Genesis 44
1 Then Joseph instructed the steward of his house, saying: “Fill their sacks with grain, as much as they are able to hold. And place each one’s money at the top of the sack.
Praecepit autem Ioseph dispensatori domus suae, dicens: Imple saccos eorum frumento, quantum possunt capere: et pone pecuniam singulorum in summitate sacci.
2 But place my silver bowl, and the price that he gave for the wheat, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest.” And so it was done.
Scyphum autem meum argenteum, et pretium quod dedit tritici, pone in ore sacci iunioris. factumque est ita.
3 And when morning arose, they were sent away with their donkeys.
Et orto mane, dimissi sunt cum asinis suis.
4 And now they had departed from the city and had set out a short distance. Then Joseph, sending for the steward of his house, said: “Rise up and pursue the men. And when you have overtaken them, say: ‘Why have you returned evil for good?
Iamque urbem exierant, et processerant paululum: tunc Ioseph accersito dispensatore domus, Surge, inquit, et persequere viros: et apprehensis dicito: Quare reddidistis malum pro bono?
5 The cup that you have stolen, it is that from which my lord drinks, and in which he is accustomed to discern signs. You have done a very sinful thing.’”
Scyphus, quem furati estis, ipse est in quo bibit dominus meus, et in quo augurari solet: pessimam rem fecistis.
6 He did as he had been ordered. And having overtaken them, he spoke to them according to the order.
Fecit ille ut iusserat. Et apprehensis per ordinem locutus est.
7 And they responded: “Why does our lord speak in this way, as though your servants had committed such a shameful act?
Qui responderunt: Quare sic loquitur dominus noster, ut servi tui tantum flagitii commiserint?
8 The money, which we found at the top of our sacks, we carried back to you from the land of Canaan. So in what way does it follow that we would steal, from the house of your lord, gold or silver?
Pecuniam, quam invenimus in summitate saccorum, reportavimus ad te de terra Chanaan: et quo modo consequens est ut furati simus de domo domini tui aurum vel argentum?
9 Whichever of your servants will be found to have what you seek, may he die, and we shall be the servants of my lord.”
Apud quemcumque fuerit inventum servorum tuorum quod quaeris, moriatur, et nos erimus servi domini nostri.
10 And he said to them: “Let it be according to your verdict. With whomever it will be found, let him be my servant, but you will be unharmed.”
Qui dixit eis: Fiat iuxta vestram sententiam: apud quemcumque fuerit inventus, ipse sit servus meus, vos autem eritis innoxii.
11 And so, they quickly placed their sacks down to the ground, and each one was opened.
Itaque festinato deponentes in terram saccos, aperuerunt singuli.
12 And when he had searched, beginning with the oldest, all the way to the youngest, he found the cup in Benjamin’s sack.
Quos scrutatus, incipiens a maiore usque ad minimum, invenit scyphum in sacco Beniamin.
13 But they, tearing their garments and burdening their donkeys again, returned to the town.
At illi, scissis vestibus, oneratisque rursum asinis, reversi sunt in oppidum.
14 And Judah, first among his brothers, entered to Joseph (for he had not yet departed from the place) and together they all fell down before him to the ground.
Primusque Iudas cum fratribus ingressus est ad Ioseph (necdum enim de loco abierat) omnesque ante eum pariter in terram corruerunt.
15 And he said to them: “Why would you choose to act in this way? Could you be ignorant that there is no one like me in the knowledge of discerning signs?”
Quibus ille ait: Cur sic agere voluistis? an ignoratis quod non sit similis mei in augurandi scientia?
16 And Judah said to him, “What could we answer to my lord? And what would we be able to say, or to justly claim? God has discovered the iniquity of your servants. See, we have all become servants to my lord, both we, and he with whom the cup was found.”
Cui Iudas: Quid respondebimus, inquit, domino meo? vel quid loquemur aut iuste poterimus obtendere? Deus invenit iniquitatem servorum tuorum: en omnes servi sumus domini mei, et nos, et apud quem inventus est scyphus.
17 Joseph responded: “Far be it from me that I should act in this way. He who stole the cup, he will be my servant. But you may go away free to your father.”
Responditque Ioseph: Absit a me ut sic agam: qui furatus est scyphum, ipse sit servus meus: vos autem abite liberi ad patrem vestrum.
18 Then Judah, approaching closer, said confidently: “I beg you, my lord, let your servant speak a word in your ears, and do not be angry with your servant. For you are next to Pharaoh.
Accedens autem propius Iudas, confidenter ait: Oro domini mi, loquatur servus tuus verbum in auribus tuis, et ne irascaris famulo tuo: tu es enim post Pharaonem
19 My lord, you questioned your servants before: ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’
dominus meus. Interrogasti prius servos tuos: Habetis patrem, aut fratrem?
20 And we answered you, my lord: ‘There is our father, an old man, and a young boy, who was born in his old age. His brother of the same womb has died, and he alone is left to his mother and father, who truly love him tenderly.’
et nos respondimus tibi domino meo: Est nobis pater senex, et puer parvulus, qui in senectute illius natus est; cuius uterinus frater mortuus est: et ipsum solum habet mater sua, pater vero tenere diliget eum.
21 And you said to your servants, ‘Bring him to me, and I will set my eyes on him.’
Dixistique servis tuis: Adducite eum ad me, et ponam oculos meos super illum.
22 We suggested to my lord: ‘The boy is not able to leave his father. For if he sends him away, he will die.’
Suggessimus domino meo: Non potest puer relinquere patrem suum: si enim illum dimiserit, morietur.
23 And you said to your servants: ‘Unless your youngest brother arrives with you, you will not see my face any more.’
Et dixisti servis tuis: Nisi venerit frater vester minimus vobiscum, non videbitis amplius faciem meam.
24 Therefore, when we had gone up to your servant our father, we explained to him all that my lord had spoken.
Cum ergo ascendissemus ad famulum tuum patrem nostrum, narravimus ei omnia quae locutus est dominus meus.
25 And our father said: ‘Return and buy us a little wheat.’
Et dixit pater noster: Revertimini, et emite nobis parum tritici.
26 And we said to him: ‘We cannot go. If our youngest brother descends with us, we will set out together. Otherwise, in his absence, we do not dare to see the face of the man.’
Cui diximus: Ire non possumus: si frater noster minimus descenderit nobiscum, proficiscemur simul: alioquin illo absente, non audemus videre faciem viri.
27 To which he responded: ‘You know that my wife conceived twice by me.
Ad quae ille respondit: Vos scitis quod duos genuerit mihi uxor mea.
28 One went out, and you said, “A beast devoured him.” And since then, he has not appeared.
Egressus est unus, et dixistis: Bestia devoravit eum: et hucusque non comparet.
29 If you take this one also, and anything happens to him on the way, you will lead my grey hairs down with grief to the grave.’ (Sheol h7585)
Si tuleritis et istum, et aliquid ei in via contigerit, deducetis canos meos cum moerore ad inferos. (Sheol h7585)
30 Therefore, if I would have gone to your servant, our father, with the boy not present, (though his life depends upon the life of him)
Igitur si intravero ad servum tuum patrem nostrum, et puer defuerit, (cum anima illius ex huius anima dependeat)
31 and if he were to see that he is not with us, he would die, and your servants will lead his grey hairs down with sorrow to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
videritque eum non esse nobiscum, morietur, et deducent famuli tui canos eius cum dolore ad inferos. (Sheol h7585)
32 Let me be your very own servant, for I accepted this one into my trust, and I promised, saying: ‘Unless I lead him back, I will be guilty of a sin against my father for all time.’
Ego proprie servus tuus sim qui in meam hunc recepi fidem, et spopondi dicens: Nisi reduxero eum, peccati reus ero in patrem meum omni tempore.
33 And so I, your servant, will remain in place of the boy, in ministry to my lord, and then let the boy go up with his brothers.
Manebo itaque servus tuus pro puero in ministerio domini mei, et puer ascendat cum fratribus suis.
34 For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I appear as a witness to the calamity that will oppress my father.”
Non enim possum redire ad patrem meum, absente puero: ne calamitatis, quae oppressura est patrem meum, testis assistam.
