創世記

第 42 章

1. 雅各見埃及有糧、就對兒子們說、你們為甚麼彼觀望呢。
When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why do you just keep looking at each other?"
2. 我聽見埃及有糧、你們可以下去從那裡為我們糴些來、使我們可以存活、不至於死。
He continued, "I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die."
3. 於是約瑟的十個哥哥都下埃及糴糧去了。
Then ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.
4. 但約瑟的兄弟便雅憫、雅各沒有打發他和哥哥們同去、因為雅各說、恐怕他遭害。
But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.
5. 來糴糧的人中有以色列的兒子們、因為迦南地也有饑荒。
So Israel's sons were among those who went to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.
6. 當時治理埃及地的是約瑟、糶糧給那地眾民的就是他。約瑟的哥哥們來了、臉伏於地、向他下拜。
Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph's brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.
7. 約瑟看見他哥哥們、就認得他們、卻裝作生人、向他們說些嚴厲話、問他們說、你們從那裡來.他們說、我們從迦南地來糴糧。
As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. "Where do you come from?" he asked. "From the land of Canaan," they replied, "to buy food."
8. 約瑟認得他哥哥們、他們卻不認得他。
Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.
9. 約瑟想起從前所作的那兩個夢、就對他們說、你們是奸細、來窺探這地的虛實。
Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, "You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected."
10. 他們對他說、我主阿、不是的、僕人們是糴糧來的、
"No, my lord," they answered. "Your servants have come to buy food.
11. 我們都是一個人的兒子、是誠實人、僕人們並不是奸細。
We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies."
12. 約瑟說、不然、你們必是窺探這地的虛實來的。
"No!" he said to them. "You have come to see where our land is unprotected."
13. 他們說、僕人們本是弟兄十二人、是迦南地一個人的兒子、頂小的現今在我們的父親那裡、有一個沒有了。
But they replied, "Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more."
14. 約瑟說、我纔說你們是奸細、這話實在不錯、
Joseph said to them, "It is just as I told you: You are spies!
15. 我指著法老的性命起誓、若是你們的小兄弟、不到這裡來、你們就不得出這地方、從此就可以把你們證驗出來了.
And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
16. 須要打發你們中間一個人去、把你們的兄弟帶來、至於你們、都要囚在這裡、好證驗你們的話真不真、若不真、我指著法老的性命起誓、你們一定是奸細。
Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!"
17. 於是約瑟把他們都下在監裡三天。
And he put them all in custody for three days.
18. 到了第三天、約瑟對他們說、我是敬畏 神的、你們照我的話行、就可以存活.
On the third day, Joseph said to them, "Do this and you will live, for I fear God:
19. 你們如果是誠實人、可以留你們中間的一個人囚在監裡、但你們可以帶著糧食回去、救你們家裡的饑荒.
If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.
20. 把你們的小兄弟帶到我這裡來、如此、你們的話便有證據、你們也不至於死.他們就照樣而行。
But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die." This they proceeded to do.
21. 他們彼此說、我們在兄弟身上實在有罪、他哀求我們的時候、我們見他心裡的愁苦、卻不肯聽、所以這場苦難臨到我們身上。
They said to one another, "Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress has come upon us."
22. 流便說、我豈不是對你們對你們說過、不可傷害那孩子麼、只是你們不肯聽、所以流他血的罪向我們追討。
Reuben replied, "Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn't listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood."
23. 他們不知道約瑟聽得出來、因為在他們中間用通事傳話。
They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter.
24. 約瑟轉身退去、哭了一場、又回來對他們說話、就從他們中間挑出西緬來、在他們眼前把他捆綁。
He turned away from them and began to weep, but then turned back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.
25. 約瑟吩咐人把糧食裝滿他們的器具、把各人的銀子歸還在各人的口袋裡、又給他們路上用的食物、人就照他的話辦了。
Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man's silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them,
26. 他們就把糧食馱在驢上、離開那裡去了。
they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.
27. 到了住宿的地方、他們中間有一個人打開日袋、要拿料餧驢、纔看見自己的銀子仍在口袋裡.
At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack.
28. 就對弟兄們說、我的銀子歸還了、看哪、仍在我口袋裡.他們就提心吊膽、戰戰兢兢的彼此說、這是 神向我們作甚麼呢。
"My silver has been returned," he said to his brothers. "Here it is in my sack." Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, "What is this that God has done to us?"
29. 他們來到迦南地他們的父親雅各那裡、將所遭遇的事都告訴他、說、
When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them. They said,
30. 那地的主對我們說嚴厲的話、把我們當作窺探那地的奸細。
"The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us and treated us as though we were spying on the land.
31. 我們對他說、我們是誠實人、並不是奸細.
But we said to him, 'We are honest men; we are not spies.
32. 我們本是弟兄十二人、都是一個父親的兒子、有一個沒有了、頂小的如今同我們的父親在迦南地。
We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.'
33. 那地的主對我們說、若要我知道你們是誠實人、可以留下你們中間的一個人在我這裡、你們可以帶著糧食回去、救你們家裡的饑荒.
"Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, 'This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go.
34. 把你們的小兄弟帶到我這裡來、我便知道你們不是奸細、乃是誠實人.這樣、我就把你們的弟兄交給你們、你們也可以在這地作買賣。
But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.'"
35. 後來他們倒口袋、不料各人的銀包都在口袋裡、他們和父親看見銀包就都害怕。
As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man's sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened.
36. 他們的父親雅各對他們說、你們使我喪失我的兒子.約瑟沒有了、西緬也沒有了、你們又要將便雅憫帶去.這些事都歸到我身上了。
Their father Jacob said to them, "You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!"
37. 流便對他父親說、我若不帶他回來交給你、你可以殺我的兩個兒子、只管把他交在我手裡、我必帶他回來交給你。
Then Reuben said to his father, "You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back."
38. 雅各說、我的兒子不可與你們一同下去.他哥哥死了、只剩下他、他若在你們所行的路上遭害、那便是你們使我白髮蒼蒼、悲悲慘慘的下陰間去了。
But Jacob said, "My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow."