Holman Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1Then Joseph commanded his steward: "Fill the men's bags with as much food as they can carry, and put each one's money at the top of his bag.

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

2Put my cup, the silver one, at the top of the youngest one's bag, along with his grain money." So he did as Joseph told him.

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

3At morning light, the men were sent off with their donkeys.

3הַבֹּ֖קֶר א֑וֹר וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים שֻׁלְּח֔וּ הֵ֖מָּה וַחֲמֹרֵיהֶֽם׃

4They had not gone very far from the city when Joseph said to his steward, "Get up. Pursue the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid evil for good?

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

5Isn't this the cup that my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wrong!'"

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

6When he overtook them, he said these words to them.

6וַֽיַּשִּׂגֵ֑ם וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אֶת־ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

7They said to him, "Why does my lord say these things? Your servants could not possibly do such a thing.

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

8We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money we found at the top of our bags. How could we steal gold and silver from your master's house?

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

9If any of us is found to have it, he must die, and we also will become my lord's slaves."

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

10The steward replied, "What you have said is right, but only the one who is found to have it will be my slave, and the rest of you will be blameless."

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

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

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

12The steward searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

12וַיְחַפֵּ֕שׂ בַּגָּד֣וֹל הֵחֵ֔ל וּבַקָּטֹ֖ן כִּלָּ֑ה וַיִּמָּצֵא֙ הַגָּבִ֔יעַ בְּאַמְתַּ֖חַת בִּנְיָמִֽן׃

13Then they tore their clothes, and each one loaded his donkey and returned to the city.

13וַֽיִּקְרְע֖וּ שִׂמְלֹתָ֑ם וַֽיַּעֲמֹס֙ אִ֣ישׁ עַל־ חֲמֹר֔וֹ וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ הָעִֽירָה׃

14When Judah and his brothers reached Joseph's house, he was still there. They fell to the ground before him."

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

15What is this you have done?" Joseph said to them. "Didn't you know that a man like me could uncover the truth by divination?""

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

16What can we say to my lord?" Judah replied. "How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed your servants' iniquity. We are now my lord's slaves--both 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׃

17Then Joseph said, "I swear that I will not do this. The man in whose possession the cup was found will be my slave. The rest of you can go in peace to your father."

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

18But Judah approached him and said, "Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are 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׃

20and we answered my lord, 'We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. 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׃

21Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him to me so that I can see him.'

21וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ הוֹרִדֻ֖הוּ אֵלָ֑י וְאָשִׂ֥ימָה עֵינִ֖י עָלָֽיו׃

22But we said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father. If he were to leave, his father would die.'

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

23Then you said to your servants, 'If your younger brother does not come down with you, you will not see me again.'"

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

24This is what happened when we went back to your servant my father: We reported your words to him.

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

25But our father said, 'Go again, and buy us some food.'

25וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָבִ֑ינוּ שֻׁ֖בוּ שִׁבְרוּ־ לָ֥נוּ מְעַט־ אֹֽכֶל׃

26We told him, 'We cannot go down unless our younger brother goes with us. So if our younger brother isn't with us, we cannot see the man.'

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

27Your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons.

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

28One left--I said that he must have been torn to pieces--and I have never seen him again.

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

29If you also take this one from me and anything happens to him, you will bring my gray hairs down to Sheol in sorrow.'"

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

30So if I come to your servant my father and the boy is not with us--his life is wrapped up with the boy's life--

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

31when he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought the gray hairs of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow.

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

32Your servant became accountable to my father for the boy, saying, 'If I do not return him to you, I will always bear the guilt for sinning against you, my father.'

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

33Now please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave, in place of 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 without the boy? I could not bear to see the grief that would overwhelm my father."

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.