< Genesis 45 >

1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me!” So none of them were with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.
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.
2 But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it.
He wept aloud. The Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.
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.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt!
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.
5 And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you.
Now do not be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
6 For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting.
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.
7 God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.
8 Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household 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 a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
9 Now return quickly 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 without delay.
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.
10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen and be near me—you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own.
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.
11 And there I will provide for you, because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you and your household and everything you own will come to destitution.’
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.”’
12 Behold! You and my brother Benjamin can see that I, Joseph, am the one speaking with you.
Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.
13 Tell my father about all my splendor in Egypt and everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”
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.”
14 Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept as they embraced.
He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
15 Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept over them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.
He kissed all his brothers, and wept on them. After that his brothers talked with him.
16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased.
The report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” It pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do as follows: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan.
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals, and go, travel to the land of Canaan.
18 Then bring your father and your families and return to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat from the fat of the land.’
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.’
19 You are also directed to tell them: ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives, and bring your father and come back.
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.
20 But pay no regard to your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”
Also, do not concern yourselves about your belongings, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.”
21 So the sons of Israel did as they were told. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.
The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
22 He gave new garments to each of them, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes.
He gave each one of them changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing.
23 And he sent to his father the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provisions for his father’s journey.
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.
24 Then Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way!”
So he sent his brothers away, and they departed. He said to them, “See that you do not quarrel on the way.”
25 So the brothers went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.
They went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father.
26 “Joseph is still alive,” they said, “and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” But Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them.
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.
27 However, when they relayed all that Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob was revived.
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.
28 “Enough!” declared Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.”
Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

< Genesis 45 >