Genesis 44

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

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

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 Et orto mane, dimissi sunt cum asinis suis.

At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.

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?

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

Is this not the cup my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’”

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

When the steward overtook them, he relayed these words to them.

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

“Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing.

8 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?

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

If any of your servants is found to have it, he must die, and the rest will become slaves of my lord.”

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

“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 Itaque festinato deponentes in terram saccos, aperuerunt singuli.

So each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.

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

The steward searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest—and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

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

Then they all tore their clothes, loaded their donkeys, and returned to the city.

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

When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.

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

“What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”

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.

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

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

My lord asked his servants, ‘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; cuius uterinus frater mortuus est: et ipsum solum habet mater sua, pater vero tenere diliget eum.

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

Then you told your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so that I can see him for myself.’

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

So we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father. If he were to leave, his father would die.’

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

But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’

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

Now when we returned to your servant my father, we relayed your words to him.

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

Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us some food.’

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

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

And your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.

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

When one of them was gone, I said: “Surely he has been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since.

29 Si tuleritis et istum, et aliquid ei in via contigerit, deducetis canos meos cum moerore ad inferos. (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 Igitur si intravero ad servum tuum patrem nostrum, et puer defuerit, (cum anima illius ex huius anima dependeat)

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

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

Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers.

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

For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”