Genesis 44:1
וַיְצַ֞ו אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־בֵּיתוֹ֮ לֵאמֹר֒
And he commanded the one who
was over his house, saying:
מַלֵּ֞א אֶת־אַמְתְּחֹ֤ת הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ אֹ֔כֶל
“Fill the bags of the men with food,
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יוּכְל֖וּן שְׂאֵ֑ת
According to what they are able to carry;
וְשִׂ֥ים כֶּֽסֶף־אִ֖ישׁ בְּפִ֥י אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃
And place each man’s silver
in the mouth of his bag;”
Genesis 44:2
וְאֶת־גְּבִיעִ֞י גְּבִ֣יעַ הַכֶּ֗סֶף
“And my cup, the silver cup,
תָּשִׂים֙ בְּפִי֙ אַמְתַּ֣חַת הַקָּטֹ֔ן
You shall place in the mouth of the youngest’s bag,
וְאֵ֖ת כֶּ֣סֶף שִׁבְר֑וֹ
together with the silver for his grain.”
וַיַּ֕עַשׂ כִּדְבַ֥ר יוֹסֵ֖ף אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֵּֽר׃
Then he did according to Joseph’s word
that he had ordered.
Genesis 44:3
הַבֹּ֖קֶר א֑וֹר
The morning had dawned;
וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים שֻׁלְּח֔וּ הֵ֖מָּה וַחֲמֹרֵיהֶֽם׃
And the men were sent off,
They and their donkeys.
Genesis 44:4
הֵ֠ם יָֽצְא֣וּ אֶת־הָעִיר֮ לֹ֣א הִרְחִיקוּ֒
They had left the district,
they had not gone far,
וְיוֹסֵ֤ף אָמַר֙ לַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־בֵּית֔וֹ
And Joseph said to the one who
was over his house:
ק֥וּם רְדֹ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣י הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑ים
“Arise, pursue the men;
וְהִשַּׂגְתָּם֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם
When you reach them,
then say to them:
לָ֛מָּה שִׁלַּמְתֶּ֥ם רָעָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת טוֹבָֽה׃
‘for what reason did you
pay evil in exchange for good!’ ”
Genesis 44:5
הֲל֣וֹא זֶ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁתֶּ֤ה אֲדֹנִי֙ בּ֔וֹ
“Is not this what my lord drinks with,
וְה֕וּא נַחֵ֥שׁ יְנַחֵ֖שׁ בּ֑וֹ
And that he himself most certainly divines through!
הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲשִׂיתֶֽם׃
Ye have caused evil, —
that which ye have done!”
Genesis 44:6
וַֽיַּשִּׂגֵ֑ם
And so he reached them;
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
Then he spoke those words to them.
Genesis 44:7
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֔יו
And they said to him:
לָ֚מָּה יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲדֹנִ֔י
“For what reason would my lord speak
כַּדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה
the like of those words?
חָלִ֙ילָה֙ לַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ
Far be it from your servants,
מֵעֲשׂ֖וֹת כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃
From doing the like of this thing!”
Genesis 44:8
הֵ֣ן כֶּ֗סֶף
“Behold silver,
אֲשֶׁ֤ר מָצָ֙אנוּ֙ בְּפִ֣י אַמְתְּחֹתֵ֔ינוּ
Which we had found in the mouth of our bags,
הֱשִׁיבֹ֥נוּ אֵלֶ֖יךָ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן
we had returned to you, from the land of Canaan:
וְאֵ֗יךְ נִגְנֹב֙ מִבֵּ֣ית אֲדֹנֶ֔יךָ כֶּ֖סֶף א֥וֹ זָהָֽב׃
So how would we even want to steal
silver or gold from the house of your lord?!”
Genesis 44:9
אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִמָּצֵ֥א אִתּ֛וֹ מֵעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ וָמֵ֑ת
“Whomsoever of your servants is found with it,
consequently shall die;
וְגַם־אֲנַ֕חְנוּ נִֽהְיֶ֥ה לַֽאדֹנִ֖י לַעֲבָדִֽים׃
Then moreover we ourselves
shall become slaves to our lord!”
Genesis 44:10
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר
But he said:
גַּם־עַתָּ֥ה כְדִבְרֵיכֶ֖ם כֶּן־ה֑וּא
“So now according to your words, it is thus.
אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִמָּצֵ֤א אִתּוֹ֙ יִהְיֶה־לִּ֣י עָ֔בֶד
Whoever is found with it,
He will be my slave,
וְאַתֶּ֖ם תִּהְי֥וּ נְקִיִּֽם׃
But you yourselves will be free!”
Genesis 44:11
וֽ͏ַיְמַהֲר֗וּ
Then they acted quickly,
וַיּוֹרִ֛דוּ אִ֥ישׁ אֶת־אַמְתַּחְתּ֖וֹ אָ֑רְצָה
And each man took down their bag to the ground,
וַֽיִּפְתְּח֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃
And each man opened their bag.
Genesis 44:12
וַיְחַפֵּ֕שׂ בַּגָּד֣וֹל הֵחֵ֔ל וּבַקָּטֹ֖ן כִּלָּ֑ה
Then he searched, —
with the eldest he started ,
and with the youngest he finished.
וַיִּמָּצֵא֙ הַגָּבִ֔יעַ בְּאַמְתַּ֖חַת בִּנְיָמִֽן׃
And the cup was found,
in the bag of Benjamin.
Genesis 44:13
וֽ͏ַיִּקְרְע֖וּ שִׂמְלֹתָ֑ם
Then they tore their clothing.
וַֽיַּעֲמֹס֙ אִ֣ישׁ עַל־חֲמֹר֔וֹ
And each man re-burdened his donkey,
וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ הָעִֽירָה׃
And they returned to the city-district.
Genesis 44:14
וַיָּבֹ֨א יְהוּדָ֤ה וְאֶחָיו֙ בֵּ֣יתָה יוֹסֵ֔ף
And Judah and his brothers came
to the house of Joseph,
וְה֖וּא עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ שָׁ֑ם
and he was still there;
וַיִּפְּל֥וּ לְפָנָ֖יו אָֽרְצָה׃
Then they fell before him to the earth.
Genesis 44:15
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ יוֹסֵ֔ף
And Joseph said to them:
מָֽה־הַמַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֑ם
“What is this deed which you have done!?
הֲל֣וֹא יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם כִּֽי־נַחֵ֧שׁ יְנַחֵ֛שׁ
Did you not know that he most certainly divines, —
אִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּמֹֽנִי׃
A man who is the like of myself!?”
Genesis 44:16
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָ֗ה
Then Judah said:
מַה־נֹּאמַר֙ לַֽאדֹנִ֔י
“What can we say to my lord?
מַה־נְּדַבֵּ֖ר וּמַה־נִּצְטַדָּ֑ק
How should we speak,
and how can we clear ourselves?
הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים מָצָא֙ אֶת־עֲוֺ֣ן עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ
Has The True God found your servants with iniquity? —
הִנֶּ֤נּוּ עֲבָדִים֙ לַֽאדֹנִ֔י
Behold we are slaves to my lord,
גַּם־אֲנַ֕חְנוּ גַּ֛ם אֲשֶׁר־נִמְצָ֥א הַגָּבִ֖יעַ
Both us, and him who was found with the cup
בְּיָדֽוֹ׃
in his possession.”
Genesis 44:17
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר חָלִ֣ילָה לִּ֔י מֵעֲשׂ֖וֹת זֹ֑את
But he said,
“Far be it to me from doing this:
הָאִ֡ישׁ אֲשֶׁר֩ נִמְצָ֨א הַגָּבִ֜יעַ בְּיָד֗וֹ
The one who has been found
with the cup in his possession,
ה֚וּא יִהְיֶה־לִּ֣י עָ֔בֶד
He shall become my slave,
וְאַתֶּ֕ם עֲל֥וּ לְשָׁל֖וֹם אֶל־אֲבִיכֶֽם׃ פ
But ye, go up in safety to your father!
Genesis 44:18
וַיִּגַּ֨שׁ אֵלָ֜יו יְהוּדָ֗ה וַיֹּאמֶר֮
Then Judah approached him, and said,
בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִי֒
“Please my lord,
יְדַבֶּר־נָ֨א עַבְדְּךָ֤ דָבָר֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י
I pray thee may your servant speak a word
in the ears of my lord,
וְאַל־יִ֥חַר אַפְּךָ֖ בְּעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ
and let not your anger become kindled
against your servant;
כִּ֥י כָמ֖וֹךָ כְּפַרְעֹֽה׃
For you are like as to Pharaoh.”
Genesis 44:19
אֲדֹנִ֣י שָׁאַ֔ל אֶת־עֲבָדָ֖יו לֵאמֹ֑ר
“My lord asked his servants, mentioning,
הֲיֵשׁ־לָכֶ֥ם אָ֖ב אוֹ־אָֽח׃
Whether ye possessed father or brother;”
Genesis 44:20
וַנֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֔י
“Then we said to my lord
יֶשׁ־לָ֙נוּ֙ אָ֣ב זָקֵ֔ן
‘We have an aged father,
וְיֶ֥לֶד זְקֻנִ֖ים קָטָ֑ן
And the youngest child of his old age;
וְאָחִ֨יו מֵ֜ת וַיִּוָּתֵ֨ר ה֧וּא לְבַדּ֛וֹ לְאִמּ֖וֹ
Now his brother is dead,
and he alone remains of his mother,
וְאָבִ֥יו אֲהֵבֽוֹ׃
And his father loves him;’ ”
Genesis 44:21
וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ הוֹרִדֻ֖הוּ אֵלָ֑י
“And you said to your servants,
‘Bring him down to me;
וְאָשִׂ֥ימָה עֵינִ֖י עָלָֽיו׃
So I can lay my eye upon him;’ ”
Genesis 44:22
וַנֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֔י
“Then we said to my lord,—
לֹא־יוּכַ֥ל הַנַּ֖עַר לַעֲזֹ֣ב אֶת־אָבִ֑יו
‘The lad is not able to leave his father,
וְעָזַ֥ב אֶת־אָבִ֖יו וָמֵֽת׃
Since he might leave his father, and die;’ ”
Genesis 44:23
וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אִם־לֹ֥א יֵרֵ֛ד אֲחִיכֶ֥ם הַקָּטֹ֖ן
“And you said,
‘If the youngest of your brethren
should not come down,
אִתְּכֶ֑ם
with you, —
לֹ֥א תֹסִפ֖וּן לִרְא֥וֹת פָּנָֽי׃
You shall be seeing my face no more.’ ”
Genesis 44:24
וַיְהִי֙ כִּ֣י עָלִ֔ינוּ אֶֽל־עַבְדְּךָ֖ אָבִ֑י
“And so it was that we went up
to your servant, my father;
וַנַּ֨גֶּד־ל֔וֹ אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי׃
And we declared to him the words of my lord.”
Genesis 44:25
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָבִ֑ינוּ
“Then our father said:
שֻׁ֖בוּ שִׁבְרוּ־לָ֥נוּ מְעַט־אֹֽכֶל׃
‘Go back, buy grain for us — a little food;’ ”
Genesis 44:26
וַנֹּ֕אמֶר לֹ֥א נוּכַ֖ל לָרֶ֑דֶת
“But we said, ‘We cannot go down!
אִם־יֵשׁ֩ אָחִ֨ינוּ הַקָּטֹ֤ן אִתָּ֙נוּ֙ וְיָרַ֔דְנוּ
If our youngest brother is with us,
then we will go down,
כִּי־לֹ֣א נוּכַ֗ל לִרְאוֹת֙ פְּנֵ֣י הָאִ֔ישׁ
Because we are not able to see the face of the man,
וְאָחִ֥ינוּ הַקָּטֹ֖ן אֵינֶ֥נּוּ אִתָּֽנוּ׃
When our youngest brother is not with us.’ ”
Genesis 44:27
וַיֹּ֛אמֶר עַבְדְּךָ֥ אָבִ֖י אֵלֵ֑ינוּ
“Then your servant my father, he said to us:
אַתֶּ֣ם יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם
‘Ye yourselves know,
כִּ֥י שְׁנַ֖יִם יָֽלְדָה־לִּ֥י אִשְׁתִּֽי׃
That my wife bore two sons to me;’ ”
Genesis 44:28
וַיֵּצֵ֤א הָֽאֶחָד֙ מֵֽאִתִּ֔י וָאֹמַ֕ר
“ ‘And the one went out from me’,
then he said, —
אַ֖ךְ טָרֹ֣ף טֹרָ֑ף
‘Surely he was torn to pieces;
וְלֹ֥א רְאִיתִ֖יו עַד־הֵֽנָּה׃
And I haven’t seen him since;’ ”
Genesis 44:29
וּלְקַחְתֶּ֧ם גַּם־אֶת־זֶ֛ה
‘ “And then you will take this one also
מֵעִ֥ם פָּנַ֖י וְקָרָ֣הוּ אָס֑וֹן
away from me, and harm happens to him; —
וְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּ֧ם אֶת־שֵׂיבָתִ֛י בְּרָעָ֖ה שְׁאֹֽלָה׃
Then you will bring down my grey hair
in calamity to Sheol.’ ”
Genesis 44:30
וְעַתָּ֗ה כְּבֹאִי֙ אֶל־עַבְדְּךָ֣ אָבִ֔י
“And now,
when I come to your servant my father,
וְהַנַּ֖עַר אֵינֶ֣נּוּ אִתָּ֑נוּ
And the lad, he is not with us; —
וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ קְשׁוּרָ֥ה בְנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃
And his soul, being bound with his soul:”
Genesis 44:31
וְהָיָ֗ה כִּרְאוֹת֛וֹ כִּי־אֵ֥ין הַנַּ֖עַר וָמֵ֑ת
“Then it will happen,
when he sees that the lad is no more,
that he will die;
וְהוֹרִ֨ידוּ עֲבָדֶ֜יךָ
And so your servants will bring down
אֶת־שֵׂיבַ֨ת עַבְדְּךָ֥ אָבִ֛ינוּ
the grey hair of your servant our father
בְּיָג֖וֹן שְׁאֹֽלָה׃
in grief to the grave.”
Genesis 44:32
כִּ֤י עַבְדְּךָ֙ עָרַ֣ב אֶת־הַנַּ֔עַר
“In fact your servant
has stood surety for the lad,
מֵעִ֥ם אָבִ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר
on the part of my father, by saying:
אִם־לֹ֤א אֲבִיאֶ֙נּוּ֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ
‘If I should not bring him back to you,
וְחָטָ֥אתִי לְאָבִ֖י כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃
Then I shall remain culpable to my father,
for all time!’ ”
Genesis 44:33
וְעַתָּ֗ה
“And now,
יֵֽשֶׁב־נָ֤א עַבְדְּךָ֙
Please let your servant remain,
תַּ֣חַת הַנַּ֔עַר
instead of the lad,
עֶ֖בֶד לַֽאדֹנִ֑י
a slave to my lord;
וְהַנַּ֖עַר יַ֥עַל עִם־אֶחָֽיו׃
And the lad, let him go up with his brothers;”
Genesis 44:34
כִּי־אֵיךְ֙ אֶֽעֱלֶ֣ה אֶל־אָבִ֔י
“For how can I go up to my father,
וְהַנַּ֖עַר אֵינֶ֣נּוּ אִתִּ֑י
When the lad is not with me? —
פֶּ֚ן אֶרְאֶ֣ה בָרָ֔ע
Lest I should look upon the evil
אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִמְצָ֖א אֶת־אָבִֽי׃ס
That shall befall my father!”
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 44
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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