UGenesisi 24
1 UAbrahama wayesemdala eselezinsuku ezinengi; leNkosi yayimbusisile kukho konke.
And Abraham was old, [and] advanced in age; and Jehovah had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 UAbrahama wasesithi encekwini yakhe, endala yendlu yakhe, ebusa phezu kwakho konke alakho: Ake ubeke isandla sakho ngaphansi kwethangazi lami,
And Abraham said to his servant, the eldest of his house, who ruled over all that he had, Put thy hand, I pray thee, under my thigh,
3 ukuze ngikufungise ngeNkosi, uNkulunkulu wamazulu loNkulunkulu womhlaba, ukuthi kawuyikuyithathela indodana yami umfazi emadodakazini amaKhanani, engihlala phakathi kwawo;
and I will make thee swear by Jehovah, the God of the heavens and the God of the earth, that thou take not a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am dwelling;
4 kodwa uzakuya elizweni lakithi lezihlotsheni zami, uyithathele umfazi indodana yami uIsaka.
but thou shalt go to my land and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.
5 Inceku yasisithi kuye: Mhlawumbe owesifazana angafuni ukungilandela kulelilizwe, ngingayibuyisela lokuyibuyisela yini indodana yakho elizweni owaphuma kulo?
And the servant said to him, Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land: must I, then, bring thy son again in any case to the land from which thou hast removed?
6 UAbrahama wasesithi kuye: Qaphela ukuthi ungayibuyiseli khona indodana yami.
And Abraham said to him, Beware that thou bring not my son thither again.
7 INkosi, uNkulunkulu wamazulu, eyangithatha endlini kababa lelizweni lokuzalwa kwami, eyakhuluma kimi, eyafunga kimi isithi: Ngizalinika inzalo yakho lelilizwe; yona izathuma ingilosi yayo phambi kwakho, ukuze uyithathele khona umfazi indodana yami.
Jehovah the God of the heavens, who took me out of my father's house, and out of the land of my nativity, and who has spoken to me, and who has sworn to me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land — he will send his angel before thee, that thou mayest take a wife for my son thence.
8 Kodwa uba owesifazana engafuni ukukulandela, uzakuba ukhululekile kulesisifungo sami; kuphela ungayibuyiseli indodana yami khona.
And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be quit of this my oath: only, bring not my son thither again.
9 Inceku yasibeka isandla sayo ngaphansi kwethangazi likaAbrahama inkosi yayo, yafunga kuye ngaloludaba.
And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore unto him concerning that matter.
10 Njalo inceku yasithatha amakamela alitshumi kuwo amakamela enkosi yayo, yahamba, lakho konke okuhle kwenkosi yayo kwakusesandleni sayo, yasisukuma yaya eMesopotamiya emzini kaNahori.
And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; now all the treasure of his master was under his hand; and he arose and went to Aram-naharaim, to the city of Nahor.
11 Yasiguqisa amakamela ngaphandle komuzi emthonjeni wamanzi ngesikhathi santambama, ngesikhathi sokuphuma kwabakhi bamanzi besifazana.
And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water, at the time of the evening, when the women came out to draw [water].
12 Yasisithi: Nkosi, Nkulunkulu wenkosi yami uAbrahama, ake ungiphumelelise lamuhla, uyenzele umusa inkosi yami uAbrahama.
And he said, Jehovah, God of my master Abraham, meet me, I pray thee, [with thy blessing] this day, and deal kindly with my master Abraham.
13 Khangela, ngimi emthonjeni wamanzi, kuphuma amadodakazi amadoda omuzi ukukha 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 Njalo kuzakuthi intombazana engizakuthi kuyo: Ake ukhothamise imbiza yakho ukuze nginathe, ibisisithi: Natha, lamakamela akho ngizawanathisa; yiyo oyimisele inceku yakho uIsaka; ngalokho-ke ngizakwazi ukuthi uyenzele umusa inkosi yami.
And let it come to pass, [that] the maiden to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink, and who will say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also, be she whom thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and hereby I shall know that thou hast dealt kindly with my master.
15 Kwasekusithi ingakaqedi ukukhuluma, khangela-ke, uRebeka waphuma, owazalelwa uBethuweli indodana kaMilka, umkaNahori umfowabo kaAbrahama, njalo elembiza ehlombe lakhe.
And it came to pass before he had ended speaking, that behold, Rebecca came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother; and [she had] her pitcher upon her shoulder.
16 Njalo inkazana yayikhangeleka kuhle kakhulu, intombi emsulwa, okungelandoda eyaziyo; yasisehlela emthonjeni, yagcwalisa imbiza yayo, yenyuka.
And the maiden was very fair in countenance; a virgin, and no man had known her. And she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
17 Inceku yasigijima ukuyihlangabeza yathi: Ake unginathise amanzi amalutshwana embizeni yakho.
And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, sip a little water out of thy pitcher.
18 Yasisithi: Natha, nkosi yami. Yaphangisa yehlisela imbiza yayo esandleni sayo, yayinathisa.
And she said, Drink, my lord! And she hasted and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him to drink.
19 Isiqedile ukuyinathisa yathi: Ngizakhelela lamakamela akho aze aqede ukunatha.
And when she had given him enough to drink, she said, I will draw [water] for thy camels also, until they have drunk enough.
20 Yasiphangisa yathululela isigxingi sayo emkolweni wokunathela, yabuya yagijimela emthonjeni ukuyakukha, yakhelelela amakamela ayo wonke.
And she hasted and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw [water]; and she drew for all his camels.
21 Indoda yasiyikhangelisisa ithule ukuze yazi ukuthi iNkosi iyiphumelelisile indlela yayo kumbe hatshi.
And the man was astonished at her, remaining silent, to know whether Jehovah had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 Kwasekusithi amakamela eseqedile ukunatha, indoda yasithatha icici legolide, osisindo salo sasiyingxenye yeshekeli, lamasongo amabili ezandleni zayo, isisindo sawo saba ngamashekeli alitshumi egolide.
And it came to pass when the camels had drunk enough, that the man took a gold ring, of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands, ten [shekels] weight of gold,
23 Yasisithi: Uyindodakazi kabani? Ake utsho. Kukhona indawo yethu yini endlini kayihlo ukuthi silale?
and said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee. Is there room [in] thy father's house for us to lodge?
24 Yasisithi kuyo: Ngiyindodakazi kaBethuweli indodana kaMilka owayizalela uNahori.
And she said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.
25 Yathi kuyo futhi: Silakho konke amahlanga lokudla kwezinyamazana okunengi, lendawo yokulala.
And she said to him, There is straw, and also much provender with us; also room to lodge.
26 Indoda yasikhothama, yakhonza iNkosi,
And the man stooped, and bowed down before Jehovah,
27 yasisithi: Ibusisiwe iNkosi, uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami uAbrahama, engayekelanga umusa wayo lobuqotho bayo enkosini yami; mina-ke, ngisendleleni, iNkosi ingikhokhelele endlini yabafowabo benkosi yami.
and said, Blessed be Jehovah, God of my master Abraham, who has not withdrawn his loving-kindness and his faithfulness from my master; I being in the way, Jehovah has led me to the house of my master's brethren.
28 Intombi yasigijima, yazisa abendlu kanina ngalezizinto.
And the maiden ran and told these things to her mother's house.
29 Njalo uRebeka wayelomnewabo obizo lakhe lalinguLabani; uLabani wasegijimela phandle endodeni emthonjeni.
And Rebecca had a brother, named Laban; and Laban ran out to the man, to the well.
30 Kwasekusithi esebonile icici lamasongo ezandleni zikadadewabo, esezwile amazwi kaRebeka udadewabo okuthi: Itsho njalo indoda kimi; wasesiya endodeni, khangela-ke, yayimi ngasemakameleni emthonjeni.
And it came to pass when he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's hand, and when he heard the words of Rebecca his sister, saying, Thus spoke the man to me — that he came to the man, and behold, he was standing by the camels, by the well.
31 Wasesithi: Ngena wena obusisiweyo weNkosi; umeleni ngaphandle? Ngoba mina sengilungisile indlu lendawo yamakamela.
And he said, Come in, blessed of Jehovah! why standest thou outside? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
32 Indoda yasisiza endlini, yakhulula amakamela; wasenika amakamela amahlanga lokudla kwenyamazana, lamanzi okugeza inyawo zayo lenyawo zamadoda ayelayo.
And the man came into the house; and he ungirded the camels, and gave the camels straw and provender, and water to wash his feet, and the feet of the men who were with him.
33 Kwasekubekwa ukudla phambi kwayo; kodwa yathi: Kangiyikudla ngize ngikhulume indaba zami. Wasesithi: Khuluma.
And there was set [meat] before him to eat; but he said, I will not eat until I have made known my business. And he said, Speak on.
34 Yasisithi: Ngiyinceku kaAbrahama.
And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
35 Futhi iNkosi iyibusisile kakhulu inkosi yami, yaze yaba nkulu. Yayinika izimvu lezinkomo, lesiliva legolide, lezinceku lezincekukazi, lamakamela labobabhemi.
And Jehovah has blessed my master greatly, and he is become great; and he has given him sheep and cattle, and silver and gold, and bondmen and bondwomen, and camels and asses.
36 Njalo uSara inkosikazi yenkosi yami uyizalele inkosi yami indodana emva kokuba esemdala; yasiyinika konke elakho.
And Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master after she had grown old; and unto him has he given all that he has.
37 Inkosi yami yasingifungisa isithi: Ungayithatheli indodana yami umfazi kumadodakazi amaKhanani, engihlala elizweni lawo;
And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanite, in whose land I am dwelling;
38 kodwa uzakuya endlini kababa lezihlotsheni zami, ubusuyithathela indodana yami umfazi.
but thou shalt by all means go to my father's house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.
39 Ngasengisithi enkosini yami: Mhlawumbe owesifazana kayikungilandela.
And I said to my master, Perhaps the woman will not follow me?
40 Yasisithi kimi: INkosi, engihamba phambi kwayo, izathuma ingilosi yayo lawe, izaphumelelisa indlela yakho, njalo uzayithathela indodana yami umfazi ezihlotsheni zami lendlini kababa.
And he said to me, Jehovah, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way, that thou mayest take a wife for my son of my family, and out of my father's house.
41 Emva kwalokho uzakhululeka esifungweni sami uba uye ezihlotsheni zami njalo uba bengakuniki yena, uzakhululeka-ke esifungweni sami.
Then shalt thou be quit of my oath, when thou shalt have come to my family. And if they give thee not [one], thou shalt be quit of my oath.
42 Kuthe ngifika emthonjeni lamuhla, ngathi: Nkosi, Nkulunkulu wenkosi yami uAbrahama, uba-ke uphumelelisa indlela yami, engihamba ngayo;
And I came this day to the well, and said, Jehovah, God of my master Abraham, if now thou wilt prosper my way on which I go,
43 khangela, ngimi emthonjeni wamanzi; njalo kakuthi intombi ezaphuma ukukha lengizakuthi kuyo: Ake unginathise amanzi amalutshwana esigxingini sakho;
behold, I stand by the well of water, and let it come to pass that the damsel who cometh forth to draw [water], and to whom I shall say, Give me, I pray thee, a little water out of thy pitcher to drink,
44 ibisisithi kimi: Natha lawe, futhi ngizakhelelela lamakamela akho; kayibe nguye owesifazana iNkosi emmisele indodana yenkosi yami.
and she shall say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels — that she should be the woman whom Jehovah hath appointed for my master's son.
45 Ngingakaqedi ukukhuluma enhliziyweni yami, khangela-ke, uRebeka waphuma lesigxingi sisehlombe lakhe; wehlela emthonjeni, wakha. Ngasengisithi kuye: Akunginathise.
Before I ended speaking in my heart, behold, Rebecca came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder, and went down to the well, and drew [water]; and I said to her, Give me, I pray thee, to drink.
46 Wasephangisa, wethula isigxingi kuye wathi: Natha, futhi ngizanathisa lamakamela akho. Ngasenginatha, wasenathisa lamakamela.
And she hasted and let down her pitcher from her [shoulder], and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also. And I drank; and she gave the camels drink also.
47 Ngasengimbuza ngathi: Uyindodakazi kabani? Wasesithi: Indodakazi kaBethuweli, indodana kaNahori uMilka amzalela yona; ngasengifaka icici emakhaleni akhe lamasongo ezandleni zakhe.
And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him. And I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands.
48 Ngasengikhothama, ngakhonza iNkosi, ngabusisa iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenkosi yami uAbrahama, engikhokhele endleleni elungileyo ukuthi indodakazi yomfowabo wenkosi yami ngiyithathele indodana yayo.
And I stooped, and bowed down before Jehovah; and I blessed Jehovah, God of my master Abraham, who has led me the right way to take my master's brother's daughter for his son.
49 Khathesi-ke uba lizayenzela inkosi yami umusa lobuqotho, ngitshelani; uba-ke kungenjalo, ngitshelani, ukuze ngiphendukele ngakwesokunene loba ngakwesokhohlo.
And now, if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me; and I will turn to the right hand or to the left.
50 Khona oLabani loBethuweli baphendula, bathi: Le into ivela eNkosini; kasilakutsho lutho kuwe, olubi kumbe oluhle.
And Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceeds from Jehovah: we cannot speak to thee bad or good.
51 Khangela, uRebeka uphambi kwakho; mthathe uhambe, ukuze abe ngumkandodana yenkosi yakho, njengoba iNkosi ikhulumile.
Behold, Rebecca is before thee: take [her], and go away; and let her be wife of thy master's son, as Jehovah has said.
52 Kwasekusithi inceku kaAbrahama isizwile amazwi abo yakhothamela emhlabathini phambi kweNkosi.
And it came to pass, when Abraham's servant heard their words, that he bowed down to the earth before Jehovah.
53 Inceku yasikhupha imiceciso yesiliva, lemiceciso yegolide, lezembatho, yakunika uRebeka, yabanika lomnewabo lonina impahla eziligugu.
And the servant brought forth silver articles, and gold articles, and clothing, and he gave [them] to Rebecca; and he gave to her brother, and to her mother, precious things.
54 Basebesidla banatha, yona lamadoda ayelayo, balala; bavuka ekuseni, yasisithi: Ngiyekelani ngiye enkosini yami.
And they ate and drank, he and the men that were with him, and lodged. And they rose up in the morning; and he said, Send me away to my master.
55 Kodwa umnewabo lonina bathi: Kayihlale lathi intombazana izinsuku loba ezilitshumi, emva kwalokho ihambe.
And her brother and her mother said, Let the maiden abide with us [some] days, or [say] ten; after that she shall go.
56 Yasisithi kubo: Lingangibambeleli, lokhu iNkosi iphumelelisile indlela yami; ngiyekelani ngihambe ukuze ngiye enkosini yami.
And he said to them, Do not hinder me, seeing Jehovah has prospered my way: send me away, and I will go to my master.
57 Basebesithi: Asiyibize intombi, sizwe emlonyeni wayo.
And they said, Let us call the maiden and inquire at her mouth.
58 Basebembiza uRebeka, bathi kuye: Uzahamba lalindoda yini? Wasesithi: Ngizahamba.
And they called Rebecca and said to her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
59 Basebemyekela ehamba uRebeka udadewabo lomlizane wakhe, lenceku kaAbrahama lamadoda ayo.
And they sent away Rebecca their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
60 Basebembusisa uRebeka, bathi kuye: Wena dadewethu, woba zinkulungwane zezigidi, lenzalo yakho ibe ngumnikazi wesango labayizondayo!
And they blessed Rebecca, and said to her, Thou art our sister; mayest thou become thousands of tens of thousands; and may thy seed possess the gate of their enemies!
61 URebeka wasesukuma lamantombazana akhe, bagada amakamela, balandela indoda; inceku yasimthatha uRebeka, yahamba.
And Rebecca arose, and her maids, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man. And the servant took Rebecca, and went away.
62 UIsaka wasefika lapho abavelela khona emthonjeni iLahayi-Royi, njalo wayehlala elizweni leningizimu.
And Isaac had just returned from Beer-lahai-roi; for he was dwelling in the south country.
63 UIsaka wasephuma ukuyazindla ensimini sekuntambama; waphakamisa amehlo akhe wabona, khangela-ke, amakamela ayesiza.
And Isaac had gone out to meditate in the fields toward the beginning of evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, camels were coming.
64 LoRebeka waphakamisa amehlo akhe; esembonile uIsaka waziwisa ekamelweni.
And Rebecca lifted up her eyes and saw Isaac, and she sprang off the camel.
65 Wasesithi encekwini: Ngubani lindoda ehamba emasimini ukusihlangabeza? Inceku yasisithi: Yinkosi yami. Wasethatha isimbombozo, wazigubuzela.
And she had said to the servant, Who is the man that is walking in the fields to meet us? And the servant said, That is my master! Then she took the veil, and covered herself.
66 Inceku yasilandisa kuIsaka zonke indaba ezenzileyo.
And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
67 UIsaka wasemngenisa ethenteni likaSara unina, wamthatha uRebeka, waba ngumkakhe, wamthanda. UIsaka waseduduzwa emva kokufa kukanina.
And Isaac led her into his mother Sarah's tent; and he took Rebecca, and she became his wife, and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after [the death of] his mother.
