms es vēl biju beidzis pie sevis runāt, redzi, nāca Rebeka ar krūku uz pleca, un viņa nokāpa pie avota un smēla, un es viņai teicu: dod jel man padzerties! 46 Un viņa steidza, nocēla savu krūku un teica: dzer, un tavus kamieļus es padzirdīšu! Un es dzēru, un arī kamieļus viņa padzirdīja. 47 Un es jautāju viņai: kā meita tu esi? Un viņa teica: es esmu Betuēla, Nāhora dēla, meita, kuru viņam dzemdēja Milka! – un es liku gredzenu viņas nāsī un rokassprādzes uz rokām. 48 Un es klanījos un zemojos Kungam, es slavēju Kungu, mana kunga Ābrahāma Dievu, kurš vadījis mani pa īsto ceļu, ka ņemu sava kunga brāļameitu viņa dēlam! 49 Un tagad, ja jūs gribat izrādīt laipnību un būt godīgi pret manu kungu, sakiet man jā vai nē, lai es zinu, uz kuru pusi doties!”
50 Lābans un Betuēls atbildēja: “Šī lieta ir nākusi no Kunga, mēs nevaram tev teikt ne jā, ne nē. 51 Redzi, Rebeka ir tavā priekšā, ņem un ej, un lai viņa kļūst sieva tava kunga dēlam, kā Kungs ir teicis!” 52 Kad Ābrahāma kalps dzirdēja viņu sacīto, viņš zemojās Kungam līdz zemei. 53 Un kalps ņēma sudraba traukus un zelta traukus, un drānas un deva Rebekai un arī bagātīgas dāvanas viņas brālim un mātei. 54 Un viņi ēda un dzēra – viņš un tie vīri, kas bija kopā ar viņu, viņi pārnakšņoja, cēlās no rīta, un viņš teica: “Atlaidiet mani pie mana kunga!” 55 Bet viņas brālis un māte teica: “Lai meitene paliek pie mums vēl kādas desmit dienas, lai viņa iet pēc tam!” 56 Bet viņš tiem teica: “Nekavējiet mani! Kungs ir sekmējis manu ceļu! Atlaidiet mani, un es iešu pie sava kunga!” 57 Bet viņi teica: “Pasauksim meiteni un pajautāsim viņai pašai!” 58 Viņi pasauca Rebeku un jautāja viņai: “Vai tu iesi kopā ar šo vīru?” Un viņa teica: “Es iešu!” 59 Un viņi atlaida Rebeku, savu māsu, un viņas zīdītāju, un Ābrahāma kalpu ar viņa vīriem. 60 Tie svētīja Rebeku un viņai teica:
“Mūsu māsa!
Topi par daudziem tūkstošiem!
Un lai tavi pēcnācēji iemanto
savu naidnieku vārtus!”
61 Un cēlās Rebeka un viņas kalpones, viņas jāšus uz kamieļiem devās līdzi tam vīram. Un kalps ņēma Rebeku un devās ceļā. 62 Īzaks bija atnācis no Beēr-Lahaj-Roī, un viņš piemita Negebas zemē. 63 Un pret vakaru Īzaks iznāca, lai paklaiņotu laukā, un viņš pacēla savas acis, skatījās, un redzi – kamieļi nāca! 64 Un Rebeka pacēla savas acis, un viņa ieraudzīja Īzaku, un viņa lēca no kamieļa! 65 Un viņa teica kalpam: “Kas ir tas vīrs, tas tur, kas tur nāk mums pretī pa lauku?” Kalps teica: “Tas ir mans kungs.” Un viņa paņēma sejas apsegu un apklājās. 66 Un kalps pastāstīja Īzakam visu, ko viņš bija darījis. 67 Un Īzaks atveda Rebeku uz savas mātes Sāras telti, un viņš ņēma Rebeku, un viņa kļuva tam par sievu, un viņš mīlēja viņu. Tad Īzaks samierinājās ar savas mātes nāvi.
