Abraham: The Covenant

And bread was set before him. But he said: I will not eat, till I tell my message. He answered him: Speak.

And he said: I am the servant of Abraham:

And the Lord hath blessed my master wonderfully, and he is become great: and he hath given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold, men servants and women servants, camels and asses.

And Sara, my master's wife, hath borne my master a son in her old age, and he hath given him all that he had.

And my master made me swear, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the Chanaanites, in whose land I dwell:

But thou shalt go to my father's house, and shalt take a wife of my own kindred for my son:

But I answered my master: What if the woman will not come with me?

The Lord, said he, in whose sight I walk, will send his angel with thee, and will direct thy way: and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my own kindred, and of my father's house.

But thou shalt be clear from my curse, when thou shalt come to my kindred, if they will not give thee one.

And I came today to the well of water, and said: O Lord God of my master, Abraham, if thou hast prospered my way, wherein I now walk,

Behold, I stand by the well of water, and the virgin, that shall come out to draw water, who shall hear me say: Give me a little water to drink of thy pitcher:

And shall say to me: Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman, whom the Lord hath prepared for my master's son.

And whilst I pondered these things secretly with myself, Rebecca appeared, coming with a pitcher, which she carried on her shoulder: and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her: Give me a little to drink.

And she speedily let down the pitcher from her shoulder, and said to me: Both drink thou, and to thy camels I will give drink. I drank, and she watered the camels.

And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? And she answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Nachor, whom Melcha bore to him. So I put earrings on her to adorn her face, and I put bracelets on her hands.

And falling down, I adored the Lord, blessing the Lord God of my master, Abraham, who hath brought me the straight way to take the daughter of my master's brother for his son.

Wherefore, if you do according to mercy and truth with my master, tell me: but if it please you otherwise, tell me that also, that I may go to the right hand, or to the left.

And Laban and Bathuel answered: The word hath proceeded from the Lord: we cannot speak any other thing to thee but his pleasure.

Behold, Rebecca is before thee, take her and go thy way, and let her be the wife of thy master's son, as the Lord hath spoken.

Which when Abraham's servant heard, falling down to the ground, he adored the Lord.

And bringing forth vessels of silver and gold, and garments, he gave them to Rebecca, for a present. He offered gifts also to her brothers, and to her mother.

And a banquet was made, and they ate and drank together, and lodged there. And in the morning, the servant arose, and said: Let me depart, that I may go to my master.

And her brother and mother answered: Let the maid stay, at least, ten days with us, and afterwards she shall depart.

Stay me not, said he, because the Lord hath prospered my way: send me away, that I may go to my master.

And they said: Let us call the maid, and ask her will.