Genesis 44

1 Præcepit autem Ioseph dispensatori domus suæ, dicens: Imple saccos eorum frumento, quantum possunt capere: et pone pecuniam singulorum in summitate sacci.

And Joseph commanded the steward of his house, saying: Fill their sacks with corn, as much as they can hold: and put the money of every one in the top of his sack.

2 Scyphum autem meum argenteum, et pretium quod dedit tritici, pone in ore sacci iunioris. Factumque est ita.

And in the mouth of the younger’s sack put my silver cup, and the price which he gave for the wheat. And it was so done.

3 Et orto mane, dimissi sunt cum asinis suis.

And when the morning arose, they were sent away with their asses.

4 Iamque urbem exierant, et processerant paululum: tunc Ioseph accersito dispensatore domus, Surge, inquit, et persequere viros: et apprehensis dicito: Quare reddidistis malum pro bono?

And when they were now departed out of the city, and had gone forward a little way; Joseph sending for the steward of his house, said: Arise, and pursue after the men: and when thou hast overtaken them, say to them: Why have you returned evil for good?

5 Scyphus, quem furati estis, ipse est in quo bibit dominus meus, et in quo augurari solet: pessimam rem fecistis.

The cup which you have stolen is that in which my lord drinketh, and in which he is wont to divine: you have done a very evil thing.

6 Fecit ille ut iusserat. Et apprehensis per ordinem locutus est.

He did as he had commanded him. And having overtaken them, he spoke to them the same words.

7 Qui responderunt: Quare sic loquitur dominus noster, ut servi tui tantum flagitii commiserint?

And they answered: Why doth our lord speak so, as though thy servants had committed so heinous a fact?

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?

The money, that we found in the top of our sacks, we brought back to thee from the land of Chanaan: how then should it be that we should steal out of thy lord’s house, gold or silver?

9 Apud quemcumque fuerit inventum servorum tuorum quod quæris, moriatur, et nos erimus servi domini nostri.

With whomsoever of thy servants shall be found that which thou seekest, let him die, and we will be the bondmen of my lord.

10 Qui dixit eis: Fiat iuxta vestram sententiam: apud quemcumque fuerit inventus, ipse sit servus meus, vos autem eritis innoxii.

And he said to them: Let it be according to your sentence: with whomsoever it shall be found, let him be my servant, and you shall be blameless.

11 Itaque festinato deponentes in terram saccos, aperuerunt singuli.

Then they speedily took down their sacks to the ground, and every man opened his sack.

12 Quos scrutatus, incipiens a maiore usque ad minimum, invenit scyphum in sacco Beniamin.

Which when he had searched, beginning at the eldest and ending at the youngest, he found the cup in Benjamin’s sack.

13 At illi, scissis vestibus, oneratisque rursum asinis, reversi sunt in oppidum.

Then they rent their garments, and loading their asses again, returned into the town.

14 Primusque Iudas cum fratribus ingressus est ad Ioseph (necdum enim de loco abierat) omnesque ante eum pariter in terram corruerunt.

And Juda at the head of his brethren went in to Joseph, (for he was not yet gone out of the place), and they altogether fell down before him on the ground.

15 Quibus ille ait: Cur sic agere voluistis? an ignoratis quod non sit similis mei in augurandi scientia?

And he said to them: Why would you do so? know you not that there is no one like me in the science of divining.

16 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.

And Juda said to him: What shall we answer my lord? or what shall we say, or be able justly to allege? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are all bondmen to my lord, both we, and he with whom the cup was found.

17 Respondit Ioseph: Absit a me ut sic agam: qui furatus est scyphum, ipse sit servus meus: vos autem abite liberi ad patrem vestrum.

Joseph answered: God forbid that I should do so: he that stole the cup, he shall be my bondman: and go you away free to your father.

18 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

Then Juda coming nearer, said boldly: I beseech thee, my lord, let thy servant speak a word in thy ears, and be not angry with thy servant: for after Pharao thou art,

19 Interrogasti dominus meus prius servos tuos: Habetis patrem, aut fratrem?

My lord. Thou didst ask thy servants the first time: Have you a father or a brother?

20 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.

And we answered thee, my lord: We have a father an old man, and a young boy, that was born in his old age; whose brother by the mother is dead: and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him tenderly.

21 Dixistique servis tuis: Adducite eum ad me, et ponam oculos meos super illum.

And thou saidst to thy servants: Bring him hither to me, and I will set my eyes on him.

22 Suggessimus domino meo: Non potest puer relinquere patrem suum: si enim illum dimiserit, morietur.

We suggested to my lord: The boy cannot leave his father: for if he leave him, he will die.

23 Et dixisti servis tuis: Nisi venerit frater vester minimus vobiscum, non videbitis amplius faciem meam.

And thou saidst to thy servants: Except your youngest brother come with you, you shall see my face no more.

24 Cum ergo ascendissemus ad famulum tuum patrem nostrum, narravimus ei omnia quæ locutus est dominus meus.

Therefore when we were gone up to thy servant our father, we told him all that my lord had said.

25 Et dixit pater noster: Revertimini, et emite nobis parum tritici.

And our father said: Go again, and buy us a little wheat.

26 Cui diximus: Ire non possumus: si frater noster minimus descenderit nobiscum, proficiscemur simul: alioquin illo absente, non audemus videre faciem viri.

And we said to him: We cannot go: if our youngest brother go down with us, we will set out together: otherwise, without him we dare not see the man’s face.

27 Ad quæ ille respondit: Vos scitis quod duos genuerit mihi uxor mea.

Whereunto he answered: You know that my wife bore me two.

28 Egressus est unus, et dixistis: Bestia devoravit eum: et hucusque non comparet.

One went out, and you said: A beast devoured him: and hitherto he appeareth not.

29 Si tuleritis et istum, et aliquid ei in via contigerit, deducetis canos meos cum mœrore ad inferos. (Sheol h7585)

If you take this also, and any thing befall him in the way you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow unto hell. (Sheol h7585)

30 Igitur si intravero ad servum tuum patrem nostrum, et puer defuerit, (cum anima illius ex huius anima pendeat)

Therefore if I shall go to thy servant our father, and the boy be wanting, (whereas his life dependeth upon the life of him, )

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

And he shall see that he is not with us, he will die, and thy servants shall bring down his gray hairs with sorrow unto hell. (Sheol h7585)

32 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.

Let me be thy proper servant, who took him into my trust, and promised, saying: If I bring him not again, I will be guilty of sin against my father for ever.

33 Manebo itaque servus tuus pro puero in ministerio domini mei, et puer ascendat cum fratribus suis.

Therefore I thy servant will stay instead of the boy in the service of my lord, and let the boy go up with his brethren.

34 Non enim possum redire ad patrem meum, absente puero: ne calamitatis, quæ oppressura est patrem meum, testis assistam.

For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I be a witness of the calamity that will oppress my father.