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Hebrew Study Bible

1He instructed the servant who was over his household, "Fill the sacks of the men with as much food as they can carry and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack.

1וַיְצַ֞ו אֶת־ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־ בֵּיתוֹ֮ לֵאמֹר֒ מַלֵּ֞א אֶת־ אַמְתְּחֹ֤ת הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ אֹ֔כֶל כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יוּכְל֖וּן שְׂאֵ֑ת וְשִׂ֥ים כֶּֽסֶף־ אִ֖ישׁ בְּפִ֥י אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃

2Then put my cup--the silver cup--in the mouth of the youngest one's sack, along with the money for his grain." He did as Joseph instructed.

2וְאֶת־ גְּבִיעִ֞י גְּבִ֣יעַ הַכֶּ֗סֶף תָּשִׂים֙ בְּפִי֙ אַמְתַּ֣חַת הַקָּטֹ֔ן וְאֵ֖ת כֶּ֣סֶף שִׁבְר֑וֹ וַיַּ֕עַשׂ כִּדְבַ֥ר יוֹסֵ֖ף אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֵּֽר׃

3When morning came, the men and their donkeys were sent off.

3הַבֹּ֖קֶר א֑וֹר וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים שֻׁלְּח֔וּ הֵ֖מָּה וַחֲמֹרֵיהֶֽם׃

4They had not gone very far from the city when Joseph said to the servant who was over his household, "Pursue the men at once! When you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid good with evil?

4הֵ֠ם יָֽצְא֣וּ אֶת־ הָעִיר֮ לֹ֣א הִרְחִיקוּ֒ וְיוֹסֵ֤ף אָמַר֙ לַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־ בֵּית֔וֹ ק֥וּם רְדֹ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣י הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑ים וְהִשַּׂגְתָּם֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם לָ֛מָּה שִׁלַּמְתֶּ֥ם רָעָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת טוֹבָֽה׃

5Doesn't my master drink from this cup and use it for divination? You have done wrong!'"

5הֲל֣וֹא זֶ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁתֶּ֤ה אֲדֹנִי֙ בּ֔וֹ וְה֕וּא נַחֵ֥שׁ יְנַחֵ֖שׁ בּ֑וֹ הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲשִׂיתֶֽם׃

6When the man overtook them, he spoke these words to them.

6וַֽיַּשִּׂגֵ֑ם וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אֶת־ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

7They answered him, "Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing!

7וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֔יו לָ֚מָּה יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲדֹנִ֔י כַּדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה חָלִ֙ילָה֙ לַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ מֵעֲשׂ֖וֹת כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃

8Look, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. Why then would we steal silver or gold from your master's house?

8הֵ֣ן כֶּ֗סֶף אֲשֶׁ֤ר מָצָ֙אנוּ֙ בְּפִ֣י אַמְתְּחֹתֵ֔ינוּ הֱשִׁיבֹ֥נוּ אֵלֶ֖יךָ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וְאֵ֗יךְ נִגְנֹב֙ מִבֵּ֣ית אֲדֹנֶ֔יךָ כֶּ֖סֶף א֥וֹ זָהָֽב׃

9If one of us has it, he will die, and the rest of us will become my lord's slaves!"

9אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִמָּצֵ֥א אִתּ֛וֹ מֵעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ וָמֵ֑ת וְגַם־ אֲנַ֕חְנוּ נִֽהְיֶ֥ה לַֽאדֹנִ֖י לַעֲבָדִֽים׃

10He replied, "You have suggested your own punishment! The one who has it will become my slave, but the rest of you will go free."

10וַיֹּ֕אמֶר גַּם־ עַתָּ֥ה כְדִבְרֵיכֶ֖ם כֶּן־ ה֑וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִמָּצֵ֤א אִתּוֹ֙ יִהְיֶה־ לִּ֣י עָ֔בֶד וְאַתֶּ֖ם תִּהְי֥וּ נְקִיִּֽם׃

11So each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.

11וַֽיְמַהֲר֗וּ וַיּוֹרִ֛דוּ אִ֥ישׁ אֶת־ אַמְתַּחְתּ֖וֹ אָ֑רְצָה וַֽיִּפְתְּח֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃

12Then the man searched. He began with the oldest and finished with the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin's sack!

12וַיְחַפֵּ֕שׂ בַּגָּד֣וֹל הֵחֵ֔ל וּבַקָּטֹ֖ן כִּלָּ֑ה וַיִּמָּצֵא֙ הַגָּבִ֔יעַ בְּאַמְתַּ֖חַת בִּנְיָמִֽן׃

13They all tore their clothes! Then each man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.

13וַֽיִּקְרְע֖וּ שִׂמְלֹתָ֑ם וַֽיַּעֲמֹס֙ אִ֣ישׁ עַל־ חֲמֹר֔וֹ וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ הָעִֽירָה׃

14So Judah and his brothers came back to Joseph's house. He was still there, and they threw themselves to the ground before him.

14וַיָּבֹ֨א יְהוּדָ֤ה וְאֶחָיו֙ בֵּ֣יתָה יוֹסֵ֔ף וְה֖וּא עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ שָׁ֑ם וַיִּפְּל֥וּ לְפָנָ֖יו אָֽרְצָה׃

15Joseph said to them, "What did you think you were doing? Don't you know that a man like me can find out things like this by divination?"

15וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ יוֹסֵ֔ף מָֽה־ הַמַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֑ם הֲל֣וֹא יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם כִּֽי־ נַחֵ֧שׁ יְנַחֵ֛שׁ אִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּמֹֽנִי׃

16Judah replied, "What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? How can we clear ourselves? God has exposed the sin of your servants! We are now my lord's slaves, we and the one in whose possession the cup was found."

16וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָ֗ה מַה־ נֹּאמַר֙ לַֽאדֹנִ֔י מַה־ נְּדַבֵּ֖ר וּמַה־ נִּצְטַדָּ֑ק הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים מָצָא֙ אֶת־ עֲוֺ֣ן עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ הִנֶּנּ֤וּ עֲבָדִים֙ לַֽאדֹנִ֔י גַּם־ אֲנַ֕חְנוּ גַּ֛ם אֲשֶׁר־ נִמְצָ֥א הַגָּבִ֖יעַ בְּיָדֽוֹ׃

17But Joseph said, "Far be it from me to do this! The man in whose hand the cup was found will become my slave, but the rest of you may go back to your father in peace."

17וַיֹּ֕אמֶר חָלִ֣ילָה לִּ֔י מֵעֲשׂ֖וֹת זֹ֑את הָאִ֡ישׁ אֲשֶׁר֩ נִמְצָ֨א הַגָּבִ֜יעַ בְּיָד֗וֹ ה֚וּא יִהְיֶה־ לִּ֣י עָ֔בֶד וְאַתֶּ֕ם עֲל֥וּ לְשָׁל֖וֹם אֶל־ אֲבִיכֶֽם׃ פ

18Then Judah approached him and said, "My lord, please allow your servant to speak a word with you. Please do not get angry with your servant, for you are just like Pharaoh.

18וַיִּגַּ֨שׁ אֵלָ֜יו יְהוּדָ֗ה וַיֹּאמֶר֮ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִי֒ יְדַבֶּר־ נָ֨א עַבְדְּךָ֤ דָבָר֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י וְאַל־ יִ֥חַר אַפְּךָ֖ בְּעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֥י כָמ֖וֹךָ כְּפַרְעֹֽה׃

19My lord asked his servants, 'Do you have a father or a brother?'

19אֲדֹנִ֣י שָׁאַ֔ל אֶת־ עֲבָדָ֖יו לֵאמֹ֑ר הֲיֵשׁ־ לָכֶ֥ם אָ֖ב אוֹ־ אָֽח׃

20We said to my lord, 'We have an aged father, and there is a young boy who was born when our father was old. The boy's brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother's sons left, and his father loves him.'

20וַנֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ אֲדֹנִ֔י יֶשׁ־ לָ֙נוּ֙ אָ֣ב זָקֵ֔ן וְיֶ֥לֶד זְקֻנִ֖ים קָטָ֑ן וְאָחִ֨יו מֵ֜ת וַיִּוָּתֵ֨ר ה֧וּא לְבַדּ֛וֹ לְאִמּ֖וֹ וְאָבִ֥יו אֲהֵבֽוֹ׃

21"Then you told your servants, 'Bring him down to me so I can see him.'

21וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ הוֹרִדֻ֖הוּ אֵלָ֑י וְאָשִׂ֥ימָה עֵינִ֖י עָלָֽיו׃

22We said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father. If he leaves his father, his father will die.'

22וַנֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ אֲדֹנִ֔י לֹא־ יוּכַ֥ל הַנַּ֖עַר לַעֲזֹ֣ב אֶת־ אָבִ֑יו וְעָזַ֥ב אֶת־ אָבִ֖יו וָמֵֽת׃

23But you said to your servants, 'If your youngest brother does not come down with you, you will not see my face again.'

23וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ אִם־ לֹ֥א יֵרֵ֛ד אֲחִיכֶ֥ם הַקָּטֹ֖ן אִתְּכֶ֑ם לֹ֥א תֹסִפ֖וּן לִרְא֥וֹת פָּנָֽי׃

24When we returned to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.

24וַיְהִי֙ כִּ֣י עָלִ֔ינוּ אֶֽל־ עַבְדְּךָ֖ אָבִ֑י וַנַּ֨גֶּד־ ל֔וֹ אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי׃

25"Then our father said, 'Go back and buy us a little food.'

25וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָבִ֑ינוּ שֻׁ֖בוּ שִׁבְרוּ־ לָ֥נוּ מְעַט־ אֹֽכֶל׃

26But we replied, 'We cannot go down there. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go, for we won't be permitted to see the man's face if our youngest brother is not with us.'

26וַנֹּ֕אמֶר לֹ֥א נוּכַ֖ל לָרֶ֑דֶת אִם־ יֵשׁ֩ אָחִ֨ינוּ הַקָּטֹ֤ן אִתָּ֙נוּ֙ וְיָרַ֔דְנוּ כִּי־ לֹ֣א נוּכַ֗ל לִרְאוֹת֙ פְּנֵ֣י הָאִ֔ישׁ וְאָחִ֥ינוּ הַקָּטֹ֖ן אֵינֶ֥נּוּ אִתָּֽנוּ׃

27"Then your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife gave me two sons.

27וַיֹּ֛אמֶר עַבְדְּךָ֥ אָבִ֖י אֵלֵ֑ינוּ אַתֶּ֣ם יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם כִּ֥י שְׁנַ֖יִם יָֽלְדָה־ לִּ֥י אִשְׁתִּֽי׃

28The first disappeared and I said, "He has surely been torn to pieces." I have not seen him since.

28וַיֵּצֵ֤א הָֽאֶחָד֙ מֵֽאִתִּ֔י וָאֹמַ֕ר אַ֖ךְ טָרֹ֣ף טֹרָ֑ף וְלֹ֥א רְאִיתִ֖יו עַד־ הֵֽנָּה׃

29If you take this one from me too and an accident happens to him, then you will bring down my gray hair in tragedy to the grave.'

29וּלְקַחְתֶּ֧ם גַּם־ אֶת־ זֶ֛ה מֵעִ֥ם פָּנַ֖י וְקָרָ֣הוּ אָס֑וֹן וְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּ֧ם אֶת־ שֵׂיבָתִ֛י בְּרָעָ֖ה שְׁאֹֽלָה׃

30"So now, when I return to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us--his very life is bound up in his son's life.

30וְעַתָּ֗ה כְּבֹאִי֙ אֶל־ עַבְדְּךָ֣ אָבִ֔י וְהַנַּ֖עַר אֵינֶ֣נּוּ אִתָּ֑נוּ וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ קְשׁוּרָ֥ה בְנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

31When he sees the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father in sorrow to the grave.

31וְהָיָ֗ה כִּרְאוֹת֛וֹ כִּי־ אֵ֥ין הַנַּ֖עַר וָמֵ֑ת וְהוֹרִ֨ידוּ עֲבָדֶ֜יךָ אֶת־ שֵׂיבַ֨ת עַבְדְּךָ֥ אָבִ֛ינוּ בְּיָג֖וֹן שְׁאֹֽלָה׃

32Indeed, your servant pledged security for the boy with my father, saying, 'If I do not bring him back to you, then I will bear the blame before my father all my life.'

32כִּ֤י עַבְדְּךָ֙ עָרַ֣ב אֶת־ הַנַּ֔עַר מֵעִ֥ם אָבִ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־ לֹ֤א אֲבִיאֶ֙נּוּ֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְחָטָ֥אתִי לְאָבִ֖י כָּל־ הַיָּמִֽים׃

33"So now, please let your servant remain as my lord's slave instead of the boy. As for the boy, let him go back with his brothers.

33וְעַתָּ֗ה יֵֽשֶׁב־ נָ֤א עַבְדְּךָ֙ תַּ֣חַת הַנַּ֔עַר עֶ֖בֶד לַֽאדֹנִ֑י וְהַנַּ֖עַר יַ֥עַל עִם־ אֶחָֽיו׃

34For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn't bear to see my father's pain."

34כִּי־ אֵיךְ֙ אֶֽעֱלֶ֣ה אֶל־ אָבִ֔י וְהַנַּ֖עַר אֵינֶ֣נּוּ אִתִּ֑י פֶּ֚ן אֶרְאֶ֣ה בָרָ֔ע אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִמְצָ֖א אֶת־ אָבִֽי׃

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