Genesis 43 – NIRV & ASCB

New International Reader’s Version

Genesis 43:1-34

Joseph’s Brothers Go Down to Egypt Again

1There still wasn’t enough food anywhere in the land. 2After a while Jacob’s family had eaten all the grain the brothers had brought from Egypt. So their father said to them, “Go back. Buy us a little more food.”

3But Judah said to him, “The man gave us a strong warning. He said, ‘You won’t see my face again unless your brother Benjamin is with you.’ 4So send our brother along with us. Then we’ll go down and buy food for you. 5If you won’t send him, we won’t go down. The man said to us, ‘You won’t see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ ”

6Israel asked, “Why did you bring this trouble to me? Why did you tell the man you had another brother?”

7They replied, “The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. He asked us, ‘Is your father still living? Do you have another brother?’ We just answered his questions. How could we possibly know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?”

8Judah spoke to Israel his father. “Send the boy along with me,” he said. “We’ll go right away. Then we and you and our children will live and not die. 9I myself promise to keep Benjamin safe. You can blame me if I don’t bring him back to you. I’ll set him right here in front of you. If I don’t, you can put the blame on me for the rest of my life. 10As it is, we’ve already waited too long. We could have made the trip to Egypt and back twice by now.”

11Then their father Israel spoke to them. He said, “If that’s the way it has to be, then do what I tell you. Put some of the best things from our land in your bags. Take them down to the man as a gift. Take some lotion and a little honey. Take some spices and myrrh. Take some pistachio nuts and almonds. 12Take twice the amount of money with you. You have to give back the money that was put in your sacks. Maybe it was a mistake. 13Also take your brother. Go back to the man at once. 14May the Mighty God cause him to show you mercy. May the man let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. And if I lose my sons, I lose them.”

15So the men took the gifts. They took twice the amount of money. They also took Benjamin. They hurried down to Egypt and went to Joseph. 16When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he spoke to the manager of his house. “Take these men to my house,” he said. “Kill an animal and prepare a meal. I want them to eat with me at noon.”

17The manager did what Joseph told him to do. He took the men to Joseph’s house. 18They were frightened when they were taken to Joseph’s house. They thought, “We were brought here because of the money that was put back in our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us. Then he can hold us as slaves and take our donkeys.”

19So they went up to Joseph’s manager. They spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20“Please, sir,” they said. “We came down here the first time to buy food. 21We opened our sacks at the place where we stopped for the night. Each of us found in our sacks the exact amount of the money we had paid. So we’ve brought it back with us. 22We’ve also brought more money with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our money in our sacks.”

23“It’s all right,” the manager said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you riches in your sacks. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

24The manager took the men into Joseph’s house. He gave them water to wash their feet. He provided feed for their donkeys. 25The brothers prepared their gifts for Joseph. He was planning to arrive at noon. They had heard that they were going to eat there.

26When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought into the house. They bowed down low in front of him. 27He asked them how they were. Then he said, “How is your old father you told me about? Is he still living?”

28They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed down to show him honor.

29Joseph looked around. Then he saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son. He asked, “Is this your youngest brother? Is he the one you told me about?” He continued, “May God be gracious to you, my son.” 30It moved him deeply to see his brother. So Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to cry. He went into his own room and cried there.

31Then he washed his face and came out. He calmed down and said, “Serve the food.”

32They served Joseph by himself. They served the brothers by themselves. They also served the Egyptians who ate with Joseph by themselves. Because of their beliefs, Egyptians couldn’t eat with Hebrews. 33The brothers had been given places in front of Joseph. They had been seated in the order of their ages, from the oldest to the youngest. That made them look at each other in great surprise. 34While they were eating, some food was brought to them from Joseph’s table. Benjamin was given five times as much as anyone else. So all Joseph’s brothers ate and drank a lot with him.

Asante Twi Contemporary Bible

1 Mose 43:1-34

Yakob Mma No Sane Kɔ Misraim

1Saa ɛberɛ no mu no, na ɛkɔm no ano da so yɛ den wɔ asase no so nyinaa. 2Enti, ɛberɛ a aduane a wɔkɔtɔ firii Misraim baeɛ no reyɛ asa no, wɔn agya Yakob ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Monsane nkɔ, nkɔtɔ aduane kakra mmra bio.”

3Nanso, Yuda ka kyerɛɛ nʼagya Yakob sɛ, “Owura no suae kyerɛɛ yɛn dendeenden sɛ, ‘Sɛ moamfa mo nua kumaa no anka mo ho amma a, monnsi mʼanim ha bio.’ 4Sɛ wobɛma yɛne yɛn nua kumaa no akɔ deɛ a, ɛnneɛ, yɛbɛsane akɔ akɔtɔ aduane no bi abrɛ wo. 5Nanso, sɛ woamma yɛamfa no ankɔ deɛ a, yɛrenkɔ, ɛfiri sɛ, owura no suaee dendeenden sɛ, ‘Sɛ mo nua kumaa no nka mo ho a, monnsi mʼanim bio.’ ”

6Israel bisaa ne mma no sɛ, “Adɛn enti na moka kyerɛɛ owura no sɛ mowɔ nua kumaa bi wɔ hɔ, na mode saa ɔhaw yi abɛto me so?”

7Anuanom no buaa wɔn agya Israel sɛ, “Owura no nyaa adagyeɛ, too ne bo ara bisaa yɛn ne yɛn abusuafoɔ ho nsɛm nyinaa sɛ, ‘Mo agya da so te ase anaa? Mowɔ onua foforɔ bi ka mo ho?’ Nsɛm a ɔbisaa yɛn no na yɛbuaa no. Na yɛnnim sɛ ɔbɛka se, ‘Momfa mo nua kumaa no mmra.’ ”

8Ɛhɔ na Yuda ka kyerɛɛ nʼagya Israel sɛ, “Fa yɛn nua no hyɛ me nsa, na yɛnsi mu nkɔ ntɛm nkɔtɔ aduane no bi mmra, na ɛkɔm ankum yɛn ne wo ne yɛn mma. 9Mʼankasa mɛhwɛ abɔfra no so. Sɛ mamfa no amma a, bisa me. Sɛ mamfa no amma, ammɛgyina wʼanim ha, amma woanhunu sɛ wo ba no ni a, saa asodie no nna me so me nkwanna nyinaa. 10Sɛ yɛantwentwɛn yɛn nan ase a, anka saa ɛberɛ yi, yɛakɔ aba bɛyɛ mprenu.”

11Afei, wɔn agya Israel ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Sɛ meyɛ ho hwee na ɛrenyɛ yie deɛ a, ɛnneɛ, momfa asase yi so nnepa a ebi ne akyenkyennuro kakra, ɛwoɔ kakra, aduhwam, kurobo, nkateɛ ne sorɔno aba nhyɛ mo nkotokuo mu, nkɔyɛ owura no ayɛ. 12Sika a mode rekɔ no nso, monyɛ no mmɔho mmienu, ɛfiri sɛ, ɛsɛ sɛ mosane de sika a kane no mode kɔeɛ na ɔsane de hyɛɛ mo nnesoa mu baeɛ no kɔma no. Ebia, na ɛyɛɛ no anifasoɔ. 13Momfa mo nua no nso nka mo ho, na monsim ntɛm ntɛm nkɔ. 14Otumfoɔ Onyankopɔn nnyina mo akyiri, na owura no nhunu mo mmɔbɔ, na ɔnnyaa mo nua panin Simeon, na ɔmfa Benyamin nso nka mo ho, na mo nyinaa nsane mmra. Sɛ ɛsɛ sɛ medi wɔn wuo ho awerɛhoɔ nso a, menni asɛm biara ka.”

15Enti, Israel mma no faa akyɛdeɛ ahodoɔ a wɔde rekɔ akɔyɛ owura no ayɛ no, ne wɔn sika mmɔho mmienu, ne wɔn nua kumaa Benyamin kaa wɔn ho, siim kɔeɛ. Wɔduruu Misraim no, wɔkɔyii wɔn ho adi kyerɛɛ Yosef. 16Ɛberɛ a Yosef hunuu sɛ Benyamin ka wɔn ho no, ɔka kyerɛɛ ne fie ɔsomfoɔ panin no sɛ, “Fa nkurɔfoɔ no kɔ me fie, na kum aboa bi, na wɔmfa nnoa aduane, na awia me ne wɔn bɛdidi.”

17Ɔsomfoɔ panin no yɛɛ sɛdeɛ Yosef kaeɛ no pɛpɛɛpɛ. Ɔde nkurɔfoɔ no kɔɔ Yosef fie. 18Ɔde wɔn duruu Yosef fie no, wɔsuroeɛ. Wɔkaa sɛ, “Gyama ɛsiane dwetɛ a wɔde hyehyɛɛ yɛn nkotokuo mu no enti na ɔde yɛn aba ha. Ɔpɛ sɛ ɔde korɔno to yɛn so, na ɔfa yɛn sɛ ne nkoa, na ɔsane fa yɛn mfunumu no nyinaa.”

19Wɔduruu Yosef fie kwan no ano no, wɔkɔɔ Yosef ɔsomfoɔ panin no nkyɛn. 20Wɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Yɛn wura, yɛsrɛ wo, yɛbaa ha ɛberɛ bi a atwam bɛtɔɔ aduane. 21Ɛberɛ a yɛresane akɔ yɛn kurom a adeɛ saeɛ, na yɛsoɛsoɛɛ no, asoeɛ hɔ na yɛbuebuee yɛn nkotokuo ano, na yɛhunuu sɛ obiara sika a ɛkura no a anka ɔde rekɔtɔ aburoo no hyɛ ne kotokuo no mu pɛpɛɛpɛ. Ɛno enti, yɛasane de aba. 22Yɛasane de sika foforɔ aba sɛ yɛde rebɛtɔ aduane. Yɛnnim onipa ko a ɔde saa sika no hyehyɛɛ yɛn nkotokuo no mu.”

23Ɔsomfoɔ panin no ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Ɛnyɛ asɛm biara. Monnsuro. Onyame a mosom no ne mo agya Onyame a ɔsom no na ɔde saa sika no hyehyɛɛ mo nkotokuo no mu maa mo. Na mo sika no deɛ, yɛgyeeɛ.” Afei, ɔyii Simeon firii afiase hɔ de no brɛɛ wɔn.

24Ɔsomfoɔ panin no de wɔn kɔɔ Yosef fie, maa wɔn nsuo hohoroo wɔn nan ase, ɛnna ɔmaa wɔn mfunumu no nso aduane diiɛ. 25Wɔboaboaa akyɛdeɛ a wɔde bɛma Yosef no ano de twɛn no, ɛfiri sɛ, na wɔate sɛ wɔbɛdidi wɔ efie hɔ awia no.

26Ɛberɛ a Yosef baeɛ no, anuanom no buu no nkotodwe, de wɔn akyɛdeɛ no maa no. 27Yosef bisaa wɔn sɛdeɛ wɔn ho te. Ɔtoaa so sɛ, “Mo agya akɔkoraa a mokaa ne ho asɛm no ho te sɛn? Ɔda so te ase anaa?”

28Wɔbuaa no sɛ, “Wʼakoa a ɔyɛ yɛn agya no ho yɛ. Ɔda so te ase.” Wɔde obuo ne anidie bɔɔ wɔn mu ase wɔ nʼanim.

29Ɛberɛ a nʼani tɔɔ ne maame ba Benyamin anim no, ɔbisaa sɛ, “Yei ne mo nua kumaa a mokaa ne ho asɛm kyerɛɛ me no anaa?” Ɔtoaa so sɛ, “Me ba, Onyankopɔn nnom wo!” 30Yosef hunuu ne nua kumaa Benyamin no, ne werɛ hoeɛ enti, ɔyɛɛ ntɛm firii adi kɔhyɛɛ ne piam, kɔsuiɛ.

31Ɔsu wieeɛ no, ɔhohoroo nʼanim, sane baeɛ de animia kaa sɛ, “Momma yɛnnidi!”

32Wɔtoo Yosef ɛpono wɔ baabi, ɛnna wɔtoo anuanom no nso ɛpono wɔ baabi wɔ ɛdan korɔ no ara mu. Misraimfoɔ a wɔyɛ Yosef asomfoɔ no nso didii wɔ baabi foforɔ, ɛfiri sɛ, Misraimfoɔ ne Hebrifoɔ nto nsa nnidi, ɛyɛ wɔn akyiwadeɛ. 33Wɔde Yosef nuanom no tenatenaa ase mpanin mu. Ɛyɛɛ saa maa anuanom no de ahodwirie hwehwɛhwehwɛɛ wɔn ho wɔn ho anim. 34Wɔtetee nnuane no firi Yosef ɛpono so kɔmaa wɔn, nanso Benyamin deɛ, na ne deɛ no dɔɔso sene ne nua biara deɛ mprenum. Ɛmaa wɔne Yosef de anigyeɛ ne ahosɛpɛ didi nomeeɛ.