1Giuseppe diede quest’ordine al suo maggiordomo: «Riempi i sacchi di questi uomini di tanti viveri quanti ne possono portare e metti il denaro di ciascuno di loro alla bocca del suo sacco.2Metti la mia coppa, la coppa d’argento, alla bocca del sacco del più giovane, assieme al denaro del suo grano». Ed egli fece come Giuseppe aveva detto.3La mattina, appena fu giorno, quegli uomini furono fatti partire con i loro asini.4Quando furono usciti dalla città e non erano ancora lontani, Giuseppe disse al suo maggiordomo: «Parti, vai dietro a quegli uomini, e quando li avrai raggiunti dirai loro: “Perché avete reso male per bene?5Non è quella la coppa dalla quale il mio signore beve e di cui si serve per trarre presagi? Avete fatto male a fare questo!”».6Egli li raggiunse e disse loro quelle parole.7Essi gli risposero: «Perché il mio signore ci rivolge parole come queste? Dio preservi i tuoi servi dal fare una cosa simile.8Ecco, noi ti abbiamo riportato dal paese di Canaan il denaro che avevamo trovato alla bocca dei nostri sacchi; come dunque avremmo rubato dell’argento o dell’oro dalla casa del tuo signore?9Quello dei tuoi servi presso il quale si troverà la coppa sia messo a morte e noi pure saremo schiavi del tuo signore!»10Ed egli disse: «Ebbene, sia fatto come dite: colui presso il quale essa sarà trovata sarà mio schiavo, e voi sarete innocenti».11In tutta fretta, ognuno di loro scaricò a terra il proprio sacco e ciascuno aprì il suo.12Il maggiordomo li frugò, cominciando da quello del maggiore per finire con quello del più giovane; la coppa fu trovata nel sacco di Beniamino.13Allora quelli si stracciarono le vesti, ognuno ricaricò il suo asino e tornarono alla città.14Giuda e i suoi fratelli arrivarono alla casa di Giuseppe, il quale era ancora lì; si gettarono con la faccia a terra davanti a lui.15Giuseppe disse loro: «Che azione è questa che avete fatto? Non lo sapete che un uomo come me ha il potere di indovinare?»16Giuda rispose: «Che diremo al mio signore? Quali parole useremo? O come ci giustificheremo? Dio ha trovato l’iniquità dei tuoi servi. Ecco, siamo schiavi del mio signore: tanto noi, quanto colui in mano del quale è stata trovata la coppa».17Ma Giuseppe disse: «Dio mi guardi dal far questo! L’uomo nella cui mano è stata trovata la coppa, lui sarà mio schiavo; quanto a voi, tornate in pace da vostro padre».18Allora Giuda si avvicinò a Giuseppe e disse: «Mio signore, permetti al tuo servo di fare udire una parola al mio signore. La tua ira non si accenda contro il tuo servo, poiché tu sei come il faraone.19Il mio signore interrogò i suoi servi, dicendo: “Avete un padre o un fratello?”20Noi rispondemmo al mio signore: “Abbiamo un padre che è vecchio, con un giovane figlio, natogli nella vecchiaia; il fratello di questi è morto, è rimasto lui soltanto dei figli di sua madre, e suo padre lo ama”.21Allora tu dicesti ai tuoi servi: “Fatelo scendere da me perché io lo veda con i miei occhi”.22Noi dicemmo al mio signore: “Il ragazzo non può lasciare suo padre perché, se lo lasciasse, suo padre morirebbe”.23Tu dicesti ai tuoi servi: “Se il vostro fratello più giovane non scende con voi, voi non vedrete più la mia faccia”.24Come fummo risaliti da mio padre, tuo servo, gli riferimmo le parole del mio signore.25Poi nostro padre disse: “Tornate a comprare un po’ di viveri”.26E noi rispondemmo: “Non possiamo scendere laggiù; se il nostro fratello più giovane verrà con noi, scenderemo; perché non possiamo vedere la faccia di quell’uomo, se il nostro fratello più giovane non è con noi”.27Mio padre, tuo servo, ci rispose: “Voi sapete che mia moglie mi partorì due figli;28uno di questi partì da me, e io dissi: ‘Certamente egli è stato sbranato’; e non l’ho più visto da allora.29Se mi togliete anche questo, se gli capita qualche disgrazia, voi farete scendere con tristezza i miei capelli bianchi nel soggiorno dei morti”.30Or dunque, quando giungerò da mio padre, tuo servo, se il ragazzo, alla vita del quale la sua è legata, non è con noi,31avverrà che, come avrà visto che il ragazzo non c’è, egli morirà e i tuoi servi avranno fatto scendere con tristezza i capelli bianchi del tuo servo, nostro padre, nel soggiorno dei morti.32Siccome il tuo servo si è reso garante del ragazzo presso mio padre e gli ha detto: “Se non te lo riconduco, sarò per sempre colpevole verso mio padre”,33ti prego, permetti ora che il tuo servo rimanga schiavo del mio signore invece del ragazzo e che il ragazzo se ne torni con i suoi fratelli.34Altrimenti, come farei a risalire da mio padre senza avere il ragazzo con me? Ah, che io non veda il dolore che ne verrebbe a mio padre».
1Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, (Gen 42,25; Gen 43,16; Gen 44,4)2and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him.3As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys.4They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?[1] (Gen 44,1)5Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’” (Gen 30,27; Gen 44,15; 2Re 21,6; 2Cr 33,6)6When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words.7They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing!8Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? (Gen 43,21)9Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord’s servants.” (Gen 31,32; Gen 44,16)10He said, “Let it be as you say: he who is found with it shall be my servant, and the rest of you shall be innocent.”11Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack.12And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.13Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city. (Gen 37,29)14When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. (Gen 37,7; Gen 37,9; Gen 42,6; Gen 43,26; Gen 43,28)15Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?” (Gen 44,5)16And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” (Gen 37,18; Gen 44,9; Nu 32,23)17But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. But as for you, go up in peace to your father.”18Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself. (Gen 41,40; Gen 43,20; Eso 32,22)19My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’20And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’ (Gen 37,3; Gen 43,8; Gen 44,30)21Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ (Gen 42,15; Gen 42,20; Gen 43,3; Gen 43,5)22We said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ (Gen 44,31)23Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall not see my face again.’ (Gen 43,3)24“When we went back to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.25And when our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food,’ (Gen 43,2)26we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother goes with us, then we will go down. For we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’27Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. (Gen 46,19)28One left me, and I said, “Surely he has been torn to pieces,” and I have never seen him since. (Gen 37,33)29If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol.’ (Gen 42,4; Gen 42,36; Gen 42,38)30“Now therefore, as soon as I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the boy’s life,31as soon as he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol.32For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.’ (Gen 43,9)33Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers.34For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.”
Genesi 44
King James Version
1And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men' sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man' money in his sack' mouth.2And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack' mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.3As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.4And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?5Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.6And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.7And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:8Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks'mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord' house silver or gold?9With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord' bondmen.10And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.11Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.12And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin' sack.13Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.14And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph' house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.15And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?16And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord' servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.17And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.18Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord' ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.19My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?20And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.21And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.22And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.23And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.24And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.25And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.26And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man' face, except our youngest brother be with us.27And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons :28And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:29And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.30Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad' life;31It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us , that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.32For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.33Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.34For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.
1Nach dem Essen gingen die Brüder in ihre Unterkunft. Als sie fort waren, sagte Josef zu seinem Hausverwalter: »Füll jeden Sack mit so viel Getreide, wie sie tragen können. Dann leg heimlich bei jedem das Geld wieder hinein.2Meinen silbernen Becher verstau in Benjamins Sack, zusammen mit seinem Geld!« Der Verwalter führte den Befehl aus.3Früh am nächsten Morgen ließ man die Brüder mit ihren voll bepackten Eseln wieder abreisen.4Sie hatten gerade erst die Stadt verlassen, da befahl Josef seinem Hausverwalter: »Schnell, jag den Männern hinterher! Wenn du sie eingeholt hast, frag sie: ›Warum habt ihr dieses Unrecht begangen, obwohl ihr so gut behandelt worden seid?5Warum habt ihr den silbernen Trinkbecher meines Herrn gestohlen, mit dessen Hilfe er die Zukunft voraussagt? Das ist ein Verbrechen!‹«6Der Verwalter eilte den Brüdern nach, und als er sie erreicht hatte, wiederholte er die Worte seines Herrn.7»Warum beschuldigst du uns so schwer?«, fragten sie ungläubig. »Niemals würden wir das tun!8Du weißt doch, dass wir das Geld zurückgebracht haben, das wir nach unserer ersten Reise in den Säcken fanden. Warum sollten wir jetzt Silber oder Gold aus dem Palast deines Herrn stehlen?9Wenn du bei einem von uns den Becher findest, dann soll er sterben! Und wir anderen werden für immer deinem Herrn als Sklaven dienen!«10»Gut«, erwiderte der Verwalter, »aber nur der soll ein Sklave werden, bei dem der Becher gefunden wird, die anderen sind frei.«11Hastig stellte jeder seinen Sack auf die Erde und öffnete ihn.12Der Verwalter durchsuchte alle Säcke sorgfältig, er ging der Reihe nach vom Ältesten bis zum Jüngsten, und schließlich fand er den Becher bei Benjamin.13Da zerrissen die Brüder ihre Kleider vor Verzweiflung, beluden ihre Esel und kehrten in die Stadt zurück.14Josef war noch in seinem Palast, als Juda und seine Brüder dort ankamen. Sie warfen sich vor ihm nieder.15»Warum habt ihr das versucht?«, stellte Josef sie zur Rede. »Ihr hättet wissen müssen, dass ein Mann wie ich so etwas durchschaut!«16Juda antwortete: »Was sollen wir jetzt noch zu unserer Verteidigung vorbringen? Es gibt nichts, womit wir uns rechtfertigen könnten. Gott hat eine Schuld von uns bestraft. Darum sind wir alle deine Sklaven – nicht nur der, bei dem dein Becher gefunden wurde!«17»Nein, auf keinen Fall!«, entgegnete Josef. »Nur der ist mein Sklave, der den Becher gestohlen hat, ihr anderen seid frei und könnt unbehelligt zu eurem Vater zurückkehren!«18Da trat Juda vor und sagte: »Herr, bitte höre mich an! Ich weiß, dass man dir nicht widersprechen darf, weil du der Stellvertreter des Pharaos bist. Bitte werde nicht zornig, wenn ich es trotzdem wage!19Herr, du hattest uns gefragt, ob wir noch einen Vater oder einen anderen Bruder haben.20Wir antworteten: ›Wir haben einen alten Vater und einen Bruder, der ihm noch im hohen Alter geboren wurde. Er ist der Jüngste von uns. Sein Bruder ist gestorben. Ihre Mutter war die Lieblingsfrau unseres Vaters und hatte nur diese zwei Söhne. Darum liebt unser Vater den Jüngsten besonders!‹21Da hast du von uns verlangt, ihn herzubringen, um ihn mit eigenen Augen zu sehen.22Wir entgegneten: ›Herr, sein Vater würde sterben, wenn er ihn verließe!‹23Du gingst nicht darauf ein und sagtest: ›Ohne ihn dürft ihr euch nicht mehr hier sehen lassen!‹24Wir kehrten zu unserem Vater zurück und erzählten ihm alles.25Als er uns einige Zeit später aufforderte, wieder Getreide zu kaufen,26antworteten wir: ›Das geht nur, wenn du unseren jüngsten Bruder mitkommen lässt. Sonst können wir dem ägyptischen Herrscher nicht unter die Augen treten!‹27Da sagte mein Vater zu uns: ›Ihr wisst doch, dass meine Lieblingsfrau nur zwei Söhne bekommen hat.28Der eine ist verschwunden – ich habe ihn nie wieder gesehen. Sicher hat ein wildes Tier ihn zerrissen!29Jetzt wollt ihr mir den anderen auch noch wegnehmen. Wenn ihm etwas zustößt, bringt ihr mich ins Grab!‹30Darum, Herr«, fuhr Juda fort, »wenn wir jetzt zu unserem Vater kommen ohne den Jungen, an dem er so hängt,31dann wird er vor Kummer sterben – und wir sind schuld daran!32Herr, ich habe bei meinem Vater die volle Verantwortung für den Jungen übernommen und gesagt: ›Wenn ich ihn dir nicht gesund zurückbringe, will ich mein Leben lang die Schuld dafür tragen!‹33Darum bitte ich dich, Herr: Lass mich an seiner Stelle als dein Sklave hierbleiben und lass ihn mit seinen Brüdern zurückziehen!34Wie soll ich denn ohne den Jungen meinem Vater begegnen? Ich könnte seinen Schmerz nicht mit ansehen!«