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 commanded he him who was over his house saying—Fill the sacks of the men, with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’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

and my cup—the cup of silver, shalt thou put in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his corn-silver. So he did, according to the word of Joseph, which he had spoken.

3 et orto mane dimissi sunt cum asinis suis

By the time, the morning, was light, the men, had been sent away, they, and their asses.

4 iamque urbem exierant et processerant paululum tum Ioseph arcessito dispensatore domus surge inquit persequere viros et adprehensis dicito quare reddidistis malum pro bono

They themselves, had gone out of the city—they had not gone far, when Joseph said to him who was over his house, Rise chase after the men, —so shalt thou overtake them and shalt say unto them, Wherefore have ye requited evil for good?

5 scyphum quem furati estis ipse est in quo bibit dominus meus et in quo augurari solet pessimam rem fecistis

Is not this that in which my lord drinketh, and whereby, he himself, doth divine? Ye have done evil in what ye have done.

6 fecit ille ut iusserat et adprehensis per ordinem locutus est

So he overtook them, —and spake unto them these words.

7 qui responderunt quare sic loquitur dominus noster ut servi tui tantum flagitii commiserint

And they said unto him, Wherefore should my lord speak such words as these? Far be thy servants, from doing such a thing as this!

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

Lo! the silver that we found in the mouth of our sacks, we brought back unto thee out of the land of Canaan, —how then could we steal out of the house of thy lord, silver or gold?

9 apud quemcumque fuerit inventum servorum tuorum quod quaeris moriatur et nos servi erimus domini nostri

With whomsoever of thy servants it can be found, he shall die, —and, we also, will become my lord’s servants.

10 qui dixit fiat iuxta vestram sententiam apud quem fuerit inventum ipse sit servus meus vos autem eritis innoxii

And he said, Yea, now, according to your words, so, let it be, —he with whom it is found, shall be my servant, Ye, however, shall be clear.

11 itaque festinato deponentes in terram saccos aperuerunt singuli

So they hastened and took down each man his sack to the ground, —and opened each man his sack.

12 quos scrutatus incipiens a maiore usque ad minimum invenit scyphum in sacco Beniamin

Then made he thorough search, with the eldest, he began, and with the youngest, he ended, —and the cup was found in the sack of Benjamin!

13 at illi scissis vestibus oneratisque rursum asinis reversi sunt in oppidum

And they rent their mantles, —and laded each man his ass, and returned to the city.

14 primusque Iudas cum fratribus ingressus est ad Ioseph necdum enim de loco abierat omnesque ante eum in terra pariter corruerunt

And Judah and his brethren came into the house of Joseph, he, yet being there, —and fell down before him to the earth.

15 quibus ille ait cur sic agere voluistis an ignoratis quod non sit similis mei in augurandi scientia

And Joseph said to them, What is this deed which ye have done? Know ye not that such a man as I, can even divine?

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

Then said Judah—What shall we say to my lord, how shall we speak and how shall we justify ourselves, —when, God himself, hath found out the iniquity of thy servants? Behold us! my lord’s servants, both we, and he in whose hand the cup hath been 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

And he said, Far be it from me to do this thing! The man in whose hand the cup hath been found, he, shall be my servant, but as for you, go ye up in peace unto 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 drew near unto him, and said—Pardon my lord! Pray let thy servant speak a word in the ears of my lord, and do not let thine anger be kindled against thy servant, —for, thus, art, thou as Pharaoh!

19 dominus meus interrogasti prius servos tuos habetis patrem aut fratrem

It was, my lord, who asked his servants, saying, —Have ye 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

So we said unto my lord, We have an aged father, and the child of his old age a youth, —his brother, being dead, he alone, is left of his mother and, his father, loveth him.

21 dixistique servis tuis adducite eum ad me et ponam oculos meos super illum

So then thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, —that I may set mine eyes upon him.

22 suggessimus domino meo non potest puer relinquere patrem suum si enim illum dimiserit morietur

And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father, —as surely as he leaveth his father, so surely will he, die.

23 et dixisti servis tuis nisi venerit frater vester minimus vobiscum non videbitis amplius faciem meam

And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother do come down with you, ye shall not again behold my face.

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

So it came to pass when we had gone up unto thy servant, my father, that we told him the words of my lord.

25 et dixit pater noster revertimini et emite nobis parum tritici

Then said our father, —Go again buy us a little food,

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, We cannot go down, —If our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down, for we cannot see the face of the man if, our youngest brother, is not with us.

27 atque ille respondit vos scitis quod duos genuerit mihi uxor mea

Then said thy servant my father, unto us, —Ye yourselves, know, that, two, did my wife bear to me,

28 egressus est unus et dixistis bestia devoravit eum et hucusque non conparet

and the one went forth from me, and I said—Certainly he hath been, torn in pieces, —And I have never seen him since.

29 si tuleritis et istum et aliquid ei in via contigerit deducetis canos meos cum maerore ad inferos (Sheol h7585)

As surely as ye take, this one also, away from before my face and there befall him any mischief, so surely shall ye bring down my grey hairs, with misfortune to hades. (Sheol h7585)

30 igitur si intravero ad servum tuum patrem nostrum et puer defuerit cum anima illius ex huius anima pendeat

Now, therefore, as surely as I go in unto thy servant my father, and, the lad, is not with us, —seeing that his soul is bound up with the lad’s soul,

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

so surely shall it come to pass that when he seeth that the lad is not with us, then will he die. So shall thy servants bring down the grey hairs of thy servant our father, with sorrow to hades. (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

For thy servant, became surety for the lad, while away from my father saying, —If I bring him not unto thee, then will I count myself a sinner against my father all the days.

33 manebo itaque servus tuus pro puero in ministerium domini mei et puer ascendat cum fratribus suis

Now, therefore, I pray thee let thy servant remain instead of the lad, as servant to my lord, —but as for the lad, let him go up with his brethren.

34 non enim possum redire ad patrem absente puero ne calamitatis quae oppressura est patrem meum testis adsistam

For how can I go up unto my father, should the lad, not be with me? lest I look on the calamity, that shall find out my father,