Genesis 45
1 Joseph was unable to restrain himself any longer, standing before so many. Therefore, he instructed that all should go outside, and that no stranger should be among them as they recognized one another.
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 And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians heard, along with the entire house of Pharaoh.
And so loud was his weeping, that it came to the ears of the Egyptians and all Pharaoh's house.
3 And he said to his brothers: “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” His brothers were unable to respond, being terrified by a very great fear.
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 And he said to them mildly, “Approach toward me.” And when they had approached close by, 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 Do not be afraid, and let it not seem to you to be a hardship that you sold me into these regions. For God sent me before you into Egypt for your salvation.
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 it is two years since the famine began to be upon the land, and five years more remain, in which there can be neither plowing, nor reaping.
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 And God sent me ahead, so that you may be preserved upon the earth, and so that you would be able to have food in order to live.
God sent me before you to keep you and yours living on earth so that you might become a great nation.
8 I was sent here, not by your counsel, but by the will of God. He has caused me to be like a father to Pharaoh, and to be the lord of his entire house, as well as governor throughout 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 say to him: ‘Your son Joseph commands this: God has caused me to be lord of the entire land of Egypt. Come down to me, do not delay,
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 and you will live in the land of Goshen. And you will be next to me, you and your sons and the sons of your sons, your sheep and your herds, and all that you possess.
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 And there I will pasture you, (for there are still five years of famine remaining) lest both you and your house perish, along with all that you possess.’
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 and the eyes of my brother Benjamin can see that it is my mouth speaking 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 will report to my father about all my glory, and about all that you have seen in Egypt. Hurry, and bring him to me.”
Give my father word of all my glory in Egypt and of all you have seen; and come back quickly with my father.
14 And then falling upon the neck of his brother Benjamin, he embraced him and wept. And likewise, Benjamin wept at the same time on his neck.
Then, weeping, he took Benjamin in his arms, and Benjamin himself was weeping on Joseph's neck.
15 And Joseph kissed all his brothers, and he cried over each one. After this, they were emboldened to speak to 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 And it was overheard, and the news spread by word throughout the king’s court. The brothers of Joseph had arrived, and Pharaoh was gladdened along with all his family.
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 And he told Joseph that he should command his brothers, saying: “‘Burden your beasts, and go into 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 and take from there your father and kindred, and come to me. And I will give you all the good things of Egypt, so that you may eat from the marrow 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 “And you may even instruct that they take wagons from the land of Egypt, in order to transport their little ones as well as their wives. And say: ‘Take your father, and come quickly, as soon as possible.
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 You need not give up anything from your household, for all the riches of Egypt will be yours.’”
And take no thought for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.
21 And the sons of Israel did just as they were commanded. And Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and provisions for the journey.
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 Likewise, he ordered two robes for each of them to be brought. Yet truly, to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver along with five of the best robes.
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 And he sent just as much money and clothing to his father, adding also ten male donkeys, with which to transport all the riches of Egypt, and as many female donkeys, carrying wheat and bread for the journey.
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 Thus he sent away his brothers, and as they set out he said, “Do not become angry 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 And they ascended out of Egypt, and they arrived in the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob.
So they went up from Egypt and came to the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob.
26 And they reported to him, saying: “Your son Joseph is alive, and he is ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. When Jacob heard this, he was stirred up, as if from a deep sleep, yet 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 To the contrary, they explained the entire matter in order. And when he had seen the wagons, and all that he had sent, his spirit 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 and he said: “It is enough for me, if my son Joseph 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.
