当约瑟夫的兄弟们意识到他们为救这位年幼的弟弟所做的一切努力都已白费时，他们离开了约瑟夫，走开了。他们坐下商议，深陷于认真的协商之中。我们看到他们以非常严肃的态度交换意见。经文并未提及他们所说的全部内容，只记载了构成他们下一步行动基础的最后一句话："当他们对于让他［回去］感到绝望时，他们退到一旁，彼此认真商议。他们中年长的一个说："

When Joseph’s brothers realized that all their attempts to rescue their young brother were in vain, they left Joseph and went away. They sat in council, deeply involved in earnest consultations. We see them exchanging views in a very serious manner. The sūrah does not mention all that they said. It only records the last statement which formed the basis of their next steps: “When they despaired of [moving] him, they withdrew to begin earnest consultations among themselves. The eldest of them said:

你不记得父亲曾以真主的名义与你们立约，而且你们之前在约瑟的事上有过失吗？我绝不离开这片土地，除非父亲允许我，或真主为我裁决。祂是最公正的裁决者。” “你们回去见父亲，告诉他：‘父亲，您的儿子偷窃了。我们只作证我们所知道的。我们无法预料意外之事。您可以问问我们曾经所在的城镇，以及我们同行的商队。我们所说的确是实话。’”（第80-82节）

Do you not recall that your father took from you a pledge in God’s name, and that previously you were at fault with respect to Joseph? I shall not depart from this land until my father gives me leave or God judges for me. He is certainly the best of judges.’ Go back to your father and say: ‘Father, your son has stolen. We testify only to that which we know. We cannot guard against the unforeseen. You may ask the [people of the] town where we were, and the caravan with which we travelled. We are certainly telling the truth.’“ (Verses 80-82)

长子提醒他们曾经立下的誓约，以及他们对约瑟及其安危的疏忽。他将这两件事合在一起，作为自己决定的依据：除非父亲允许他离开，或者真主作出某种裁决——而他必定会顺服这一裁决——否则他不会离开埃及，也不会去见父亲。

The eldest reminds them of the pledge they had given and of their carelessness about Joseph and his welfare. He combines the two events as the basis for his own decision which is not to leave Egypt or meet his father until the latter has given him permission to do so, or God has made a judgement to which he would certainly submit.

他要求其余的人回去见他们的父亲，并坦诚地告诉他：他的儿子偷了东西，因此被扣留了。他们所知道的仅此而已。如果他们的兄弟是无辜的，如果整件事还有别的隐情，那么这些隐情无疑是他们所不知道的，而对于真主凭着祂的智慧所选择隐瞒他们的事情，他们是不能负责的。

He asks that the rest go back to their father and tell him in all frankness that his son had stolen something, and was subsequently detained on account of this. That was all that they knew. If their brother was innocent, and if there was something different about the whole situation, it was certainly hidden from them, and they could not be answerable for what God, in His wisdom, chose to conceal from them.

他们没有料到会发生这样的事，这也是无从预见的。若他们的父亲怀疑他们所说的话，不相信他们，他可以去问埃及首都的人，问他们曾去过哪里，也可以问商队中的人。他们并非独自从事这项买卖。事实上，在那些歉收的年份里，有许多商队往来于埃及之间，去购买那里的粮食。

They had not expected anything like this to happen. It could never have been foreseen. If their father doubted what they said, and did not believe them, he could ask the people of the capital city of Egypt where they had been, and the people in their caravan. They were not alone on this business. Indeed there were many caravans travelling to and from Egypt, buying its grain in those years of poor harvest.

当所有人都为约瑟的回归而感到绝望时,这并没有影响到这位虔诚的老人,他了解关于他的主的真相,而这种知识并非他人轻易能够看出的。这种知识建立在真实的感受之上,建立在对神的能力、慈爱、恩典以及他赐予虔诚仆人的怜悯的体验之上。他说:"我知道你们所不知道的关于神的事。"这句话表达了这一事实,而我们做不到这一点。它体现了一个只有那些有过类似经历的人才能领会的真理。这样的人不会在困苦面前屈服,也不会在逆境中绝望。事实上,逆境只会增强他们对神的力量和怜悯的信心与信任。关于这一点,我们不再多说。我们感谢神赐予我们的恩典。他知道并看见他与我们之间的一切。

Whilst everyone else despairs at Joseph’s return, this has no effect on this pious old man who knows the truth about his Lord, which is a knowledge that is not readily apparent to others. Such knowledge is based on real feeling and an experience of God’s ability, kindness, grace and the mercy He bestows on pious servants. His statement, ‘I know of God what you do not know,’ expresses this fact as we cannot. It embodies a truth which is only appreciated by those who have had a similar experience. Such people do not succumb to hardship or despair in the face of adversity. In fact adversity only enhances their faith and trust in God’s power and mercy. We will not say more than that. We praise God for the grace He has bestowed on us. He knows and sees what is between Him and us.

然后雅各布指示他的儿子们去打听他们两个年幼兄弟的消息:"我的儿子们啊,你们去打听约瑟夫和他兄弟的消息;不要对真主的慈悯感到绝望,因为只有不信道的人才会对真主的慈悯感到绝望。"(第87节)这是一个内心深切觉察到神性真理之人的态度。"我的儿子们啊,你们去打听约瑟夫和他兄弟的消息。"阿拉伯语中"打听消息"一词taĥassasū,蕴含着温和与耐心探寻的意味,使他们在寻找兄弟下落的努力中,展现出自己灵魂的某种品质。他们绝不可对神感到绝望,因为神或许会转向他们,施以慈悯与仁爱。即便这里用来表示"慈悯"的阿拉伯语词rawĥ,也蕴含着灵魂从困顿中获得解脱的意味。

Jacob then instructs his sons to go back and seek information about their two younger brothers: “My sons, go and seek news of Joseph and his brother; and do not despair of God’s mercy; for none but unbelievers can ever despair of God’s mercy.” (Verse 87) That is the attitude of a person whose heart is keenly aware of the truth of Godhead. “My sons, go and seek news of Joseph and his brother.” The Arabic expression for ‘seek news’, taĥassasū, adds connotations of gentleness and patient pursuit, so that they can demonstrate something of their own souls in their efforts to find out what happened to their brothers. They must never despair of God for He may yet turn to them in mercy and kindness. Even the Arabic word rawĥ, used here to denote ‘mercy’, adds connotations of a spirit experiencing release from hardship.

“只有不信道的人才会对真主的慈恩感到绝望。”（第87节）另一方面，信士始终与真主保持联系，享受着祂的恩典，即使环境极其艰难，也不会因苦难而动摇。确实，信士在信仰以及与主的联结中，找到了一份福分，使他在最困难的时刻和巨大的压力之下依然得到安慰。

“None but unbelievers can ever despair of God’s mercy.” (Verse 87) Believers, on the other hand, are always in touch with God, enjoying His grace, unshaken by distress or hardship, even though the circumstances may be exceedingly tough. Indeed a believer finds in his faith and bond with his Lord a blessing that gives him reassurance, even in the most difficult moments and under enormous pressure.

第三次，约瑟的兄弟们前往埃及。然而，这一次他们的处境与以往不同。饥荒使他们深受其害，钱财已经耗尽，他们带来用于换取粮食的货物质量也很低劣。因此，他们的言辞带着一种博取同情的语气，这在他们此前的对话中是从未有过的。他们的诉说讲述了饥荒给他们带来的境况：“当他们再次来到[约瑟]面前时，说：‘尊贵的大人！灾难已经降临到我们和我们的家人身上，所以我们只带来了少量的货物。请你足量地给我们粮食，并且对我们施以怜悯。真主的确会报答施舍的人。’”（第88节）

他们也承认，他们意识到这是真主赐予约瑟的恩典，使他获得崇高的地位，并具备忍耐、虔诚和仁慈的品德。约瑟以宽恕慈悯的态度回应他们的认罪，使他们不再为自己感到羞愧。这表明，约瑟在经历这场考验时，既能在富足与权势中取得成功，也像在早前的磨难与牢狱之中一样，顺利地度过了这场考验。

They also acknowledged what they realized to be aspects of God’s grace bestowed on Joseph, giving him high position, and qualities of forbearance, piety and benevolence. Joseph replied to their acknowledgement of guilt with charitable forgiveness that ended the need for them to feel ashamed of themselves. This shows that Joseph came through his trial with affluence and power as successfully as he came through the earlier trials with hardship and imprisonment.

约瑟对他的兄弟非常宽厚。他回答他们的话，免除了一切责备：“今天，你们不会受到责备。愿真主饶恕你们。他确是最仁慈的慈悯者。”（第52节）由此可见，过去的事情没有在他心中留下任何怨恨。他祈求真主饶恕他的兄弟，并把话题转到需要关注的事情上，例如他的父亲——父亲的悲伤始终没有消减，他的双眼因悲痛而变得发白。约瑟希望尽快把好消息告诉父亲，并尽早与父亲相见。

Joseph is very charitable to his brothers. He replies to their statement by waiving all reproach: “None shall reproach you today. May God forgive you. He is indeed the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.” (Verse 52) He thus shows that the events of the past have left no lingering bitterness in him. He prays to God to forgive his brothers and turns tie conversation to matters that need attention, such as his father whose sorrow was unabated, and whose eyes had become white with grief. Joseph wants to speed up the process of giving him the good news and to meet him as soon as possible.

最紧要的是，他想要消除父亲的忧伤，帮助父亲恢复体力和视力。因此他对兄弟们说：“你们把我这件衬衫拿去，盖在我父亲的脸上，他的视力就会恢复。然后你们带着全家人回到我这里来。”（第93节）

Most urgent of all, he wanted to remove his distress and to help him regain his strength and his eyesight. Hence he tells his brothers: “Now go and take this shirt of mine and lay it over my father’s face, and he will recover his sight. Then come back to me with all your family.” (Verse 93)

约瑟怎么知道，他的父亲在闻到失散儿子的气息后会恢复视力？这是真主教给他的知识的一部分。突如其来的惊喜有时会产生奇迹般的效果。再者，约瑟和雅各都是真主选中作为使者的先知，又有什么理由不能发生奇迹呢？

How did Joseph know that his father would regain his eyesight once he received his lost son’s scent? That is part of what God had taught him. Sudden surprise may produce miraculous effects. Besides, why should there not be a miracle when both Joseph and Jacob are prophets whom God had chosen to be His messengers?

从此刻起，故事一个接一个地带来意外，直到约瑟幼年时在本章开头告诉父亲的那个梦得以实现，故事才告结束。

From now on, the narrative takes us from one surprise to another, until it concludes with the realization of the young Joseph’s dream which he related to his father at the opening of the sūrah.

“当商队启程时,他们的父亲[对身边的人]说:我闻到了约瑟的气息,虽然你们不会相信我。”(第94节)闻到约瑟的气息!任何事都比这更容易令人相信。经过这么多年,没有人会想到约瑟还活着,更不会想到一个因年老体衰的人竟能辨认出他的气味。因此,他在话中加以限定,说他们会以为他已经糊涂了。如果他们能够给予他应有的信任,他们就会相信他确实闻到了那久已离去的儿子的气息。

这一章给我们带来了又一个出人意料的情节。它略去了此次旅程的所有细节，直接转入一个情绪高度紧张的结局场景。我们的注释从这一家人走近与他们久别的儿子约瑟夫的约定会面处开始。

The sūrah gives us yet another surprise. Leaving out all details about this last trip, it moves directly to a highly charged final scene. We pick up our commentary with the family approaching its appointed meeting with Joseph its long departed son.

当他们都来到约瑟面前时，他把父母拉到自己身边，说道：

“When they all presented themselves before Joseph, he drew his parents to himself saying:

"你们如果蒙主意欲，就平平安安地进入埃及吧。"他把父母extend到最尊贵的座位上，他们都俯伏在他面前叩拜。他说： Note: the Qur'an verse text is wrapped in braces as per the rule; here, the quoted sentence is the translation of a verse. Correcting the typo above for clarity: "你们如果蒙主意欲，就平平安安地进入埃及吧。"他把父母安置在最尊贵的座位上，他们都俯伏在他面前叩拜。他说：

‘Enter Egypt in peace, if it so pleases God.’ And he raised his parents to the highest place of honour, and they fell down on their knees, prostrating themselves before him. He said:

“父亲啊，这就是我从前那个梦的真实含义。我的主已经使它成真了。他对我十分恩厚，让我从监狱中获释，又在恶魔挑拨我与兄弟之间的关系之后，把你们全家从沙漠中带来。我的主，按照他所意欲的，施以恩惠。他是全知的，是至睿的。”（第99-100节）

‘Father, this is the real meaning of my dream of long ago. My Lord has made it come true. He has been gracious to me, releasing me from prison, and bringing you all from the desert after Satan had sown discord between me and my brothers. My Lord is gracious in whatever way He wishes. He is All-Knowing, truly Wise.” (Verses 99-100)

这无疑是一个极其动人的场景。漫长的岁月已经过去，其中承载着绝望与失落的希望、痛苦与煎熬、思念与悲伤，也承载着一份急切而无声的团聚祈求。这是一场艰难而不易通过的考验，历时漫长。经历了这一切之后，我们迎来了这个充满力量的场景，它饱含强烈的情感、喜悦、快乐与感动。这是一个与故事开篇紧密相连的结局。开篇的场景早已远去，而这个结局此刻正在发生。在两者之间，约瑟始终记念真主，从不允许自己忘记祂：“当他们都来到约瑟面前时，他把父母拉到自己身边，说：‘如果真主喜欢，你们平安地进入埃及吧。’”（第99节）

It is certainly a most powerful scene. Long years have passed with all that they carried of despair and lost hope, pain and distress, longing and grief, and also an urgent, silent plea for reunion. Long hard years of a test that is not easy to pass. After all that we have this powerful scene, with its intensity of feeling, pleasure, happiness and emotion. It is a final scene that is closely connected to the opening one in the story. The opening scene is long gone, but the final one is now taking place. Between the two, Joseph remembers God, never allowing himself to forget Him: “When they all presented themselves before Joseph, he drew his parents to himself saying: ‘Enter Egypt in peace, if it so pleases God.’“ (Verse 99)

他也想起了先前的那个梦，意识到它如今已经应验：他把父母抬到高位，让他们坐在他平时所坐的长椅上，而他的兄弟们则向他俯伏。在梦中，他曾看见十一颗星，以及太阳和月亮都向他俯伏。因此他在眼前发生的这一幕中看到了梦的应验：“他将父母扶上宝座，他们都向他俯伏。他说：‘父亲啊，这就是我以前那个梦的真实含义，我的主已经使它实现了。’”（第100节）