Genesis 44

1 praecepit autem Ioseph dispensatori domus suae dicens imple saccos eorum frumento quantum possunt capere et pone pecuniam singulorum in summitate sacci

Then Joseph instructed his steward: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each one’s silver in the mouth of his sack.

2 scyphum autem meum argenteum et pretium quod dedit tritici pone in ore sacci iunioris factumque est ita

Put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” So the steward did as Joseph had instructed.

3 et orto mane dimissi sunt cum asinis suis

At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.

4 iamque urbem exierant et processerant paululum tum Ioseph arcessito dispensatore domus surge inquit persequere viros et adprehensis dicito quare reddidistis malum pro bono

They had not gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward, “Pursue the men at once, and when you overtake them, ask, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?

5 scyphum quem furati estis ipse est in quo bibit dominus meus et in quo augurari solet pessimam rem fecistis

Is this not the cup my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’”

6 fecit ille ut iusserat et adprehensis per ordinem locutus est

When the steward overtook them, he relayed these words to them.

7 qui responderunt quare sic loquitur dominus noster ut servi tui tantum flagitii commiserint

“Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing.

8 pecuniam quam invenimus in summitate saccorum reportavimus ad te de terra Chanaan et quomodo consequens est ut furati simus de domo domini tui aurum vel argentum

We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found in the mouths of our sacks. Why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?

9 apud quemcumque fuerit inventum servorum tuorum quod quaeris moriatur et nos servi erimus domini nostri

If any of your servants is found to have it, he must die, and the rest will become slaves of my lord.”

10 qui dixit fiat iuxta vestram sententiam apud quem fuerit inventum ipse sit servus meus vos autem eritis innoxii

“As you say,” replied the steward. “But only the one who is found with the cup will be my slave, and the rest of you shall be free of blame.”

11 itaque festinato deponentes in terram saccos aperuerunt singuli

So each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.

12 quos scrutatus incipiens a maiore usque ad minimum invenit scyphum in sacco Beniamin

The steward searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest—and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

13 at illi scissis vestibus oneratisque rursum asinis reversi sunt in oppidum

Then they all tore their clothes, loaded their donkeys, and returned to the city.

14 primusque Iudas cum fratribus ingressus est ad Ioseph necdum enim de loco abierat omnesque ante eum in terra pariter corruerunt

When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.

15 quibus ille ait cur sic agere voluistis an ignoratis quod non sit similis mei in augurandi scientia

“What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”

16 cui Iudas quid respondebimus inquit domino meo vel quid loquemur aut iusti poterimus obtendere Deus invenit iniquitatem servorum tuorum en omnes servi sumus domini mei et nos et apud quem inventus est scyphus

“What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”

17 respondit Ioseph absit a me ut sic agam qui furatus est scyphum ipse sit servus meus vos autem abite liberi ad patrem vestrum

But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.”

18 accedens propius Iudas confidenter ait oro domine mi loquatur servus tuus verbum in auribus tuis et ne irascaris famulo tuo tu es enim post Pharaonem

Then Judah approached Joseph and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh himself.

19 dominus meus interrogasti prius servos tuos habetis patrem aut fratrem

My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’

20 et nos respondimus tibi domino meo est nobis pater senex et puer parvulus qui in senecta illius natus est cuius uterinus frater est mortuus et ipsum solum habet mater sua pater vero tenere diligit eum

And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’

21 dixistique servis tuis adducite eum ad me et ponam oculos meos super illum

Then you told your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so that I can see him for myself.’

22 suggessimus domino meo non potest puer relinquere patrem suum si enim illum dimiserit morietur

So we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father. If he were to leave, his father would die.’

23 et dixisti servis tuis nisi venerit frater vester minimus vobiscum non videbitis amplius faciem meam

But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’

24 cum ergo ascendissemus ad famulum tuum patrem nostrum narravimus ei omnia quae locutus est dominus meus

Now when we returned to your servant my father, we relayed your words to him.

25 et dixit pater noster revertimini et emite nobis parum tritici

Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us some food.’

26 cui diximus ire non possumus si frater noster minimus descendet nobiscum proficiscemur simul alioquin illo absente non audemus videre faciem viri

But we answered, ‘We cannot go down there unless our younger brother goes with us. So if our younger brother is not with us, we cannot see the man.’

27 atque ille respondit vos scitis quod duos genuerit mihi uxor mea

And your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.

28 egressus est unus et dixistis bestia devoravit eum et hucusque non conparet

When one of them was gone, I said: “Surely he has been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since.

29 si tuleritis et istum et aliquid ei in via contigerit deducetis canos meos cum maerore ad inferos (Sheol h7585)

Now if you also take this one from me and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’ (Sheol h7585)

30 igitur si intravero ad servum tuum patrem nostrum et puer defuerit cum anima illius ex huius anima pendeat

So if the boy is not with us when I return to your servant, and if my father, whose life is wrapped up in the boy’s life,

31 videritque eum non esse nobiscum morietur et deducent famuli tui canos eius cum dolore ad inferos (Sheol h7585)

sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow. (Sheol h7585)

32 ego proprie servus tuus qui in meam hunc recepi fidem et spopondi dicens nisi reduxero eum peccati reus ero in patrem meum omni tempore

Indeed, your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father, saying, ‘If I do not return him to you, I will bear the guilt before you, my father, all my life.’

33 manebo itaque servus tuus pro puero in ministerium domini mei et puer ascendat cum fratribus suis

Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers.

34 non enim possum redire ad patrem absente puero ne calamitatis quae oppressura est patrem meum testis adsistam

For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”