Genesis 42

1 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?”

1 雅各得知埃及有粮食，就对儿子们说：“你们为什么还在这儿互相观望呢？

2 “Look,” he added, “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.”

2 我听说埃及有粮食，你们快到埃及去买些粮食回来吧，我们好活命，不致饿死。”

3 So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.

3 于是，约瑟的十个哥哥下到埃及买粮。

4 But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “I am afraid that harm might befall him.”

4 雅各没有让约瑟的弟弟便雅悯与他们同去，恐怕他会遭害。

5 So the sons of Israel were among those who came to buy grain, since the famine had also spread to the land of Canaan.

5 以色列的儿子们加入了买粮的行列，因为迦南也遭遇饥荒。

6 Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.

6 那时，约瑟治理埃及，负责卖粮给百姓。约瑟的哥哥们来到他面前，向他俯伏下拜。

7 And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.”

7 约瑟一眼就认出了他们，却不动声色。他疾言厉色地问道：“你们从哪里来？”他们回答说：“我们是从迦南来买粮食的。”

8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.

8 约瑟认得他哥哥们，但他哥哥们却认不出他来。

9 Joseph remembered his dreams about them and said, “You are spies! You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”

9 约瑟想起了自己从前做的两个梦，就对他们说：“你们是奸细，是来探听我们虚实的！”

10 “Not so, my lord,” they replied. “Your servants have come to buy food.

10 他们说：“我主啊，不是的！仆人们是来买粮的。

11 We are all sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.”

11 仆人们都是一个父亲所生，是诚实人，不是奸细。”

12 “No,” he told them. “You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”

12 约瑟说：“不对，你们是来探听我们虚实的。”

13 But they answered, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”

13 他们说：“仆人们共有弟兄十二人，父亲住在迦南，最小的弟弟在父亲身边，还有一个已经去世。”

14 Then Joseph declared, “Just as I said, you are spies!

14 约瑟说：“我说你们是奸细一点不错。

15 And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.

15 我以法老的性命起誓，你们最小的弟弟不来这里，你们都不能走，这是对你们的验证。

16 Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be confined so that the truth of your words may be tested. If they are untrue, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”

16 你们派一个人回去把你们的弟弟带来，其他人都要被囚禁在这里，我要看看你们说的是真还是假。要是你们说的是假话，我以法老的性命起誓，你们一定是奸细。”

17 So Joseph imprisoned them for three days,

17 于是，约瑟把他们囚禁了三天。

18 and on the third day he said to them, “I fear God. So do this and you will live:

18 到了第三天，约瑟对他们说：“我是敬畏上帝的人，你们照我的话做就能活命。

19 If you are honest, leave one of your brothers in custody while the rest of you go and take back grain to relieve the hunger of your households.

19 如果你们是诚实人，就把一个人留在监牢，其他人带粮食回去接济你们的家人。

20 Then bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be verified, that you may not die.” And to this they consented.

20 但你们一定要带你们最小的弟弟回来，以证实你们说的是实话，这样你们就不会死。”他们同意了，

21 Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”

21 彼此议论说：“我们一定是在遭报应。从前我们的弟弟苦苦地哀求我们，我们却不理会，现在这场痛苦临到我们了。”

22 And Reuben responded, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!”

22 吕便说：“我不是劝你们不要犯罪害那孩子吗？你们不听，现在我们必须偿还血债了。”

23 They did not realize that Joseph understood them, since there was an interpreter between them.

23 他们不知道约瑟听得懂他们的话，因为约瑟是通过翻译跟他们谈话。

24 And he turned away from them and wept. When he turned back and spoke to them, he took Simeon from them and had him bound before their eyes.

24 约瑟听后转身出去哭了，然后又回来跟他们谈话，从他们中间选了西缅，当着他们的面把西缅捆绑起来。

25 Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return each man’s silver to his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. This order was carried out,

25 约瑟又吩咐人把他们的袋子装满粮食，把各人买粮的钱放在他们的口袋中，还为他们预备了路上的食物。仆人一一办妥了。

26 and they loaded the grain on their donkeys and departed.

26 约瑟的哥哥们把粮食驮在驴上，启程离去。

27 At the place where they lodged for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of the sack.

27 他们来到一处住宿的地方，其中一人打开口袋拿饲料喂驴，却发现自己的钱在里面，

28 “My silver has been returned!” he said to his brothers. “It is here in my sack.” Their hearts sank, and trembling, they turned to one another and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”

28 就对其他弟兄说：“你们看，我的钱被退回来了，在我的口袋里！”他们心惊胆战地彼此议论说：“上帝这样对待我们是什么意思呢？”

29 When they reached their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they described to him all that had happened to them:

29 他们回到他们在迦南的父亲雅各那里，把事情的经过告诉了他，

30 “The man who is lord of the land spoke harshly to us and accused us of spying on the country.

30 说：“埃及的宰相对我们说话很凶，还把我们当成去那里打探的奸细。

31 But we told him, ‘We are honest men, not spies.

31 我们对他说，‘我们是诚实人，不是奸细。

32 We are twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in the land of Canaan.’

32 我们是一个父亲所生的十二兄弟，其中有一个已经去世，年纪最小的跟父亲留在迦南。’

33 Then the man who is lord of the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest: Leave one brother with me, take food to relieve the hunger of your households, and go.

33 那地的宰相却对我们说，‘我要看看你们是不是诚实人，你们把一个弟兄留在我这里，其他人带粮食回去接济家人吧。

34 But bring your youngest brother back 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.’”

34 但你们要把最小的弟弟带来见我，这样我便知道你们不是奸细，是诚实人。我就会释放你们的弟兄，你们也可以在这里自由地买卖。’”

35 As they began emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his bag of silver! And when they and their father saw the bags of silver, they were dismayed.

35 后来他们倒口袋时，发现每个人买粮的钱袋都在自己的口袋里，他们和父亲看见钱袋，都害怕起来。

36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my sons. Joseph is gone and Simeon is no more. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is going against me!”

36 他们的父亲雅各说：“你们使我连连失去儿子，约瑟没了，西缅没了，你们还要带走便雅悯！灾祸都落在了我头上！”

37 Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him.”

37 吕便对父亲说：“要是我不把便雅悯带回你身边，你就杀了我的两个儿子！请你把便雅悯交给我，我一定会把他带回你身边。”

38 But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”

38 雅各说：“我的儿子不可跟你们去。他哥哥已经死了，现在只剩下他。要是他在路上遇到什么意外，你们会使我这白发苍苍的老人凄凄惨惨地下阴间。”