< Genesis 45 >

1 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood before him, and he called out, “Cause everyone to go out from me!” No one else stood with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
Then Joseph, unable to keep back his feelings before those who were with him, gave orders for everyone to be sent away, and no one was present when he made clear to his brothers who he was.
2 He wept aloud. The Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
And so loud was his weeping, that it came to the ears of the Egyptians and all Pharaoh's house.
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Does my father still live?” His brothers could not answer him; for they were terrified at his presence.
And Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph: is my father still living? But his brothers were not able to give him an answer for they were troubled before him.
4 Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” They came near. He said, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, Come near to me. And they came near, And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom you sent into Egypt.
5 Now do not be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Now do not be troubled or angry with yourselves for sending me away, because God sent me before you to be the saviour of your lives.
6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be no plowing and no harvest.
For these two years have been years of need, and there are still five more years to come in which there will be no ploughing or cutting of grain.
7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.
God sent me before you to keep you and yours living on earth so that you might become a great nation.
8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
So now it was not you who sent me here, but God: and he has made me as a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
9 Hurry, and go up to my father, and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says, “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me. Do not wait.
Now go quickly to my father, and say to him, Your son Joseph says, God has made me ruler over all the land of Egypt: come down to me straight away:
10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to me, you, your children, your children’s children, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.
The land of Goshen will be your living-place, and you will be near me; you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks and herds and all you have:
11 There I will provide for you; for there are yet five years of famine; lest you come to poverty, you, and your household, and all that you have.”’
And there I will take care of you, so that you and your family may not be in need, for there are still five bad years to come.
12 Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.
Now truly, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth which says these things to you.
13 You shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. You shall hurry and bring my father down here.”
Give my father word of all my glory in Egypt and of all you have seen; and come back quickly with my father.
14 He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
Then, weeping, he took Benjamin in his arms, and Benjamin himself was weeping on Joseph's neck.
15 He kissed all his brothers, and wept on them. After that his brothers talked with him.
Then he gave a kiss to all his brothers, weeping over them; and after that his brothers had no fear of talking to him.
16 The report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” It pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
And news of these things went through Pharaoh's house, and it was said that Joseph's brothers were come; and it seemed good to Pharaoh and his servants.
17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals, and go, travel to the land of Canaan.
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, Say to your brothers, Put your goods on your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan;
18 Take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’
And get your father and your families and come back to me: and I will give you all the good things of Egypt, and the fat of the land will be your food.
19 Now you are commanded to do this: Take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.
And say to them, This you are to do: take carts from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and get your father and come back.
20 Also, do not concern yourselves about your belongings, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.”
And take no thought for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.
21 The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
And the children of Israel did as he said; and Joseph gave them carts as had been ordered by Pharaoh, and food for their journey.
22 He gave each one of them changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing.
To every one of them he gave three changes of clothing; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred bits of silver and five changes of clothing.
23 He sent the following to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provision for his father by the way.
And to his father he sent ten asses with good things from Egypt on their backs, and ten she-asses with grain and bread and food for his father on the journey.
24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed. He said to them, “See that you do not quarrel on the way.”
And he sent his brothers on their way, and said to them, See that you have no argument on the road.
25 They went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father.
So they went up from Egypt and came to the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob.
26 They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” His heart fainted, for he did not believe them.
And they said to him, Joseph is living, and is ruler over all the land of Egypt. And at this word Jacob was quite overcome, for he had no faith in it.
27 They told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them. When he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob, their father, revived.
And they gave him an account of everything Joseph had said to them; and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent for them, his spirit came back to him:
28 Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
And Israel said, It is enough: Joseph my son is still living; I will go and see him before my death.

< Genesis 45 >