创世纪 Genesis Chapter 42
    Genesis

    Chapter42

    1WhenJacoblearnedthatgrainrationswereavailableinEgypt,hesaidtohissons:"Whydoyoukeepgapingatoneanother?

    雅各伯见埃及有粮食出售,便对自己的儿子们说:"你们为什么彼此观望?"

    2Ihear,"hewenton,"thatrationsofgrainareavailableinEgypt.Godownthereandbuysomeforus,thatwemaystayaliveratherthandieofhunger."

    继而说:"我听说在埃及有粮食出售,你们下到那里,给我们购买些粮食,叫我们好活下去,不致饿死。"

    3SotenofJoseph'sbrotherswentdowntobuyanemergencysupplyofgrainfromEgypt.

    于是若瑟的十个哥哥下到埃及买粮食去了。

    4ItwasonlyJoseph'sfullbrotherBenjaminthatJacobdidnotsendwiththerest,forhethoughtsomedisastermightbefallhim.

    至于若瑟的弟弟本雅明,雅各伯没有叫他与哥哥们同去,因为他想:怕他遇害。

    5Thus,sincetherewasfamineinthelandofCanaanalso,thesonsofIsraelwereamongthosewhocametoprocurerations.

    这样以色列的儿子们也夹在前来购粮的人中,前来购粮,因为客纳罕地也发生了饥荒。

    6ItwasJoseph,asgovernorofthecountry,whodispensedtherationstoallthepeople.WhenJoseph'sbrotherscameandkneltdownbeforehimwiththeirfacestotheground,

    当时在地方上执政的人是若瑟,给地方上所有人民配售粮食的也是他。若瑟的哥哥们来了,就俯首至地,向他下拜。

    7herecognizedthemassoonashesawthem.Butheconcealedhisownidentityfromthemandspokesternlytothem."Wheredoyoucomefrom?"heaskedthem.Theyanswered,"FromthelandofCanaan,toprocurefood."

    若瑟一见他的哥哥们,就认出他们来,却装做生人,向他们说了一切严厉的话,问他们说:"你们是从那里来的?"他们答说:"我们是从客纳罕地来购买粮食的。"

    8WhenJosephrecognizedhisbrothers,althoughtheydidnotrecognizehim,

    若瑟认出哥哥们来,他们却没有认出他来。

    91hewasremindedofthedreamshehadaboutthem.Hesaidtothem:"Youarespies.Youhavecometoseethenakednessoftheland."

    于是若瑟想起了他昔日关于他们所作的梦,便对他们说:"你们是探子,前来刺探本地的虚实。"

    10"No,mylord,"theyreplied."Onthecontrary,yourservantshavecometoprocurefood.

    他们回答说:"我主!绝对不是:你的仆人们是来购买粮食的。

    11Allofusaresonsofthesameman.Wearehonestmen;yourservantshaveneverbeenspies."

    我们全是一个人的儿子,我们是诚实人;你的仆人们从未做过探子。"

    12Butheansweredthem:"Notso!Youhavecometoseethenakednessoftheland."

    若瑟对他们说:"不,你们前来必是为刺探此地的虚实。"

    13"Weyourservants,"theysaid,"weretwelvebrothers,sonsofacertainmaninCanaan;buttheyoungestoneisatpresentwithourfather,andtheotheroneisgone."

    他们答说:"你的仆人们原是兄弟十二人,同是客纳罕地一个人的儿子;最小的现今在父亲那里,另一个已不在了。"

    14"ItisjustasIsaid,"Josephpersisted;"youarespies.

    若瑟对他们说:"我才说你们是探子;这话实在不错。

    15Thisishowyoushallbetested:unlessyouryoungestbrothercomeshere,IswearbythelifeofPharaohthatyoushallnotleavehere.

    为此我要考验你们:我指着法郎的生命起誓:如果你们最小的弟弟不到这里来,你们莫想离开此地。

    16Sosendoneofyournumbertogetyourbrother,whiletherestofyoustayhereunderarrest.Thusshallyourwordsbetestedfortheirtruth;iftheyareuntrue,asPharaohlives,youarespies!"

    你们可由你们中派一个人回去,带你们的弟弟来,其它的人暂且拘留,以待证明你们的话是否诚实;如果不是真的,我指着法郎的生命起誓:你们必是探子。"

    17Withthat,helockedthemupintheguardhouseforthreedays.

    于是在拘留所内拘禁了他们三天。

    18OnthethirddayJosephsaidtothem:"Dothis,andyoushalllive;forIamaGod-fearingman.

    第三天,若瑟对他们说:"我原是个敬畏天主的人,你们愿意保全性命,应这样做:

    19Ifyouhavebeenhonest,onlyoneofyourbrothersneedbeconfinedinthisprison,whiletherestofyoumaygoandtakehomeprovisionsforyourstarvingfamilies.

    如果你们是诚实人,叫你们兄弟中一个人留在拘留所内,其余的人可带粮食回去,解救家中的饥荒。

    20Butyoumustcomebacktomewithyouryoungestbrother.Yourwordswillthusbeverified,andyouwillnotdie."Tothistheyagreed.

    然后给我带你们的小弟弟来,好证实你们的话,你们也不致于死。"他们就这样作了。

    21Tooneanother,however,theysaid:"Alas,wearebeingpunishedbecauseofourbrother.Wesawtheanguishofhisheartwhenhepleadedwithus,yetwepaidnoheed;thatiswhythisanguishhasnowcomeuponus."

    他们彼此说:"我们实在该赔补加害我们兄弟的罪,因为他向我们哀求时,我们见了他心灵痛苦,竟不肯听;为此这场苦难才落到我们身上!"

    22"Didn'tItellyou,"brokeinReuben,"nottodowrongtotheboy?Butyouwouldn'tlisten!Nowcomesthereckoningforhisblood."

    勒乌本就对他们说:"我岂不是对你们说过:不要伤害那孩子吗?你们却不肯听;看,现在要追讨他的血了。"

    23Theydidnotknow,ofcourse,thatJosephunderstoodwhattheysaid,sincehespokewiththemthroughaninterpreter.

    他们原不知道若瑟都听得懂,因为在他们中有一翻译员。

    24Butturningawayfromthem,hewept.Whenhewasabletospeaktothemagain,hehadSimeontakenfromthemandboundbeforetheireyes.

    若瑟就由他们前退出去哭了。然后又回来与他们交谈,由他们中提出西默盎在他们眼前将他捆绑起来。

    25ThenJosephgaveorderstohavetheircontainersfilledwithgrain,theirmoneyreplacedineachone'ssack,andprovisionsgiventhemfortheirjourney.Afterthishadbeendoneforthem,

    若瑟遂吩咐人将他们的布袋装满了粮食,将各人的银钱仍放在各人的布袋内,并且还给了他们途中所需要的食物;人就对他们这样做了。

    26theyloadedtheirdonkeyswiththerationsanddeparted.

    他们将购得的粮食驮在驴上,就从那里起身走了。

    272Atthenightencampment,whenoneofthemopenedhisbagtogivehisdonkeysomefodder,hewassurprisedtoseehismoneyinthemouthofhisbag.

    到了客栈,他们中一人打开了布袋拿料喂驴,看见自己的银钱仍在布袋口,

    28"Mymoneyhasbeenreturned!"hecriedouttohisbrothers."Hereitisinmybag!"Atthattheirheartssank.Trembling,theyaskedoneanother,"WhatisthisthatGodhasdonetous?"

    遂对兄弟们说:"我的银钱退回来了;看,仍在我的袋里。"他们心惊起来,彼此战栗地说:"天主对我们所作的,是怎么一回事。"

    29WhentheygotbacktotheirfatherJacobinthelandofCanaan,theytoldhimallthathadhappenedtothem.

    他们回到客纳罕地,他们的父亲雅各伯那里,将所遇见的事全告诉他说:

    30"Themanwhoislordofthecountry,"theysaid,"spoketoussternlyandputusincustodyasifwewerespyingontheland.

    "那地方的主人对我们说了一些严厉的话,将我们视作刺探那地方的人。

    31Butwesaidtohim:'Wearehonestmen;wehaveneverbeenspies.

    我们对他说:"我们是诚实人,决不是探子;

    32Thereweretwelveofusbrothers,sonsofthesamefather;butoneisgone,andtheyoungestoneisatpresentwithourfatherinthelandofCanaan.'

    我们原是兄弟十二人,同一父亲的儿子,一个已不在了,最小的现在同我们的父亲在客纳罕地。

    33Thenthemanwhoislordofthecountrysaidtous:'ThisishowIshallknowifyouarehonestmen:leaveoneofyourbrotherswithme,whiletherestofyougohomewithrationsforyourstarvingfamilies.

    那地方的主人对我们说:为叫我知道你们是诚实人,你们兄弟中一人留在我这里,其余的人带粮食回去解救家中的饥荒;

    34Whenyoucomebacktomewithyouryoungestbrother,andIknowthatyouarehonestmenandnotspies,Iwillrestoreyourbrothertoyou,andyoumaymoveaboutfreelyintheland.'"

    然后将你们的弟弟给我带来,那时我才能知道你们不是探子,确是诚实人,我将你们的兄弟还给你们,你们可在这地方自由行动。"

    35Whentheywereemptyingtheirsacks,thereineachone'ssackwashismoneybag!Atthesightoftheirmoneybags,theyandtheirfatherweredismayed.

    当他们倒自己的粮袋时,不料各人的钱囊仍在各人的袋内。他们和他们的父亲,一见钱囊,都害怕起来。

    36TheirfatherJacobsaidtothem:"Mustyoumakemechildless?Josephisgone,andSimeonisgone,andnowyouwouldtakeawayBenjamin!Whymustsuchthingsalwayshappentome?"

    他们的父亲雅各伯对他们说:"你们总是使我丧失儿子:若瑟不在了,西默盎不在了,你们还要带走本雅明!这一切都落在我身上!"

    37ThenReubentoldhisfather:"Puthiminmycare,andIwillbringhimbacktoyou.YoumaykillmyowntwosonsifIdonotreturnhimtoyou."

    勒乌本对他父亲说:"如果我不将他给你带回来,你可杀死我的两个儿子;只管将他交在我手里,我必再还给你。"

    38ButJacobreplied:"Mysonshallnotgodownwithyou.Nowthathisfullbrotherisdead,heistheonlyoneleft.Ifsomedisastershouldbefallhimonthejourneyyoumustmake,youwouldsendmywhiteheaddowntothenetherworldingrief."

    雅各伯答说:"我儿子不能和你们一同下去,因为他哥哥死了,只剩下了他独自一个;如果他在你们行的路上遇到什么不幸,那你们就要使我这白发老人在忧苦中降入阴府了。"

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    Footnotes(注解)

    1[9,12]Thenakednessoftheland:themilitaryweaknessoftheland,likehumannakedness,shouldnotbeseenbystrangers.

    2[27-28]ThesetwoversesarefromtheYahwistsource,whereastherestofthechapterisfromtheElohistsource,inwhichthemenfindthemoneyintheirsacks(not"bags"——adifferentHebrewword)onlywhentheyarrivehome(Genesis42:35);cfGenesis43:21.