Genesis 43

1 Now the famine was severe in the land.

And the famine was sore in the land.

2 So it came about when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, that their father said to them, "Go again, buy us a little more food."

And it came to pass, when they had completely eaten up the provisions which they had brought out of Egypt, that their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

3 But Judah spoke to him, saying, "The man strictly warned us, saying, 'You may not see my face unless your brother is with you.'

And Judah said unto him, thus, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

4 If you'll send our brother with us, we'll go down and buy you food,

If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food;

5 but if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, 'You may not see my face unless your brother is with you.'"

But if thou sendest him not, we will not go down; for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

6 Then Israel said, "Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man that you had another brother?"

And Israel said, Wherefore have ye dealt so ill with me, as to tell the man that ye have yet another brother?

7 They said, "The man kept asking about ourselves, and concerning our relatives, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' So we just answered his questions. How were we to know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down?'"

And they said, The man inquired particularly concerning us, and our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we possibly know that he would say, Bring down your brother?

8 Then Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me and we'll get up and go, so that we may live and not die, both we and you, and also our little ones.

And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, as also our little ones.

9 I will be collateral for him. You can hold me responsible for him. If I fail to bring him to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever,

I will be surety for him; from my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then shall I have sinned against thee all the days.

10 for if we hadn't delayed, surely we would have returned a second time by now."

For, if we had not lingered, surely we had now returned the second time.

11 Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your bags and bring a gift for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.

And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this: take of the best products of the land in your vessels, and carry down to the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices and lotus, pistachio-nuts and almonds;

12 Take twice as much silver in your hand, and take back the silver that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight.

And twofold money take in your hand; and the money that was put back in the mouth of your sacks, you must carry back in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight;

13 Take your brother also, and get up, go back to the man.

Also your brother take along, and arise, go again unto the man.

14 And may El Shaddai grant you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am deprived of my children, then I am deprived."

And may God the Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away to you your other brother, and Benjamin. And I, if I am to be bereaved, let me be bereaved.

15 The men took this gift, and they took twice as much silver with them, and Benjamin. Then they got up and went down to Egypt, and presented themselves before Joseph.

And the men took that present; and twofold money they took in their hand, as also Benjamin; and they rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the servant of his house, "Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and prepare it; for the men will eat with me at noon."

And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the superintendent of his house, Bring these men into the house, and slay, and make ready; for with me shall these men dine at noon.

17 The man did as Joseph had said, and the man brought the men to Joseph's house.

And the man did as Joseph had said; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.

18 But the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house, and they said, "It is because of the silver that was returned in our sacks the first time that we are brought here; so that he may capture us, and make us slaves, and take our donkeys."

And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house: and they said, Because of the money that came back in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, together with our asses.

19 So they came near to the man of Joseph's house and they spoke to him at the entrance of the house,

And they came near to the man who was appointed over Joseph's house, and they spoke with him at the door of the house.

20 and said, "My lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food.

And they said, Pardon, my lord, we came down at the first time to buy food:

21 But when we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks, and look, every man's silver was in the mouth of his sack, our silver in full weight. So we have brought it back in our hand.

And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in its full weight; and we have brought it back in our hand.

22 We have brought down additional silver with us to buy food. We do not know who put our silver in our sacks."

And other money have we brought down in our hand to buy food; we know not who hath put our money in our sacks.

23 He said, "Peace to you. Do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your silver." Then he brought Simeon out to them.

And he said, Peace be to you, fear not; your God, and the God of your father, hath given you a treasure in your sacks; your money hath come to me. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

24 The man brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their feet. Then he gave their donkeys food.

And the man brought the men into Joseph's house; and he gave them water, and they washed their feet, and he gave provender to their asses.

25 They prepared the gift for Joseph's arrival at noon, for they heard that they would eat a meal there.

And they made ready the present before Joseph came home at noon; for they had heard that they should eat bread there.

26 When Joseph came home, they prepared the gift they had brought with them into the house, and bowed themselves down to him with their face to the ground.

And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

27 Then he asked them of their welfare, and said, "Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?"

And he asked them after their welfare, and said, Is your old father well, of whom ye spoke? is he yet alive?

28 And they answered, "Your servant, our father, is well. He is still alive." Then he said, "Blessed be that man by God." And they bowed and prostrated themselves.

And they answered, Thy servant, our father, is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and prostrated themselves.

29 And he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, "Is this your youngest brother, of whom you told me about?" Then he said, "God be gracious to you, my son."

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your youngest brother, of whom ye spoke unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

30 Then Joseph hurried out, for he was overcome with emotion because of his brother, and he was at the point of tears. So he entered into his chamber and wept there.

And Joseph hastened away, for his affection toward his brother became enkindled, and he sought to weep; and he entered into his chamber and wept there.

31 Then he washed his face and came out. And he controlled himself and said, "Serve the food."

And he washed his face, and came out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on the bread.

32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is disgraceful to the Egyptians.

And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves; and for the Egyptians, who did eat with him, by themselves; because the Egyptians may not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked at each other with amazement.

And they sat before him, the first-born according to his prior birth, and the youngest according to his youth; and the men marveled one at the other.

34 Then he gave portions to them in front of him, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank until they all became drunk.

And he sent portions unto them from before him; but Benjamin's portion exceeded the portions of all of them fivefold. And they drank, and were merry with him.