UGenesisi 24
1 U-Abhrahama wayeseluphele kakhulu, njalo uThixo wayembusisile kukho konke.
And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 Wasesithi encekwini yakhe enkulu, leyo eyayilawula konke ayelakho, “Beka isandla sakho ngaphansi kwethangazi lami.
And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray you, your hand under my thigh:
3 Ngifuna ukuthi ufunge ngoThixo, uNkulunkulu wasezulwini loNkulunkulu wasemhlabeni, ukuthi kawuyikuzuzela indodana yami umfazi emadodakazini amaKhenani engihlala phakathi kwawo,
And I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
4 kodwa uzakuya elizweni lakithi lasezihlotsheni zami uzuzele indodana yami u-Isaka umfazi.”
But you shall go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
5 Inceku yambuza yathi, “Pho nxa lowo wesifazane engavumi ukuza lami kulelilizwe-ke? Ngizathatha indodana yakho ngiyise kulelolizwe lapho owavela khona na?”
And the servant said unto him, Possibly the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I essentially bring your son again unto the land from whence you came?
6 U-Abhrahama wathi, “Ungaqali ukuhambisa indodana yami khonale.
And Abraham said unto him, Beware you that you bring not my son thither again.
7 UThixo, uNkulunkulu wasezulwini, owangikhupha emzini kababa laselizweni lakithi njalo owakhuluma kimi, wangithembisa ngesifungo wathi, ‘Ilizwe leli ngizalinika inzalo yakho,’ uzathuma ingilosi yakhe ihambe phambi kwakho ukuze ukwazi ukutholela indodana yami umfazi khonale.
The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spoke unto me, and that swore unto me, saying, Unto your seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife unto my son from thence.
8 Nxa owesifazane lowo esala ukuza lapha lawe, uzabe usukhululwe kulesi isifungo sami. Kodwa ungaqali ukusa indodana yami khonale.”
And if the woman will not be willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
9 Ngakho inceku yasifaka isandla sayo ngaphansi kwethangazi lenkosi yayo u-Abhrahama yafunga isifungo kuye ngodaba lolu.
And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning that matter.
10 Inceku yasithatha amakamela enkosi yayo alitshumi yasuka, yathatha yonke imihlobo yezinto ezinhle zenkosi yayo. Yaqonda e-Aramu Naharayimu, yahamba yaze yayafika emzini waseNahori.
And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
11 Amakamela yawaguqisa phansi eduzane lomthombo ngaphandle komuzi; kwasekuntambama, sekuyisikhathi sabesifazane ukuyakukha amanzi.
And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.
12 Yasikhuleka yathi, “Oh Thixo, Nkulunkulu wenkosi yami u-Abhrahama, yenza ngiphumelele lamuhla, utshengise umusa enkosini yami u-Abhrahama.
And he said O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray you, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.
13 Khangela-ke, nanku ngimi lapha eceleni komthombo lo, njalo amadodakazi abantu balelidolobho asesiza ukuzakukha amanzi.
Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
14 Kungasake kuthi ngingathi entombini, ‘Ake ungikhele amanzi ngenkezo yakho nginathe,’ yona ithi, ‘Natha, njalo ngizanathisa lamakamela akho,’ kube yiyo kanye oyikhethele inceku yakho u-Isaka. Ngalokho ngizakwazi ukuthi usutshengise umusa enkosini yami.”
And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down your pitcher, I pray you, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give your camels drink also: let the same be she that you have appointed for your servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that you have showed kindness unto my master.
15 Ingakaqedi ukukhuleka, uRabheka waphuma ethwele imbiza yakhe yamanzi ehlombe lakhe. Wayeyindodakazi kaBhethuweli indodana kaMilikha, owayengumfazi womfowabo ka-Abhrahama uNahori.
And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
16 Intombi le yayinhle kakhulu, igcwele; ingakaze ilale lendoda. Yehlela emthonjeni, yagcwalisa imbiza yayo yasiqansa.
And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
17 Inceku yaphanga yamhlangabeza yathi, “Ngicela amanzi embizeni yakho.”
And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray you, drink a little water of your pitcher.
18 Wathi, “Natha nkosi yami,” watsho esehlisa imbiza eyibamba ngezandla emnathisa.
And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
19 Esemnathisile wathi, “Ngizakhelela lamakamela akho lawo ngiwanathise.”
And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for your camels also, until they have done drinking.
20 Wasethululela imbiza yakhe emkolweni, wagijimela emthonjeni njalo ukukha amanye, wawakhelela wonke amakamela akhe.
And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the gutter, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
21 Indoda yabukela ithule ilokhu inanzelela idinga ukubona ukuthi ngeqiniso uThixo wayeluphumelelisile yini uhambo lwayo.
And the man wondering at her held his peace, to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 Amakamela eseqedile ukunatha, indoda leyo yakhupha isongo lamakhala elenziwe ngegolide elilobunzima obungaba yingxenye yeshekeli, lezigqizo zegolide ezimbili ezilobunzima bamashekeli alitshumi.
And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
23 Yasibuza yathi, “Uyindodakazi kabani na? Ake ungitshele, kambe singazuza indawo yini emzini kayihlo kesicatshise amakhanda ubusuku balamuhla nje?”
And said, Whose daughter are you? tell me, I pray you: is there room in your father's house for us to lodge in?
24 URabheka wamphendula wathi, “Ngiyindodakazi kaBhethuweli, indodana kaMilikha ayizalela uNahori.”
And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
25 Waphinda wengeza wathi, “Silotshani obunengi lamahlanga, kanye lendawo yokulala ikhona okwalamuhla ebusuku.”
She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and animal food enough, and room to lodge in.
26 Indoda yakhothamela phansi yakhonza uThixo,
And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
27 isithi, “Udumo kalube kuThixo, uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami u-Abhrahama, ongadelanga umusa wakhe lokuthembeka kwakhe enkosini yami. Mina ngokwami uThixo ungikhokhele ohanjweni lwami ngazafika endlini yezinini zenkosi yami.”
And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.
28 Intombi yagijima yayabikela abendlu kanina ngalezizinto.
And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.
29 URabheka wayelomnewabo owayethiwa nguLabhani, yena waphanga waya kuleyondoda eyayisemthonjeni.
And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
30 Wonela ukubona isongo lamakhala kanye lezigqizo engalweni kadadewabo, njalo esezwile uRabheka elandisa ngokwakhulunywa yindoda leyo kuye, wasuka waya kuyo wayifica imi eceleni kwamakamela eduze komthombo.
And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spoke the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.
31 Wathi, “Woza, wena obusisiweyo nguThixo. Umeleni phandle lapha? Sengilungisile indlu lendawo yamakamela.”
And he said, Come in, you blessed of the LORD; wherefore stand you without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
32 Ngakho indoda yaya ngekhaya, lamakamela ethulwa imithwalo. Utshani lamahlanga kwalethwa emakameleni, yena lamadoda ayelawo balethelwa amanzi okugeza inyawo zabo.
And the man came into the house: and he unbounded his camels, and gave straw and animal food for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.
33 Kwasekulethwa ukudla kwabekwa phambi kwakhe, kodwa wathi, “Kangizukudla ngize ngiqale ngilitshele lokho okumele ngikutsho.” ULabhani wathi, “Sitshele phela.”
And there was set food before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
34 Ngakho wasesithi, “Ngiyinceku ka-Abhrahama.
And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
35 UThixo uyibusisile inkosi yami kakhulu, isinothile kakhulu. Uyiphile izimvu lenkomo, isiliva legolide, lezinceku zesilisa lezesifazane kanye lamakamela labobabhemi.
And the LORD has blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he has given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and male servants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
36 Inkosikazi yenkosi yami, uSara, imzalele indodana ebudaleni bayo, inkosi yami yasiyinika leyondodana konke elakho.
And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him has he given all that he has.
37 Njalo inkosi yami yangifungisa isifungo yathi, ‘Ungazuzeli indodana yami umfazi emadodakazini amaKhenani, engihlala elizweni lawo,
And my master made me swear, saying, You shall not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
38 kodwa yana ezininini zikababa, kwabosendo lwakithi, uzuzele indodana yami umfazi.’
But you shall go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.
39 Ngasengiyibuza inkosi yami ngathi, ‘Pho nxa owesifazane lowo esala ukuza lapha-ke?’
And I said unto my master, Possibly the woman will not follow me.
40 Yaphendula yathi, ‘UThixo, engihamba phambi kwakhe, uzathumela ingilosi yakhe ihambe lawe, iphumelelise uhambo lwakho ukuze uzuzele indodana yami umfazi kwabosendo lwakithi, lasezininini zikababa.
And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:
41 Ngakho uzakuthi ungaya kwabosendo lwakithi, uzakhululwa esifungweni sami loba bangaze bale laye.’
Then shall you be clear from this my oath, when you come to my kindred; and if they give not you one, you shall be clear from my oath.
42 Ngithe ukufika kwami emthonjeni lamuhla ngathi, ‘Oh Thixo, Nkulunkulu wenkosi yami u-Abhrahama, nxa uthanda, ngicela uphumelelise uhambo lolu engingalo lapha.
And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go:
43 Akubone, ngimi eceleni kwalo umthombo; nxa kufika intombi izokukha amanzi, ngithi kuyo, “Akunginathise amanzi amalutshwana enkonxeni yakho,”
Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin comes forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray you, a little water of your pitcher to drink;
44 ingaze ithi kimi, “Natha, njalo ngizanathisa lamakamela akho lawo,” kabe nguye uThixo asemkhethele indodana yenkosi yami.’
And she say to me, Both drink you, and I will also draw for your camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD has appointed out for my master's son.
45 Ngingakaqedi ukukhuleka enhliziyweni yami, uRabheka waphuma, ethwele imbiza yakhe ehlombe. Wehlela emthonjeni wakha amanzi, ngathi kuye, ‘Akunginathise.’
And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray you.
46 Waphanga wethula imbiza yakhe ehlombe lakhe wathi, ‘Natha, ngizanathisa lamakamela akho njalo.’ Ngakho nganatha, waphinda wanathisa lamakamela njalo.
And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give your camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
47 Ngambuza ngathi, ‘Uyindodakazi kabani wena?’ Wathi, ‘Indodakazi kaBhethuweli indodana kaNahori, amzala kuMilikha.’ Ngasengimgqizisa isongo emakhaleni lezigqizo ezingalweni zakhe,
And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter are you? And she said, the daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.
48 ngasengikhothamela phansi, ngamkhonza uThixo. Ngadumisa uThixo, uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami u-Abhrahama, ongikhokhele endleleni eqondileyo ngazathola intombi engumzukulu womfowabo wenkosi yami ngayizuzela indodana yayo inkosi yami.
And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.
49 Manje-ke nxa lizatshengisa umusa lokwethembeka enkosini yami, ngitshelani; loba kungenjalo, ngitshelani ukuze ngazi ukuthi ngithini.”
And now if all of you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.
50 ULabhani loBhethuweli baphendula bathi, “Lokhu kuvela kuThixo; kakukho esingakutsho kuwe, loba yini.
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceeds from the LORD: we cannot speak unto you bad or good.
51 Nangu uRabheka; mthathe uhambe laye ayekuba ngumfazi wendodana yenkosi yakho, njengalokhu okuqondiswe nguThixo.”
Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her, and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as the LORD has spoken.
52 Kwathi inceku ka-Abhrahama ikuzwa lokhu abakutshoyo yakhothama phansi emhlabathini phambi kukaThixo.
And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
53 Ngakho inceku yasikhupha igolide lesiliva kanye lempahla zokugqoka yakupha uRabheka; yapha njalo umnewabo lonina izipho ezidulayo.
And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
54 Yena lamadoda ayehamba lawo basebesidla njalo banatha, balala khona. Bathi bevuka ekuseni wathi, “Sivumeleni sibuyele enkosini yami.”
And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.
55 Kodwa umnewabo lonina baphendula bathi, “Ake ume kesihlale lentombazana okwensukwana ezingaba litshumi; lapho selingahamba-ke.”
And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.
56 Kodwa wathi kubo, “Lingangibambeleli, njengoba uThixo eseluphumelelisile uhambo lwami. Wothini ngihambe ukuze ngiyefika enkosini yami.”
And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD has prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
57 Basebesithi, “Wothi sibize intombazana kesiyibuze ngakho.”
And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.
58 Ngakho bambiza uRabheka bambuza bathi, “Uyafuna ukuhamba layo indoda le na?” Wathi, “Ngizahamba layo.”
And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Will you go with this man? And she said, I will go.
59 Ngakho basebemkhulula udadewabo uRabheka ukuba ahambe kanye lomlizane wakhe, bahamba lenceku ka-Abhrahama lamadoda ayelayo.
And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
60 Njalo bambusisa uRabheka bathi kuye, “Dadewethu, sengathi ungandisa izinkulungwane zezinkulungwane; sengathi inzalo yakho ingathumba amadolobho ezitha zayo.”
And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, You are our sister, be you the mother of thousands of millions, and let your seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
61 URabheka lamantombazana akhe bazilungiselela, basebekhwela amakamela abo bahamba lendoda leyo. Ngakho inceku yamthatha uRabheka yahamba.
And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
62 Ngalesosikhathi u-Isaka wayesefikile evela eBheri-Lahayi-Royi, ngoba wayehlala eNegebi.
And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.
63 Ngenye intambama waya ensimini ehambahamba ukuthi ake ahluze ingqondo, wasesithi uyakhangela wabona amakamela esiza.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
64 URabheka laye wakhangela wambona u-Isaka. Wehla ekameleni lakhe
And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
65 wabuza inceku wathi, “Indoda leyana esensimini ngubani, leyana esihlangabezayo?” Inceku yaphendula yathi, “Uyinkosi yami.” Yikho uRabheka wasethatha ilembu elilula wazemboza ngalo.
For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walks in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.
66 Inceku yasimtshela u-Isaka konke lokho eyayikwenzile.
And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
67 U-Isaka wamngenisa ethenteni likanina uSara, wahle wamthatha uRabheka. Ngakho wasesiba ngumkakhe, wamthanda; u-Isaka waduduzeka ngemva kokufa kukanina.
And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
