Genesis 43
1 Meanwhile, the famine pressed heavily on all the land.
地上的饑荒仍然嚴重。
2 And having consumed the provisions that they had brought out of Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Return and buy us a little food.”
他們吃完了由埃及帶來的糧食，父親對他們說：「你們再去給我們買點糧食來吃! 」
3 Judah answered: “The man himself declared to us, under the attestation of an oath, saying: ‘You will not see my face, unless you bring your youngest brother with you.’
猶大立即回答父親說：「那人明明告訴我們說：你們若不帶弟弟一起來，你們休想見我的面。
4 If therefore you are willing to send him with us, we will travel together, and we will buy necessities for you.
你若讓我們的弟弟與我們一同去，我們下去給你買些糧食來；
5 But if you are not willing, we will not go. For the man, as we have often said, declared to us, saying: ‘You will not see my face without your youngest brother.’”
你若不讓他去，我們也不下去；因為那人對我們說過：你們若不帶弟弟與你們一同來，你們休想見我的面。」
6 Israel said to them, “You have done this for my misery, in that you revealed to him that you also had another brother.”
以色列說：「你們為什麼這樣害我，告訴那人你們還有個弟弟﹖」
7 But they responded: “The man questioned us in order, concerning our family: whether our father lived, if we had a brother. And we answered him respectively, according to what he demanded. How could we know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother with you?’”
他們回答說：「那人再三再四問我們和我們的家庭說：你們的父親是否還活著﹖你們是否另有個兄弟﹖我們只得照這些話答覆他。那裏會知道他要說：帶你們的兄弟一同下來﹖」
8 Likewise, Judah said to his father: “Send the boy with me, so that we may set out and be able to live, lest we and our little ones should die.
猶大又對他父親以色列說：「你叫孩童與我同去，我們就起身前去；這樣，我們和你並我們的幼兒，可以生活，不致餓死。
9 I accept the boy; require him at my hand. Unless I lead him back and restore him to you, I will be guilty of a sin against you for all time.
我為他擔保，你可由我手中要人；如果我不將他帶回，交在你面前，我在你前終生負罪。
10 If a delay had not intervened, by now we would have returned here a second time.”
假使我們沒有遲延，現在第二次也回來了! 」
11 Therefore, their father Israel said to them: “If it is necessary to do so, then do what you will. Take, in your vessels, from the best fruits of the land, and carry down gifts to the man: a little resin, and honey, and storax ointment, oil of myrrh, turpentine, and almonds.
他們的父親以色列對他們說：「如果必須如此，你們就這樣做：在行李內帶些本地最好的出產，一些香液、蜂蜜、樹膠、香料、榧子和杏仁，下去送給那人當作禮物。
12 Also, take with you double the money, and carry back what you found in your sacks, lest perhaps it was done in error.
手中多帶一倍銀錢，將那放在你們糧袋口的銀錢，也一併帶上，這或者是出於一時的錯誤。
13 But also take your brother, and go to the man.
並且帶著你們的弟弟起身往那人那裏去。
14 Then may my Almighty God cause him to be pleased by you. And send your brother, whom he holds, back with you, along with this one, Benjamin. But as for me, without my children, I will be like one who is bereaved.”
願全能的天主使你們在那人面前蒙恩，放回你們那個兄弟和本雅明；至於我，如要喪子，就喪子罷! 」
15 Therefore, the men took the gifts, and double the money, and Benjamin. And they went down into Egypt, and they stood in the presence of Joseph.
這一夥人於是帶了那些禮物，手中帶上雙倍銀錢，帶本雅明起身下道埃及去，到了若瑟面前。
16 And when he had seen them and Benjamin together, he instructed the steward of his house, saying: “Lead the men into the house, and kill victims, and prepare a feast, because they will be eating with me at midday.”
若瑟一看見他們和本雅明，就對自己的管家說：「帶這些人到家裏去，宰殺設宴，中午這些人要與我一起吃飯。」
17 He did what he had been ordered to do, and he brought the men into the house.
管家就依照若瑟吩咐的做了，將這些人帶到若瑟家中。
18 And there, being terrified, they said one to another: “Because of the money, which we carried back the first time in our sacks, we have been brought in, so that he may unleash a false accusation against us, and by violence subjugate both us and our donkeys into servitude.”
這些人一進入了若瑟的家，就害怕起來，心裏想：「他帶我們到這裏來，定是為了上次放回我們袋裏銀錢的事，想找我們的錯處，加害我們，拿住我們當奴隸，奪取我們的驢。」
19 For this reason, approaching the steward of the house at his door,
他們於是走到若瑟的管家，前在房門口同他談起這事，
20 they said: “We beg you, lord, to hear us. We came down once before to buy food.
說：「我主，請原諒：我們上次下到這裏來購買糧食，
21 And having bought it, when we arrived at the inn, we opened our sacks and found the money in the mouths of the sacks, which we now have carried back in the same amount.
當我們到了客棧，打開我們的布袋時，發見各人的銀錢仍在各人的布袋口，我們的銀錢一分不少；現在我們又親手帶回來了。
22 But we have also brought other silver, so that we may buy those things that are necessary for us. It is not on our conscience who had placed it in our bags.”
此外我們手中又帶了些銀錢，來購買糧食；我們不知道是誰將我們的銀錢放在我們的布袋內。」
23 But he responded: “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you the treasure in your sacks. As for the money that you gave to me, I held it as a test.” And he led Simeon out to them.
管家答說：「請你們放心，不必害怕! 是你們的天主，你們祖先的天主，在你們的布袋裏給你們放上了財寶；你們的銀錢我已經收了。」以後給他們領出西默盎來。
24 And having led them into the house, he brought water, and they washed their feet, and he gave fodder to their donkeys.
管家卡領這些人到了若瑟家裏，先給他們拿水洗了腳，然後拿草料餵了驢。
25 But they also prepared the gifts, until Joseph entered at midday. For they had heard that they would eat bread there.
他們遂將禮物預備好，等候若瑟中午回來；因為聽說，他們要在那裏吃午飯。
26 And so Joseph entered his house, and they offered him the gifts, holding them in their hands. And they reverenced prone on the ground.
若瑟回到家裏，他們就將手中的禮物獻給他，俯首至地向他下拜。
27 But he, gently greeting them again, questioned them, saying: “Is your father, the old man about whom you spoke to me, in good health? Is he still alive?”
若瑟先向他們問安，然後說：「你們以前所說的老父好麼﹖還健在麼﹖」
28 And they answered: “Your servant, our father, is safe; he is still alive.” And bowing, they reverenced him.
他們答說：「你的僕人，我們的父親還好，還健在。」遂又鞠躬下拜。
29 Then Joseph, lifting up his eyes, saw Benjamin, his brother of the same womb, and he said, “Is this your little brother, about whom you spoke to me?” And again, he said, “May God be compassionate to you, my son.”
若瑟舉目，見了他母親生的弟弟本雅明，就問說：「這就是你們對我說的那小弟弟嗎﹖」繼而說：「孩子，願天主保佑你! 」
30 And he hurried out, because his heart had been moved over his brother, and tears gushed out. And going into his chamber, he wept.
若瑟愛弟情切，想要流淚，趕快進了自己的內室，在那裏哭了一場；
31 And when he had washed his face, coming out again, he composed himself, and he said, “Set out bread.”
然後洗臉出來，勉強抑制自己，吩咐說：「擺飯罷! 」
32 And when it was set out, separately for Joseph, and separately for his brothers, likewise separately for the Egyptians, who ate at the same time, (for it is unlawful for Egyptians to eat with Hebrews, and they consider feasting in this way to be profane)
人就給若瑟擺了一席，為他們擺了一席，為與若瑟一起吃飯的埃及人另擺了一席；因為埃及人不能同希伯來人一起吃飯，這為他們是個恥辱。
33 they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his state of life. And they wondered exceedingly,
他們便在若瑟前，安排就坐，全按長幼的次序，長者在上，幼者在下；眾兄弟彼此相看，驚奇不已。
34 taking the portions that they received from him. And the greater portion went to Benjamin, so much so that it exceeded five parts. And they drank and became inebriated along with him.
若瑟將自己面前的食物分開，分給他們；但本雅明的一分，比其餘的人多五倍。他們遂與若瑟飲酒宴樂。
