| 1 |
WHEN THE EVENING MEAL had been prepared and eaten, Jonathan said to Joseph,
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| 2 |
'Brother, you will not have enough room for me, so let me go home now during this fair night to where a sufficiently large couch is prepared for me.
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| 3 |
Tomorrow I will be back here an hour before sunrise.'
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| 4 |
Joseph replied, 'Brother, if you have no other concern than only for a sufficiently large resting place, you can make yourself at home here;
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| 5 |
for there shall be no lack of that in this, now my house.
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| 6 |
See, there in the outer court is a door on the left to a roomy side-chamber.
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| 7 |
There I have already had a good resting place set up for you.
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| 8 |
I am sure that it will be large enough for you, so you may just as well stay here.'
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| 9 |
To this Jonathan said, 'Brother, you are very kind to me, and I now realize only too well that I am nowhere more at home than here,
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| 10 |
and am also convinced that your resting place will accommodate me very well.
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| 11 |
But something is now drawing me homeward with great urgency, and that all at once so strongly that I would rather fly there than go on foot as usual!'
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| 12 |
When Joseph heard this, he said, 'Your will is your own and you can do what you will, so you can go or stay.'
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| 13 |
Thereupon Jonathan went to the little Child and most humbly took his leave from Him.
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| 14 |
'Here the little Child stated, 'Jonathan, if you absolutely want to leave you are free to go - but do not forget to come back!
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| 15 |
Now I tell you that your plan to cast your big net tonight will avail you nothing.
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| 16 |
Instead I shall drive a shark into your net that will torment you until sunrise and will tear up your best fishing gear in the morning.
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| 17 |
And despite all that you will not catch him - for he will bring all your effort to naught with one slap of his tail into the water!'
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| 18 |
When Jonathan heard this from the little Child, he suddenly changed his mind and said to Joseph,
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| 19 |
'Brother, in that case I shall remain! See, tomorrow I wanted to bring you a big cask filled with the choicest fish -
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| 20 |
and this thought drew me homeward so strongly.
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| 21 |
But now that I have heard how this haul will turn out, I shall stay with you.
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| 22 |
So have me brought to my couch where I shall sleep quite peacefully - and I do not care what happens at home!'
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| 23 |
At this the little Child said: 'Jonathan, thus you please Me better than when you seek to conceal your heart!
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| 24 |
But I now tell you: Go home! For at midnight you will do Me an important service.'
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| 25 |
Thereupon Jonathan arose and hastened homeward, blessed by Joseph's entire household.
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