1 T he time of no food was hard in the land.

وَكانَتِ المَجاعَةُ قاسِيَةً فِي الأرْضِ.

2 W hen they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again and buy us a little food.”

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

3 B ut Judah told him, “The man said to us with sharp words, ‘You will not see my face 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 send our brother with us, we will go to Egypt and buy you food.

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

5 B ut if you do not send him, we will not go. For the man said, ‘You will 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 I srael said, “Why did you do me such a wrong 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 questions about us and our family. He said, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ So we answered his questions. How could we know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother 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 J udah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me. And we will get up and go, so we and you and our children may live and not die.

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

9 I will put myself as trust for him. You may put him in my care. If I do not return him to you and set him in front of you, then let the blame be on me 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 waited, we would have returned twice by now.”

لِأنَّكَ لَوْ لَمْ تُؤَخِّرْنا، لَكُنّا سافَرْنا وَرَجِعْنا مَرَّتَينِ.»

11 T hen their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best things of the land in your bags. Carry them to the man as a gift. Give him perfume and honey and spices and special things to eat.

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 T ake twice as much money with you to take the place of the money that was returned in your bags. It may be that it was a mistake.

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

13 T ake your brother also. Get up, and return to the man.

وَخُذُوا أخاكُمْ وَعُودُوا إلَى الرَّجُلِ فَوراً.

14 M ay the All-powerful God give you such favor with the man that he may let your other brother and Benjamin return. If my children are taken from me, I am filled with sorrow.”

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

15 S o the men took the gift, and twice as much money, and Benjamin. They got up and went to Egypt, and stood in front of Joseph.

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

16 W hen Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the man who took care of his house, “Bring the men into the house. And kill an animal and make it ready. For the men will eat 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 S o the man did what Joseph said, 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. They said, “We are being brought in because of the money that was returned in our bags the first time we came. He is looking for something against us. He will come down on us and take us for servants with 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 the man who took care of Joseph’s house, and spoke to him at the door of the house.

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

20 T hey said, “O, my lord, we came here the first time to buy food.

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

21 W hen we came to the place where we stayed the night, we opened our bags. And we found that the full weight of each man’s money was at the top of the bag. So we have brought it again with us.

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 W e have brought other money with us also to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our bags.”

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

23 B ut he answered, “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you riches in your bags. I received your money.” Then 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 T he man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water to wash their feet. And he fed their donkeys.

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

25 S o they made the gift ready to give to Joseph when he came at noon. For they had heard that they were to eat there.

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

26 W hen Joseph came home, they gave him the gift they had brought with them. They bowed to the ground in front of him.

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

27 T hen Joseph asked them about their well-being. He said, “Is your father well, the old man you spoke about? Is he still alive?”

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

28 A nd they said, “Your servant, our father is well. He is still alive.” Then they bowed their heads low in honor to Joseph.

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

29 A s he looked up, he saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son. He said, “Is this your youngest brother whom you told me about? May God show you loving-favor, 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 T hen Joseph went out in a hurry. For he had much feeling for his brother. He went in his room and cried.

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

31 T hen he washed his face and came out. Hiding his feelings, he said, “Bring the food.”

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

32 S o they brought food to Joseph by himself, and to them by themselves, and to the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves. The Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews because they thought it would be sinful.

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 J oseph’s brothers were seated in front of him by the way they were born, from the oldest to the youngest. And the men looked at each other in wonder.

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

34 J oseph took food to them from his own table. But Benjamin’s food was five times as much as any of theirs. And they were free in eating and drinking 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.