45 After Judah said this, Joseph could not control himself. He did not want to cry in front of all his servants. So he shouted, ‘Make everyone go away from me!’ So there was no one still there with Joseph, except his brothers. Then he told his brothers who he was. 2 Joseph wept loudly, so that the Egyptians heard him. All the people in Pharaoh's house knew about it.
3 Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him because they were too frightened. They could see Joseph was there in front of them! [ a ]
4 Then Joseph said to them, ‘Come near to me.’ So they did that. He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph. I am the one that you sold to become a slave in Egypt! 5 But do not be upset. Do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me like that. No! It was God who sent me here! He sent me here before you came. He did that so that I could save people's lives. 6 There has been a famine for two years already. No food will grow for another five years. 7 But God sent me to come here before you. Because of that, your family would stay alive. God would do a great thing to save you and your descendants. 8 So you did not really send me here. It was God who did that! He made me Pharaoh's most important officer, as if I am his father. I take care of everything in Pharaoh's palace. I have authority to rule over all of Egypt. [ b ] 9 Now hurry back to my father. Say to him, “This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord over all Egypt. Come here to me. Come now. 10 You can live in the region called Goshen. You, your children and your grandchildren can live there. You can bring your sheep, goats and cows, together with everything that you have. In Goshen you will all be near me. 11 I will take care of you there. I will give food to you, because there will be five more years of famine. If you do not come here, you and all your family and servants will become very poor.” ’
12 Joseph continued to say to his brothers, ‘As I speak to you now, you can all see clearly that I really am Joseph. My brother Benjamin also knows that. 13 Tell my father about the authority that I have here in Egypt. Tell him about everything that you have seen here. Then bring my father here quickly.’
14 Then Joseph hugged his brother Benjamin and he wept. Benjamin hugged Joseph and he also wept. 15 Joseph continued to weep as he kissed each of his other brothers too. After this, his brothers began to talk to Joseph.
16 Pharaoh then heard that Joseph's brothers had arrived in Egypt. Pharaoh and his officers were happy to know that. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Tell your brothers to do this. Say to them, “Put food on your donkeys and return home to Canaan. 18 Then bring your father and your families to come here to me. I will give you the best land in Egypt to live on. You will have all the best things that the land gives to you.” 19 You must also tell your brothers, “Take some carts from here in Egypt. Your wives and children can ride in them to come back here. Bring your father and come quickly. 20 Do not worry. You do not have to bring all your things from your own country. The best things of Egypt will belong to you.” ’
21 So Jacob's sons did what Pharaoh said. Joseph gave them carts as Pharaoh had told him to do. He also gave them food for their journey. 22 Joseph gave new clothes to each of his brothers. But he gave 300 silver coins and five sets of clothes to Benjamin. 23 Joseph also sent these things to his father:
10 donkeys that carried the best things from Egypt,
10 female donkeys that carried food and grain,
and other food for his father's journey.
24 Then Joseph sent his brothers to start their journey. As they left, he said to them, ‘Do not argue with each other on your way home!’
25 The brothers left Egypt and they returned home to their father Jacob in Canaan. 26 They told him, ‘Joseph is still alive! He rules over all of Egypt!’ Jacob was so surprised that he did not believe what they said. 27 So Jacob's sons told him everything that Joseph had said to them. Jacob saw the carts that Joseph had sent to carry him back to Egypt. Then Jacob felt stronger again. 28 Jacob said, ‘Now I believe you! My son Joseph is still alive! I will go and see him before I die.’
45 Joseph could not control himself any longer. He cried in front of all the people who were there. Joseph said, “Tell everyone to leave here.” So all the people left. Only the brothers were left with Joseph. Then he told them who he was. 2 Joseph continued to cry, and all the Egyptian people in Pharaoh’s house heard it. 3 He said to his brothers, “I am your brother Joseph. Is my father doing well?” But the brothers did not answer him because they were confused and afraid.
4 So Joseph said to his brothers again, “Come here to me. I beg you, come here.” When the brothers went to him, he said to them, “I am your brother Joseph. I am the one you sold as a slave to Egypt. 5 Now don’t be worried. Don’t be angry with yourselves for what you did. It was God’s plan for me to come here. I am here to save people’s lives. 6 This terrible famine has continued for two years now, and there will be five more years without planting or harvest. 7 So God sent me here ahead of you so that I can save your people in this country. 8 It was not your fault that I was sent here. It was God’s plan. God made me like a father to Pharaoh. I am the governor over all his house and over all Egypt.”
9 Joseph said, “Hurry up and go to my father. Tell him his son Joseph sent this message: ‘God made me the governor of Egypt. So come here to me quickly. Don’t wait. 10 You can live near me in the land of Goshen. You, your children, your grandchildren, and all of your animals are welcome here. 11 I will take care of you during the next five years of hunger. So you and your family will not lose everything you own.’
12 “Surely you can see that I really am Joseph. Even my brother Benjamin knows it is me, your brother, talking to you. 13 So tell my father about the honor I have received here in Egypt. Tell him about everything you have seen here. Now hurry, go bring my father back to me.” 14 Then Joseph hugged his brother Benjamin, and they both began crying. 15 Then Joseph cried as he kissed all his brothers. After this, the brothers began talking with him.
16 Pharaoh learned that Joseph’s brothers had come to him. This news spread throughout Pharaoh’s house. Pharaoh and his servants were very excited! 17 So Pharaoh told Joseph, “Tell your brothers to take all the food they need and go back to the land of Canaan. 18 Tell them to bring your father and their families back here to me. I will give you the best land in Egypt to live on. And your family can eat the best food we have here. 19 Also give your brothers some of our best wagons. Tell them to go to Canaan and bring your father and all the women and children back in the wagons. 20 Don’t worry about bringing all of their belongings. We can give them the best of Egypt.”
21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them good wagons just as Pharaoh had promised. And Joseph gave them enough food for their trip. 22 He gave each brother a suit of beautiful clothes. But to Benjamin he gave five suits of beautiful clothes and 300 pieces of silver. 23 Joseph also sent gifts to his father. He sent ten donkeys with bags full of many good things from Egypt. And he sent ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and other food for his father on his trip back. 24 Then Joseph told his brothers to go. While they were leaving, he said to them, “Go straight home, and don’t fight on the way.”
25 So the brothers left Egypt and went to their father in the land of Canaan. 26 They told him, “Father, Joseph is still alive! And he is the governor over the whole country of Egypt.”
Their father did not know what to think. At first he didn’t believe them. 27 But then they told him everything Joseph had said. Then their father saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to bring him back to Egypt, and he became excited and very happy. 28 Israel said, “Now I believe you. My son Joseph is still alive! I am going to see him before I die!”
45 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
9 Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:
10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:
11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.
12 And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.
13 And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.
14 And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.
15 Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.
16 And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;
18 And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.
19 Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.
20 Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is your's.
21 And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.
23 And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.
24 So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.
25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,
26 And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not.
27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:
28 And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.
45 Then Joseph could not control himself in front of everyone standing before him, and he shouted, “Have everyone leave me!” So there [ a ] was no one with him ( A ) when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 Then ( B ) he [ b ] wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it , and the household of Pharaoh heard about it . 3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “ ( C ) I am Joseph! ( D ) Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for ( E ) they were terrified in his presence.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come [ c ] closer to me.” And they came [ d ] closer. And he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you ( F ) sold to Egypt. 5 Now do not be grieved or angry [ e ] with yourselves because ( G ) you sold me here, for ( H ) God sent me ahead of you [ f ] to save lives. 6 For the famine has been in the land ( I ) these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 So ( J ) God sent me ahead of you to ensure for you a remnant on the earth, and to [ g ] keep you alive by a great deliverance. 8 Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a ( K ) father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father, and ( L ) say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. 10 For you shall live in the land of ( M ) Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your [ h ] grandchildren, and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. 11 There I will also ( N ) provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come , and you and your household and all that you have would be impoverished.”’ 12 Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see , that it is my mouth which is speaking to you. 13 Now you must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and all that you have seen; and you must hurry and ( O ) bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and ( P ) wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him.
16 Now when ( Q ) the [ i ] news was heard in Pharaoh’s house [ j ] that Joseph’s brothers had come, it [ k ] pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your livestock and [ l ] go to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households and come to me; and ( R ) I will give you the [ m ] best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’ 19 Now you are ordered, ‘Do this: [ n ] take ( S ) wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come. 20 And do not [ o ] concern yourselves with your property, for the [ p ] best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”
21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them ( T ) wagons according to the [ q ] command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To [ r ] each of them he gave ( U ) changes of garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and ( V ) five changes of garments. 23 And to his father he sent [ s ] the following: ten male donkeys loaded with the [ t ] best things of Egypt, ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and sustenance for his father [ u ] on the journey.
24 So he sent his brothers away, and [ v ] as they departed, he said to them, “Do not [ w ] quarrel on the journey.” 25 Then they went up from Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” But [ x ] he was stunned, for ( W ) he did not believe them. 27 When they told him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and when he saw the ( X ) wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, then the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 Then Israel said, “It is enough; my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself ( A ) before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” ( B ) So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept ( C ) so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. ( D )
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” ( E ) But his brothers were not able to answer him, ( F ) because they were terrified at his presence. ( G )
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” ( H ) When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! ( I ) 5 And now, do not be distressed ( J ) and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, ( K ) because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. ( L ) 6 For two years now there has been famine ( M ) in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant ( N ) on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. [ a ] ( O )
8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. ( P ) He made me father ( Q ) to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. ( R ) 9 Now hurry ( S ) back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. ( T ) 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen ( U ) and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. ( V ) 11 I will provide for you there, ( W ) because five years of famine ( X ) are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’ ( Y )
12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, ( Z ) that it is really I who am speaking to you. ( AA ) 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt ( AB ) and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly. ( AC ) ”
14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin ( AD ) embraced him, ( AE ) weeping. 15 And he kissed ( AF ) all his brothers and wept over them. ( AG ) Afterward his brothers talked with him. ( AH )
16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, ( AI ) Pharaoh and all his officials ( AJ ) were pleased. ( AK ) 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals ( AL ) and return to the land of Canaan, ( AM ) 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt ( AN ) and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’ ( AO )
19 “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts ( AP ) from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings, ( AQ ) because the best of all Egypt ( AR ) will be yours.’”
21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, ( AS ) as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. ( AT ) 22 To each of them he gave new clothing, ( AU ) but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels [ b ] of silver and five sets of clothes. ( AV ) 23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys ( AW ) loaded with the best things ( AX ) of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. ( AY ) 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!” ( AZ )
25 So they went up out of Egypt ( BA ) and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. ( BB ) 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” ( BC ) Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. ( BD ) 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts ( BE ) Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced! ( BF ) My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.” ( BG )
