Liber Genesis, 44

1. Praecepit autem Ioseph dispensatori domus suae dicens: “Imple saccos eorum frumento, quantum possunt capere, et pone pecuniam singulorum in summitate sacci.

1. Then he commanded the steward of his house, "Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack,

2. Scyphum autem meum argenteum et pretium, quod dedit tritici, pone in ore sacci iunioris”. Factumque est ita.

2. and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain." And he did as Joseph told him.

3. Et, orto mane, dimissi sunt cum asinis suis.

3. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their asses.

4. Iamque urbem exierant et processerant paululum, tunc Ioseph, arcessito dispensatore domus: “Surge, inquit, et persequere viros; et apprehensis dicito: "Quare reddidistis malum pro bono? Cur furati estis mihi scyphum argenteum?

4. When they had gone but a short distance from the city, Joseph said to his steward, "Up, follow after the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, `Why have you returned evil for good? Why have you stolen my silver cup?

5. Nonne ipse est, in quo bibit dominus meus et in quo augurari solet? Pessimam rem fecistis!"”.

5. Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he divines? You have done wrong in so doing.'"

6. Fecit ille, ut iusserat, et apprehensis per ordinem locutus est.

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

7. Qui responderunt: “Quare sic loquitur dominus noster? Absit a servis tuis, ut tantum flagitii commiserimus.

7. They said to him, "Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants that they should do such a thing!

8. Pecuniam, quam invenimus in summitate saccorum, reportavimus ad te de terra Chanaan; et quomodo consequens est, ut furati simus de domo domini tui aurum vel argentum?

8. Behold, the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan; how then should we steal silver or gold from your lord's house?

9. Apud quemcumque fuerit inventum servorum tuorum, quod quaeris, moriatur; et nos erimus servi domini nostri”.

9. With whomever of your servants it be found, let him die, and we also will be my lord's slaves."

10. Qui dixit eis: “Fiat iuxta vestram sententiam: apud quemcumque fuerit inventum, ipse sit servus meus; vos autem eritis innoxii”.

10. He said, "Let it be as you say: he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and the rest of you shall be blameless."

11. Itaque festinato deponentes in terram saccos aperuerunt singuli.

11. Then every man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and every man opened his sack.

12. Quos scrutatus incipiens a maiore usque ad minimum invenit scyphum in sacco Beniamin.

12. And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

13. At illi, scissis vestibus, oneratisque rursum asinis, reversi sunt in oppidum.

13. Then they rent their clothes, and every man loaded his ass, and they returned to the city.

14. Et Iudas cum fratribus ingressus est ad Ioseph ­ necdum enim de loco abierat ­ omnesque ante eum pariter in terram corruerunt.

14. When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, he was still there; and they fell before him to the ground.

15. Quibus ille ait: “Cur sic agere voluistis? An ignoratis quod non sit similis mei in augurandi scientia?”.

15. Joseph said to them, "What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that such a man as I can indeed divine?"

16. Cui Iudas: “Quid respondebimus, inquit, domino meo? Vel quid loquemur aut iuste poterimus obtendere? Deus invenit iniquitatem servorum tuorum; en omnes servi sumus domini mei, et nos et apud quem inventus est scyphus”.

16. And Judah said, "What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord's slaves, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found."

17. Respondit Ioseph: “Absit a me, ut sic agam! Qui furatus est scyphum, ipse sit servus meus; vos autem abite liberi ad patrem vestrum”.

17. But he said, "Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father."

18. Accedens autem propius Iudas confidenter ait: “Oro, domine mi, loquatur servus tuus verbum in auribus tuis, et ne irascaris famulo tuo; tu es enim sicut pharao!

18. Then Judah went up to him and said, "O my lord, let your servant, I pray you, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant; for you are like Pharaoh himself.

19. Dominus meus interrogavit prius servos suos: "Habetis patrem aut fratrem?".

19. My lord asked his servants, saying, `Have you a father, or a brother?'

20. Et nos respondimus domino meo: "Est nobis pater senex et puer parvulus, qui in senectute illius natus est, cuius uterinus frater mortuus est; et ipse solus superest a matre sua, pater vero tenere diligit eum"”.

20. And we said to my lord, `We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother's children; and his father loves him.'

21. Dixistique servis tuis: "Adducite eum ad me, et ponam oculos meos super illum".

21. Then you said to your servants, `Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes upon him.'

22. Suggessimus domino meo: "Non potest puer relinquere patrem suum; si enim illum dimiserit, morietur".

22. We said to my lord, `The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.'

23. Et dixisti servis tuis: "Nisi venerit frater vester minimus vobiscum, non videbitis amplius faciem meam".

23. Then you said to your servants, `Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.'

24. Cum ergo ascendissemus ad famulum tuum patrem nostrum, narravimus ei omnia, quae locutus est dominus meus,

24. When we went back to your servant my father we told him the words of my lord.

25. et dixit pater noster: "Revertimini et emite nobis parum tritici".

25. And when our father said, `Go again, buy us a little food,'

26. Cui diximus: "Ire non possumus. Si frater noster minimus descenderit nobiscum, proficiscemur simul; alioquin, illo absente, non poterimus videre faciem viri".

26. we said, `We cannot go down. If our youngest brother goes with us, then we will go down; for we cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.'

27. Ad quae servus tuus pater meus respondit: "Vos scitis quod duos genuerit mihi uxor mea.

27. Then your servant my father said to us, `You know that my wife bore me two sons;

28. Egressus est unus a me, et dixi: Bestia devoravit eum! Et hucusque non comparet.

28. one left me, and I said, Surely he has been torn to pieces; and I have never seen him since.

29. Si tuleritis et istum a facie mea, et aliquid ei in via contigerit, deducetis canos meos cum maerore ad inferos".

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

30. Igitur, si intravero ad servum tuum patrem meum, et puer defuerit ­ cum anima illius ex huius anima pendeat ­

30. Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the lad's life,

31. videritque eum non esse nobiscum, morietur; et deducent famuli tui canos eius cum dolore ad inferos.

31. when he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die; and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol.

32. Servus tuus pro puero patri meo spopondit: Nisi reduxero eum, peccati reus ero in patrem meum omni tempore.

32. For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, `If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame in the sight of my father all my life.'

33. Manebo itaque servus tuus pro puero in ministerio domini mei, et puer ascendat cum fratribus suis.

33. Now therefore, let your servant, I pray you, remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord; and let the lad go back with his brothers.

34. Non enim possum redire ad patrem meum, absente puero, ne calamitatis, quae oppressura est patrem meum, testis assistam”.

34. For how can I go back to my father if the lad is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would come upon my father."