Genesis 43
1 The famine was severe in the land.
那地的饑荒甚大。
2 When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little more food.”
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 Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face, 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’ll send our brother with us, we’ll go down and buy you food;
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 don’t send him, we won’t go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, 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 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly, telling the man that you had another brother?”
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 They said, “The man asked directly concerning ourselves, and concerning our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ We just answered his questions. Is there any way we could know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”
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 Israel, his father, “Send the boy with me, and we’ll get up and go, so that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones.
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’ll be collateral for him. From my hand will you require him. If I don’t bring him to you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever;
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 for if we hadn’t delayed, surely we would have returned a second time by now.”
我們若沒有耽擱，如今第二次都回來了。」
11 Their father, Israel, said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down a present for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, 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 and take double money in your hand, and take back the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight.
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 also, get up, and return to the man.
也帶着你們的兄弟，起身去見那人。
14 May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
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 The men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and got up, went down to Egypt, and stood before 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 with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and butcher an animal, and prepare; for the men will dine 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 commanded, and the man brought the men 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 The men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “Because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time, we’re brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, attack us, and seize us as slaves, along with 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 They came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they spoke to him at the door of the house,
他們就挨近約瑟的家宰，在屋門口和他說話，
20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed 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 When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks, and behold, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. We have brought it back in our hand.
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 have brought down other money in our hand to buy food. We don’t know 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 He said, “Peace be to you. Don’t be afraid. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your money.” He brought Simeon out to 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 man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet. He gave their donkeys fodder.
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 prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread 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 came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves down to the earth 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 them of their welfare, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he yet 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 They said, “Your servant, our father, is well. He is still alive.” They bowed down humbly.
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 He lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” He said, “God be gracious to you, my son.”
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 hurried, for his heart yearned over his brother; and he sought a place to weep. He entered into his room, and wept 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 He washed his face, and came out. He controlled himself, and said, “Serve the meal.”
他洗了臉出來，勉強隱忍，吩咐人擺飯。
32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians don’t eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
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 They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, and the men marvelled with one another.
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 He sent portions to them from before him, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. They drank, and were merry 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。
