Genesis 43 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

Joseph’s Brothers Return to Egypt

1 Now the famine was severe in the land. (Ge 41:54; Ge 41:57) 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” 3 But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ (Ge 42:20; Ge 44:23) 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’” 6 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” 7 They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” 8 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. (Ge 42:2) 9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. (Ge 42:37; Ge 44:32) 10 If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.” 11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. (Ge 37:25) 12 Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. (Ge 42:25; Ge 42:27; Ge 42:35) 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. 14 May God Almighty^[1] grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” (Ge 17:1; Ge 42:36; Ne 1:11) 15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” (Ge 24:2; Ge 39:4; Ge 43:19; Ge 44:1; Ge 44:4)

Ge 24:2Ge 39:4Ge 43:19Ge 44:1Ge 44:4

17 The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.” 19 So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food. (Ge 42:3; Ge 42:10; Ge 44:18) 21 And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us, (Ge 42:27) 22 and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23 He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 And when the man had brought the men into Joseph’s house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, (Ge 18:4) 25 they prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there. (Ge 43:11) 26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground. (Ge 37:5; Ge 42:6) 27 And he inquired about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” (Ge 42:11; Ge 42:13) 28 They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves. (Ge 43:26) 29 And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” (Ge 35:18; Ge 43:27) 30 Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. (Ge 42:24; 1Ki 3:26; Jer 31:20) 31 Then he washed his face and came out. And controlling himself he said, “Serve the food.” (Ge 45:1) 32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. (Ge 46:34; Ex 8:26) 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth. And the men looked at one another in amazement. 34 Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry^[2] with him. (Ge 45:22; 2Sa 11:8)

圣经当代译本修订版

from Biblica

约瑟的哥哥们再下埃及

1 那地方的饥荒仍然非常严重， 2 他们从埃及带回来的粮食吃完了，他们的父亲对他们说：“你们再去买些粮食吧。” 3 犹大说：“那人严厉地警告我们，‘不把你们的弟弟带来，你们就不要再来见我。’ 4 你若让便雅悯跟我们同去，我们就去给你买粮。 5 你若不让便雅悯跟我们同去，我们就不去给你买粮。因为那人说，‘你们不把弟弟带来，就不要再来见我。’” 6 以色列说：“你们为什么告诉他你们还有一个弟弟，给我惹麻烦呢？” 7 他们回答说：“那人详细询问我们和我们家人的情况，问我们的父亲是否在世，还有没有弟兄。我们如实回答，怎会想到他非要我们把弟弟带去呢？” 8 犹大对父亲以色列说：“你就让便雅悯跟我同去吧，我们好立刻动身，这样我们一家老小才能保住性命，不致饿死。 9 我亲自保证便雅悯的安全，你可以向我要人。我若不把他带回来见你，情愿一生担罪。 10 我们若是没有耽搁的话，现在已经往返两趟了。” 11 他们的父亲以色列说：“事到如今，只好这样了。你们带一些上好的乳香、蜂蜜、香料、没药、榧子和杏仁等土产，去送给那人作礼物吧。 12 你们还要带双倍的钱，好归还上次留在你们口袋中的钱，那可能是弄错了。 13 带你们的弟弟去见那人吧！ 14 愿全能的上帝叫那人怜悯你们，让西缅和便雅悯回来。我若丧子就丧子吧！” 15 于是，他们就带着便雅悯、礼物和双倍的钱去埃及见约瑟。 16 约瑟看见便雅悯和他们同来，就对管家说：“你带他们到我家里去，宰杀牲畜，预备宴席，中午他们要跟我一起吃饭。” 17 管家照约瑟的吩咐，带他们到约瑟家里。 18 他们被带到约瑟家后非常害怕，说：“他把我们带到这里来，一定跟上次放在我们口袋中的钱有关。他想害我们，强迫我们做他的奴仆，抢我们的驴。” 19 他们走到约瑟的管家跟前，在房门口对他说： 20 “先生，我们上次曾来这里买粮。 21 但在回家的途中住宿时，我们打开口袋，发现我们带来买粮的钱分毫不少地放在那里。我们把这些钱带回来了， 22 又另外带了一些钱来买粮。我们不知道谁把买粮的钱放进了我们的口袋。” 23 管家说：“你们放心，不要害怕，你们口袋里那些钱是你们的上帝，你们父亲的上帝赐给你们的。我已经收了你们买粮的钱。”说完就把西缅带出来和他们见面， 24 接着带他们进约瑟的家，给他们水洗脚，给他们的驴喂草料。 25 他们知道要在那里吃午餐，就预备好礼物，等约瑟中午回来。 26 约瑟来了，他们就把带来的礼物献给他，向他俯伏下拜。 27 约瑟向他们问好，然后说：“你们提起过你们的老父亲，他还健在、安康吗？” 28 他们回答说：“你仆人——我们的父亲仍然健在、安康。”说完了，又向他下拜。 29 约瑟抬头看见了自己的同胞弟弟便雅悯，就问道：“这就是你们所说那位最小的弟弟吗？”他又对便雅悯说：“孩子，愿上帝施恩给你。” 30 约瑟爱弟之心油然而生，急忙出去找哭的地方。他到自己的房间里哭了一场。 31 他洗过脸出来，控制着自己的感情，吩咐人摆饭。 32 约瑟自己一桌，他的弟兄们一桌，那些和他们一起吃饭的埃及人一桌，因为埃及人厌恶和希伯来人同席。 33 约瑟让他的弟兄们在他对面按照长幼次序坐，他们面面相觑，非常惊讶。 34 约瑟吩咐人把自己面前的菜肴分给他们，便雅悯得的那份比其他弟兄多五倍。他们尽情地和约瑟一同吃喝。