Genesis 43

1 And the famine was severe in the land.

But the famine prevailed in the land.

2 And it came to pass, when they had consumed the grain which they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, Go again, buy us a little food.

And it came to pass, when they had finished eating the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, that their father said to them, Go again; buy us a little food.

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

And Judas spoke to him, saying, The man, the lord of the country, positively testified to us, saying, You shall not see my face, unless your younger brother be with you.

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

If, then, you send our brother with us, we will go down, and buy you food;

5 But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said to us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

but if you send not our brother with us, we will not go: for the man spoke to us, saying, You shall not see my face, unless your younger brother be with you.

6 And Israel said, Why dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?

And Israel said, Why did you harm me, inasmuch as you told the man that you had a brother?

7 And they said, The man asked us carefully concerning our state, 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 certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

And they said, The man closely questioned us about our family also, saying, Does your father yet live, and have you a brother? and we answered him according to this question: did we know that he would say to us, Bring your brother?

8 And Judah said to 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, and also our little ones.

And Judas said to his father Israel, Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you, and our store.

9 I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not to thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

And I engage for him; at my hand do you require him; if I bring him not to you, and place him before you, I shall be guilty towards you for ever.

10 For except we had delayed, surely now we had returned this second time.

For if we had not tarried, we should now have returned twice.

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

And Israel, their father, said to them, If it be so, do this; take of the fruits of the earth in your vessels, and carry down to the man presents of gum and honey, and frankincense, and stacte, and turpentine, and walnuts.

12 And take double money in your hand; and the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; it may be it was an oversight:

And take double money in your hands, and the money that was returned in your sacks, carry back with you, lest perhaps it is a mistake.

13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man:

And take your brother; and arise, go down to the man.

14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

And my God give you favour in the sight of the man, and send away your other brother, and Benjamin, for I accordingly as I have been bereaved, am bereaved.

15 And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and arose, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

And the men having taken these presents, and the double money, took in their hands also Benjamin; and they rose up and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slaughter a beast, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.

And Joseph saw them and his brother Benjamin, born of the same mother; and he said to the steward of his household, Bring the men into the house, and kill beasts and make ready, for the men are to eat bread with me at noon.

17 And the man did as Joseph commanded; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.

And the man did as Joseph said; and he brought the men into the house of Joseph.

18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned 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 slaves, and our donkeys.

And the men, when they perceived that they were brought into the house of Joseph, said, We are brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first; even in order to inform against us, and lay it to our charge; to take us for servants, and our asses.

19 And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they spoke with him at the door of the house,

And having approached the man who was over the house of Joseph, they spoke to him in the porch of the house,

20 And said, O sir, we came down indeed at the first time to buy food:

saying, We pray [you], Sir; we came down at first to buy food.

21 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 full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.

And it came to pass, when we came to unlade, and opened our sacks, [there was] also this money of each in his sack; we have now brought back our money by weight in our hands.

22 And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

And we have brought other money with us to buy food; we know not who put the money into our sacks.

23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out to them.

And he said to them, [God deal] mercifully with you; be not afraid; your God, and the God of your fathers, has given you treasures in your sacks, and I have enough of your good money. And he brought Symeon out to them.

24 And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed.

And he brought water to wash their feet; and gave provender to their asses.

25 And they made ready the present for Joseph’s coming at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.

And they prepared their gifts, until Joseph came at noon, for they heard that he was going to dine there.

26 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.

And Joseph entered into the house, and they brought him the gifts which they had in their hands, into the house; and they did him reverence with their face to the ground.

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

And he asked them, How are you? and he said to them, Is your father, the old man of whom you spoke, well? Does he yet live?

28 And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed their heads, and made obeisance.

And they said, Your servant our father is well; he is yet alive. And he said, Blessed be that man by God; —and they bowed, and did him reverence.

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

And Joseph lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, born of the same mother; and he said, Is this your younger brother, whom you spoke of bringing to me? and he said, God have mercy on you, my son.

30 And Joseph made haste; for his heart yearned toward his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

And Joseph was troubled, for his bowels yearned over his brother, and he sought to weep; and he went into his chamber, and wept there.

31 And he washed his face, and went out, and controlled himself, and said, Set on bread.

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

32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, who ate with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

And they set on [bread] for him alone, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians feasting with him by themselves, for the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for it is an abomination to the Egyptians.

33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men wondered one at another.

And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his seniority, and the younger according to his youth; and the men looked with amazement every one at his brother.

34 And he took and sent messes to them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

And they took their portions from him to themselves; but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as the portions of [the others]. And they drank and were filled with drink with him.