Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹¹ He 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.

¹² Then he prayed, “Lord, you are the God of my master Abraham. Make me successful today. Be kind to my master Abraham. ¹³ I’m standing beside this spring. The daughters of the people who live in the town are coming out here to get water. ¹⁴ I 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.”

¹⁵ Before 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. ¹⁶ The 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.

¹⁷ The 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.

¹⁹ After 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.” ²⁰ So 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. ²¹ The 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.

²² The 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. ²³ Then 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?”

²⁴ She answered, “I’m the daughter of Bethuel. He’s the son Milkah had by Nahor.” ²⁵ She continued, “We have plenty of straw and feed for your camels. We also have room for you to spend the night.”

²⁶ Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord. ²⁷ He 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.”

⁹ No widow should be put on the list of widows unless she is more than 60 years old. She must also have been faithful to her husband. ¹⁰ She must be well known for the good things she does. That includes bringing up children. It includes inviting guests into her home. It includes washing the feet of the Lord’s people. It includes helping those who are in trouble. A widow should spend her time doing all kinds of good things.

¹¹ Don’t put younger widows on that kind of list. They might want pleasure more than they want Christ. Then they would want to get married again. ¹² If they do that, they will be judged. They have broken their first promise. ¹³ Besides, they get into the habit of having nothing to do. They go around from house to house. They waste their time. They also bother other people and say things that make no sense. They shouldn’t say those things. ¹⁴ So here is the advice I give to younger widows. Get married. Have children. Take care of your own homes. Don’t give the enemy the chance to tell lies about you. ¹⁵ In fact, some have already turned away to follow Satan.

¹⁶ Suppose a woman is a believer and takes care of widows. She should continue to help them. She shouldn’t let the church pay the expenses. Then the church can help the widows who really need it.