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 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 iunioris 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 iamque urbem exierant et processerant paululum tum Ioseph arcessito dispensatore domus surge inquit persequere viros et adprehensis 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 scyphum 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 iusserat et adprehensis 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 quaeris moriatur et nos servi erimus 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 fiat iuxta vestram sententiam apud quem 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 maiore usque ad minimum invenit scyphum in sacco Beniamin
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 Iudas cum fratribus ingressus est ad Ioseph necdum enim de loco abierat omnesque ante eum in terra pariter 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 Iudas quid respondebimus inquit domino meo vel quid loquemur aut iusti 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 Ioseph 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 propius Iudas 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 senecta illius natus est cuius uterinus frater est mortuus 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 quae 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 descendet 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 atque 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 conparet
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 maerore 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 huius 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 eius 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 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 ministerium 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 absente puero ne calamitatis quae oppressura est patrem meum testis adsistam
For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I appear as a witness to the calamity that will oppress my father.”
