创世记 43
1 那地的饥荒甚大。
The famine continued to be really bad in Canaan,
2 他们从埃及带来的粮食吃尽了，他们的父亲就对他们说：“你们再去给我籴些粮来。”
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.”
3 犹大对他说：“那人谆谆地告诫我们说：‘你们的兄弟若不与你们同来，你们就不得见我的面。’
But Judah responded, “The man was adamant when he warned us, ‘I won't even see you unless your brother is with you.’
4 你若打发我们的兄弟与我们同去，我们就下去给你籴粮；
If you send our brother Benjamin with us then we'll go and buy food for you.
5 你若不打发他去，我们就不下去，因为那人对我们说：‘你们的兄弟若不与你们同来，你们就不得见我的面。’”
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.’”
6 以色列说：“你们为什么这样害我，告诉那人你们还有兄弟呢？”
“Why have you made things so bad for me by telling the man you had another brother?” Israel asked.
7 他们回答说：“那人详细问到我们和我们的亲属，说：‘你们的父亲还在吗？你们还有兄弟吗？’我们就按着他所问的告诉他，焉能知道他要说‘必须把你们的兄弟带下来’呢？”
“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!’?”
8 犹大又对他父亲以色列说：“你打发童子与我同去，我们就起身下去，好叫我们和你，并我们的妇人孩子，都得存活，不至于死。
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!
9 我为他作保；你可以从我手中追讨，我若不带他回来交在你面前，我情愿永远担罪。
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!
10 我们若没有耽搁，如今第二次都回来了。”
Now let's go, because if we hadn't hesitated, we could have gone there and come back twice by now.”
11 他们的父亲以色列说：“若必须如此，你们就当这样行：可以将这地土产中最好的乳香、蜂蜜、香料、没药、榧子、杏仁都取一点，收在器具里，带下去送给那人作礼物，
“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.
12 又要手里加倍地带银子，并将归还在你们口袋内的银子仍带在手里；那或者是错了。
Take double the money that was returned to you in your sacks—maybe it was a mistake.
13 也带着你们的兄弟，起身去见那人。
Take your brother and go back to the man right away.
14 但愿全能的 神使你们在那人面前蒙怜悯，释放你们的那弟兄和便雅悯回来。我若丧了儿子，就丧了吧！”
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.”
15 于是，他们拿着那礼物，又手里加倍地带银子，并且带着便雅悯，起身下到埃及，站在约瑟面前。
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.
16 约瑟见便雅悯和他们同来，就对家宰说：“将这些人领到屋里。要宰杀牲畜，预备筵席，因为晌午这些人同我吃饭。”
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.”
17 家宰就遵着约瑟的命去行，领他们进约瑟的屋里。
The man did as Joseph ordered and took them to Joseph's house.
18 他们因为被领到约瑟的屋里，就害怕，说：“领我们到这里来，必是因为头次归还在我们口袋里的银子，找我们的错缝，下手害我们，强取我们为奴仆，抢夺我们的驴。”
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!”
19 他们就挨近约瑟的家宰，在屋门口和他说话，
So they went and spoke to Joseph's household supervisor at the entrance to the house.
20 说：“我主啊，我们头次下来实在是要籴粮。
“Please excuse us, my lord,” they said. “We came down the first time to buy food,
21 后来到了住宿的地方，我们打开口袋，不料，各人的银子，分量足数，仍在各人的口袋内，现在我们手里又带回来了。
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.
22 另外又带下银子来籴粮。不知道先前谁把银子放在我们的口袋里。”
We've also brought more money to buy food. We've no idea who put our money in our sacks!”
23 家宰说：“你们可以放心，不要害怕，是你们的 神和你们父亲的 神赐给你们财宝在你们的口袋里；你们的银子，我早已收了。”他就把西缅带出来，交给他们。
“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.
24 家宰就领他们进约瑟的屋里，给他们水洗脚，又给他们草料喂驴。
The steward took them inside Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet, and supplied food for their donkeys.
25 他们就预备那礼物，等候约瑟晌午来，因为他们听见要在那里吃饭。
They got their gifts ready for when Joseph would come at noon, because they had found out that they were going to eat there.
26 约瑟来到家里，他们就把手中的礼物拿进屋去给他，又俯伏在地，向他下拜。
When Joseph arrived at the house they gave him the gifts they had brought for him, and bowed low to the ground before him.
27 约瑟问他们好，又问：“你们的父亲—就是你们所说的那老人家平安吗？他还在吗？”
He asked how they were, and then he asked, “How is your elderly father doing that you spoke of? Is he still alive?”
28 他们回答说：“你仆人—我们的父亲平安；他还在。”于是他们低头下拜。
“Yes, your servant our father is still alive, and is well,” they replied and bowed low in respect.
29 约瑟举目看见他同母的兄弟便雅悯，就说：“你们向我所说那顶小的兄弟就是这位吗？”又说：“小儿啊，愿 神赐恩给你！”
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.
30 约瑟爱弟之情发动，就急忙寻找可哭之地，进入自己的屋里，哭了一场。
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.
31 他洗了脸出来，勉强隐忍，吩咐人摆饭。
Then he washed his face, got his emotions under control, and went back out. “Serve the food,” he ordered.
32 他们就为约瑟单摆了一席，为那些人又摆了一席，也为和约瑟同吃饭的埃及人另摆了一席，因为埃及人不可和希伯来人一同吃饭；那原是埃及人所厌恶的。
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.
33 约瑟使众弟兄在他面前排列坐席，都按着长幼的次序，众弟兄就彼此诧异。
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.
34 约瑟把他面前的食物分出来，送给他们；但便雅悯所得的比别人多五倍。他们就饮酒，和约瑟一同宴乐。
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.
