1A fome era gravíssima naquela terra.2Quando o alimento que tinham trazido do Egito se acabou, o pai disse-lhes: “Vão lá outra vez e tornem a comprar mais algum trigo.”3Judá respondeu-lhe: “Aquele homem claramente nos disse que não voltássemos lá sem o nosso irmão.4Portanto, se estás preparado para deixar nosso irmão partir connosco, desceremos e compraremos comida para ti;5mas se não deixares, também não iremos, porque aquele homem nos avisou: ‘Não me vereis o rosto, se o vosso irmão não vier convosco!’ ”6“E porque haviam vocês de lhe ter dito que tinham mais um irmão?”, perguntou Israel. “Fizeram-me com isso um mal que vocês nem sabem!”7“É que o homem perguntou-nos exatamente sobre a nossa família”, explicaram. “E quis saber se o nosso pai ainda vivia, se tínhamos mais algum irmão, e tivemos que lhe dizer tudo. Não podíamos adivinhar que nos ia exigir que lhe levássemos o mais novo!”8Judá retomou a palavra: “Manda o moço comigo para podermos partir e não morrer à fome, nós, tu e os nossos filhos.9Eu serei responsável por ele. Se não o trouxer então tornar-me-ei culpado de crime para contigo para sempre.10Já tinha tido tempo de ter ido e regressado se nos tivesses deixado levá-lo connosco.”11O pai por fim concordou: “Pois então, se não puder ser doutra forma, levem-no lá. Mas façam o seguinte: carreguem os animais com o que de melhor houver aqui da terra e levem a esse homem; bálsamo, mel, especiarias, mirra, pistachos e amêndoas.12Tomem também o dinheiro a dobrar, para pagarem o primeiro fornecimento; pode muito bem ter havido um engano.13Levem-lhe lá o vosso irmão e vão-se embora.14Que Deus Todo-Poderoso vos conceda que esse homem revele misericórdia para convosco, liberte Simeão e deixe regressar Benjamim. Se tiver de os perder que os perca!”15Assim fizeram. Prepararam os presentes, dinheiro a dobrar, desceram ao Egito e apresentaram-se perante José.16Quando José viu que Benjamim estava entre eles disse ao mordomo da sua casa: “Estes homens hoje almoçam comigo; leva-os para casa e prepara-lhes um banquete.”17Ele assim fez. Levou-os para o palácio de José.18Eles ficaram paralisados de medo quando viram para onde iam. “É por causa do dinheiro que vinha nos sacos, com certeza”, diziam entre si. “Vai pretender que o roubámos e fica connosco como escravos, com os animais e tudo!”19Ao chegar à entrada do palácio foram ter com o mordomo;20disseram-lhe: “Senhor, quando da nossa primeira viagem ao Egito para comprar alimento,21ao regressar a casa, parando de noite abrimos os sacos e deparámo-nos ao de cima com o dinheiro da paga do trigo.22Aqui está ele. Trazemo-lo de volta com o necessário para comprar novas provisões. Aliás, não fazemos a menor ideia de como o dinheiro foi parar aos sacos.”23“Não se preocupem com isso. O vosso Deus, o Deus dos vossos pais, foi certamente ele mesmo que pôs o dinheiro lá. De qualquer maneira o vosso pagamento foi feito e está em ordem.” Depois trouxe-lhes Simeão.24Fê-los entrar no palácio, deu-lhes água para que se refrescassem e lavassem os pés. Mandou também dar alimento aos animais.25Eles, por sua vez, prepararam os presentes para quando José chegasse ao meio-dia, porque já lhes tinham dito que haviam de almoçar ali.26Quando José chegou apresentaram-lhe o que traziam, inclinando-se profundamente na sua frente.27Ele perguntou-lhes como é que tinham passado e como estava o pai: “Esse homem idoso de quem me falaram ainda está vivo?”28“Sim, está vivo e de boa saúde.” E tornaram a inclinar-se respeitosamente na frente dele.29Atentando então melhor para o seu irmão Benjamim, filho da sua própria mãe, perguntou: “É esse o vosso irmão mais novo, aquele de quem me falaram?” E dirigindo-se a ele diretamente: “Que Deus te abençoe, meu filho.”30E teve de se retirar por um momento, porque estava profundamente comovido com a presença do irmão, e teve de ir chorar para o seu quarto.31Depois passou água pela cara e tornou a ir ter com eles, procurando conter-se e dizendo: “Vamos comer.”32José pôs-se à parte numa mesa só para si. Os irmãos foram servidos noutra e os egípcios ainda numa outra separada; porque estes consideram indignos os hebreus e nunca comem com eles.33José disse-lhes onde deviam sentar-se e colocou-os segundo as suas idades, do mais novo ao mais velho, para grande admiração deles!34O alimento que lhes era servido vinha da sua própria mesa. Mas a Benjamim dava sempre cinco vezes mais do que aos outros. Assim, comeram e beberam, regalando-se todos juntos.
1Now the famine was severe in the land. (Gn 41:54; Gn 41:57)2And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.”3But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ (Gn 42:20; Gn 44:23)4If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.5But 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.’”6Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?”7They 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’?”8And 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. (Gn 42:2)9I 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. (Gn 42:37; Gn 44:32)10If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.”11Then 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. (Gn 37:25)12Take 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. (Gn 42:25; Gn 42:27; Gn 42:35)13Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man.14May 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.” (Gn 17:1; Gn 42:36; Ne 1:11)15So 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.16When 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.” (Gn 24:2; Gn 39:4; Gn 43:19; Gn 44:1; Gn 44:4)17The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph’s house.18And 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.”19So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the door of the house,20and said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food. (Gn 42:3; Gn 42:10; Gn 44:18)21And 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, (Gn 42:27)22and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.”23He 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.24And 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, (Gn 18:4)25they prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there. (Gn 43:11)26When 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. (Gn 37:5; Gn 42:6)27And he inquired about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” (Gn 42:11; Gn 42:13)28They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves. (Gn 43:26)29And 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!” (Gn 35:18; Gn 43:27)30Then 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. (Gn 42:24; 1 Rs 3:26; Jr 31:20)31Then he washed his face and came out. And controlling himself he said, “Serve the food.” (Gn 45:1)32They 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. (Gn 46:34; Ex 8:26)33And 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.34Portions 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. (Gn 45:22; 2 Sm 11:8)