1地上的饑荒仍然嚴重。 1In the mean time the famine was heavy upon all the land.
2他們吃完了由埃及帶來的糧食，父親對他們說：「你們再去給我們買點糧食來吃！」 2And when they had eaten up all the corn, which they had brought out of Egypt, Jacob said to his sons: Go again and buy us a little food.
3猶大立即回答父親說：「那人明明告訴我們說：你們若不帶弟弟一起來，你們休想見我的面。 3Juda answered: The man declared unto us with the attestation of an oath, saying: You shall not see my face, unless you bring your youngest brother with you.
4你若讓我們的弟弟與我們一同去，我們就下去給你買些糧食來； 4If therefore thou wilt send him with us, we will set out together, and will buy necessaries for thee.
5你若不讓他去，我們也不下去；因為那人對我們說過：你們若不帶弟弟與你們一同來，你們休想見我的面。」 5But if thou wilt not, we will not go: for the man, as we have often said, declared unto us, saying: You shall not see my face without your youngest brother.
6以色列說：「你們為什麼這樣害我，告訴那人你們還有個弟弟？」 6Israel said to them: You have done this for my misery in that you told him you had also another brother.
7他們回答說：「那人再三再四問我們和我們的家庭說：你們的父親是否還活著？你們是否另有個兄弟？我們只得照這些話答覆他。那裡會知道他要說：帶你們的兄弟一同下來？」 7But they answered: The man asked us in order concerning our kindred: if our father lived: if we had a brother: and we answered him regularly, according to what he demanded: could we know that he would say: Bring hither your brother with you?
8猶大又對他父親以色列說：「你叫孩童與我同去，我們就起身前去；這樣，我們和你並我們的幼兒，可以生活，不致餓死。 8And Juda said to his father: Send the boy with me, that we may set forward, and may live: lest both we and our children perish.
9我為他擔保，你可由我手中要人；如果我不將他帶回，交在你面前，我在你前終生負罪。 9I take the boy upon me, require him at my hand: unless I bring him again, and restore him to thee, I will be guilty of sin against thee for ever.
10假使我們沒有遲延，現在第二次也回來了！」 10If delay had not been made, we had been here again the second time.
11他們的父親以色列對他們說：「如果必須如此，你們就這樣做：在行李內帶些本地最好的出產，一些香液、蜂蜜、樹膠、香料、榧子和杏仁，下去送給那人當作禮物。 11Then Israel said to them: If it must needs be so, do what you will: take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down presents to the man, a little balm, and honey, and storax, myrrh, turpentine, and almonds.
12手中多帶一倍銀錢，將那放在你們糧袋口的銀錢，也一併帶上，這或者是出於一時的錯誤。 12And take with you double money, and carry back what you found in your sacks, lest perhaps it was done by mistake.
13並且帶著你們的弟弟起身往那人那裡去。 13And take also your brother, and go to the man.
14願全能的天主使你們在那人面前蒙恩，放回你們那個兄弟和本雅明；至於我，如要喪子，就喪子罷！」 14And may my almighty God make him favourable to you; and send back with you your brother, whom he keepeth, and this Benjamin: and as for me I shall be desolate without children.
15這一夥人於是帶了那些禮物，手中帶上雙倍銀錢，帶本雅明起身下到埃及去，到了若瑟面前。 15So the men took the presents, and double money, and Benjamin: and went down into Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
16若瑟一看見他們和本雅明，就對自己的管家說：「帶這些人到家裡去，宰牲設宴，中午這些人要與我一起吃飯。」 16And when he had seen them, and Benjamin with them, he commanded the steward of his house, saying: Bring in the men into the house, and kill victims, and prepare a feast: because they shall eat with me at noon.
17管家就依照若瑟吩咐的做了，將這些人帶到若瑟家中。 17He did as he was commanded, and brought the men into the house.
18這些人一進入了若瑟的家，就害怕起來，心裡想：「他帶我們到這裡來，定是為了上次放回我們袋裡銀錢的事，想找我們的錯處，加害我們，拿住我們當奴隸，奪取我們的驢。」 18And they being much afraid, said there one to another: Because of the money, which we carried back the first time in our sacks, we are brought in: that he may bring upon us a false accusation, and by violence make slaves of us and our asses.
19他們於是走到若瑟的管家前，在房門口同他談起這事， 19Wherefore going up to the steward of the house, at the door,
20說：「我主，請原諒：我們上次下到這裡來購買糧食， 20They said: Sir, we desire thee to hear us: We came down once before to buy food:
21當我們到了客棧，打開我們的布袋時，發見各人的銀錢仍在各人的布袋口，我們的銀錢一分不少；現在我們又親手帶回來了。 21And when we had bought, and come to the inn, we opened our sacks, and found our money in the mouths of the sacks: which we have now brought again in the same weight.
22此外我們手中又帶了些銀錢，來購買糧食；我們不知道是誰將我們的銀錢放在我們的布袋內。」 22And we have brought other money besides, to buy what we want: we cannot tell who put it in our bags.
23管家答說：「請你們放心，不必害怕！是你們的天主，你們祖先的天主，在你們的布袋裡給你們放上了財寶；你們的銀錢我已經收了。」以後給他們領出西默盎來。 23But he answered: Peace be with you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father hath given you treasure in your sacks. For the money, which you gave me, I have for good. And he brought Simeon out to them.
24管家領這些人到了若瑟家裡，先給他們拿水洗了腳，然後拿草料餵了驢。 24And having brought them into the house, he fetched water, and they washed their feet, and he gave provender to their asses.
25他們遂將禮物預備好，等候若瑟中午回來；因為聽說，他們要在那裡吃午飯。 25But they made ready the presents, against Joseph came at noon: for they had heard that they should eat bread there.
26若瑟回到家裡，他們就將手中的禮物獻給他，俯首至地向他下拜。 26Then Joseph came into his house, and they offered him the presents holding them in their hands, and they bowed down with their face to the ground.
27若瑟先向他們問安，然後說：「你們以前所說的老父好麼？還健在麼？」 27But he, courteously saluting them again, asked them, saying: Is the old man your father in health, of whom you told me? Is he yet living?
28他們答說：「你的僕人，我們的父親還好，還健在。」遂又鞠躬下拜。 28And they answered: Thy servant our father is in health, he is yet living. And bowing themselves they made obeisance to him.
29若瑟舉目，見了他母親親生的弟弟本雅明，就問說：「這就是你們對我說的那小弟弟嗎？」繼而說：「孩子，願天主保佑你！」 29And Joseph lifting up his eyes, saw Benjamin his brother, by the same mother, and said: Is this your young brother, of whom you told me? And he said: God be gracious to thee, my son.
30若瑟愛弟情切想要流淚，趕快進了自己的內室，在那裡哭了一場； 30And he made haste because his heart was moved upon his brother, and tears gushed out: and going into his chamber he wept.
31然後洗臉出來，勉強抑制自己，吩咐說：「擺飯罷！」 31And when he had washed his face, coming out again, he refrained himself, and said: Set bread on the table.
32人就給若瑟擺了一席，為他們擺了一席，為與若瑟一起吃飯的埃及人另擺了一席；因為埃及人不能同希伯來人一起吃飯，這為他們是個恥辱。 32And when it was set on, for Joseph apart, and for his brethren apart, for the Egyptians also that ate with him, apart, (for it is unlawful for the Egyptians to eat with the Hebrews, and they think such a feast profane):
33他們便在若瑟前，安排就坐，全按長幼的次序，長者在上，幼者在下；眾兄弟彼此相看，驚奇不已。 33They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his age. And they wondered very much:
34若瑟將自己面前的食物分開，分給他們；但本雅明的一分，比其餘的人多五倍。他們遂與若瑟飲酒宴樂。 34Taking the messes which they received of him: and the greater mess came to Benjamin, so that it exceeded by five parts. And they drank, and were merry with him.
注释
43:29-32
若瑟称本雅明为「孩子」，并不是说自己比他长一辈，而是他此时仍以埃及人对外邦人的态度，表示自己的尊严。若瑟单独一席，也是由於他的品位和埃及宗教的礼规，不准他与外邦人同席。