< ഉല്പത്തി 44 >

1 യോസേഫ് തന്റെ കാര്യസ്ഥനെ വിളിച്ചുപറഞ്ഞു: “ഈ പുരുഷന്മാരുടെ ചാക്കുകളിൽ അവർക്കു വഹിക്കാവുന്നത്ര ധാന്യം നിറയ്ക്കണം; ഓരോരുത്തന്റെയും പണം അവനവന്റെ ചാക്കിന്റെ വായ്ക്കൽത്തന്നെ വെച്ചേക്കണം.
యోసేపు “వారు మోసికెళ్ళినంత ఆహారాన్ని వారి సంచుల్లో నింపి ఎవరి డబ్బు వారి సంచి మూతిలో పెట్టు,
2 പിന്നെ, ഏറ്റവും ഇളയവന്റെ ചാക്കിന്റെ വായ്ക്കൽ എന്റെ വെള്ളിപ്പാനപാത്രം അവന്റെ ധാന്യത്തിനുള്ള പണത്തോടൊപ്പം വെക്കുക.” യോസേഫ് തന്നോടു കൽപ്പിച്ചതുപോലെ അയാൾ ചെയ്തു.
చివరివాడి సంచి మూతిలో నా వెండి గిన్నె, అతని ధాన్యపు డబ్బు పెట్టు” అని తన గృహ నిర్వాహకునికి ఆజ్ఞాపించగా, యోసేపు చెప్పినట్టు అతడు చేశాడు.
3 പ്രഭാതമായപ്പോൾ അവരെ അവരുടെ കഴുതകളുമായി യാത്രയയച്ചു.
తెల్లవారినప్పుడు ఆ మనుషులను తమ గాడిదలతో పాటు పంపి వేశారు.
4 അവർ നഗരത്തിൽനിന്ന് ദൂരെയാകുന്നതിനുമുമ്പ് യോസേഫ് തന്റെ കാര്യസ്ഥനോട്, “പെട്ടെന്ന് ആ പുരുഷന്മാരെ പിൻതുടരുക. അവരോടൊപ്പം എത്തിക്കഴിയുമ്പോൾ നീ അവരോട്, ‘നിങ്ങൾ നന്മയ്ക്കുപകരം തിന്മ ചെയ്തതെന്തിന്?
వారు ఆ పట్టణం నుండి బయలుదేరి ఎంతో దూరం వెళ్ళక ముందే, యోసేపు తన గృహనిర్వాహకునితో “నువ్వు లేచి ఆ మనుష్యుల వెంబడించి వెళ్ళి వారిని కలుసుకుని, ‘మీరు మేలుకు ప్రతిగా కీడు చేశారేమిటి?
5 ഈ പാനപാത്രത്തിൽനിന്നല്ലയോ എന്റെ യജമാനൻ കുടിക്കുന്നത്? ഇതല്ലയോ ദേവപ്രശ്നംവെക്കുന്നതിന് അദ്ദേഹം ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നത്? നിങ്ങൾ ഈ ചെയ്തത് അധാർമികമായ ഒരു കാര്യമാണ്’ എന്നു പറയുക” എന്നു കൽപ്പിച്ചു.
నా యజమాని తాగే గిన్నె, శకునాలు చూసే గిన్నె యిదే కదా? మీరు చేసిన ఈ పని చాలా దుర్మార్గం’ అని వారితో చెప్పు” అన్నాడు.
6 കാര്യസ്ഥൻ അവരോടൊപ്പം എത്തിക്കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ ഇതേ വാക്കുകൾ അവരോടു പറഞ്ഞു.
అతడు వారిని కలుసుకుని ఆ మాటలు వారితో చెప్పాడు.
7 എന്നാൽ അവർ അദ്ദേഹത്തോട്, “യജമാനൻ ഇങ്ങനെയുള്ള കാര്യങ്ങൾ പറയുന്നതെന്ത്? അങ്ങയുടെ ഈ ദാസന്മാരിൽനിന്ന് അത്തരം കാര്യങ്ങൾ ഒരിക്കലും ഉണ്ടാകുകയില്ല.
వారు “మా ప్రభువు ఇలాంటి మాటలు చెప్పడం ఎందుకు? మీ దాసులైన మేము ఇలాంటి పని చేయము.
8 ഞങ്ങളുടെ ചാക്കുകളുടെ വായ്ക്കൽ കണ്ടെത്തിയ പണംപോലും ഞങ്ങൾ കനാൻദേശത്തുനിന്ന് അങ്ങയുടെ അടുക്കൽ മടക്കിക്കൊണ്ടുവന്നു. പിന്നെ അങ്ങയുടെ യജമാനന്റെ വീട്ടിൽനിന്ന് ഞങ്ങൾ വെള്ളിയോ സ്വർണമോ എന്തിനു മോഷ്ടിക്കണം?
చూడండి, మా సంచుల మూతుల్లో మాకు దొరికిన డబ్బును కనాను దేశంలో నుండి తిరిగి తీసుకు వచ్చాము. నీ ప్రభువు ఇంట్లో నుంచి మేము వెండి గానీ బంగారం గానీ ఎలా దొంగిలిస్తాము?
9 അങ്ങയുടെ ദാസന്മാരിൽ ആരുടെയെങ്കിലും പക്കൽ അതു കണ്ടെത്തിയാൽ അവൻ മരിക്കട്ടെ; ശേഷിക്കുന്നവരായ ഞങ്ങൾ യജമാനന്റെ അടിമകൾ ആകുകയും ചെയ്യാം” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.
నీ దాసుల్లో ఎవరి దగ్గర అది దొరుకుతుందో వాడు చస్తాడు గాక. మేము మా ప్రభువుకు దాసులమవుతాం” అని అతనితో అన్నారు.
10 “കൊള്ളാം, നിങ്ങൾ പറയുന്നതുപോലെതന്നെ ആകട്ടെ. അത് ആരുടെ പക്കൽ കാണുന്നോ അവൻ എന്റെ അടിമയായിരിക്കുന്നതാണ്; ശേഷിക്കുന്ന മറ്റുള്ളവർ കുറ്റത്തിൽനിന്ന് ഒഴിഞ്ഞിരിക്കയും ചെയ്യും,” അദ്ദേഹം പറഞ്ഞു.
౧౦గృహ నిర్వాహకుడు “మంచిది, మీరు చెప్పినట్టే చేయండి. ఎవరి దగ్గర ఆ గిన్నె దొరుకుతుందో అతడే నాకు బానిస ఆవుతాడు. మిగతా వారు నిర్దోషులు” అని చెప్పాడు.
11 അവരിൽ ഓരോരുത്തനും പെട്ടെന്ന് അവനവന്റെ ചാക്ക് നിലത്ത് ഇറക്കിവെച്ചു തുറന്നു.
౧౧అప్పుడు ప్రతివాడూ గబగబా తన సంచిని దించి దాన్ని విప్పాడు.
12 ഏറ്റവും മൂത്തവനെമുതൽ ഏറ്റവും ഇളയവനെവരെ കാര്യസ്ഥൻ പരിശോധിച്ചു; ബെന്യാമീന്റെ ചാക്കിൽ പാനപാത്രം കണ്ടെത്തി.
౧౨ఆ గృహ నిర్వాహకుడు పెద్దవాడి సంచితో మొదలు పెట్టి చిన్నవాడి సంచి వరకూ వెతికాడు. ఆ గిన్నె బెన్యామీను సంచిలో దొరికింది.
13 അപ്പോൾ അവരെല്ലാവരും തങ്ങളുടെ വസ്ത്രംകീറി. പിന്നെ അവർ കഴുതകളുടെമേൽ ഭാരംകയറ്റി നഗരത്തിലേക്കു മടങ്ങി.
౧౩వారు తమ బట్టలు చింపుకున్నారు. అందరూ గాడిదల మీద సంచులు ఎక్కించుకుని పట్టణానికి తిరిగి వచ్చారు.
14 യെഹൂദയും സഹോദരന്മാരും യോസേഫിന്റെ വീട്ടിൽച്ചെന്നു. യോസേഫ് അപ്പോഴും അവിടെത്തന്നെ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു; അവർ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ മുമ്പാകെ സാഷ്ടാംഗം വീണു.
౧౪అప్పుడు యూదా, అతని సోదరులు యోసేపు ఇంటికి వచ్చారు. అతడింకా అక్కడే ఉన్నాడు, వారు అతని ముందు నేలమీద సాగిలపడ్డారు.
15 യോസേഫ് അവരോട്: “നിങ്ങൾ ഈ ചെയ്തതെന്ത്? എന്നെപ്പോലെയുള്ള ഒരുവനു ദേവപ്രശ്നംവെച്ചു കാര്യങ്ങൾ കണ്ടുപിടിക്കാൻ കഴിയുമെന്നു നിങ്ങൾക്കറിഞ്ഞുകൂടയോ?” എന്നു ചോദിച്ചു.
౧౫అప్పుడు యోసేపు “మీరు చేసిన ఈ పని ఏమిటి? నాలాటి మనిషి శకునం చూసి తెలుసుకుంటాడని మీకు తెలియదా” అని వారితో అన్నాడు.
16 അതിന് യെഹൂദാ മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞത്, “യജമാനനോടു ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് എന്താണു പറയാൻ കഴിയുക? ഞങ്ങൾ എന്തുപറയും? ഞങ്ങളുടെ കുറ്റമില്ലായ്മ ഞങ്ങൾ എങ്ങനെയാണു തെളിയിക്കുക? അങ്ങയുടെ ദാസന്മാരുടെ കുറ്റം ദൈവം വെളിപ്പെടുത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നു. ഞങ്ങൾ ഇപ്പോൾ യജമാനന്റെ അടിമകളാണ്. ഞങ്ങളും പാനപാത്രം ആരുടെ പക്കൽ കണ്ടെത്തിയോ അവനും.”
౧౬యూదా “మా యజమానులైన మీతో ఏమి చెప్పగలం? ఏమనగలం? మేము నిర్దోషులమని ఎలా రుజువు చేయగలం? దేవుడే నీ దాసుల అపరాధం కనుగొన్నాడు. ఇదిగో, మేమూ ఎవని దగ్గర ఆ గిన్నె దొరికిందో వాడూ మా యజమానులైన మీకు దాసులమవుతాం” అన్నాడు.
17 “അങ്ങനെയൊരു പ്രവൃത്തി എന്നിൽനിന്ന് ഉണ്ടാകാതിരിക്കട്ടെ. ആരുടെ പക്കൽ പാനപാത്രം കണ്ടെത്തിയോ അവൻമാത്രം എന്റെ അടിമ ആയിരിക്കുന്നതാണ്; നിങ്ങളിൽ ശേഷമുള്ളവർ സമാധാനത്തോടെ നിങ്ങളുടെ അപ്പന്റെ അടുത്തേക്കു പൊയ്ക്കൊൾക,” യോസേഫ് പറഞ്ഞു.
౧౭యోసేపు “అలా చేయడం నాకు దూరమౌతుంది గాక. ఎవరి దగ్గర ఆ గిన్నె దొరికిందో వాడే నాకు దాసుడుగా ఉంటాడు. మీరు మీ తండ్రి దగ్గరికి సమాధానంగా వెళ్ళండి” అని చెప్పాడు.
18 അപ്പോൾ യെഹൂദാ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ അടുത്തുചെന്ന് ഇങ്ങനെ ബോധിപ്പിച്ചു: “യജമാനനേ, തിരുവുള്ളം തോന്നി, അടിയന് യജമാനനോട് ഒരു വാക്കു പറയാൻ അനുവാദം തരണമേ. അങ്ങു ഫറവോനു സമനാണെങ്കിലും അടിയനോടു കോപിക്കരുതേ.
౧౮యూదా అతని సమీపించి “ప్రభూ, ఒక మనవి. ఒక మాట రహస్యంగా నా యజమానులైన మీతో మీ దాసుడైన నన్ను చెప్పుకోనివ్వండి. తమ కోపం తమ దాసుని మీద రగులుకోనివ్వకండి. తమరు ఫరో అంతవారు గదా.
19 യജമാനൻ അടിയങ്ങളോട്, ‘നിങ്ങൾക്കു പിതാവോ സഹോദരന്മാരോ ഉണ്ടോ?’ എന്നു ചോദിച്ചു.
౧౯నా యజమానులైన మీరు, ‘మీకు తండ్రి అయినా తమ్ముడైనా ఉన్నాడా?’ అని తమ దాసులను అడిగారు.
20 അപ്പോൾ ഞങ്ങൾ, ‘ഞങ്ങൾക്കു വൃദ്ധനായ ഒരു പിതാവും അദ്ദേഹത്തിനു വാർധക്യത്തിൽ ജനിച്ച, ഒരു മകനും ഉണ്ട്. അവന്റെ സഹോദരൻ മരിച്ചുപോയി; അവന്റെ മാതാവിന്റെ പുത്രന്മാരിൽ അവശേഷിക്കുന്നവൻ അവൻമാത്രമാണ്. അവന്റെ പിതാവ് അവനെ സ്നേഹിക്കുന്നു’ എന്ന് ഉത്തരം പറഞ്ഞു.
౨౦అందుకు మేము, ‘మాకు ముసలి వాడైన తండ్రి, అతని ముసలితనంలో పుట్టిన ఒక చిన్నవాడు ఉన్నారు. వాని అన్న చనిపోయాడు. వాడి తల్లికి వాడొక్కడే మిగిలాడు. అతని తండ్రి అతన్ని ఎంతో ప్రేమిస్తాడు’ అన్నాము.
21 “അപ്പോൾ അങ്ങ്, ഈ ദാസന്മാരോട്, ‘എനിക്കു നേരിട്ട് അവനെ ഒന്നു കാണേണ്ടതിന് അവനെ എന്റെ അടുക്കൽ കൊണ്ടുവരിക’ എന്ന് ആജ്ഞാപിച്ചല്ലോ.
౨౧అప్పుడు తమరు, ‘నేనతన్ని చూడడానికి అతన్ని నా దగ్గరికి తీసుకు రండి’ అని తమ దాసులతో చెప్పారు.
22 അപ്പോൾ ഞങ്ങൾ യജമാനനോട്: ‘ബാലന് അവന്റെ പിതാവിൽനിന്ന് വേർപിരിയാൻ വയ്യാ, വിട്ടുപോന്നാൽ പിതാവു മരിച്ചുപോകും,’ എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.
౨౨అందుకు మేము, ‘ఆ చిన్నవాడు తన తండ్రిని వదిలి ఉండలేడు. వాడు తన తండ్రిని విడిచి పోతే వాడి తండ్రి చనిపోతాడు’ అని నా యజమానులైన మీతో చెప్పాము.
23 അപ്പോൾ അങ്ങ് അടിയങ്ങളോട്: ‘നിങ്ങളുടെ ഏറ്റവും ഇളയ സഹോദരൻ നിങ്ങളോടുകൂടെ പോരുന്നില്ല എങ്കിൽ നിങ്ങൾ ഇനിമേൽ എന്റെ മുഖം കാണുകയില്ല’ എന്നു കൽപ്പിച്ചു.
౨౩అందుకు తమరు, ‘మీ తమ్ముడు మీతో రాకపోతే మీరు మళ్లీ నా ముఖం చూడకూడదు’ అని తమ దాసులతో చెప్పారు.
24 ഞങ്ങൾ തിരികെ അങ്ങയുടെ ദാസനായ എന്റെ പിതാവിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ എത്തിയപ്പോൾ, അങ്ങ് പറഞ്ഞിരുന്നതെല്ലാം ഞങ്ങൾ അദ്ദേഹത്തോട് അറിയിച്ചു.
౨౪కాబట్టి నా తండ్రి అయిన తమ దాసుని దగ్గరికి మేము వెళ్ళి, నా యజమానులైన మీ మాటలను అతనికి తెలియచేశాము.
25 “അതിനുശേഷം ഞങ്ങളുടെ പിതാവ് ഞങ്ങളോട്, ‘നിങ്ങൾ മടങ്ങിച്ചെന്നു കുറെ ഭക്ഷണംകൂടി വാങ്ങുക’ എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.
౨౫మా తండ్రి, ‘మీరు తిరిగి వెళ్ళి మన కోసం కొంచెం ఆహారం కొనుక్కుని రండి’ అని చెబితే
26 അതിനു ഞങ്ങൾ, ‘ഞങ്ങൾക്കു പോകാൻ സാധ്യമല്ല, ഞങ്ങളുടെ ഏറ്റവും ഇളയ സഹോദരൻ കൂടെയുണ്ടെങ്കിൽമാത്രമേ ഞങ്ങൾ പോകുകയുള്ളൂ. ഏറ്റവും ഇളയ അനുജൻ ഞങ്ങളോടൊപ്പം ഇല്ലാത്തപക്ഷം ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ മുഖം കാണാൻ സാധിക്കുകയില്ല’ എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.
౨౬‘మేము అక్కడికి వెళ్ళలేము, మా తమ్ముడు మాతో కూడా ఉంటేనే వెళ్తాము. మా తమ్ముడు మాతో ఉంటేనే గాని ఆయన ముఖం చూడలేము’ అని చెప్పాము.
27 “അപ്പോൾ അങ്ങയുടെ ദാസനായ എന്റെ പിതാവ് ഞങ്ങളോട്, ‘എന്റെ ഭാര്യ എനിക്കു രണ്ടു പുത്രന്മാരെ പ്രസവിച്ചു എന്നു നിങ്ങൾക്കറിയാമല്ലോ.
౨౭అందుకు తమ దాసుడైన నా తండ్రి, ‘నా భార్య నాకిద్దరిని కన్నదని మీకు తెలుసు.
28 അവരിൽ ഒരാൾ എന്നിൽനിന്ന് അകലേക്ക് പോയി. “അവനെ തീർച്ചയായും ചീന്തിക്കളഞ്ഞിട്ടുണ്ട്,” എന്നു ഞാൻ ഉറച്ചു. ഇതുവരെ ഞാൻ അവനെ കണ്ടിട്ടുമില്ല.
౨౮వారిలో ఒకడు నాకు దూరమైపోయాడు. అతడు తప్పకుండా క్రూర మృగాల బారిన పడి ఉంటాడు. అప్పటినుంచి అతడు నాకు కనబడలేదు.
29 ഇവനെയും നിങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ടുപോകുകയും ഇവന് എന്തെങ്കിലും ദോഷം ഭവിക്കയും ചെയ്താൽ നിങ്ങൾ എന്റെ നരച്ചതലയെ, ദുഃഖത്തോടെ പാതാളത്തിൽ ഇറക്കും’ എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു. (Sheol h7585)
౨౯మీరు నా దగ్గరనుంచి ఇతన్ని కూడా తీసుకుపోతే, ఇతనికి ఏదైనా హాని జరిగితే, తల నెరిసిన నన్ను మృతుల లోకంలోకి దుఃఖంతో దిగిపోయేలా చేస్తారు’ అని మాతో చెప్పాడు. (Sheol h7585)
30 “അതുകൊണ്ട് ഇപ്പോൾ ബാലനെ കൂടാതെ ഞാൻ അങ്ങയുടെ ദാസനായ എന്റെ പിതാവിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ ചെന്നാൽ, അവനെ കാണാത്തതുനിമിത്തം അദ്ദേഹം മരിച്ചുപോകും; അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ജീവൻ ബാലന്റെ ജീവനോടു പറ്റിച്ചേർന്നിരിക്കുന്നു;
౩౦కాబట్టి, తమ దాసుడైన నా తండ్రి దగ్గరికి నేను తిరిగి వెళ్ళినప్పుడు ఈ చిన్నవాడు మాతో బాటు లేకపోతే
31 അടിയങ്ങൾക്കു പിതാവിന്റെ നരച്ചതലയെ ദുഃഖത്തോടെ പാതാളത്തിൽ ഇറക്കാൻ ഇടയാകും. (Sheol h7585)
౩౧మా తండ్రి ప్రాణం ఇతని ప్రాణంతో పెనవేసుకుంది కాబట్టి ఈ చిన్నవాడు మాతో లేకపోవడం చూడగానే అతడు చచ్చిపోతాడు. అలా తమ దాసులమైన మేము తల నెరిసిన తమ సేవకుడైన మా తండ్రిని మృతుల లోకంలోకి దుఃఖంతో దిగిపోయేలా చేస్తాము. (Sheol h7585)
32 ‘അവനെ അങ്ങയുടെ അടുക്കൽ കൊണ്ടുവരാതിരുന്നാൽ, പിതാവേ, ഞാൻ എന്റെ ആയുഷ്കാലം മുഴുവൻ അതിന്റെ കുറ്റം വഹിച്ചുകൊള്ളാം’ എന്നു ഞാൻ ബാലന്റെ സുരക്ഷിതത്വത്തിന്, അടിയന്റെ പിതാവിന് ഉറപ്പു നൽകിയിട്ടുള്ളതാണ്.
౩౨తమ సేవకుడినైన నేను, ‘ఈ బాలునికి జామీనుగా ఉండి, నీ దగ్గరికి నేనతని తీసుకు రాకపోతే మా నాన్న దృష్టిలో ఆ నింద నా మీద ఎప్పుడూ ఉంటుంది’ అని చెప్పాను.
33 “അതുകൊണ്ട് ഇപ്പോൾ ബാലനെ അവന്റെ സഹോദരന്മാരോടുകൂടെ തിരികെപ്പോകാൻ ദയവായി അനുവദിക്കണം; ബാലനു പകരം അടിയൻ ഇവിടെ അടിമയായിരുന്നുകൊള്ളാം.
౩౩కాబట్టి తమ దాసుడైన నన్ను ఈ అబ్బాయికి ప్రతిగా ఏలినవారికి దాసునిగా ఉండనిచ్చి ఈ చిన్నవాణ్ణి తన సోదరులతో వెళ్ళనివ్వండి.
34 ബാലൻ എന്നോടുകൂടെ ഇല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഞാൻ എങ്ങനെയാണ് എന്റെ പിതാവിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ മടങ്ങിച്ചെല്ലുന്നത്? അങ്ങനെ അരുതേ, എന്റെ പിതാവിനു വരുന്ന ദുരിതം കാണാൻ എനിക്കിടയാക്കരുതേ.”
౩౪ఈ చిన్నవాడు నాతో కూడ లేకపోతే మా నాన్న దగ్గరికి నేనెలా వెళ్ళగలను? ఒకవేళ వెళితే, మా నాన్నకు వచ్చే అపాయం చూడవలసి వస్తుంది” అని చెప్పాడు.

< ഉല്പത്തി 44 >