1 و َكانَتِ المَجاعَةُ قاسِيَةً فِي الأرْضِ.

And the famine was sore in the land.

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

And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

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

And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

4 ف َإنْ كُنْتَ سَتُرْسِلُ أخانا مَعَنا، فَإنَّنا سَنَنزِلُ وَنَشْتَرِي لَكَ طَعاماً.

If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:

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

But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

6 ف َقالَ إسْرائِيلُ: «لِماذا أسَأْتُمْ إلَيَّ وَأخْبَرْتُمُ الرَّجُلَ أنَّ لَكُمْ أخاً آخَرَ؟»

And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?

7 ف َقالُوا: «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›؟»

And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

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

And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

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

I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

10 ل ِأنَّكَ لَوْ لَمْ تُؤَخِّرْنا، لَكُنّا سافَرْنا وَرَجِعْنا مَرَّتَينِ.»

For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

11 ف َقالَ 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.

And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

12 و َخُذُوا ضِعفَي المالِ مَعَكُمْ. وَأَرْجِعُوا المالَ الَّذِي أُعِيدَ إلَيكُمْ فِي أكياسِكُمْ. فَرُبَّما حَدَثَ هَذا بِالخَطَأِ.

And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:

13 و َخُذُوا أخاكُمْ وَعُودُوا إلَى الرَّجُلِ فَوراً.

Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:

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

And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

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

And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

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

And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.

17 ف َفَعَلَ الرَّجُلُ كَما أمَرَهُ يُوسُفَ. وَأحضَرَ الرِّجالَ إلَى بَيتِ يُوسُفَ.

And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.

18 و َعِندَما 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.»

And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.

19 ف َاقتَرَبُوا مِنَ الخادِمِ المَسْؤُولِ عَنْ بَيتِ يُوسُفَ وَكَلَّمُوهُ عِندَ بابِ البَيتِ.

And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,

20 ق الُوا: «يا سَيِّدِي، نَزَلْنا أوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ لِنَشْتَرِيَ طَعاماً.

And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

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

And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.

22 و َأحضَرْنا مَعَنا أيضاً مالاً لِشِراءِ طَعامٍ. وَنَحنُ لا نَعرِفُ مَنْ وَضَعَ المالَ فِي أكياسِنا.»

And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

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

And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

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

And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

25 ث ُمَّ أعَدُّوا الهَدِيَّةَ لِتَقْدِيمِها لِيُوسُفَ عِندَ حُضُورِهِ ظُهْراً، لِأنَّهُمْ سَمِعُوا أنَّهُمْ سَيَتَناوَلُونَ الغَذاءَ مَعَهُ.

And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.

26 ف َلَمّا جاءَ يُوسُفُ إلَى البَيتِ، قَدَّمُوا لَهُ الهَدِيَّةَ الَّتِي أحضَرُوها إلَى بَيتِهِ. وَانحَنُوا لَهُ وَوُجُوهُهُمْ إلَى الأرْضِ.

And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

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

And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?

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

And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.

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

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

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

And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

31 ث ُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجهَهُ وَخَرَجَ. وَضَبَطَ نَفْسَهُ وَقالَ: «قَدِّمُوا الطَّعامَ.»

And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

32 ف َقَدَّمَ 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!

And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

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

And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.

34 ث ُمَّ 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.

And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of their's. And they drank, and were merry with him.