Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 Abraham was now very old, and the Lord had blessed him in everything he did.
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Abraham was old, and well stricken in age. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 He said to his oldest servant, who was in charge of all that he had, "Place your hand between my thighs and make a vow.
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Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh.
3 I want you to make a vow in the name of the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from the people here in Canaan.
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I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.
4 You must go back to the country where I was born and get a wife for my son Isaac from among my relatives."
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But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac."
5 But the servant asked, "What if the young woman will not leave home to come with me to this land? Shall I send your son back to the land you came from?"
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The servant said to him, "What if the woman isn't willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?"
6 Abraham answered, "Make sure that you don't send my son back there!
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Abraham said to him, "Beware that you don't bring my son there again.
7 The Lord, the God of heaven, brought me from the home of my father and from the land of my relatives, and he solemnly promised me that he would give this land to my descendants. He will send his angel before you, so that you can get a wife there for my son.
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Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, 'To your descendants I will give this land.' He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
8 If the young woman is not willing to come with you, you will be free from this promise. But you must not under any circumstances take my son back there."
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If the woman isn't willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this my oath. Only you shall not bring my son there again."
9 So the servant put his hand between the thighs of Abraham, his master, and made a vow to do what Abraham had asked.
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The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
10 The servant, who was in charge of Abraham's property, took ten of his master's camels and went to the city where Nahor had lived in northern Mesopotamia.
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The servant took ten camels, of his master's camels, and departed, having all goodly things of his master's in his hand. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
11 When he arrived, he made the camels kneel down at the well outside the city. It was late afternoon, the time when women came out to get water.
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He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.
12 He prayed, "Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today and keep your promise to my master.
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He said, "Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13 Here I am at the well where the young women of the city will be coming to get water.
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Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
14 I will say to one of them, "Please, lower your jar and let me have a drink.' If she says, "Drink, and I will also bring water for your camels,' may she be the one that you have chosen for your servant Isaac. If this happens, I will know that you have kept your promise to my master."
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Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, 'Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink.' She will say, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.' Let the same be she who you have appointed for your servant Isaac. Thereby will I know that you have shown kindness to my master."
15 Before he had finished praying, Rebecca arrived with a water jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham's brother Nahor and his wife Milcah.
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It happened, before he had done speaking, that behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder.
16 She was a very beautiful young woman and still a virgin. She went down to the well, filled her jar, and came back.
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The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin, neither had any man known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up.
17 The servant ran to meet her and said, "Please give me a drink of water from your jar."
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The servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher."
18 She said, "Drink, sir," and quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and held it while he drank.
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She said, "Drink, my lord." She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him drink.
19 When he had finished, she said, "I will also bring water for your camels and let them have all they want."
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When she had done giving him drink, she said, "I will also draw for your camels, until they have done drinking."
20 She quickly emptied her jar into the animals' drinking trough and ran to the well to get more water, until she had watered all his camels.
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She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.
21 The man kept watching her in silence, to see if the Lord had given him success.
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The man looked steadfastly at her, holding his peace, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 When she had finished, the man took an expensive gold ring and put it in her nose and put two large gold bracelets on her arms.
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It happened, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold,
23 He said, "Please tell me who your father is. Is there room in his house for my men and me to spend the night?"
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and said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father's house for us to lodge in?"
24 "My father is Bethuel son of Nahor and Milcah," she answered.
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She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."
25 "There is plenty of straw and fodder at our house, and there is a place for you to stay."
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She said moreover to him, "We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in."
26 Then the man knelt down and worshiped the Lord.
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The man bowed his head, and worshiped Yahweh.
27 He said, "Praise the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has faithfully kept his promise to my master. The Lord has led me straight to my master's relatives."
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He said, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his lovingkindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me in the way to the house of my master's relatives."
28 The young woman ran to her mother's house and told the whole story.
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The young lady ran, and told her mother's house about these words.
29 Now Rebecca had a brother named Laban, and he ran outside to go to the well where Abraham's servant was.
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Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring.
30 Laban had seen the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms and had heard her say what the man had told her. He went to Abraham's servant, who was standing by his camels at the well,
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It happened, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "This is what the man said to me," that he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.
31 and said, "Come home with me. You are a man whom the Lord has blessed. Why are you standing out here? I have a room ready for you in my house, and there is a place for your camels."
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He said, "Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels."
32 So the man went into the house, and Laban unloaded the camels and gave them straw and fodder. Then he brought water for Abraham's servant and his men to wash their feet.
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The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
33 When food was brought, the man said, "I will not eat until I have said what I have to say." Laban said, "Go on and speak."
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Food was set before him to eat. But he said, "I will not eat until I have told my message." He said, "Speak on."
34 "I am the servant of Abraham," he began.
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He said, "I am Abraham's servant.
35 "The Lord has greatly blessed my master and made him a rich man. He has given him flocks of sheep and goats, cattle, silver, gold, male and female slaves, camels, and donkeys.
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Yahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, men-servants and maid-servants, and camels and donkeys.
36 Sarah, my master's wife, bore him a son when she was old, and my master has given everything he owns to him.
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Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him.
37 My master made me promise with a vow to obey his command. He said, "Do not choose a wife for my son from the young women in the land of Canaan.
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My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,
38 Instead, go to my father's people, to my relatives, and choose a wife for him.'
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but you shall go to my father's house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.'
39 And I asked my master, "What if she will not come with me?'
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I said to my master, 'What if the woman will not follow me?'
40 He answered, "The Lord, whom I have always obeyed, will send his angel with you and give you success. You will get for my son a wife from my own people, from my father's family.
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He said to me, 'Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son of my relatives, and of my father's house.
41 There is only one way for you to be free from your vow: if you go to my relatives and they refuse you, then you will be free.'
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Then will you be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don't give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.'
42 "When I came to the well today, I prayed, "Lord, God of my master Abraham, please give me success in what I am doing.
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I came this day to the spring, and said, 'Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go.
43 Here I am at the well. When a young woman comes out to get water, I will ask her to give me a drink of water from her jar.
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Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes forth to draw, to whom I will say, Give me, I pray you, a little water from your pitcher to drink.
44 If she agrees and also offers to bring water for my camels, may she be the one that you have chosen as the wife for my master's son.'
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She will tell me, "Drink, and I will also draw for your camels." Let the same be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master's son.'
45 Before I had finished my silent prayer, Rebecca came with a water jar on her shoulder and went down to the well to get water. I said to her, "Please give me a drink.'
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Before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'
46 She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, "Drink, and I will also water your camels.' So I drank, and she watered the camels.
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She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.' So I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
47 I asked her, "Who is your father?' And she answered, "My father is Bethuel son of Nahor and Milcah.' Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms.
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I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare to him.' I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands.
48 I knelt down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me straight to my master's relative, where I found his daughter for my master's son.
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I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter for his son.
49 Now, if you intend to fulfill your responsibility toward my master and treat him fairly, please tell me; if not, say so, and I will decide what to do."
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Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me. That I may turn to the right hand, or to the left."
50 Laban and Bethuel answered, "Since this matter comes from the Lord, it is not for us to make a decision.
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Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can't speak to you bad or good.
51 Here is Rebecca; take her and go. Let her become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord himself has said."
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Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her, and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as Yahweh has spoken."
52 When the servant of Abraham heard this, he bowed down and worshiped the Lord.
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It happened that when Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh.
53 Then he brought out clothing and silver and gold jewelry, and gave them to Rebecca. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and to her mother.
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The servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
54 Then Abraham's servant and the men with him ate and drank, and spent the night there. When they got up in the morning, he said, "Let me go back to my master."
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They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master."
55 But Rebecca's brother and her mother said, "Let her stay with us a week or ten days, and then she may go."
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Her brother and her mother said, "Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go."
56 But he said, "Don't make us stay. The Lord has made my journey a success; let me go back to my master."
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He said to them, "Don't hinder me, seeing Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master."
57 They answered, "Let's call her and find out what she has to say."
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They said, "We will call the young lady, and ask her."
58 So they called Rebecca and asked, "Do you want to go with this man?" "Yes," she answered.
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They called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will go."
59 So they let Rebecca and her old family servant go with Abraham's servant and his men.
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They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham's servant, and his men.
60 And they gave Rebecca their blessing in these words: "May you, sister, become the mother of millions! May your descendants conquer the cities of their enemies!"
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They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, "Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your seed possess the gate of those who hate them."
61 Then Rebecca and her young women got ready and mounted the camels to go with Abraham's servant, and they all started out.
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Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
62 Isaac had come into the wilderness of "The Well of the Living One Who Sees Me" and was staying in the southern part of Canaan.
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Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi. For he lived in the land of the South.
63 He went out in the early evening to take a walk in the fields and saw camels coming.
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Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming.
64 When Rebecca saw Isaac, she got down from her camel
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Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel.
65 and asked Abraham's servant, "Who is that man walking toward us in the field?" "He is my master," the servant answered. So she took her scarf and covered her face.
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She said to the servant, "Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." She took her veil, and covered herself.
66 The servant told Isaac everything he had done.
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The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
67 Then Isaac brought Rebecca into the tent that his mother Sarah had lived in, and she became his wife. Isaac loved Rebecca, and so he was comforted for the loss of his mother.
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Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.