Genesis 44

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

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.

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

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.

3 Et orto mane, dimissi sunt cum asinis suis.

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

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

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?

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

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.’”

6 Fecit ille ut jusserat: et apprehensis per ordinem locutus est.

He did as he had been ordered. And having overtaken them, he spoke to them according to the order.

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

And they responded: “Why does our lord speak in this way, as though your servants had committed such a shameful act?

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, 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?

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

Whichever of your servants will be found to have what you seek, may he die, and we shall be the servants of my lord.”

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

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.”

11 Itaque festinato deponentes in terram saccos, aperuerunt singuli.

And so, they quickly placed their sacks down to the ground, and each one was opened.

12 Quos scrutatus, incipiens a majore usque ad minimum, invenit scyphum in sacco Benjamin.

And when he had searched, beginning with the oldest, all the way to the youngest, he found the cup in Benjamin’s sack.

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

But they, tearing their garments and burdening their donkeys again, returned to the town.

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

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.

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 choose to act in this way? Could you be ignorant that there is no one like me in the knowledge of discerning signs?”

16 Cui Judas: Quid respondebimus, inquit, domino meo? vel quid loquemur, aut juste poterimus obtendere? Deus invenit iniquitatem servorum tuorum: en omnes servi sumus domini mei, et nos, et apud quem inventus est scyphus.

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.”

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

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.”

18 Accedens autem propius Judas, confidenter ait: Oro, domine mi, loquatur servus tuus verbum in auribus tuis, et ne irascaris famulo tuo: tu es enim post Pharaonem

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.

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

My lord, you questioned your servants before: ‘Do you have 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: cujus uterinus frater mortuus est: et ipsum solum habet mater sua, pater vero tenere diligit eum.

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.’

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

And you said to your servants, ‘Bring him 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 is not able to leave his father. For if he sends him away, he will die.’

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

And you said to your servants: ‘Unless your youngest brother arrives with you, you will not see my face any more.’

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

Therefore, when we had gone up to your servant our father, we explained to him all that my lord had spoken.

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

And our father said: ‘Return 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 descends with us, we will set out together. Otherwise, in his absence, we do not dare to see the face of the man.’

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

To which he responded: ‘You know that my wife conceived twice by me.

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

One went out, and you said, “A beast devoured him.” And since then, he has not appeared.

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

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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 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.’

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

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.

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 appear as a witness to the calamity that will oppress my father.”