Genesis 42:1
וַיַּ֣רְא יַעֲקֹ֔ב כִּ֥י יֶשׁ־שֶׁ֖בֶר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם
Now Jacob took note,
that there was grain for sale in Egypt;
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ לְבָנָ֔יו לָ֖מָּה תִּתְרָאֽוּ׃
Then Jacob said to his sons:
“For what reason do you look at one another!?”
Genesis 42:2
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר
And he said:
הִנֵּ֣ה שָׁמַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֥י יֶשׁ־שֶׁ֖בֶר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם
“Behold! I have heard
that there is grain for sale in Egypt;
רְדוּ־שָׁ֙מָּה֙ וְשִׁבְרוּ־לָ֣נוּ מִשָּׁ֔ם
Go down there
and buy grain for us from there,
וְנִחְיֶ֖ה וְלֹ֥א נָמֽוּת׃
Then we may live, and not die!”
Genesis 42:3
וַיֵּרְד֥וּ אֲחֵֽי־יוֹסֵ֖ף עֲשָׂרָ֑ה
And so the brothers of Joseph went down,
a group of ten,
לִשְׁבֹּ֥ר בָּ֖ר מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃
To purchase winnowed grain from Egypt;
Genesis 42:4
וְאֶת־בִּנְיָמִין֙ אֲחִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף
But Benjamin, the brother of Joseph,
לֹא־שָׁלַ֥ח יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־אֶחָ֑יו
Jacob did not send with his brethren;
כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר פֶּן־יִקְרָאֶ֖נּוּ אָסֽוֹן׃
For he said:
“Lest harm should befall him”.
Genesis 42:5
וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
So the sons of Israel went
לִשְׁבֹּ֖ר בְּת֣וֹךְ הַבָּאִ֑ים
To buy grain amid those going:
כִּֽי־הָיָ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ב בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃
For famine was in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 42:6
וְיוֹסֵ֗ף ה֚וּא הַשַּׁלִּ֣יט עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ
Now Joseph, he is the ruler over the land,
ה֥וּא הַמַּשְׁבִּ֖יר לְכָל־עַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ
He it is who is selling grain
to all the people of the land;
וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֲחֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף
So the brothers came to Joseph,
וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־ל֥וֹ אַפַּ֖יִם אָֽרְצָה׃
And they bowed themselves to him –
nostrils to the ground.
Genesis 42:7
וַיַּ֥רְא יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶת־אֶחָ֖יו וַיַּכִּרֵ֑ם
And Joseph saw his brothers,
and he recognised them,
וַיִּתְנַכֵּ֨ר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם וַיְדַבֵּ֧ר אִתָּ֣ם קָשׁ֗וֹת
But he acted as a stranger towards them,
and he spoke harshly with them;
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ מֵאַ֣יִן בָּאתֶ֔ם
And he said to them, “Whence came ye!”
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ
And they said:
מֵאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנַ֖עַן לִשְׁבָּר־אֹֽכֶל׃
“From the land of Canaan, in order to purchase food-grain.”
Genesis 42:8
וַיַּכֵּ֥ר יוֹסֵ֖ף אֶת־אֶחָ֑יו
And Joseph recognized his brothers,
וְהֵ֖ם לֹ֥א הִכִּרֻֽהוּ׃
But they did not recognize him.
Genesis 42:9
וַיִּזְכֹּ֣ר יוֹסֵ֔ף
And then Joseph remembered
אֵ֚ת הַחֲלֹמ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָלַ֖ם לָהֶ֑ם
Vividly the dreams
that he had dreamt concerning them;
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙
But he said to them
מְרַגְּלִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם
“Ye are secret agents:
לִרְא֛וֹת אֶת־עֶרְוַ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּאתֶֽם׃
Ye have come to inspect
the vulnerability of the land!”
Genesis 42:10
וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו
But they said to him:
לֹ֣א אֲדֹנִ֑י
“No my lord,
וַעֲבָדֶ֥יךָ בָּ֖אוּ לִשְׁבָּר־אֹֽכֶל׃
But your servants came
to buy food-grain!”
Genesis 42:11
כֻּלָּ֕נוּ בְּנֵ֥י אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד נָ֑חְנוּ
“All of us, we are sons of one man;
כֵּנִ֣ים אֲנַ֔חְנוּ לֹא־הָי֥וּ עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ מְרַגְּלִֽים׃
Honestly we, your servants, are not secret agents!”
Genesis 42:12
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֑ם
And then he said to them,
לֹ֕א כִּֽי־עֶרְוַ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ
“No, but the vulnerability of the land
בָּאתֶ֥ם לִרְאֽוֹת׃
Ye have come come to inspect!”
Genesis 42:13
וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ
And then they said:
שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂר֩ עֲבָדֶ֨יךָ אַחִ֧ים ׀
“Your servants are twelve brothers,
אֲנַ֛חְנוּ בְּנֵ֥י אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן
We are the sons of one man
in the land of Canaan;
וְהִנֵּ֨ה הַקָּטֹ֤ן אֶת־אָבִ֙ינוּ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם
And see the youngest is this day with our father,
וְהָאֶחָ֖ד אֵינֶֽנּוּ׃
And one isn’t.”
Genesis 42:14
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֖ם יוֹסֵ֑ף
But Joseph said to them:
ה֗וּא
“The situation is,
אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבַּ֧רְתִּי אֲלֵכֶ֛ם לֵאמֹ֖ר
that of which I have already spoken to you saying,
מְרַגְּלִ֥ים אַתֶּֽם׃
‘Ye are spies!’ ”
Genesis 42:15
בְּזֹ֖את תִּבָּחֵ֑נוּ
“By this ye shall be tested:
חֵ֤י פַרְעֹה֙ אִם־תֵּצְא֣וּ מִזֶּ֔ה
By the life of Pharaoh,
ye shall not come out of here,
כִּ֧י אִם־בְּב֛וֹא אֲחִיכֶ֥ם הַקָּטֹ֖ן הֵֽנָּה׃
Except when your younger brother comes hither!”
Genesis 42:16
שִׁלְח֨וּ מִכֶּ֣ם אֶחָד֮ וְיִקַּ֣ח אֶת־אֲחִיכֶם֒
“Send one of you,
so that he can fetch your brother;
וְאַתֶּם֙ הֵאָ֣סְר֔וּ וְיִבָּֽחֲנוּ֙ דִּבְרֵיכֶ֔ם
Then you will be imprisoned,
That your words may be tested,
הַֽאֱמֶ֖ת אִתְּכֶ֑ם
Whether truth is with you:
וְאִם־לֹ֕א חֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה
But if not, by the life of Pharaoh,
כִּ֥י מְרַגְּלִ֖ים אַתֶּֽם׃
Indeed you are spies!”
Genesis 42:17
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף אֹתָ֛ם אֶל־מִשְׁמָ֖ר
Then he withdrew them to custody
שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים׃
for three days;
Genesis 42:18
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֤ם יוֹסֵף֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י
And Joseph said to them on the third day,
זֹ֥את עֲשׂ֖וּ וִֽחְי֑וּ
“Do this and live!
אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲנִ֥י יָרֵֽא׃
I am God-fearing…”
Genesis 42:19
אִם־כֵּנִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם אֲחִיכֶ֣ם אֶחָ֔ד
“If ye are honest, one of your brothers,
יֵאָסֵ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית מִשְׁמַרְכֶ֑ם
He shall remain incarcerated
in the space of your imprisonment;
וְאַתֶּם֙ לְכ֣וּ הָבִ֔יאוּ שֶׁ֖בֶר
Then ye, go bring grain
רַעֲב֥וֹן בָּתֵּיכֶֽם׃
for the hunger in your households;”
Genesis 42:20
וְאֶת־אֲחִיכֶ֤ם הַקָּטֹן֙ תָּבִ֣יאוּ אֵלַ֔י
“Then you shall bring me
your youngest brother,
וְיֵאָמְנ֥וּ דִבְרֵיכֶ֖ם וְלֹ֣א תָמ֑וּתוּ
And then your words can be proved trustworthy,
and you will not die;
וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־כֵֽן׃
So they did accordingly.”
Genesis 42:21
וַיֹּאמְר֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֗יו
Now they said, each to his brother,
אֲבָל֮ אֲשֵׁמִ֣ים ׀ אֲנַחְנוּ֮ עַל־אָחִינוּ֒
“Alas truly we are guilty concerning our brother,
אֲשֶׁ֨ר רָאִ֜ינוּ צָרַ֥ת נַפְשׁ֛וֹ בְּהִתְחַֽנְנ֥וֹ אֵלֵ֖ינוּ
Since we saw the anguish of his soul,
when he begged earnestly to us,
וְלֹ֣א שָׁמָ֑עְנוּ
But we hearkened not:
עַל־כֵּן֙ בָּ֣אָה אֵלֵ֔ינוּ הַצָּרָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃
Therefore this trouble has come to us!”
Genesis 42:22
וַיַּעַן֩ רְאוּבֵ֨ן אֹתָ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר
And Reuben answered them, saying:
הֲלוֹא֩ אָמַ֨רְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶ֧ם ׀ לֵאמֹ֛ר
“Did I not say to you, by saying:
אַל־תֶּחֶטְא֥וּ בַיֶּ֖לֶד וְלֹ֣א שְׁמַעְתֶּ֑ם
‘Do no wrong against the lad’
But you did not listen;
וְגַם־דָּמ֖וֹ הִנֵּ֥ה נִדְרָֽשׁ׃
And yea his blood, see it is being required!”
Genesis 42:23
וְהֵם֙ לֹ֣א יֽ͏ָדְע֔וּ כִּ֥י שֹׁמֵ֖עַ יוֹסֵ֑ף
Now they did not know
that Joseph was paying attention; —
כִּ֥י הַמֵּלִ֖יץ בֵּינֹתָֽם׃
Because one who interpreted was between them.
Genesis 42:24
וַיִּסֹּ֥ב מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ
And he turned himself away from them,
and he wept;
וַיָּ֤שָׁב אֲלֵהֶם֙ וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם
Then he returned to them and spoke to them,
וַיִּקַּ֤ח מֵֽאִתָּם֙ אֶת־שִׁמְע֔וֹן
And he took Simeon from them,
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ר אֹת֖וֹ לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃
and he bound him before their eyes.
Genesis 42:25
וַיְצַ֣ו יוֹסֵ֗ף
And Joseph gave orders, —
וַיְמַלְא֣וּ אֶת־כְּלֵיהֶם֮ בָּר֒
And they filled their recepticles
with threshed grain…
וּלְהָשִׁ֤יב כַּסְפֵּיהֶם֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־שַׂקּ֔וֹ
and to return their silver, each to his sack,
וְלָתֵ֥ת לָהֶ֛ם צֵדָ֖ה לַדָּ֑רֶךְ
and to give them provision for the journey;
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ לָהֶ֖ם כֵּֽן׃
And thus he did for them.
Genesis 42:26
וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ אֶת־שִׁבְרָ֖ם עַל־חֲמֹרֵיהֶ֑ם
And they loaded their purchased grain
onto their donkeys;
וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ מִשָּֽׁם׃
Then they departed from there;
Genesis 42:27
וַיִּפְתַּ֨ח הָאֶחָ֜ד אֶת־שַׂקּ֗וֹ
And one opened his sack,
לָתֵ֥ת מִסְפּ֛וֹא לַחֲמֹר֖וֹ בַּמָּל֑וֹן
to give feed to his donkey, at the inn;
וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־כַּסְפּ֔וֹ
And he saw his silver, —
וְהִנֵּה־ה֖וּא בְּפִ֥י אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃
And behold it was
in the mouth of his bag!
Genesis 42:28
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ הוּשַׁ֣ב כַּסְפִּ֔י
And he said to his brothers,
“My silver has been returned,
וְגַ֖ם הִנֵּ֣ה בְאַמְתַּחְתִּ֑י
And moreover, here it is in my bag!”
וַיֵּצֵ֣א לִבָּ֗ם
Then their heart left them,
וַיֶּֽחֶרְד֞וּ אִ֤ישׁ אֶל־אָחִיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר
and they turned trembling,
each to his brother, saying:
מַה־זֹּ֛את עָשָׂ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים לָֽנוּ׃ס
“What is this God has done to us!”
Genesis 42:29
וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ אֶל־יַעֲקֹ֥ב אֲבִיהֶ֖ם אַ֣רְצָה כְּנָ֑עַן
And they came to Jacob their father,
to the land of Canaan;
וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ ל֔וֹ
And they told him
אֵ֛ת כָּל־הַקֹּרֹ֥ת אֹתָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃
Everything that happened to them, saying:
Genesis 42:30
דִּ֠בֶּר הָאִ֨ישׁ אֲדֹנֵ֥י הָאָ֛רֶץ אִתָּ֖נוּ קָשׁ֑וֹת
“He, the man — the overlord of the land,
spoke harshly with us;
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אֹתָ֔נוּ כִּֽמְרַגְּלִ֖ים אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
And he took us as spying the land;”
Genesis 42:31
וַנֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו כֵּנִ֣ים אֲנָ֑חְנוּ
And we said to him,
“We are honest men;
לֹ֥א הָיִ֖ינוּ מְרַגְּלִֽים׃
We are not spies;”
Genesis 42:32
שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר אֲנַ֛חְנוּ אַחִ֖ים בְּנֵ֣י אָבִ֑ינוּ
“We are twelve brothers,
sons of our father;
הָאֶחָ֣ד אֵינֶ֔נּוּ וְהַקָּטֹ֥ן הַיּ֛וֹם אֶת־אָבִ֖ינוּ
One is not,
and the youngest this day is with our father,
בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃
In the land of Canaan.”
Genesis 42:33
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלֵ֗ינוּ הָאִישׁ֙ אֲדֹנֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ
“Then he said to us —
that man — the overlord of the land:
בְּזֹ֣את אֵדַ֔ע כִּ֥י כֵנִ֖ים אַתֶּ֑ם
‘By this I will know that ye are honest:
אֲחִיכֶ֤ם הָֽאֶחָד֙ הַנִּ֣יחוּ אִתִּ֔י
Leave with me one of your brothers;
וְאֶת־רַעֲב֥וֹן בָּתֵּיכֶ֖ם קְח֥וּ וָלֵֽכוּ׃
Then for the hunger in your households,
take and go!’ ”
Genesis 42:34
וְ֠הָבִיאוּ אֶת־אֲחִיכֶ֣ם הַקָּטֹן֮ אֵלַי֒
“And bring your youngest brother to me,
וְאֵֽדְעָ֗ה כִּ֣י לֹ֤א מְרַגְּלִים֙ אַתֶּ֔ם
Then I shall know that ye are not spies,
כִּ֥י כֵנִ֖ים אַתֶּ֑ם
That ye are honest.
אֶת־אֲחִיכֶם֙ אֶתֵּ֣ן לָכֶ֔ם
I shall grant your brother to you,
וְאֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ תִּסְחָֽרוּ׃
And ye may travel the land.”
Genesis 42:35
וַיְהִ֗י הֵ֚ם מְרִיקִ֣ים שַׂקֵּיהֶ֔ם
And it happened,
they were emptying their sacks,
וְהִנֵּה־אִ֥ישׁ צְרוֹר־כַּסְפּ֖וֹ בְּשַׂקּ֑וֹ
And there is everyone’s
bundle of silver in his sack!
וַיִּרְא֞וּ אֶת־צְרֹר֧וֹת כַּסְפֵּיהֶ֛ם
When they saw the bundles of their silver
הֵ֥מָּה וַאֲבִיהֶ֖ם וַיִּירָֽאוּ׃
Then they were afraid, they and their father;
Genesis 42:36
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ יַעֲקֹ֣ב אֲבִיהֶ֔ם
Then Jacob their father said to them:
אֹתִ֖י שִׁכַּלְתֶּ֑ם
You have bereaved me!
יוֹסֵ֤ף אֵינֶ֙נּוּ֙ וְשִׁמְע֣וֹן אֵינֶ֔נּוּ
Joseph is no more and Simon is no more,
וְאֶת־בִּנְיָמִ֣ן תִּקָּ֔חוּ
And you want to take Benjamin!
עָלַ֖י הָי֥וּ כֻלָּֽנָה׃
All things are against me!
Genesis 42:37
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר רְאוּבֵן֙ אֶל־אָבִ֣יו לֵאמֹ֔ר
Then Reuben said to his father, saying:
אֶת־שְׁנֵ֤י בָנַי֙ תָּמִ֔ית
“You may have my two sons executed,
אִם־לֹ֥א אֲבִיאֶ֖נּוּ אֵלֶ֑יךָ
If I should not bring him to you!
תְּנָ֤ה אֹתוֹ֙ עַל־יָדִ֔י
Give him over to my care,
וַאֲנִ֖י אֲשִׁיבֶ֥נּוּ אֵלֶֽיךָ׃
And I personally will bring him back to you!”
Genesis 42:38
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לֹֽא־יֵרֵ֥ד בְּנִ֖י עִמָּכֶ֑ם
But he said,
“My son is not going down with you!
כִּֽי־אָחִ֨יו מֵ֜ת וְה֧וּא לְבַדּ֣וֹ נִשְׁאָ֗ר
For his brother is dead,
and he alone is left, —
וּקְרָאָ֤הוּ אָסוֹן֙ בַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ
And should harm encounter him
on the road wherby it you go,
וְהוֹרַדְתֶּ֧ם אֶת־שֵׂיבָתִ֛י בְּיָג֖וֹן שְׁאֽוֹלָה׃ס
Then you shall bring down my grey hair
in grief to the grave!”
Website translation into English by E.G. Van Gent
The Hebrew Masoretic Text is Unicode/XML version 1.3 Leningrad Codex,
Build 26.4 from tanach.us
Dramatized Modern Hebrew Audio Version, Genesis 42
Copyright to Hebrew Audio of Old Testament
℗ 2014 Bible Society in Israel and Hosanna
Distributed by and Available from The Bible Society In Israel
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