« | Genesis 42 | » |
1 And Jacob, having seen that there was a sale [of grain] in Egypt, said to his sons, Why do look at one another?
2 Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; now go down there, and buy for us a little food, that we may live, and not die!
3 And the ten brothers of Joseph went down to buy grain out of Egypt.
4 But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers; for he said, Lest some calamity befall him.
5 And the sons of Israel came to buy with those that journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6 Now Joseph was ruler over the land; and he sold to all the people of the land. And the brothers of Joseph, having come, bowed down to him, with their faces to the ground.
7 And when Joseph saw his brothers, he knew them, and estranged himself from them, and spoke harsh words to them; and said to them, Where do you come from? And they said, Out of the land of Canaan, to buy food.
8 And Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him.
9 And Joseph remembered his dream, which he saw; and he said to them, You are spies! You have come to see the exposed parts of the land!
10 But they said, No, my lord, we your servants have come to buy food;
11 we are all sons of one man; we are peaceable; your servants are not spies.
12 And he said to them, No, but you have come to see the exposed parts of the land.
13 And they said, We your servants are twelve brothers, in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is with our father today, but the other one is not.
14 And Joseph said to them, This is it that I spoke to you, saying, you are spies.
15 In this manner shall you be tested; by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not depart from here, unless your younger brother comes here.
16 Send one of you, and take your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, until your words may be tested, whether you speak the truth or not; but, if not, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.
17 And he put them in prison three days.
18 And he said to them on the third day, Do this, and you shall live, for I fear God.
19 If you are peaceable, let one of your brothers be detained in prison; but go, and carry back the grain you have purchased.
20 And bring your younger brother to me, and your words shall be believed; but, if not, you shall die. And they did so.
21 And each said to his brother, Yes, indeed, for we are in fault concerning our brother, when we disregarded the anguish of his soul, when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear him; therefore has this affliction come upon us.
22 And Reuben answered them, saying, Did I not speak to you, saying, Do not hurt the boy, and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us.
23 But they knew not that Joseph understood them; for there was an interpreter between them.
24 And Joseph turned away from them and wept; and again he came to them, and spoke to them; and he took Simeon from them, and bound him before their eyes.
25 And Joseph gave orders to fill their vessels with grain, and to return their money to each into his sack, and to give them provision for the way; and it was so done to them.
26 And having put the grain on the donkeys, they departed from there.
27 And one, having opened his sack to give his donkeys fodder, at the place where they rested, saw also his bundle of money, for it was on the mouth of his sack.
28 And he said to his brothers, My money has been restored to me, and behold it is in my sack. And their hearts sank, and they were troubled, saying one to another, What is this that God has done to us?
29 And they came to their father Jacob, into the land of Canaan, and reported to him all that had happened to them, saying,
30 The man, the lord of the land, spoke harsh words to us, and put us in prison as spies of the land.
31 And we said to him, We are men of peace, we are not spies.
32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is with his father today in the land of Canaan.
33 And the man, the lord of the land, said to us, By this shall I know that you are peaceable: leave one brother here with me, and having taken the grain you have purchased for your family, depart.
34 And bring to me your younger brother; then I shall know that you are not spies, but that you are men of peace; and I will restore you your brother, and you shall trade in the land.
35 And it came to pass as they were emptying their sacks, there was each man's bundle of money in his sack; and they and their father saw their bundles of money, and they were afraid.
36 And their father Jacob said to them, You have bereaved me. Joseph is no [more], Simeon is no [more], and will you take Benjamin, [as well]? All these things have come against me!
37 And Reuben spoke to his father, saying, Kill my two sons if I do not bring him [back] to you; give him into my hand, and I will bring him back to you.
38 But he said, My son shall not go down with you, because his brother is dead, and only he has been left; and [suppose] it shall come to pass that he is afflicted by the way by which you go, then you shall bring down my old age with sorrow to Hades.
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.