Catholic Public Domain Version

Genesis 24:32-46 Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)

32. And he brought him into his guest quarters. And he unharnessed the camels, and he distributed straw and hay, and water to wash his feet and that of the men who arrived with him.

33. And bread was set out in his sight. But he said, "I will not eat, until I have spoken my words." He answered him, "Speak."

34. Then he said: "I am the servant of Abraham.

35. And the Lord has blessed my lord greatly, and he has become great. And he has given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold, men servants and women servants, camels and donkeys.

36. And Sarah, the wife of my lord, has given birth to a son for my lord in her old age, and he has given him all that he had.

37. And my lord made me swear, saying: 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell.

38. But you shall travel to my father's house, and you shall take a wife of my own kindred for my son.'

39. But truly, I answered my lord, 'What if the woman is not willing to come with me?'

40. 'The Lord,' he said, 'in whose sight I walk, will send his Angel with you, and he will direct your way. And you shall take a wife for my son from my own kindred and from my father's house.

41. But you will be innocent of my curse, if, when you will arrive at my close relatives, they will not grant this to you.'

42. And so, today I arrived at the well of water, and I said: 'O Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, if you have directed my way, in which I now walk,

43. behold, I stand next to the well of water, and the virgin, who will go forth to draw water, will hear from me, "Give me a little water to drink from your pitcher."

44. And she will say to me, "You drink, and I will also draw for your camels." Let the same be the woman, whom the Lord has prepared for the son of my lord.'

45. And while I thought over these things silently within myself, Rebekah appeared, arriving with a pitcher, which she carried on her shoulder. And she descended to the spring and drew water. And I said to her, 'Give me a little to drink.'

46. And she quickly let down the pitcher from her arm, and said to me, 'You drink, and to your camels I will also distribute drinking water.' I drank, and she watered the camels.