Genesis 43
1 The famine continued to be really bad in Canaan,
那地的饑荒甚大。
2 so once they had finished the grain they'd brought from Egypt, their father told them, “You have to go back and buy some more grain for us.”
他們從埃及帶來的糧食吃盡了，他們的父親就對他們說：「你們再去給我糴些糧來。」
3 But Judah responded, “The man was adamant when he warned us, ‘I won't even see you unless your brother is with you.’
猶大對他說：「那人諄諄地告誡我們說：『你們的兄弟若不與你們同來，你們就不得見我的面。』
4 If you send our brother Benjamin with us then we'll go and buy food for you.
你若打發我們的兄弟與我們同去，我們就下去給你糴糧；
5 But if you won't send him, then we won't go, because the man was very clear, ‘I won't even see you unless your brother is with you.’”
你若不打發他去，我們就不下去，因為那人對我們說：『你們的兄弟若不與你們同來，你們就不得見我的面。』」
6 “Why have you made things so bad for me by telling the man you had another brother?” Israel asked.
以色列說：「你們為甚麼這樣害我，告訴那人你們還有兄弟呢？」
7 “The man kept on asking direct questions about us and our family like ‘Is your father still alive?’ and ‘Do you have another brother?’” they replied. “We just answered his questions. How were we to know he'd say, ‘Bring your brother here!’?”
他們回答說：「那人詳細問到我們和我們的親屬，說：『你們的父親還在嗎？你們還有兄弟嗎？』我們就按着他所問的告訴他，焉能知道他要說『必須把你們的兄弟帶下來』呢？」
8 Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy in my care, and we'll leave immediately, so that we can stay alive and not die—and that includes you and us and our children!
猶大又對他父親以色列說：「你打發童子與我同去，我們就起身下去，好叫我們和你，並我們的婦人孩子，都得存活，不至於死。
9 I promise to take care of him—I'll be personally responsible for bringing him back to you. If I don't, then I will always carry the blame!
我為他作保；你可以從我手中追討，我若不帶他回來交在你面前，我情願永遠擔罪。
10 Now let's go, because if we hadn't hesitated, we could have gone there and come back twice by now.”
我們若沒有耽擱，如今第二次都回來了。」
11 “If it has to be, then this is what you'll do,” Israel replied. “Take with you the best our country produces. Pack your bags with gifts for the man—balm, a little honey, spices, myrrh, pistachios, and almonds.
他們的父親以色列說：「若必須如此，你們就當這樣行：可以將這地土產中最好的乳香、蜂蜜、香料、沒藥、榧子、杏仁都取一點，收在器具裏，帶下去送給那人作禮物，
12 Take double the money that was returned to you in your sacks—maybe it was a mistake.
又要手裏加倍地帶銀子，並將歸還在你們口袋內的銀子仍帶在手裏；那或者是錯了。
13 Take your brother and go back to the man right away.
也帶着你們的兄弟，起身去見那人。
14 May God Almighty make the man treat you kindly so when you come before him he'll release your other brother and send Benjamin back. As for me, if I am to lose all my children, then so be it.”
但願全能的上帝使你們在那人面前蒙憐憫，釋放你們的那弟兄和便雅憫回來。我若喪了兒子，就喪了吧！」
15 So they packed the gifts, took double the money, and set off, accompanied by Benjamin. They arrived in Egypt and went to have an audience with Joseph.
於是，他們拿着那禮物，又手裏加倍地帶銀子，並且帶着便雅憫，起身下到埃及，站在約瑟面前。
16 When Joseph saw Benjamin was with them, he told his household supervisor, “Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and make a meal, for they are going to eat with me at noon.”
約瑟見便雅憫和他們同來，就對家宰說：「將這些人領到屋裏。要宰殺牲畜，預備筵席，因為晌午這些人同我吃飯。」
17 The man did as Joseph ordered and took them to Joseph's house.
家宰就遵着約瑟的命去行，領他們進約瑟的屋裏。
18 They were really worried that they were being taken to Joseph's house. “It's because of the money that was put in our sacks the first time we came,” they said to each other. “That's why we're being brought in—so he can accuse us and attack us! He'll make us his slaves and take our donkeys!”
他們因為被領到約瑟的屋裏，就害怕，說：「領我們到這裏來，必是因為頭次歸還在我們口袋裏的銀子，找我們的錯縫，下手害我們，強取我們為奴僕，搶奪我們的驢。」
19 So they went and spoke to Joseph's household supervisor at the entrance to the house.
他們就挨近約瑟的家宰，在屋門口和他說話，
20 “Please excuse us, my lord,” they said. “We came down the first time to buy food,
說：「我主啊，我們頭次下來實在是要糴糧。
21 and when we stopped for the night, we opened our sacks and each of us found our money—the exact amount—at the top of our sacks. So we've brought it back with us.
後來到了住宿的地方，我們打開口袋，不料，各人的銀子，分量足數，仍在各人的口袋內，現在我們手裏又帶回來了。
22 We've also brought more money to buy food. We've no idea who put our money in our sacks!”
另外又帶下銀子來糴糧。不知道先前誰把銀子放在我們的口袋裏。」
23 “Everything's fine!” he told them. “Don't worry! Your God, the God of your father, must have given you the treasure hidden in your sacks. I got your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to meet them.
家宰說：「你們可以放心，不要害怕，是你們的上帝和你們父親的上帝賜給你們財寶在你們的口袋裏；你們的銀子，我早已收了。」他就把西緬帶出來，交給他們。
24 The steward took them inside Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet, and supplied food for their donkeys.
家宰就領他們進約瑟的屋裏，給他們水洗腳，又給他們草料餵驢。
25 They got their gifts ready for when Joseph would come at noon, because they had found out that they were going to eat there.
他們就預備那禮物，等候約瑟晌午來，因為他們聽見要在那裏吃飯。
26 When Joseph arrived at the house they gave him the gifts they had brought for him, and bowed low to the ground before him.
約瑟來到家裏，他們就把手中的禮物拿進屋去給他，又俯伏在地，向他下拜。
27 He asked how they were, and then he asked, “How is your elderly father doing that you spoke of? Is he still alive?”
約瑟問他們好，又問：「你們的父親－就是你們所說的那老人家平安嗎？他還在嗎？」
28 “Yes, your servant our father is still alive, and is well,” they replied and bowed low in respect.
他們回答說：「你僕人－我們的父親平安；他還在。」於是他們低頭下拜。
29 Then Joseph looked over at his brother Benjamin, the son of his own mother. “Is this your youngest brother that you told me about?” he asked. “God be gracious to you, my son,” he said.
約瑟舉目看見他同母的兄弟便雅憫，就說：「你們向我所說那頂小的兄弟就是這位嗎？」又說：「小兒啊，願上帝賜恩給你！」
30 Joseph had to run out quickly because he was becoming so emotional at seeing his brother. He looked for a place to cry, and went to his room to weep there.
約瑟愛弟之情發動，就急忙尋找可哭之地，進入自己的屋裏，哭了一場。
31 Then he washed his face, got his emotions under control, and went back out. “Serve the food,” he ordered.
他洗了臉出來，勉強隱忍，吩咐人擺飯。
32 Joseph was served at a table by himself, and his brothers were served at a separate table. The Egyptians were also served at another table, because Egyptians cannot eat with Hebrews because they find this repulsive.
他們就為約瑟單擺了一席，為那些人又擺了一席，也為和約瑟同吃飯的埃及人另擺了一席，因為埃及人不可和希伯來人一同吃飯；那原是埃及人所厭惡的。
33 The brothers had been seated in front of him in order by age, from the firstborn, the oldest, down to the youngest, and they looked at each other in complete surprise.
約瑟使眾弟兄在他面前排列坐席，都按着長幼的次序，眾弟兄就彼此詫異。
34 The food was served to them from Joseph's table, and Benjamin received five times as much as anyone else. So they ate and drank plenty with him.
約瑟把他面前的食物分出來，送給他們；但便雅憫所得的比別人多五倍。他們就飲酒，和約瑟一同宴樂。
