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.
Iburayima la dookuulaa ye musoo ñini Isiyaaka ye
1 Saayiŋ Iburayima keebaayaata le, a kotoota le famfaŋ, aduŋ Yaawe* neemata a ma feŋo bee le la. 2 Bituŋ a ko a la suukono dookuulaa kuntiyo ye, meŋ marata a la feŋolu bee ma ko, “I buloo laa n kenoo kaŋ, 3 ŋa i kalindi Yaawe la, saŋo niŋ bankoo Maarii ko, i te musoo ñini la n dinkewo ye ka bo Kanaaninkoolu dimmusoolu kono, n niŋ mennu be siiriŋ. 4 Taa n na bankoo kaŋ, m baadiŋolu yaa, i ye musoo ñini n dinkewo Isiyaaka ye jee.”
5 Bituŋ dookuulaa ñiŋ ko a ye ko, “Saayiŋ, niŋ musoo ñiŋ maŋ paree ka naa ñiŋ bankoo kaŋ jaŋ duŋ, fo n si i dinkewo murundi bankoo ñiŋ kaŋ baŋ, i bota daameŋ?”
6 Iburayima ko a ye ko, “A je ko, n dinkewo kana muru jee. 7 Yaawe, Arijana Maarii, meŋ ye m bondi naŋ m faamaa yaa, aniŋ n wuluu bankoo kaŋ, a diyaamuta n ye, a kalita n ye ko, a be ñiŋ bankoo dii la n koomalankoolu le la. Wo le be a la malaayikoo kii la i ñaato, i ye musoo ñini n dinkewo ye jee. 8 Bari niŋ musoo ñiŋ maŋ paree ka bula i nooma, wo to i be firiŋ na ñiŋ laahidoo ma le. Bari kuu kiliŋ doroŋ, kana n dinkewo murundi jee.”
9 Wo le to dookuulaa ñiŋ ye a buloo laa a maarii Iburayima kenoo kaŋ, a kalita a ye ñiŋ kuwo la. 10 Bituŋ a ye a maarii Iburayima la ñonkome taŋ niŋ soorifeŋ buuñaariŋ koteŋolu taa. Bituŋ a wulita ka taa Aramu-Naharayimu, Nahori la saatewo to.
11 Kabiriŋ a futata, a ye ñonkomoolu ñoyindi koloŋ daala saatewo kooma, wulaarantiloo la, waatoo meŋ na musoolu ka taa jiibiyo la. 12 Bituŋ a duwaata ko, “Yaawe, m maarii Iburayima la Alla, sooneeyandiri ke n ye kuwo ñiŋ na bii, i ye kanu bambaloo yitandi m maarii Iburayima la. 13 M fele looriŋ koloŋ daala jaŋ, aduŋ saatewo dimmusoolu be finti kaŋ jiibiyo la. 14 M be kiliŋ daani la ì kono, ka a fo a ye ko, ‘I la dumboo laamandi n ye, i ye n so ŋa m miŋ.’ Niŋ a sonta, a ko n ye, ‘Haa, i miŋ,’ aniŋ a ko n ye, ‘M be jiyo dii la i la ñonkomoolu fanaa la le, ì ye i miŋ,’ wo ye ke moo ti, i ye meŋ tomboŋ i la dookuulaa Isiyaaka ye. M be a loŋ na wo le to ko, i ye i la kanu bambaloo yitandi m maarii la le.”
15 Janniŋ a be paree la duwaa la, Rebeka fintita naŋ, dumboo be looriŋ a sañoo kaŋ. Rebeka mu Betuweli dimmusoo le ti, Milika dinkewo, Milika, meŋ mu Nahori la musoo ti, Iburayima doomaa. 16 Ñiŋ sunkutoo mu sunkutu ñiimaa baa le ti, aduŋ sunkutu kee lombaloo le mu, kee nene maŋ a loŋ musu ti foloo. A taata koloŋo to, a ye a la dumboo bii. Kabiriŋ a be muru kaŋ, 17 Iburayima la dookuulaa ñiŋ niŋ boroo ye a benduŋ. A ko a ye ko, “Dukaree, n so ŋa jiiriŋ haabu i la dumboo kono.”
18 Bituŋ sunkutoo ñiŋ ko a ye ko, “M maarii, i miŋ.” Kataba kiliŋ a ye a la dumboo jindi a buloo kaŋ, a ye a laamandi, a ye jiyo dii a la, a ye i miŋ. 19 Kabiriŋ sunkutoo ñiŋ ye jiyo dii a la fo ka paree, a ko a ye ko, “M be jiyo dii la i la ñonkomoolu fanaalu la le, fo ì bee ye i miŋ.” 20 Wo le to a ye a la dumboo jiyo bee yelema beeyaŋ mindulaa kono, a niŋ boroo muruta koloŋo to ka taa jiyo bii kotenke. Bituŋ a ye jiyo bii a la ñonkomoolu bee ye.
21 Kewo ñiŋ be deyiriŋ, a be a koroosi kaŋ. A be i miira kaŋ fo Yaawe ye sooneeyandiri ke kuwo ñiŋ na le baŋ, meŋ mu a la taamoo daliiloo ti. 22 Kabiriŋ ñonkomoolu pareeta miŋo la, Iburayima la dookuulaa ñiŋ ye sani nuntokonnaa daa jawu baa dii a la, aniŋ sani bulutotaa kulimaa fula. 23 Bituŋ a ko a ye ko, “A fo n ye, ite mu jumaa le dimmusoo ti. Laadulaa te i faamaa la buŋo kono baŋ, n si suutoo laa noo daameŋ?”
24 Sunkutoo ñiŋ ko a ye ko, “Nte mu Betuweli dimmusoo le ti, Milika dinkewo, a ye meŋ wuluu Nahori la.” 25 A tententa ka a fo ko, “Ŋà laadulaa soto ali ye le, aniŋ ali la beeyaŋolu. Aduŋ beeyaŋ domori jamaa be jee le fanaa.”
26 Iburayima la dookuulaa ñiŋ sujudita, a ye Yaawe batu. 27 A ko, “Tentoo be Yaawe ye, m maarii Iburayima la Alla, meŋ maŋ i dahaa a la kanu bambaloo aniŋ tiliŋo yitandi la m maarii la. Yaawe le ye n kenkeŋ ka taa m maarii Iburayima baadiŋolu la buŋo to.”
28 Bituŋ sunkutoo ñiŋ borita suwo kono, a ye ñiŋ kuwolu fo a baadiŋolu ye. 29-30 Rebeka ye baarinkewo doo le soto, ì ka a fo meŋ ye Labani. Kabiriŋ a ñiŋ baarinkewo ye konnaa je a baarimmusoo nuŋo to, aniŋ bulutotaalu a bulukaŋolu to, aniŋ a ye a la kumoo fanaa moyi, kewo ñiŋ ye meŋ fo a ye, a taata kewo ñiŋ kaŋ koloŋo to. Kabiriŋ a futata kewo ñiŋ ma, a ye a tara looriŋ ñonkomoolu le bala koloŋo to. 31 Bituŋ a ko a ye ko, “Naa ŋà taa suwo kono. Ite mu kee le ti, Yaawe neemata meŋ ma. Muŋ ne ye a tinna i be looriŋ jaŋ? Ŋa laadulaa parendi i ye le n na buŋo kono, aduŋ dulaa be jee le fanaa i la ñonkomoolu ye.”
32 Wo le to kewo ñiŋ tambita buŋo kono. Bituŋ Labani ye dunoolu jindi a la ñonkomoolu kaŋ, a ye ñaamoo dii a la, ka a dii a la ñonkomoolu la. Bituŋ a ye jiyo dii a la aniŋ a la kewolu, a niŋ mennu be siloo kaŋ, ka ì siŋolu kuu. 33 Kabiriŋ ì ye domoroo samba a ye naŋ ka a domo, a kumata ì ye ko, “N te domoroo ke la, fo niŋ ŋa n na siloo dantee.” Bituŋ Labani ko a ye ko, “A fo!”
34 Bituŋ a naata a fo ko, “Nte mu Iburayima la dookuulaa le ti. 35 Yaawe neemata m maarii ma baake le, aduŋ a ye fankoo soto le. Yaawe ye saajiyolu dii a la, baalu, ninsoolu, sanoo niŋ kodiforoo, jommusoolu niŋ jonkewolu, ñonkomoolu aniŋ faloolu. 36 M maarii la musoo Saara ye dinkewo soto m maarii la le, wo tumoo Saara kotooriŋo. Bituŋ m maarii naata a sotofeŋo bee dii a ñiŋ dinkewo la. 37 M maarii naata n kalindi, ka a fo n ye ko, ‘Kana musoo ñini n dinkewo ye ka bo Kanaaninkoolu dimmusoolu kono, m be sabatiriŋ mennu la bankoo kaŋ. 38 I si taa m faa suwo to, m baadiŋolu yaa, i ye musoo ñini n dinkewo ye jee.’ 39 N ko m maarii ye ko, ‘Saayiŋ niŋ sunkutoo maŋ soŋ bula la n nooma duŋ?’ 40 Bari a ko n ye le ko, ‘Yaawe, m be meŋ na siloo nooma, wo le be i niŋ a la malaayikoo kii la ñoo la, ka i la siloo sooneeyandi. I be musoo ñini la n dinkewo ye, m faŋo baadiŋolu le kono, m faa suwo kono. 41 Niŋ i futata m baadiŋolu ma, i be firiŋ na i la laahidoo ma, hani niŋ ì maŋ soŋ i ye musoo ñini n diŋo ye jee.’
42 “Bituŋ kabiriŋ n naata koloŋo to bii, n duwaata ko, ‘Yaawe, m maarii Iburayima la Alla, saayiŋ sooneeyandiri ke kuwo ñiŋ na, m be meŋ kunna. 43 Ko m be looriŋ teŋ ñaameŋ koloŋ daala, niŋ sunkutu foloo meŋ naata jiibiyo la, m be a fo la a ye le ko, “N so jiiriŋ na i la dumboo kono, ŋa m miŋ.” 44 Niŋ a ye n jaabi, a ko n ye ko, “I miŋ,” aniŋ a ye jiyo bii n na ñonkomoolu fanaalu ye, wo to m be a loŋ na, wo le mu musoo ti, ite Alla ye meŋ tomboŋ m maarii dinkewo ye.’
45 “Janniŋ n ka paree duwaa la n sondomoo kono, Rebeka fintita naŋ, dumboo be a sañoo kaŋ. Bituŋ a taata koloŋo to, a ye jiyo bii. N ko a ye ko, ‘Dukaree, n so ŋa m miŋ.’ 46 Kataba kiliŋ, a ye a la dumboo jindi naŋ a sañoo kaŋ, a ko n ye ko, ‘I miŋ, m be jiyo bii la i la ñonkomoolu fanaalu ye le.’ Wo le to ŋa m miŋ, a ye jiyo dii ñonkomoolu fanaalu la. 47 Bituŋ n naata a ñininkaa ko, ‘Jumaa le dimmusu mu ite ti?’ A ko n ye ko, ‘Nte mu Betuweli dimmusoo le ti, Nahori dinkewo, Milika ye meŋ wuluu a la.’ Wo le to ŋa konnaa ke a nuŋo to, aniŋ bulutotaalu a bulukaŋolu to. 48 Bituŋ n sujudita, ŋa Yaawe batu, ŋa tentoo dii a la, m maarii Iburayima la Alla, meŋ ye n ñaatonkayaa sila tilindiŋo la, ka m maarii baadiŋolu dimmusoo ñini musoo ti, a dinkewo ye. 49 Saayiŋ, niŋ ali lafita hiinoo niŋ baadiŋyaa yitandi la m maarii la, ali a fo n ye. Niŋ ali te a ke noo la, ali a fo n ye fanaa, fo n si taa dulaa doo to.”
50 Bituŋ Labani niŋ Betuweli ye jaabiroo ke ko, “Kuwo ñiŋ bota Yaawe faŋo le yaa. Ntolu te kuma fo noo la i ye. 51 Rebeka faŋo fele i ñaatiliŋo la, a taa, i niŋ a ye taa, a ye ke i maarii dinkewo la musoo ti, ko Yaawe faŋo ye a fo ñaameŋ.” 52 Kabiriŋ Iburayima la dookuulaa ye ì la kumoo moyi, a sujudita Yaawe ñaatiliŋo la. 53 Bituŋ a ye sani ñaroolu niŋ kodiforo ñaroolu bondi naŋ, aniŋ duŋ feŋ ñiimaalu, a ye ì dii Rebeka la. A ye soorifeŋ bete le fanaa dii Rebeka baarinkewo la aniŋ a baamaa.
54 Bituŋ a niŋ a la kewolu mennu be siloo kaŋ, ye domoroo ke, ì ye i miŋ, bituŋ ì ye suutoo laa jee. Kabiriŋ ì wulita soomandaa, a ko ì ye ko, “Ali m bula ŋa muru m maarii kaŋ.” 55 Rebeka baamaa niŋ a baarinkewo ko a ye ko, “Rebeka bula a ye tara m̀ fee jaŋ fo waati dantaŋ, tili taŋ kontoo. Niŋ wo bota a la, a si taa.” 56 Bituŋ a ko ì ye ko, “Ali kana m mutandi jaŋ, baawo Yaawe ye n na siloo sooneeyandi le. Ali m bula ŋa taa, ka taa m maarii kaŋ.”
57 Ì ko a ye ko, “M̀ be sunkutoo faŋo le kumandi la, ŋà a ñininkaa.” 58 Bituŋ ì ye Rebeka kumandi, ì ko a ye ko, “Fo i niŋ ñiŋ kewo be taa la le baŋ?” A ko ì ye ko, “N niŋ a be taa la le.” 59 Wo le to ì ye Rebeka bula ka taa, a niŋ a la bambaanoo, aniŋ Iburayima la dookuulaa niŋ a la kewolu. 60 Bituŋ ì ye neemoo daani ì baarimmusu Rebeka ye, ì ko a ye ko,
“Allamaa i koomoo yiriwaa la,
fo i si naa ke moo wuliwuloolu baamaa ti.
Allamaa i koomoo ke la ì jawoolu noolaa ti.”
61 Wo le to Rebeka niŋ a la dookuulaa sunkutoolu wulita, ì seleta ñonkomoolu kaŋ, ì bulata Iburayima la dookuulaa nooma. Bituŋ a ye Rebeka taa teŋ ne, a taata a la siloo la.
62 Isiyaaka bota naŋ Lahayi-Royi koloŋo to Nekefu* tundoo kaŋ, a be sabatiriŋ daameŋ. 63 Wulaara kiliŋ na, Isiyaaka fintita kunkoo to taamaŋ-taamaŋo la. A ye a kuŋo wuli, a ye ñonkomoolu hayinaŋ, ì be naa kaŋ. 64 Bituŋ Rebeka ye a kuŋo wuli. Kabiriŋ a ye Isiyaaka je, a tarabasita ñonkomoo kaŋ. 65 Bituŋ a ko Iburayima la dookuulaa ye ko, “Jumaa le mu wo kewo ti, meŋ be jana, meŋ be taamoo la kunkoo kono, a niŋ ǹ ka beŋ?” Bituŋ wo ko a ye ko, “M maarii le mu.” Bituŋ a ye a la bitiraŋ faanoo taa, a ye a kuŋo biti a la.
66 Bituŋ dookuulaa ñiŋ naata kuwolu bee fo Isiyaaka ye, mennu keta. 67 Bituŋ Isiyaaka ye Rebeka tambindi a baamaa Saara la tiriliisoo* koto. A naata ke a la musoo ti. Isiyaaka naata Rebeka kanu. Bituŋ a hakiloo naata tenkuŋ a baamaa la saayaa la.
