Ebandeli 43
1 Nzala makasi ekotaki kati na mokili.
The famine continued to be really bad in Canaan,
2 Tango libota ya Jakobi baliaki biloko nyonso oyo bamemaki wuta na Ejipito, Jakobi alobaki na bana na ye: — Bozonga kuna kosomba ndambo ya biloko.
so once they had finished the grain they'd brought from Egypt, their father told them, “You have to go back and buy some more grain for us.”
3 Yuda azongisaki: — Moto wana alobaki na biso ete tozonga kuna te soki ndeko na biso azali elongo na biso te.
But Judah responded, “The man was adamant when he warned us, ‘I won't even see you unless your brother is with you.’
4 Soki otiki ndeko na biso kokende elongo na biso, wana tokokende na Ejipito mpe tokosombela yo biloko.
If you send our brother Benjamin with us then we'll go and buy food for you.
5 Kasi soki otiki ye te, biso mpe tokokende te; pamba te moto wana ayebisaki biso malamu: « Bokotelema liboso na ngai te soki ndeko na bino azali te. »
But if you won't send him, then we won't go, because the man was very clear, ‘I won't even see you unless your brother is with you.’”
6 Isalaele azongisaki: — Mpo na nini bosali ngai mabe boye? Mpo na nini boyebisaki moto wana ete bozali na ndeko mosusu?
“Why have you made things so bad for me by telling the man you had another brother?” Israel asked.
7 Bazongisaki: — Moto yango atunaki biso malamu makambo oyo etali biso moko mpe libota na biso. Atunaki biso: « Tata na bino azali nanu na bomoi? Bozali na ndeko mosusu ya mobali? » Mpe biso topesaki eyano na mituna na ye. Tokokaki te koyeba ete akoloba na biso: « Boya na ndeko na bino ya mobali awa. »
“The man kept on asking direct questions about us and our family like ‘Is your father still alive?’ and ‘Do you have another brother?’” they replied. “We just answered his questions. How were we to know he'd say, ‘Bring your brother here!’?”
8 Yuda ayebisaki tata na ye Isalaele: — Tata, tika Benjame akende elongo na ngai. Tokotelema mpe tokokende mpo ete biso elongo na yo mpe bana na biso, tozala na bomoi, kasi tokufa te na nzala.
Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy in my care, and we'll leave immediately, so that we can stay alive and not die—and that includes you and us and our children!
9 Nandimi kobatela ye; boye okotuna ye na maboko na ngai. Soki nazongiseli yo ye te mpe namemi ye liboso na yo te, tika ete nazala na ngambo epai na yo bomoi na ngai mobimba.
I promise to take care of him—I'll be personally responsible for bringing him back to you. If I don't, then I will always carry the blame!
10 Soki towumelaki te, tokokaki kozonga mbala ya mibale.
Now let's go, because if we hadn't hesitated, we could have gone there and come back twice by now.”
11 Tata na bango Isalaele alobaki na bango: — Soki esengeli kozala bongo, wana bosala boye: botia na basaki na bino biloko oyo eleki kitoko kati na mokili mpe bopesa yango lokola kado epai ya moto wana: ndambo ya mafuta ya solo kitoko, ndambo ya mafuta ya nzoyi, biloko ya mike-mike ya solo kitoko, lodanumi, pisitashi mpe bambuma ya amande.
“If it has to be, then this is what you'll do,” Israel replied. “Take with you the best our country produces. Pack your bags with gifts for the man—balm, a little honey, spices, myrrh, pistachios, and almonds.
12 Bozwa mbala mibale motuya ya mbongo oyo ezalaki kati na basaki na bino mpe bozongisa mbongo oyo bokutaki na basaki na bino; tango mosusu ezalaki libunga.
Take double the money that was returned to you in your sacks—maybe it was a mistake.
13 Bozwa ndeko na bino ya mobali, botelema mpe bozonga epai ya moto wana.
Take your brother and go back to the man right away.
14 Tika ete Nzambe-Na-Nguya-Nyonso ayokela bino mawa tango bokotelema liboso ya moto wana, mpo ete bokoka kozwa ndeko na bino mosusu, mpe Benjame azonga elongo na bino. Kasi mpo na ngai, soki nakozanga bana, malamu nazanga bango!
May God Almighty make the man treat you kindly so when you come before him he'll release your other brother and send Benjamin back. As for me, if I am to lose all my children, then so be it.”
15 Boye bato yango bazwaki bakado; bazwaki lisusu mbala mibale motuya ya mbongo oyo ezalaki na basaki na bango mpe Benjame. Bakendeki na Ejipito mpe bamilakisaki na miso ya Jozefi.
So they packed the gifts, took double the money, and set off, accompanied by Benjamin. They arrived in Egypt and went to have an audience with Joseph.
16 Tango Jozefi amonaki Benjame elongo na bango, alobaki na moto oyo azalaki na mokumba ya kobatela bozwi na ye: « Mema bato oyo na ndako na ngai; boboma nyama moko mpe bolamba yango mpo ete bato oyo bakolia elongo na ngai na midi. »
When Joseph saw Benjamin was with them, he told his household supervisor, “Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and make a meal, for they are going to eat with me at noon.”
17 Moto yango asalaki ndenge kaka Jozefi alobaki na ye mpe amemaki bango na ndako ya Jozefi.
The man did as Joseph ordered and took them to Joseph's house.
18 Bato yango babangaki makasi tango bamemaki bango na ndako ya Jozefi mpe bazalaki kolobana bango na bango: — Bamemi biso awa likolo ya mbongo oyo batiaki na basaki na biso, na mbala ya liboso. Bakokweya likolo na biso, bakolonga biso, bakokanga biso lokola bawumbu mpe bakozwa ba-ane na biso.
They were really worried that they were being taken to Joseph's house. “It's because of the money that was put in our sacks the first time we came,” they said to each other. “That's why we're being brought in—so he can accuse us and attack us! He'll make us his slaves and take our donkeys!”
19 Bapusanaki pembeni ya moto oyo azalaki na mokumba ya kobatela bozwi ya ndako ya Jozefi mpe balobaki na ye na ekuke ya ndako:
So they went and spoke to Joseph's household supervisor at the entrance to the house.
20 — Limbisa biso, nkolo na ngai! Toyaki mbala ya liboso mpo na kosomba biloko ya kolia;
“Please excuse us, my lord,” they said. “We came down the first time to buy food,
21 kasi tango totelemaki na esika ya kolekisa butu, tofungolaki basaki na biso; mpe moko na moko kati na biso amonaki mbongo na ye kati na saki na ye ndenge kaka ezalaki, yango wana tozongi na yango.
and when we stopped for the night, we opened our sacks and each of us found our money—the exact amount—at the top of our sacks. So we've brought it back with us.
22 Tomemi mbongo mosusu mpo na kosomba biloko ya kolia, toyebi te nani azongisaki mbongo na biso na basaki na biso.
We've also brought more money to buy food. We've no idea who put our money in our sacks!”
23 Alobaki na bango: — Malamu! Bobanga te. Ezali Nzambe na bino, Nzambe ya tata na bino, nde atiaki bomengo kati na basaki na bino. Kasi mpo na mbongo na bino, ngai nazwaki yango. Sima, amemelaki bango Simeoni.
“Everything's fine!” he told them. “Don't worry! Your God, the God of your father, must have given you the treasure hidden in your sacks. I got your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to meet them.
24 Moto yango akotisaki bango na ndako ya Jozefi, apesaki bango mayi ya kosukola makolo mpe abongisaki bilei mpo na ba-ane na bango.
The steward took them inside Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet, and supplied food for their donkeys.
25 Babongisaki bakado na bango mpo na boyei ya Jozefi na midi, pamba te bayokaki ete bakolia kuna.
They got their gifts ready for when Joseph would come at noon, because they had found out that they were going to eat there.
26 Tango Jozefi ayaki na ndako, bapesaki ye bakado oyo bamemaki na ndako mpe bagumbamaki liboso na ye mito na se.
When Joseph arrived at the house they gave him the gifts they had brought for him, and bowed low to the ground before him.
27 Atunaki bango: — Boni, bozali malamu? Abakisaki: — Boni tata na bino ya mobange oyo boyebisaki ngai, azali malamu?
He asked how they were, and then he asked, “How is your elderly father doing that you spoke of? Is he still alive?”
28 Bazongisaki: — Mosali na yo, tata na biso, azali nanu na bomoi mpe azali malamu. Bakitisaki mito mpe bagumbamaki liboso na ye.
“Yes, your servant our father is still alive, and is well,” they replied and bowed low in respect.
29 Tango Jozefi atombolaki miso, amonaki Benjame, ndeko na ye ya mobali, mwana ya mama na ye. Atunaki: — Ye wana nde ndeko na bino ya suka oyo boyebisaki ngai? Abakisaki: — Tika ete Nzambe atalisa yo ngolu na Ye.
Then Joseph looked over at his brother Benjamin, the son of his own mother. “Is this your youngest brother that you told me about?” he asked. “God be gracious to you, my son,” he said.
30 Jozefi ayokaki pasi makasi na motema tango amonaki ndeko na ye, akimaki mbangu na libanda mpe alukaki esika mpo na kolela. Akotaki na shambre na ye mpe alelaki kuna.
Joseph had to run out quickly because he was becoming so emotional at seeing his brother. He looked for a place to cry, and went to his room to weep there.
31 Tango asilisaki kosukola elongi na ye, abimaki libanda, akangaki motema mpe alobaki: — Botia biloko ya kolia na mesa.
Then he washed his face, got his emotions under control, and went back out. “Serve the food,” he ordered.
32 Batielaki Jozefi bilei na mesa na ye moko, bandeko na ye mpe na mesa na bango; bongo bato ya Ejipito oyo bazalaki kolia na ye esika moko, bango mpe na mesa na bango, pamba te bato ya Ejipito bakokaki te kolia esika moko na Ba-Ebre, pamba te ezalaki ekila mpo na bato ya Ejipito.
Joseph was served at a table by himself, and his brothers were served at a separate table. The Egyptians were also served at another table, because Egyptians cannot eat with Hebrews because they find this repulsive.
33 Bavandisaki bango, kobanda na mwana ya liboso kino na oyo ya suka, bazalaki kotalana bango na bango na kokamwa.
The brothers had been seated in front of him in order by age, from the firstborn, the oldest, down to the youngest, and they looked at each other in complete surprise.
34 Jozefi apesaki bango biloko oyo ewutaki na mesa na ye; mpe Benjame azwaki mbala mitano koleka bango nyonso. Na bongo, bamelaki elongo na ye mpe balangwaki.
The food was served to them from Joseph's table, and Benjamin received five times as much as anyone else. So they ate and drank plenty with him.
