1 B ut the hunger and destitution and starvation were very severe and extremely distressing in the land.

وَكانَتِ المَجاعَةُ قاسِيَةً فِي الأرْضِ.

2 A nd when had eaten up the grain which the men had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, Go again; buy us a little food.

فَلَمّا اسْتَهلَكُوا القَمْحَ الَّذِي اشْتَرُوهُ مِنْ مِصْرَ، قالَ لَهُمْ أبوْهُمْ: «عُودُوا وَاشْتَرُوا لَنا طَعاماً.»

3 B ut Judah said to him, The man solemnly and sternly warned us, saying, You shall not see my face again unless your brother is with you.

لَكِنَّ يَهُوذا قالَ لَهُ: «لَقَدْ حَذَّرَنا الحاكِمُ فَقالَ: ‹لَنْ تَرَوْا وَجهِي إلّا إذا كانَ أخُوكُمْ مَعَكُمْ.›

4 I f you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food;

فَإنْ كُنْتَ سَتُرْسِلُ أخانا مَعَنا، فَإنَّنا سَنَنزِلُ وَنَشْتَرِي لَكَ طَعاماً.

5 B ut 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.

لَكِنْ إنْ كُنتَ لَنْ تُرْسِلَهُ مَعَنا، فَلَنْ نَنزِلَ. فَقَدْ قالَ لَنا الرَّجُلُ: ‹لَنْ تَرُوا وَجهِي إلّا إذا كانَ أخُوكُمْ مَعَكُمْ.›»

6 A nd Israel said, Why did you do me such a wrong and suffer this evil to come upon me by telling the man that you had another brother?

فَقالَ إسْرائِيلُ: «لِماذا أسَأْتُمْ إلَيَّ وَأخْبَرْتُمُ الرَّجُلَ أنَّ لَكُمْ أخاً آخَرَ؟»

7 A nd they said, The man asked us straightforward questions about ourselves and our relatives. He said, Is your father still alive? Have you another brother? And we answered him accordingly. How could we know that he would say, Bring your brother down here?

فَقالُوا: «دَقَّقَ الرَّجُلُ فِي التَّحقِيقِ مَعَنا، وَسَألَ عَنّا وَعَنْ عائِلَتِنا: ‹هَلْ مايَزالُ أبُوكُمْ حَيّاً؟ أعِندَكُمْ أخٌ آخَرُ؟› فَأجَبْناهُ. فَما الَّذِي أدْرانا بِأنَّهُ سَيَقُولُ لَنا: ‹أحضِرُوا أخاكُمْ›؟»

8 A nd Judah said to Israel his father, Send the lad with me and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones.

وَقالَ يَهُوذا لِأبِيهِ إسْرائِيلَ: «أرْسِلِ الفَتَى مَعِي. وَاسْمَحْ لَنا أنْ نَنطَلِقَ فَوراً، لِكَي نَحيا وَلا نَمُوتَ، نَحْنُ وَأنتَ وَصِغارُنا.

9 I will be security for him; you shall require him of me; if I do not bring him back to you and put him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.

وَأنا بِنَفْسِي أضْمَنُ سَلامَتَهُ. اعتَبِرْنِي مَسؤُولاً عَنْهُ. فَإذا لَمْ أُرجِعْهُ إلَيكَ وَأضَعْهُ أمامَكَ، حَمِّلْنِي ذَنبَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّ أيّامِ حَياتِي.

10 F or if we had not lingered like this, surely by now we would have returned the second time.

لِأنَّكَ لَوْ لَمْ تُؤَخِّرْنا، لَكُنّا سافَرْنا وَرَجِعْنا مَرَّتَينِ.»

11 A nd their father Israel said to them, If it must be so, now do this; take of the choicest products in the land in your sacks and carry down a present to the man, a little balm (balsam) and a little honey, aromatic spices and gum (of rock rose) or ladanum, pistachio nuts, and almonds.

فَقالَ إسْرائِيلُ لَهُمُ: «إنْ كانَ لا بُدَّ أنْ يَكُونَ الأمْرُ كَذَلِكَ، فافْعَلُوا ما يَلِي: خُذُوا بَعضاً مِنْ أفضَلِ نِتاجِ الأرْضِ فِي أكياسِكُمْ، وَانزِلُوا بِها إلَى الرَّجُلِ هَدِيَّةً. خُذُوا بَعضَ البَلْسَمِ وَبَعْضَ العَسَلِ وَصَمْغِ القَتادِ وَالمُرِّ وَالفَسْتُقِ وَاللَّوْزِ.

12 A nd take double the money with you; and the money that was put back in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again with you; there is a possibility that was an oversight.

وَخُذُوا ضِعفَي المالِ مَعَكُمْ. وَأَرْجِعُوا المالَ الَّذِي أُعِيدَ إلَيكُمْ فِي أكياسِكُمْ. فَرُبَّما حَدَثَ هَذا بِالخَطَأِ.

13 T ake your brother and arise and return to the man;

وَخُذُوا أخاكُمْ وَعُودُوا إلَى الرَّجُلِ فَوراً.

14 M ay God Almighty give you mercy and favor before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved.

وَلْيُحَنِّنِ اللهُ الجَبّارُ هَذا الرَّجُلَ عَلَيكُمْ. وَلَيتَهُ يُعِيدُ مَعَكُمْ أخاكُمُ الآخَرَ وَبَنْيامِيْنَ. أمّا أنا، فَإذا حُرِمْتُ مِنْ أبْنائِي، فَإنِّي أقْبَلُ مَصِيرِي.»

15 T hen the men took the present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin; and they arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

فَأخَذَ الرِّجالُ هَذِهِ الهَدِيَّةَ. وَأخَذَوا أيضاً ضِعفَيِّ المالِ وَبَنْيامِيْنَ. وَانطَلَقُوا وَنَزَلُوا إلَى مِصْرَ. فَوَصَلُوا وَوَقَفُوا أمامَ يُوسُفَ. إخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ في بيتِه

16 A nd when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, Bring the men into the house and kill an animal and make ready, for the men will dine with me at noon.

فَلَمّا رَأى يُوسُفُ بَنْيامِيْنَ مَعَهُمْ، قالَ لِمُدَبِّرِ بَيتِهِ: «أحضِرْ هَؤُلاءِ الرِّجالَ إلَى بَيتِي. وَاذْبَحْ ذَبيحَةً، وَجَهِّزْ مَأدُبَةً. إذْ سَيَأْكُلُ الرِّجالُ مَعِي عِندَ الظُّهْرِ.»

17 A nd the man did as Joseph ordered and brought the men to Joseph’s house.

فَفَعَلَ الرَّجُلُ كَما أمَرَهُ يُوسُفَ. وَأحضَرَ الرِّجالَ إلَى بَيتِ يُوسُفَ.

18 T he men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, We are brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time we came, so that he may find occasion to accuse and assail us, take us for slaves, and seize our donkeys.

وَعِندَما أُحضِرَ الرِّجالُ إلَى بَيتِ يُوسُفَ خافُوا. وَقالُوا: «لَقَدْ جِيءَ بِنا إلَى هُنا بِسَبَبِ المالِ الَّذِي أُعِيدَ إلَينا فِي أكْياسِنا فِي المَرَّةِ الأُولَى. لا شَكَّ أنَّهُ يُرِيدُ أنْ يَهجُمَ عَلَينا وَيَقْبِضَ عَلَينا، وَيَجْعَلَنا عَبِيداً عِندَهُ وَيَأْخُذَ حَمِيرَنا.»

19 S o they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house and talked with him at the door of the house,

فَاقتَرَبُوا مِنَ الخادِمِ المَسْؤُولِ عَنْ بَيتِ يُوسُفَ وَكَلَّمُوهُ عِندَ بابِ البَيتِ.

20 A nd said, O sir, we came down truly the first time to buy food;

قالُوا: «يا سَيِّدِي، نَزَلْنا أوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ لِنَشْتَرِيَ طَعاماً.

21 A nd when we came to the inn, we opened our sacks and there was each man’s money, full weight, returned in the mouth of his sack. Now we have brought it back again.

لَكِنْ حِينَ وَصَلْنا إلَى مَكانِ مَبِيتِنا، فَتَحْنا أكياسَنا، وَوَجَدَ كُلُّ واحِدٍ مِنّا عَلَى رَأْسِ كِيسِهِ كامِلَ المَبلَغِ الَّذِي دَفَعَهُ. وَها نَحنُ قَدْ أرْجَعْنا المالَ مَعَنا.

22 A nd we have brought down with us other money to buy food; we do not know who put our money in our sacks.

وَأحضَرْنا مَعَنا أيضاً مالاً لِشِراءِ طَعامٍ. وَنَحنُ لا نَعرِفُ مَنْ وَضَعَ المالَ فِي أكياسِنا.»

23 B ut said, Peace be to you, fear not; your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your money. And he brought Simeon out to them.

فَقالَ الخادِمُ: «اطمَئِنُّوا، وَلا تَخافُوا. لا بُدَّ أنَّ إلَهَكُمْ، إلَهَ أبِيكُمْ، هُوَ الَّذِي وَضَعَ كَنزاً فِي أكياسِكُمْ. فَقَدِ اسْتَلَمْتُ أنا مالَكُمْ.» ثُمَّ أحضَرَ لَهُمْ شَمْعُونَ.

24 A nd the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys provender.

وَبَعدَ هَذا دَخَلَ بِهِمِ الرَّجُلُ إلَى بَيتِ يُوسُفَ. وَقَدَّمَ لَهُمْ ماءً، فَغَسَلُوا أرجُلَهُمْ. ثُمَّ قَدَّمَ طَعاماً لِحَمِيرِهِمْ.

25 A nd they made ready the present they had brought for Joseph before his coming at noon, for they heard that they were to dine there.

ثُمَّ أعَدُّوا الهَدِيَّةَ لِتَقْدِيمِها لِيُوسُفَ عِندَ حُضُورِهِ ظُهْراً، لِأنَّهُمْ سَمِعُوا أنَّهُمْ سَيَتَناوَلُونَ الغَذاءَ مَعَهُ.

26 A nd when Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which they had with them, and bowed themselves to him to the ground.

فَلَمّا جاءَ يُوسُفُ إلَى البَيتِ، قَدَّمُوا لَهُ الهَدِيَّةَ الَّتِي أحضَرُوها إلَى بَيتِهِ. وَانحَنُوا لَهُ وَوُجُوهُهُمْ إلَى الأرْضِ.

27 H e asked them of their welfare and said, Is your old father well, of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?

ثُمَّ سَألَهُمْ عَنْ حالِهِمْ. وَقالَ: «كَيفَ حالُ أبِيكُمِ العَجُوزِ الَّذِي أخبَرْتُمُونِي عَنْهُ؟ أما زالَ حَيّاً؟»

28 A nd they answered, Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive. And they bowed down their heads and made obeisance.

فَقالُوا: «خادِمُكَ، أبوْنا، فِي صِحَّةٍ جَيِّدَةٍ. وَهُوَ ما يَزالُ حَيّاً.» ثُمَّ انحَنُوا عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ أمامَهُ احتِراماً لَهُ.

29 A nd he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? And he said, God be gracious to you, my son!

فَتَطَلَّعَ يُوسُفُ فَرَأى بَنْيامِيْنَ أخاهُ، ابْنَ أُمِّهِ. فَقالَ: «أهَذا هُوَ أخُوكُمُ الأصْغَرُ الَّذِي حَدَّثْتُمُونِي عَنْهُ؟» ثُمَّ قالَ لَهُ: «لِيُنْعِمْ عَلَيكَ اللهُ، يا ابْنِي.»

30 A nd Joseph hurried from the room, for his heart yearned for his brother, and he sought privacy to weep; so he entered his chamber and wept there.

ثُمَّ اندَفَعَ خارِجاً مِنَ الغُرْفَةِ لِأنَّ مَشاعِرَهُ نَحْوَ أخِيهِ كانَتْ قَوِيَّةً. أرادَ أنْ يَبْكِيَ. فَذَهَبَ إلَى غُرْفَتِهِ وَبَكَى هُناكَ.

31 A nd he washed his face and went out, and, restraining himself, said, Let dinner be served.

ثُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجهَهُ وَخَرَجَ. وَضَبَطَ نَفْسَهُ وَقالَ: «قَدِّمُوا الطَّعامَ.»

32 A nd set out for by himself, and for by themselves, and for those Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, according to the Egyptian custom not to eat food with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

فَقَدَّمَ لَهُ الخُدّامُ الطَّعامَ عَلَى طاوِلَةٍ لِوَحدِهِ، وَلِلإخْوَةِ عَلَى طاوِلَةٍ أُخْرَى. وَقَدَّمُوا الطَّعامَ لِلمِصْرِيِّينَ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ مَعَهُ عَلَى طاوِلَةٍ ثالِثَةٍ لِوَحدِهِمْ، لِأنَّ المِصْرِيِّينَ لا يَأْكُلُونَ مَعَ العِبْرانِيِّينَ، بَلْ يُبغِضُونَ ذَلِكَ!

33 A nd were given seats before him—the eldest according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked at one another amazed.

وَأُجلِسَ الإخوَةُ حَسَبَ تَرْتِيبِ وِلادَتِهِمْ، مِنَ الأكْبَرِ إلَى الأصْغَرِ. وَكانَ الإخوَةُ يَنْظُرُونَ أحَدُهُمْ إلَى الآخَرِ فِي دَهشَةٍ.

34 t ook and sent helpings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank freely and were merry with him.

ثُمَّ أمَرَ يُوسُفُ الخُدّامَ بِأنْ يَأْخُذُوا حِصَصاً مِنَ الطَّعامِ مِنْ طاوِلَتِهِ وَيُقَدِّمُوها لَهُمْ. غَيرَ أنَّ حِصَّةَ بَنْيامِيْنَ كانَتْ خَمْسَةَ أضْعافِ حِصَصِ الآخَرِينَ. فَأكَلُوا وَشَرِبُوا مَعَهُ حَتِّى شَبِعُوا وَارْتَوُوا.