亞伯拉罕對管理他全業最老的僕人說：「請你把手放在我大腿底下。 2 He said to the chief 24:2 Or ((oldest)) servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, 「Put your hand under my thigh.
我要叫你指著耶和華─天地的主起誓，不要為我兒子娶這迦南地中的女子為妻。 3 I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,
僕人對他說：「倘若女子不肯跟我到這地方來，我必須將你的兒子帶回你原出之地嗎？」 5 The servant asked him, 「What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?」
耶和華─天上的主曾帶領我離開父家和本族的地，對我說話，向我起誓說：『我要將這地賜給你的後裔。』他必差遣使者在你面前，你就可以從那裏為我兒子娶一個妻子。 7 「The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, --he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.
倘若女子不肯跟你來，我使你起的誓就與你無干了，只是不可帶我的兒子回那裏去。」 8 If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.」
那僕人從他主人的駱駝裏取了十匹駱駝，並帶些他主人各樣的財物，起身往美索不達米亞去，到了拿鶴的城。 10 Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and left, taking with him all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim 24:10 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia and made his way to the town of Nahor.
天將晚，眾女子出來打水的時候，他便叫駱駝跪在城外的水井那裏。 11 He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.
他說：「耶和華─我主人亞伯拉罕的 神啊，求你施恩給我主人亞伯拉罕，使我今日遇見好機會。 12 Then he prayed, 「O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
我向哪一個女子說：『請你拿下水瓶來，給我水喝』，她若說：『請喝！我也給你的駱駝喝』，願那女子就作你所預定給你僕人以撒的妻。這樣，我便知道你施恩給我主人了。」 14 May it be that when I say to a girl, and she says, --let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.」
話還沒有說完，不料，利百加肩頭上扛著水瓶出來。利百加是彼土利所生的；彼土利是亞伯拉罕兄弟拿鶴妻子密迦的兒子。 15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor.
那女子容貌極其俊美，還是處女，也未曾有人親近她。她下到井旁，打滿了瓶，又上來。 16 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.
她就急忙把瓶裏的水倒在槽裏，又跑到井旁打水，就為所有的駱駝打上水來。 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.
駱駝喝足了，那人就拿一個金環，重半舍客勒，兩個金鐲，重十舍客勒，給了那女子， 22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka 24:22 That is, about 1/5 ounce (about 5.5 grams) and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels. 24:22 That is, about 4 ounces (about 110 grams)
說：「請告訴我，你是誰的女兒？你父親家裏有我們住宿的地方沒有？」 23 Then he asked, 「Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?」
說：「耶和華─我主人亞伯拉罕的 神是應當稱頌的，因他不斷地以慈愛誠實待我主人。至於我，耶和華在路上引領我，直走到我主人的兄弟家裏。」 27 saying, 「Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives.」
利百加有一個哥哥，名叫拉班，看見金環，又看見金鐲在他妹子的手上，並聽見他妹子利百加的話，說那人對我如此如此說。拉班就跑出來往井旁去，到那人跟前，見他仍站在駱駝旁邊的井旁那裏， 29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he hurried out to the man at the spring.
利百加有一個哥哥，名叫拉班，看見金環，又看見金鐲在他妹子的手上，並聽見他妹子利百加的話，說那人對我此如此說。拉班就跑出來往井旁去，到那人跟前，見他站在駱駝旁邊的井旁那裏， 30 As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring.
便對他說：「你這蒙耶和華賜福的，請進來，為甚麼站在外邊？我已經收拾了房屋，也為駱駝預備了地方。」 31 「Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,」 he said. 「Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.」
那人就進了拉班的家。拉班卸了駱駝，用草料餵上，拿水給那人和跟隨的人洗腳， 32 So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet.
把飯擺在他面前，叫他吃，他卻說：「我不吃，等我說明白我的事情再吃。」拉班說：「請說。」 33 Then food was set before him, but he said, 「I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say.」 「Then tell us,」 (((Laban))) said.
耶和華大大地賜福給我主人，使他昌大，又賜給他羊群、牛群、金銀、僕婢、駱駝，和驢。 35 The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys.
我主人的妻子撒拉年老的時候給我主人生了一個兒子；我主人也將一切所有的都給了這個兒子。 36 My master's wife Sarah has borne him a son in her 24:36 Or ((his)) old age, and he has given him everything he owns.
只要你到了我本族那裏，我使你起的誓就與你無干。他們若不把女子交給你，我使你起的誓也與你無干。』 41 Then, when you go to my clan, you will be released from my oath even if they refuse to give her to you--you will be released from my oath.>
我如今站在井旁，對哪一個出來打水的女子說：請你把你瓶裏的水給我一點喝； 43 See, I am standing beside this spring; if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, 「Please let me drink a little water from your jar,」
她若說：你只管喝，我也為你的駱駝打水；願那女子就作耶和華給我主人兒子所預定的妻。』 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.>
我心裏的話還沒有說完，利百加就出來，肩頭上扛著水瓶，下到井旁打水。我便對她說：『請你給我水喝。』 45 「Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her,
隨後我低頭向耶和華下拜，稱頌耶和華─我主人亞伯拉罕的 神；因為他引導我走合式的道路，使我得著我主人兄弟的孫女，給我主人的兒子為妻。 48 and I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son.
現在你們若願以慈愛誠實待我主人，就告訴我；若不然，也告訴我，使我可以或向左，或向右。」 49 Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn.」
看哪，利百加在你面前，可以將她帶去，照著耶和華所說的，給你主人的兒子為妻。」 51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has directed.」
當下僕人拿出金器、銀器，和衣服送給利百加，又將寶物送給她哥哥和她母親。 53 Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother.
僕人和跟從他的人吃了喝了，住了一夜。早晨起來，僕人就說：「請打發我回我主人那裏去吧。」 54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, 「Send me on my way to my master.」
利百加的哥哥和她母親說：「讓女子同我們再住幾天，至少十天，然後她可以去。」 55 But her brother and her mother replied, 「Let the girl remain with us ten days or so; then you 24:55 Or ((she)) may go.」
僕人說：「耶和華既賜給我通達的道路，你們不要誤我，請打發我走，回我主人那裏去吧。」 56 But he said to them, 「Do not detain me, now that the LORD has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master.」
他們就給利百加祝福說：我們的妹子啊，願你作千萬人的母！願你的後裔得著仇敵的城門！ 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, 「Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.」
利百加和她的使女們起來，騎上駱駝，跟著那僕人，僕人就帶著利百加走了。 61 Then Rebekah and her maids got ready and mounted their camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.
天將晚，以撒出來在田間默想，舉目一看，見來了些駱駝。 63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, 24:63 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain. and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching.
問那僕人說：「這田間走來迎接我們的是誰？」僕人說：「是我的主人。」利百加就拿帕子蒙上臉。 65 and asked the servant, 「Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?」 「He is my master,」 the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.
以撒便領利百加進了他母親撒拉的帳棚，娶了她為妻，並且愛她。以撒自從他母親不在了，這才得了安慰。 67 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
January 2 "And there was on enlarging, and a winding about still upward to the side chambers: for the winding about of the house went still upward round about the house: therefore the breadth of the house was still upward and so increased from the lowest chamber to the highest by the midst."(Ezek. 41.7.) "Still upward be thine onward course: For this I pray today; Still upward as the years go by, And seasons pass away. "Still upward in this comping year. Thy path is all untried: Still upward may'st thou journey on, Close by thy Savior's side. "Still upward e'en though sorrow come, And trials crush thine heart; Still upward may they draw thy soul, With Christ to walk apart. We ought not to rest content in the mists of the valley when the summit of Tabor awaits us. How pure are the dews of the hills, how fresh is the mountain air, how rich the fare of the dwellers aloft, whose windows look into the New Jerusalem! Many saints are content to live like men in coal mines, who see not the sun. Tears may their faces when they might anoint them with celestial oil. Satisfied I am that many a believer pines in a dungeon when he might walk on the palace roof, and view the goodly land and Lebanon. Rouse thee, O believer, from thy low condition! Cast away thy sloth, the lethargy, thy coldness, or whatever interferes with thy chaste and pure love to Christ. Make Him the source, the center, and the circumference of all thy soul's range of delight. Rest no longer satisfied with thy dwarfish attainments. Aspire to a higher, a nobler, a fuller life. Upward to heaven! Nearer to God! ─Spurgeon. "I want to scale the utmost height, And catch a gleam of glory bright; But still I'll pray, till heaven I've found, Lord, lead me on to higher ground!" Not many of us are living at our best. We linger in the lowlands because we are afraid to climb the mountains. The steepness and ruggedness dismay us, and so we stay in the misty valleys and do not learn the mystery of the hills. We do not know what we lose in our self-indulgence, what glory awaits us if only we had courage for the mountain climb, what blessing we should find if only we would move to the uplands of God. ─J. R. M. "Too low they build who build beneath the stars."
