42 “When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success(A) to the journey on which I have come. 43 See, I am standing beside this spring.(B) If a young woman(C) comes out to draw water and I say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar,”(D) 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.’(E)

45 “Before I finished praying in my heart,(F) Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder.(G) She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’(H)

46 “She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too.’(I) So I drank, and she watered the camels also.(J)

47 “I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’(K)

“She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel(L) son of Nahor, whom Milkah bore to him.’(M)

“Then I put the ring in her nose(N) and the bracelets on her arms,(O) 48 and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord.(P) I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham,(Q) who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.(R) 49 Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness(S) to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn.”

50 Laban and Bethuel(T) answered, “This is from the Lord;(U) we can say nothing to you one way or the other.(V) 51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.(W)

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42-44 “Well, when I came this very day to the spring, I prayed, ‘God, God of my master Abraham, make things turn out well in this task I’ve been given. I’m standing at this well. When a young woman comes here to draw water and I say to her, Please, give me a sip of water from your jug, and she says, Not only will I give you a drink, I’ll also water your camels—let that woman be the wife God has picked out for my master’s son.’

45-48 “I had barely finished offering this prayer, when Rebekah arrived, her jug on her shoulder. She went to the spring and drew water and I said, ‘Please, can I have a drink?’ She didn’t hesitate. She held out her jug and said, ‘Drink; and when you’re finished I’ll also water your camels.’ I drank, and she watered the camels. I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel whose parents were Nahor and Milcah.’ I gave her a ring for her nose, bracelets for her arms, and bowed in worship to God. I praised God, the God of my master Abraham who had led me straight to the door of my master’s family to get a wife for his son.

49 “Now, tell me what you are going to do. If you plan to respond with a generous yes, tell me. But if not, tell me plainly so I can figure out what to do next.”

50-51 Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is undeniably from God. We have no say in the matter, either yes or no. Rebekah is yours: Take her and go; let her be the wife of your master’s son, as God has made plain.”

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