But Jacob said,"My sonshall not godownwith you; for his brotheris dead,and he aloneis left.If harmshould befallhim on the journeyyou are taking,then you will bringmy grayhairdownto Sheolin sorrow."
Then he examinedit and said,"It is my son'stunic.A wildbeasthas devouredhim; Josephhas surelybeen tornto pieces!"
So Jacobtorehis clothes,and putsackclothon his loinsand mournedfor his sonmanydays.
Then allhis sonsand allhis daughtersaroseto comforthim, but he refusedto be comforted.And he said,"SurelyI will godownto Sheolin mourningfor my son."So his fatherweptfor him.
But they said,"Your servantsare twelvebrothers[in all], the sonsof onemanin the landof Canaan;and behold,the youngestis with our fathertoday,and oneis nolongeralive."
Then Reubenspoketo his father,saying,"You may putmy twosonsto deathifI do not bringhim [back] to you; puthim in my care,and I will returnhim to you."
But Jacobdid not sendJoseph'sbrotherBenjaminwith his brothers,for he said,"I am afraid that harmmay befallhim."
"Takeyour brotheralso, and arise,returnto the man;
"We saidto my lord,'We havean oldfatherand a littlechildof [his] oldage.Now his brotheris dead,so he aloneis leftof his mother,and his fatherloveshim.'
"But we saidto my lord,'The ladcannotleavehis father,for if he should leavehis father,his father would die.'
"So actaccording to your wisdom,and do not let his grayhairgodownto Sheolin peace.
"Behindhim he makes a waketo shine;One would thinkthe deepto be gray-haired.
And evenwhen[I am] oldand gray,O God,do not forsakeme, UntilI declareYour strengthto [this] generation,Your powerto allwho are to come.
As for the daysof our life,they contain seventyyears,Or ifdue to strength,eightyyears,Yet their prideis [but] laborand sorrow;For soonit is goneand we flyaway.
I have seenallthe workswhichhave been doneunderthe sun,and behold,allis vanityand strivingafter wind.
For to a personwhois goodin His sightHe has givenwisdomand knowledgeand joy,while to the sinnerHe has giventhe taskof gatheringand collectingso that he may giveto onewhois goodin God'ssight.Thistoois vanityand strivingafter wind.
I said,"In the middleof my lifeI am to enterthe gatesof Sheol;I am to be deprivedof the restof my years."
Even to [your] oldageI will be the same,And evento [your] grayingyearsI will bear[you]! I have done[it], and I will carry[you]; And I will bear[you] and I will deliver[you].
