創世記 24
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
亞伯拉罕為以撒娶妻
24 亞伯拉罕已經年邁，耶和華在一切的事上都賜福給他。 2 亞伯拉罕對他的老總管說：「請你把手放在我大腿底下， 3 我要你憑耶和華——掌管天地的上帝起誓，你不會找這迦南的女子做我兒子的妻子。 4 你要回到我的家鄉，在我的親族中為以撒物色妻子。」 5 老總管問他：「如果那女子不肯跟我到這裡來，我要把你兒子帶回你的家鄉嗎？」 6 亞伯拉罕說：「你千萬不可帶我的兒子回那裡！ 7 因為帶領我離開父家和本鄉的耶和華——天上的主，曾經向我說話，起誓應許把這片土地賜給我的後代。祂必派天使在你前面引路，幫助你在那裡為我兒子找到妻子。 8 如果那女子不肯跟你來，你也算履行了你向我起的誓，只是你不可帶我兒子回那裡。」 9 於是，老總管就把手放在他主人亞伯拉罕的大腿底下，為這事向他起誓。
10 老總管帶著主人的十匹駱駝和各種上好的禮物，啟程前往美索不達米亞，來到拿鶴住的城。 11 黃昏，婦女們出來打水的時候，他讓駱駝跪在城外的井旁， 12 然後禱告說：「我主人亞伯拉罕的上帝耶和華啊，求你施恩給我家主人亞伯拉罕，讓事情今天能夠成就。 13 現在，我站在這泉水旁，城裡的少女正出來打水。 14 如果我對哪個少女說『請放下你的水罐，讓我喝點水』，如果她說『請喝，我也打水給你的駱駝喝』，願那女子做你為自己的僕人以撒選定的妻子。這樣，我可以知道你施恩給我的主人了。」
老總管井旁遇利百加
15 老總管的話還沒有說完，就有一位名叫利百加的少女肩上扛著水罐走出來。她是彼土利的女兒，彼土利是亞伯拉罕的兄弟拿鶴和密迦所生的兒子。 16 利百加長得非常美麗，是個處女，沒有男人親近過她。她下到井旁，把水罐盛滿了水後上來。 17 老總管跑上前去對她說：「求你給我一點水喝。」 18 她回答說：「我主，請喝！」說完，立刻放下水罐，托在手上讓他喝。 19 等他喝完以後，利百加又說：「我再為你的駱駝打些水來，讓牠們喝個飽。」 20 於是，她馬上把水罐裡的水倒進水槽裡，又跑到井邊為所有的駱駝打水。 21 當時，老總管在一旁靜靜地注視著利百加，要看看耶和華是否使他此行順利。
22 駱駝喝過水以後，老總管拿出一隻約六克重的金環和一對約一百一十克重的金鐲給利百加， 23 對她說：「請問你是誰的女兒？你父親家裡有地方讓我們住宿嗎？」 24 利百加回答說：「我是彼土利的女兒，我父親是拿鶴和密迦的兒子。 25 我家裡有充足的糧草，也有地方讓你留宿。」 26 老總管聽了，就俯伏敬拜耶和華， 27 說：「我主人亞伯拉罕的上帝耶和華當受稱頌，因為祂一直以慈愛和信實對待我的主人，引導我一路走到我主人兄弟的家裡。」
28 利百加跑回家中，把這事告訴了母親和家人。 29 利百加有個哥哥名叫拉班。 30 他看見妹妹的金環和手上的金鐲，聽了她敘述老總管的話，就跑到井旁，見老總管跟駱駝仍然站在那裡， 31 便對他說：「你這蒙耶和華賜福的人，請到我家。為什麼站在外面呢？我已經為你預備好了房間，也為駱駝預備了地方。」 32 老總管就到了拉班的家裡，拉班卸下駱駝背上的東西，給駱駝餵上草料，打水給老總管和隨行的人洗腳。 33 他們備好了晚餐給他吃，老總管卻說：「不，等我說明來意後再吃。」拉班說：「請說。」
34 老總管說：「我是亞伯拉罕的僕人。 35 耶和華賜給我主人極大的福氣，使他非常富有。耶和華賜給他牛群、羊群、金子、銀子、男女僕婢、駱駝和驢。 36 我主人的妻子撒拉在晚年生了一個兒子，主人把所有的財產都給了他。 37 主人要我起誓，他說，『你不可以給我的兒子娶迦南女子為妻， 38 你要到我家鄉的親族中為我兒子物色妻子。』 39 我問我的主人，『如果那女子不願意跟我回來怎麼辦？』 40 他說，『我一向事奉的耶和華必會派天使與你同行，使你一路順利，為我兒子在家鄉的親族中物色妻子。 41 你去就是履行了你向我起的誓，如果我的親族不肯把女子交給你，你也算履行了你向我起的誓。』
42 「所以，今天我來到井旁時曾禱告說，『我主人亞伯拉罕的上帝耶和華啊，求你使我一路順利。 43 我現在站在井旁，有女子出來打水的時候，我會向她要水喝， 44 如果她說，請喝，我也打水給你的駱駝喝，就讓她做你為我家主人的兒子預備的妻子吧。』
45 「我心中的話還沒有說完，就看見利百加肩上扛著水罐到井旁打水。我上前向她要水喝， 46 她就連忙放下肩上的水罐，說，『請喝，我也打水給你的駱駝喝。』我喝了，她又打水給駱駝喝。 47 我問她是誰家的女兒，她說，『是拿鶴和密迦的兒子彼土利的女兒。』我就替她戴上金鼻環和金手鐲， 48 然後俯伏敬拜耶和華——我主人亞伯拉罕的上帝，因為祂引導我走正確的路，找到了主人兄弟的孫女兒給主人的兒子做妻子。 49 現在，你們若願意以慈愛和信實對待我的主人，答應這門親事，請告訴我；如果不答應，也請告訴我，好讓我知道應該怎麼辦。」
50 拉班和彼土利回答說：「既然是耶和華的安排，我們不能再多說什麼。 51 你看，利百加就在這裡，你可以照耶和華的話，把她帶回去給你主人的兒子做妻子。」 52 亞伯拉罕的僕人聽見這話，就俯伏在地上敬拜耶和華， 53 然後拿出金銀首飾和衣裳送給利百加，又把貴重的禮物送給她的哥哥和母親。 54 老總管和隨行的人用過晚飯以後，在那裡住了一夜。第二天早晨，老總管說：「請讓我返回我主人那裡。」 55 但利百加的哥哥和母親說：「讓利百加和我們住上十來天再去吧！」 56 可是，老總管說：「既然耶和華已經使我一路順利，請你們不要挽留我，請讓我回到我主人那裡。」 57 他們說：「我們問問利百加的意見吧。」 58 他們就叫來利百加，問她：「你願意跟這個人同去嗎？」利百加說：「我願意！」 59 於是，他們讓利百加和她的奶媽跟老總管及隨行的人一同離去， 60 並為利百加祝福，說：
「我們的妹妹啊，
願你成為千萬人之母！
願你的後代戰勝仇敵！」
以撒與利百加成婚
61 於是，利百加和她的婢女們準備妥當，騎上駱駝，跟著老總管離去。
62 那時，以撒住在南地，他剛從庇耳·拉海·萊回來。 63 傍晚的時候，以撒來到田間默想，他抬頭一看，見一隊駱駝迎面而來。 64 利百加抬頭看見以撒，就從駱駝上下來， 65 問老總管：「那從田間來迎接我們的是誰？」老總管說：「是我的主人！」利百加聽了就蒙上面紗。 66 老總管向以撒講述整個事情的經過。 67 以撒就帶利百加進入他母親撒拉的帳篷，娶她為妻，並且很愛她。自從母親去世後，以撒這才得到安慰。
Genesis 24
International Children’s Bible
A Wife for Isaac
24 Abraham was now very old. The Lord had blessed him in every way. 2 Abraham’s oldest servant was in charge of everything Abraham owned. Abraham called that servant to him and said, “Put your hand under my leg.[a] 3 Make a promise to me before the Lord, the God of heaven and earth. Don’t get a wife for my son from the Canaanite girls who live around here. 4 Instead, go back to my country, to the land of my relatives. Get a wife for my son Isaac from there.”
5 The servant said to him, “What if this woman does not want to return with me to this land? Then, should I take your son with me back to your homeland?”
6 Abraham said to him, “No! Don’t take my son back there. 7 The Lord is the God of heaven. He brought me from the home of my father and the land of my relatives. But the Lord promised me, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’ The Lord will send his angel before you. The angel will help you get a wife for my son there. 8 But if the girl won’t come back with you, you will be free from this promise. But you must not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant put his hand under his master’s leg. He made a promise to Abraham about this.
10 The servant took ten of Abraham’s camels and left. He carried with him many different kinds of beautiful gifts. He went to Northwest Mesopotamia to Nahor’s city. 11 He made the camels kneel down at the well outside the city. It was in the evening when the women come out to get water.
12 The servant said, “Lord, you are the God of my master Abraham. Allow me to find a wife for his son today. Please show this kindness to my master Abraham. 13 Here I am, standing by the spring of water. The girls from the city are coming out to get water. 14 I will say to one of the girls, ‘Please put your jar down so I can drink.’ Then let her say, ‘Drink, and I will also give water to your camels.’ If that happens, I will know she is the right one for your servant Isaac. And I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”
15 Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out of the city. She was the daughter of Bethuel. (Bethuel was the son of Milcah and Nahor, Abraham’s brother.) Rebekah was carrying her water jar on her shoulder. 16 She was very pretty. She was a virgin; she had never had physical relations with a man. She went down to the spring and filled her jar. Then she came back up. 17 The servant ran to her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”
18 Rebekah said, “Drink, sir.” She quickly lowered the jar from her shoulder and gave him a drink. 19 After he finished drinking, Rebekah said, “I will also pour some water for your camels.” 20 So she quickly poured all the water from her jar into the drinking trough for the camels. Then she kept running to the well until she had given all the camels enough to drink.
21 The servant quietly watched her. He wanted to be sure the Lord had made his trip successful. 22 After the camels had finished drinking, he gave Rebekah a gold ring weighing one-fifth of an ounce. He also gave her two gold arm bracelets weighing about four ounces each. 23 The servant asked, “Who is your father? Is there a place in his house for me and my men to spend the night?”
24 Rebekah answered, “My father is Bethuel. He is the son of Milcah and Nahor.” 25 Then she said, “And, yes, we have straw for your camels. We have a place for you to spend the night.”
26 The servant bowed and worshiped the Lord. 27 He said, “Blessed is the Lord, the God of my master Abraham. The Lord has been kind and truthful to him. He has led me to my master’s relatives.”
28 Then Rebekah ran and told her mother’s family about all these things. 29 She had a brother named Laban. He ran out to Abraham’s servant, who was still at the spring. 30 Laban had heard what she had said. And he had seen the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms. So he ran out to the well. And there was the man standing by the camels at the spring. 31 Laban said, “Sir, you are welcome to come in. You don’t have to stand outside. I have prepared the house for you and also a place for your camels.”
32 So Abraham’s servant went into the house. Laban unloaded the camels and gave them straw and food. Then Laban gave water to Abraham’s servant so he and the men with him could wash their feet. 33 Then Laban gave the servant food. But the servant said, “I will not eat until I have told you why I came.”
So Laban said, “Then tell us.”
34 He said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35 The Lord has greatly blessed my master in everything. My master has become a rich man. The Lord has given him many flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. He has given Abraham silver and gold, male and female servants, camels and horses. 36 Sarah, my master’s wife, gave birth to a son when she was old. My master has given everything he owns to that son. 37 My master had me make a promise to him. He said, ‘Don’t get a wife for my son from the Canaanite girls who live around here. 38 Instead you must go to my father’s people and to my family. There you must get a wife for my son.’ 39 I said to my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’ 40 But he said, ‘I serve the Lord. He will send his angel with you and will help you. You will get a wife for my son from my family and my father’s people. 41 Then you will be free from the promise. Or if they will not give you a wife for my son, you will be free from this promise.’
42 “Today I came to this spring. I said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, please make my trip successful. 43 Look, I am standing by this spring of water. I will wait for a young woman to come out to get water. Then I will say, “Please give me water from your jar to drink.” 44 Then let her say, “Drink this water. I will also get water for your camels.” By this I will know the Lord has chosen her for my master’s son.’
45 “Before I finished my silent prayer, Rebekah came out of the city. She had her water 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 the jar from her shoulder. She said, ‘Drink this. I will also get water for your camels.’ So I drank, and she gave water to my camels also. 47 Then I asked her, ‘Who is your father?’ She answered, ‘My father is Bethuel son of Milcah and Nahor.’ Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms. 48 At that time I bowed my head and thanked the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham. I thanked him because he led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son. 49 Now, tell me, will you be kind and truthful to my master? And if not, tell me so. Then I will know what I should do.”
50 Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is clearly from the Lord. We cannot change what must happen. 51 Rebekah is yours. Take her and go. Let her marry your master’s son as the Lord has commanded.”
52 When Abraham’s servant heard these words, he bowed facedown on the ground before the Lord. 53 Then the servant gave Rebekah gold and silver jewelry and clothes. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and mother. 54 The servant and the men with him ate and drank. And they spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, the servant said, “Now let me go back to my master.”
55 Rebekah’s mother and her brother said, “Let Rebekah stay with us at least ten days. After that she may go.”
56 But the servant said to them, “Do not make me wait. The Lord has made my trip successful. Now let me go back to my master.”
57 Rebekah’s brother and mother said, “We will call Rebekah and ask her what she wants to do.” 58 They called her and asked her, “Do you want to go with this man now?”
She said, “Yes, I do.”
59 So they allowed Rebekah and her nurse to go with Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 They blessed Rebekah and said,
“Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of people.
And may your descendants capture the cities of their enemies.”
61 Then Rebekah and her servant girls got on the camels and followed the servant and his men. So the servant took Rebekah and left.
62 At this time Isaac had left Beer Lahai Roi. He was living in southern Canaan. 63 One evening he went out to the field to think. As he looked up, he saw camels coming. 64 Rebekah looked and saw Isaac. Then she jumped down from the camel. 65 She asked the servant, “Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?”
The servant answered, “That is my master.” So Rebekah covered her face with her veil.
66 The servant told Isaac everything that had happened. 67 Then Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent of Sarah, his mother. And she became his wife. Isaac loved her very much. So he was comforted after his mother’s death.
Footnotes
- 24:2 Put . . . leg. This showed that a person would keep the promise.
Genesis 24
New King James Version
A Bride for Isaac
24 Now Abraham (A)was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord (B)had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 So Abraham said (C)to the oldest servant of his house, who (D)ruled over all that he had, “Please, (E)put your hand under my thigh, 3 and I will make you (F)swear[a] by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that (G)you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; 4 (H)but you shall go (I)to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”
5 And the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?”
6 But Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not take my son back there. 7 The Lord God of heaven, who (J)took me from my father’s house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, (K)‘To your [b]descendants I give this land,’ (L)He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then (M)you will be released from this oath; only do not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, (N)for all his master’s goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to (O)the city of Nahor. 11 And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time (P)when women go out to draw water. 12 Then he (Q)said, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, please (R)give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, here (S)I stand by the well of water, and (T)the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And (U)by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”
15 And it happened, (V)before he had finished speaking, that behold, (W)Rebekah,[c] who was born to Bethuel, son of (X)Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. 16 Now the young woman (Y)was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. 17 And the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.”
18 (Z)So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. 19 And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” 20 Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. 21 And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether (AA)the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden (AB)nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold, 23 and said, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father’s house for us [d]to lodge?”
24 So she said to him, (AC)“I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to Nahor.” 25 Moreover she said to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge.”
26 Then the man (AD)bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord. 27 And he said, (AE)“Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken (AF)His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord (AG)led me to the house of my master’s brethren.” 28 So the young woman ran and told her mother’s household these things.
29 Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was (AH)Laban, and Laban ran out to the man by the well. 30 So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, “Thus the man spoke to me,” that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well. 31 And he said, “Come in, (AI)O blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.”
32 Then the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and (AJ)provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to (AK)wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 33 Food was set before him to eat, but he said, (AL)“I will not eat until I have told about my errand.”
And he said, “Speak on.”
34 So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35 The Lord (AM)has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. 36 And Sarah my master’s wife (AN)bore a son to my master when she was old; and (AO)to him he has given all that he has. 37 Now my master (AP)made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell; 38 (AQ)but you shall go to my father’s house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.’ 39 (AR)And I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’ 40 (AS)But he said to me, ‘The Lord, (AT)before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and [e]prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house. 41 (AU)You will be clear from this oath when you arrive among my family; for if they will not give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’
42 “And this day I came to the well and said, (AV)‘O Lord God of my master Abraham, if You will now prosper the way in which I go, 43 (AW)behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,” 44 and she says to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,”—let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’
45 (AX)“But before I had finished (AY)speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah, coming out with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ 46 And she made haste and let her pitcher down from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels a drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels a drink also. 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.’ So I put the nose ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists. 48 (AZ)And I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to (BA)take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son. 49 Now if you will (BB)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, (BC)“The thing comes from the Lord; we cannot (BD)speak to you either bad or good. 51 (BE)Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the Lord has spoken.”
52 And it came to pass, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, that (BF)he worshiped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth. 53 Then the servant brought out (BG)jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave (BH)precious things to her brother and to her mother.
54 And he and the men who were with him ate and drank and stayed all night. Then they arose in the morning, and he said, (BI)“Send me away to my master.”
55 But her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us a few days, at least ten; after that she may go.”
56 And he said to them, “Do not [f]hinder me, since the Lord has prospered my way; send me away so that I may go to my master.”
57 So they said, “We will call the young woman and ask her personally.” 58 Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?”
And she said, “I will go.”
59 So they sent away Rebekah their sister (BJ)and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her:
“Our sister, may you become
(BK)The mother of thousands of ten thousands;
(BL)And may your descendants possess
The gates of those who hate them.”
61 Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and they rode on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.
62 Now Isaac came from the way of (BM)Beer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the South. 63 And Isaac went out (BN)to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming. 64 Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac (BO)she dismounted from her camel; 65 for she had said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?”
The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took a veil and covered herself.
66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he (BP)took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac (BQ)was comforted after his mother’s death.
Footnotes
- Genesis 24:3 take an oath
- Genesis 24:7 Lit. seed
- Genesis 24:15 Rebecca, Rom. 9:10
- Genesis 24:23 to spend the night
- Genesis 24:40 make your way successful
- Genesis 24:56 delay
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.