¹ Και εν τω εβδομω ετει, τω πεμπτω μηνι, τη δεκατη του μηνος, ηλθον τινες εκ των πρεσβυτερων του Ισραηλ δια να επερωτησωσι τον Κυριον, και εκαθησαν εμπροσθεν μου.

² Και εγεινε λογος Κυριου προς εμε, λεγων,

³ Υιε ανθρωπου, λαλησον προς τους πρεσβυτερους του Ισραηλ και ειπε προς αυτους, Ουτω λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος· Ηλθετε δια να με επερωτησητε; Ζω εγω, λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος, δεν θελω επερωτηθη απο σας.

⁴ Θελεις κρινει αυτους; υιε ανθρωπου, θελεις κρινει; δειξον εις αυτους τα βδελυγματα των πατερων αυτων·

⁵ και ειπε προς αυτους, Ουτω λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος· Εν τη ημερα καθ' ην εξελεξα τον Ισραηλ και υψωσα την χειρα μου προς το σπερμα του οικου Ιακωβ και εγνωρισθην εις αυτους εν Αιγυπτω και υψωσα την χειρα μου προς αυτους, λεγων, Εγω ειμαι Κυριος ο Θεος σας,

⁶ εν εκεινη τη ημερα υψωσα την χειρα μου προς αυτους οτι θελω εξαγαγει αυτους εκ γης Αιγυπτου εις γην την οποιαν προεβλεψα δι' αυτους, γην ρεουσαν γαλα και μελι, ητις ειναι η δοξα πασων των γαιων.

⁷ Και ειπα προς αυτους, Απορριψατε εκαστος τα βδελυγματα των οφθαλμων αυτου και μη μιαινεσθε με τα ειδωλα της Αιγυπτου· εγω ειμαι Κυριος ο Θεος σας.

⁸ Αυτοι ομως απεστατησαν απ' εμου και δεν ηθελησαν να μου ακουσωσι· δεν απερριψαν εκαστος τα βδελυγματα των οφθαλμων αυτων και δεν εγκατελιπον τα ειδωλα της Αιγυπτου. Τοτε ειπα να εκχεω τον θυμον μου επ' αυτους, δια να συντελεσω την οργην μου εναντιον αυτων εν μεσω της γης Αιγυπτου.

⁹ Πλην ενεκεν του ονοματος μου, δια να μη βεβηλωθη ενωπιον των εθνων, μεταξυ των οποιων ησαν και εμπροσθεν των οποιων εγνωρισθην εις αυτους, εκαμον τουτο, να εξαγαγω αυτους εκ γης Αιγυπτου.

¹⁰ Και εξηγαγον αυτους εκ γης Αιγυπτου και εφερα αυτους εις την ερημον·

¹¹ και εδωκα εις αυτους τα διαταγματα μου και εκαμον εις αυτους γνωστας τας κρισεις μου, τας οποιας καμνων ο ανθρωπος θελει ζησει δι' αυτων.

¹² Και τα σαββατα μου εδωκα ετι εις αυτους, δια να ηναι μεταξυ εμου και αυτων σημειον, ωστε να γνωριζωσιν οτι εγω ειμαι ο Κυριος ο αγιαζων αυτους.

¹³ Αλλ' ο οικος Ισραηλ απεστατησεν απ' εμου εν τη ερημω· εν τοις διαταγμασι μου δεν περιεπατησαν και τας κρισεις μου απερριψαν, τας οποιας καμνων ο ανθρωπος θελει ζησει δι' αυτων· και τα σαββατα μου εβεβηλωσαν σφοδρα· τοτε ειπα να εκχεω τον θυμον μου επ' αυτους εν τη ερημω, δια να εξολοθρευσω αυτους.

¹⁴ Πλην εκαμον τουτο ενεκεν του ονοματος μου, δια να μη βεβηλωθη ενωπιον των εθνων, εμπροσθεν των οποιων εξηγαγον αυτους.

¹⁵ Και εγω υψωσα οτι προς αυτους την χειρα μου εν τη ερημω, οτι δεν θελω φερει αυτους εις την γην, την οποιαν εδωκα εις αυτους, γην ρεουσαν γαλα και μελι, ητις ειναι δοξα πασων των γαιων·

¹⁶ διοτι τας κρισεις μου απερριψαν και εν τοις διαταγμασι μου δεν περιεπατησαν και τα σαββατα μου εβεβηλωσαν· διοτι αι καρδιαι αυτων επορευοντο κατοπιν των ειδωλων αυτων.

¹⁷ Και εφεισθη ο οφθαλμος μου επ' αυτους, ωστε να μη εξαλειψω αυτους, και δεν συνετελεσα αυτους εν τη ερημω.

¹⁸ Αλλ' ειπα προς τα τεκνα αυτων εν τη ερημω, Μη περιπατειτε εν τοις διαταγμασι των πατερων σας και μη φυλαττετε τας κρισεις αυτων και μη μιαινεσθε με τα ειδωλα αυτων·

¹⁹ εγω ειμαι Κυριος ο Θεος σας· εν τοις διαταγμασι μου περιπατειτε· και τας κρισεις μου φυλαττετε και εκτελειτε αυτας·

²⁰ και αγιαζετε τα σαββατα μου, και ας ηναι μεταξυ εμου και υμων σημειον, ωστε να γνωριζητε οτι εγω ειμαι Κυριος ο Θεος σας.

²¹ Τα τεκνα ομως απεστατησαν απ' εμου· εν τοις διαταγμασι μου δεν περιεπατησαν και τας κρισεις μου δεν εφυλαξαν, ωστε να εκτελωσιν αυτας, τας οποιας καμνων ο ανθρωπος θελει ζησει δι' αυτων· τα σαββατα μου εβεβηλωσαν· τοτε ειπα να εκχεω τον θυμον μου επ' αυτους, δια να συντελεσω την οργην μου εναντιον αυτων εν τη ερημω.

²² Και απεστρεψα την χειρα μου και εκαμον τουτο ενεκεν του ονοματος μου, δια να μη βεβηλωθη ενωπιον των εθνων, εμπροσθεν των οποιων εξηγαγον αυτους.

²³ Υψωσα ετι εγω την χειρα μου προς αυτους εν τη ερημω, οτι ηθελον διασκορπισει αυτους μεταξυ των εθνων και διασπειρει αυτους εις τους τοπους·

²⁴ διοτι τας κρισεις μου δεν εξετελεσαν και τα διαταγματα μου απερριψαν και τα σαββατα μου εβεβηλωσαν, και οι οφθαλμοι αυτων ησαν κατοπιν των ειδωλων των πατερων αυτων.

²⁵ Δια τουτο και εγω εδωκα εις αυτους διαταγματα ουχι καλα και κρισεις, δια των οποιων δεν ηθελον ζησει·

²⁶ και εμιανα αυτους εις τας προσφορας αυτων, εις το οτι διεβιβαζον δια του πυρος παν διανοιγον μητραν, δια να ερημωσω αυτους, ωστε να γνωρισωσιν οτι εγω ειμαι ο Κυριος.

²⁷ Δια τουτο, υιε ανθρωπου, λαλησον προς τον οικον Ισραηλ και ειπε προς αυτους, Ουτω λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος· κατα τουτο οτι οι πατερες σας υβρισαν εις εμε, καμνοντες παραβασιν εναντιον μου.

²⁸ Διοτι αφου εφερα αυτους εις την γην, περι της οποιας υψωσα την χειρα μου οτι θελω δωσει αυτην εις αυτους, τοτε ενεβλεψαν εις παντα λοφον υψηλον και εις παν δενδρον κατασκιον, και εκει προσεφεραν τας θυσιας αυτων και εστησαν εκει τας παροργιστικας προσφορας αυτων, και εθεσαν εκει οσμην ευωδιας αυτων και εκαμον εκει τας σπονδας αυτων.

²⁹ Και ειπα προς αυτους, Τι δηλοι ο υψηλος τοπος, εις τον οποιον σεις υπαγετε; και το ονομα αυτου εκληθη Βαμα, εως της σημερον.

³⁰ Δια τουτο ειπε προς τον οικον Ισραηλ, Ουτω λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος· Ενω σεις μιαινεσθε εν τη οδω των πατερων σας και εκπορνευετε κατοπιν των βδελυγματων αυτων

³¹ και μιαινεσθε με παντα τα ειδωλα σας εως της σημερον, προσφεροντες τα δωρα σας, διαβιβαζοντες τους υιους σας δια του πυρος, και εγω θελω επερωτηθη απο σας, οικος Ισραηλ; Ζω εγω, λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος, δεν θελω επερωτηθη απο σας.

³² Και εκεινο το οποιον διαβουλευεσθε, ουδολως θελει γεινει· διοτι σεις λεγετε, Θελομεν εισθαι ως τα εθνη, ως αι οικογενειαι των τοπων, εις το να λατρευωμεν ξυλα και λιθους.

³³ Ζω εγω, λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος, εξαπαντος εν χειρι κραταια και εν βραχιονι εξηπλωμενω και εν θυμω εκχεομενω θελω βασιλευσει εφ' υμας.

³⁴ Και θελω σας εξαγαγει εκ των λαων και θελω σας συναξει εκ των τοπων, εις τους οποιους εισθε διεσκορπισμενοι, εν χειρι κραταια και εν βραχιονι εξηπλωμενω και εν θυμω εκχεομενω.

³⁵ Και θελω σας φερει εις την ερημον των λαων και εκει θελω κριθη με σας προσωπον προς προσωπον·

³⁶ καθως εκριθην με τους πατερας σας εν τη ερημω της γης Αιγυπτου, ουτω θελω σας κρινει, λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος.

³⁷ Και θελω σας περασει υπο την ραβδον και θελω σας φερει εις τους δεσμους της διαθηκης.

³⁸ Και θελω εκκαθαρισει εκ μεσου υμων τους αποστατας και τους ασεβησαντας εις εμε· θελω εκβαλει αυτους εκ της γης της παροικιας αυτων και δεν θελουσιν εισελθει εις γην Ισραηλ, και θελετε γνωρισει οτι εγω ειμαι ο Κυριος.

³⁹ Σεις δε, οικος Ισραηλ, ουτω λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος· Υπαγετε, λατρευετε εκαστος τα ειδωλα αυτου, και του λοιπου, εαν δεν θελητε να μου ακουητε· και μη βεβηλονετε πλεον το ονομα μου το αγιον με τα δωρα σας και με τα ειδωλα σας.

⁴⁰ Διοτι επι του ορους του αγιου μου, επι του υψηλου ορους του Ισραηλ, λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος, εκει πας ο οικος του Ισραηλ, παντες οι εν τη γη θελουσι με λατρευσει· εκει θελω δεχθη αυτους και εκει θελω ζητησει τας προσφορας σας και τας απαρχας των δωρων σας με παντα τα αγια σας.

⁴¹ Θελω σας δεχθη με οσμην ευωδιας, οταν σας εξαγαγω εκ των λαων και σας συναξω εκ των τοπων εις τους οποιους διεσκορπισθητε· και θελω αγιασθη εις εσας ενωπιον των εθνων.

⁴² Και θελετε γνωρισει οτι εγω ειμαι ο Κυριος, οταν σας φερω εις γην Ισραηλ, εις γην περι της οποιας υψωσα την χειρα μου οτι θελω δωσει αυτην εις τους πατερας σας.

⁴³ Και εκει θελετε ενθυμηθη τας οδους σας και παντα τα εργα σας, εις τα οποια εμιανθητε· και θελετε αποστραφη αυτοι εαυτους εμπροσθεν των οφθαλμων σας, δια παντα τα κακα σας οσα επραξατε.

⁴⁴ Και θελετε γνωρισει οτι εγω ειμαι ο Κυριος, οταν καμω ουτως εις εσας ενεκεν του ονοματος μου, ουχι κατα τας πονηρας οδους σας ουδε κατα τα διεφθαρμενα εργα σας, οικος Ισραηλ, λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος.

⁴⁵ Και εγεινε λογος Κυριου προς εμε, λεγων,

⁴⁶ Υιε ανθρωπου, στηριξον το προσωπον σου προς μεσημβριαν και σταλαξον λογον προς μεσημβριαν και προφητευσον κατα του δασους της μεσημβρινης πεδιαδος·

⁴⁷ και ειπε προς το δασος της μεσημβριας, Ακουσον τον λογον του Κυριου· Ουτω λεγει Κυριος ο Θεος· Ιδου, εγω θελω αναψει πυρ εν σοι, και θελει καταφαγει εν σοι παν δενδρον χλωρον και παν δενδρον ξηρον· η φλοξ η εξαφθεισα δεν θελει σβεσθη, και παν προσωπον απο μεσημβριας μεχρι βορρα θελει καυθη εν αυτω.

⁴⁸ Και πασα σαρξ θελει ιδει, οτι εγω ο Κυριος εξεκαυσα αυτο· δεν θελει σβεσθη.

⁴⁹ Και εγω ειπα, Φευ Κυριε Θεε αυτοι λεγουσι περι εμου, δεν λαλει ουτος παροιμιας;

¹ Abraham was old, and well stricken in age. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things.

² Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh.

³ I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.

⁴ But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac."

⁵ The servant said to him, "What if the woman isn't willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?"

⁶ Abraham said to him, "Beware that you don't bring my son there again.

⁷ Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, 'I will give this land to your seed.' He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

⁸ If the woman isn't willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this my oath. Only you shall not bring my son there again."

⁹ The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.

¹⁰ The servant took ten camels, of his master's camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master's with him. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.

¹¹ He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.

¹² He said, "Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

¹³ Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.

¹⁴ Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, 'Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,' and she will say, 'drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,'--let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."

¹⁵ It happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder.

¹⁶ The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin, neither had any man known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up.

¹⁷ The servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher."

¹⁸ She said, "Drink, my lord." She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him Drink.

¹⁹ When she had done giving him drink, she said, "I will also draw for your camels, until they have done drinking."

²⁰ She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.

²¹ The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not.

²² It happened, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold,

²³ and said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father's house for us to lodge in?"

²⁴ She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."

²⁵ She said moreover to him, "We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in."

²⁶ The man bowed his head, and worshiped Yahweh.

²⁷ He said, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me in the way to the house of my master's relatives."

²⁸ The young lady ran, and told her mother's house about these words.

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

³⁰ It happened, when he saw the 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 came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.

³¹ He said, "Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels."

³² The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

³³ Food was set before him to eat, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told my message." He said, "Speak on."

³⁴ He said, "I am Abraham's servant.

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

³⁶ Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him.

³⁷ My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,

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

³⁹ I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not follow me?'

⁴⁰ He said to me, 'Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son of my relatives, and of my father's house.

⁴¹ Then will you be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don't give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.'

⁴² I came this day to the spring, and said, 'Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go--

⁴³ behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes forth to draw, to whom I will say, "Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,"

⁴⁴ and she will tell me, "Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,"--let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master's son.'

⁴⁵ Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'

⁴⁶ She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a Drink.' So I drank, and she also gave the camels a Drink.

⁴⁷ I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands.

⁴⁸ I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter for his son.

⁴⁹ Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left."

⁵⁰ Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can't speak to you bad or good.

⁵¹ Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as Yahweh has spoken."

⁵² It happened that when Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh.

⁵³ The servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and her mother.

⁵⁴ They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master."

⁵⁵ Her brother and her mother said, "Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go."

⁵⁶ He said to them, "Don't hinder me, since Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master."

⁵⁷ They said, "We will call the young lady, and ask her."

⁵⁸ They called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will go."

⁵⁹ They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham's servant, and his men.

⁶⁰ They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, "Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your seed possess the gate of those who hate them."

⁶¹ Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

⁶² Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South.

⁶³ Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming.

⁶⁴ Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel.

⁶⁵ She said to the servant, "Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." She took her veil, and covered herself.

⁶⁶ The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.

⁶⁷ Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.