< 創世記 44 >

1 約瑟吩咐家宰說:「把糧食裝滿這些人的口袋,儘着他們的驢所能馱的,又把各人的銀子放在各人的口袋裏,
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 並將我的銀杯和那少年人糴糧的銀子一同裝在他的口袋裏。」家宰就照約瑟所說的話行了;
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 天一亮就打發那些人帶着驢走了。
At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.
4 他們出城走了不遠,約瑟對家宰說:「起來,追那些人去,追上了就對他們說:『你們為甚麼以惡報善呢?
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 這不是我主人飲酒的杯嗎?豈不是他占卜用的嗎?你們這樣行是作惡了。』」
Is this not the cup my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’”
6 家宰追上他們,將這些話對他們說了。
When the steward overtook them, he relayed these words to them.
7 他們回答說:「我主為甚麼說這樣的話呢?你僕人斷不能做這樣的事。
“Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing.
8 你看,我們從前在口袋裏所見的銀子,尚且從迦南地帶來還你,我們怎能從你主人家裏偷竊金銀呢?
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 你僕人中無論在誰那裏搜出來,就叫他死,我們也作我主的奴僕。」
If any of your servants is found to have it, he must die, and the rest will become slaves of my lord.”
10 家宰說:「現在就照你們的話行吧!在誰那裏搜出來,誰就作我的奴僕;其餘的都沒有罪。」
“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 於是他們各人急忙把口袋卸在地下,各人打開口袋。
So each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.
12 家宰就搜查,從年長的起到年幼的為止,那杯竟在便雅憫的口袋裏搜出來。
The steward searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest—and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
13 他們就撕裂衣服,各人把馱子抬在驢上,回城去了。
Then they all tore their clothes, loaded their donkeys, and returned to the city.
14 猶大和他弟兄們來到約瑟的屋中,約瑟還在那裏,他們就在他面前俯伏於地。
When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.
15 約瑟對他們說:「你們做的是甚麼事呢?你們豈不知像我這樣的人必能占卜嗎?」
“What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”
16 猶大說:「我們對我主說甚麼呢?還有甚麼話可說呢?我們怎能自己表白出來呢?上帝已經查出僕人的罪孽了。我們與那在他手中搜出杯來的都是我主的奴僕。」
“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 約瑟說:「我斷不能這樣行!在誰的手中搜出杯來,誰就作我的奴僕;至於你們,可以平平安安地上你們父親那裏去。」
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 猶大挨近他,說:「我主啊,求你容僕人說一句話給我主聽,不要向僕人發烈怒,因為你如同法老一樣。
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 我主曾問僕人們說:『你們有父親有兄弟沒有?』
My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’
20 我們對我主說:『我們有父親,已經年老,還有他老年所生的一個小孩子。他哥哥死了,他母親只撇下他一人,他父親疼愛他。』
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 你對僕人說:『把他帶到我這裏來,叫我親眼看看他。』
Then you told your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so that I can see him for myself.’
22 我們對我主說:『童子不能離開他父親,若是離開,他父親必死。』
So we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father. If he were to leave, his father would die.’
23 你對僕人說:『你們的小兄弟若不與你們一同下來,你們就不得再見我的面。』
But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’
24 我們上到你僕人-我們父親那裏,就把我主的話告訴了他。
Now when we returned to your servant my father, we relayed your words to him.
25 我們的父親說:『你們再去給我糴些糧來。』
Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us some food.’
26 我們就說:『我們不能下去。我們的小兄弟若和我們同往,我們就可以下去。因為,小兄弟若不與我們同往,我們必不得見那人的面。』
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 你僕人-我父親對我們說:『你們知道我的妻子給我生了兩個兒子。
And your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.
28 一個離開我出去了;我說他必是被撕碎了,直到如今我也沒有見他。
When one of them was gone, I said: “Surely he has been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since.
29 現在你們又要把這個帶去離開我,倘若他遭害,那便是你們使我白髮蒼蒼、悲悲慘慘地下陰間去了。』 (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 我父親的命與這童子的命相連。如今我回到你僕人-我父親那裏,若沒有童子與我們同在,
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 我們的父親見沒有童子,他就必死。這便是我們使你僕人-我們的父親白髮蒼蒼、悲悲慘慘地下陰間去了。 (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 因為僕人曾向我父親為這童子作保,說:『我若不帶他回來交給父親,我便在父親面前永遠擔罪。』
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 現在求你容僕人住下,替這童子作我主的奴僕,叫童子和他哥哥們一同上去。
Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers.
34 若童子不和我同去,我怎能上去見我父親呢?恐怕我看見災禍臨到我父親身上。」
For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”

< 創世記 44 >