The Servant Tells His Errand

28Then the young woman ran and told her mother's household about these things.

29Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban; and Laban ran out to the man, outside by the spring.

30And it happened, when he saw the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “This is what the man said to me,” that he went to the man. And behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.

31And he said, “Come in, blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.”

32So the man came into the house and unloaded the camels and gave straw and feed to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

33Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have spoken my words.” And he said, “Speak.”

34And he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.”

35And Yahweh has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys.

36And Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master after her old age, and he gave him all that he had.

37And my master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I am dwelling.’

38But you shall go to my father's house and to my clan, and you shall take a wife for my son.

39And I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’

40And he said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father’s house.’

41Then you will be free from my oath when you come to my family; and if they do not give to you, you will be free from my oath.

42Today I came to the spring and said, ‘O Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, if now you are prospering my way on which I am going—’

43Look, I am standing by the spring of water, and let it be that the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I say, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jar,’

44and says to me, ‘You also drink, and I will draw water for your camels as well’—let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master’s son.

45Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. Then I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’

46She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give water to your camels.’ So I drank, and she also gave water to the camels.

47Then I asked her, saying, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ Then I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her hands.

48Then I bowed down and worshiped Yahweh, and I blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the true way to take the daughter of my master's brother for his son.

49Now if you are going to show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; but if not, tell me, so that I may turn to the right or to the left.