1Joseph could no longer refrain himself before many that stood by: whereupon he commanded that all should go out, and no stranger be present at their knowing one another.

2And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians and all the house of Pharao heard.

3And he said to his brethren: I am Joseph. Is my father yet living? His brethren could no answer him, being struck with exceeding great fear.

4And he said mildly to them: Come nearer to me. And when they were come near him, he said: I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

5Be not afraid, and let it not seem to you a hard case that you sold me into these countries: for God sent me before you into Egypt for your preservation.

6For it is two years since the famine began to be upon the land, and five years more remain, wherein there can be neither ploughing nor reaping.

7And God sent me before, that you may be preserved upon the earth, and may have food to live.

8Not by your counsel was I sent hither, but by the will of God: who hath made me as it were a father to Pharao, and lord of his whole house, and governor in all the land of Egypt.

9Make haste, and go ye up to my father, and say to him: Thus saith thy son Joseph: God hath made me lord of the whole land of Egypt. Come down to me, linger not.

10And thou shalt dwell in the land of Gessen: and thou shalt be near me, thou and thy sons, and thy sons' sons, thy sheep, and thy herds, and all things that thou hast.

11And there I will feed thee, (for there are yet five years of famine remaining): lest both thou perish, and thy house, and all things that thou hast.

12Behold, your eyes, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaketh to you.

13You shall tell my father of all my glory, and all things that you have seen in Egypt: make haste and bring him to me.

14And falling upon the neck of his brother Benjamin, he embraced him and wept: and Benjamin in like manner wept also on his neck.

15And Joseph kissed all his brethren, and wept upon every one of them: after which they were emboldened to speak to him.

16And it was heard, and the fame was abroad in the king's court: The brethren of Joseph are come. And Pharao with all his family was glad.

17And he spoke to Joseph that he should give orders to his brethren, saying: Load your beasts, and go into the land of Chanaan.

18And bring away from thence your father and kindred, and come to me: and I will give you all the good things of Egypt, that you may eat the marrow of the land.

19Give orders also that they take wagons out of the land of Egypt, for the carriage of their children and their wives. And say: Take up your father, and make haste to come with all speed.

20And leave nothing of your household stuff: for all the riches of Egypt shall be yours.

21And the sons of Israel did as they were bid. And Joseph gave them wagons according to Pharao's commandment: and provisions for the way.

22He ordered also to be brought out for every one of them two robes: but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver with five robes of the best.

23Sending to his father as much money and raiment, adding besides ten he-asses to carry off all the riches of Egypt, and as many she-asses, carrying wheat and bread for the journey.

24So he sent away his brethren, and at their departing said to them: Be not angry in the way.

25And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Chanaan to their father Jacob.

26And they told him, saying: Joseph thy son is living: and he is ruler in all the land of Egypt. Which when Jacob heard, he awaked as it were out of a deep sleep, yet did not believe them.

27They, on the other side, told the whole order of the thing. And when he saw the wagons and all that he had sent, his spirit revived,

28And he said: It is enough for me, if Joseph my son be yet living: I will go and see him before I die.

An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.

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Genesis 45

1Then Ioseph could not refraine him selfe before all that stoode by him, but hee cryed, Haue forth euery man from me. And there taryed not one with him, while Ioseph vttered himselfe vnto his brethren. 2And hee wept and cried, so that the Egyptians heard: the house of Pharaoh heard also. 3Then Ioseph sayde to his brethren, I am Ioseph: doeth my father yet liue? But his brethren coulde not answere him, for they were astonished at his presence. 4Againe, Ioseph sayde to his brethren, Come neere, I pray you, to mee. And they came neere. And he sayde, I am Ioseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5Nowe therefore be not sad, neither grieued with your selues, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you for your preseruation. 6For nowe two yeeres of famine haue bene through ye land, and fiue yeeres are behind, wherein neither shalbe earing nor haruest. 7Wherefore God sent me before you to preserue your posteritie in this land, and to saue you aliue by a great deliuerance. 8Now the you sent not me hither, but God, who hath made mee a father vnto Pharaoh, and lorde of all his house, and ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 9Haste you and go vp to my father, and tel him, Thus saieth thy sonne Ioseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come downe to me, tary not. 10And thou shalt dwel in ye land of Goshen, and shalt be neere me, thou and thy children, and thy childrens children, and thy sheepe, and thy beastes, and all that thou hast. 11Also I will nourish thee there (for yet remaine fiue yeeres of famine) lest thou perish through pouertie, thou and thy houshold, and all that thou hast. 12And behold, your eyes doe see, and the eyes of my brother Beniamin, that my mouth speaketh to you. 13Therefore tel my father of al mine honour in Egypt, and of all that ye haue seene, and make haste, and bring my father hither. 14Then hee fell on his brother Beniamins necke, and wept, and Beniamin wept on his necke. 15Moreouer, he kissed all his brethren, and wept vpon them: and afterwarde his brethren talked with him. 16And the tidinges came vnto Pharaohs house, so that they said, Iosephs brethre are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his seruants. 17Then Pharaoh said vnto Ioseph, Say to thy brethren, This doe ye, lade your beastes and depart, go to the land of Canaan, 18And take your father, and your houshoulds, and come to me, and I wil giue you the best of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eate of the fat of the land. 19And I commaund thee, Thus doe ye, take you charets out of the lande of Egypt for your children, and for your wiues, and bring your father and come. 20Also regarde not your stuffe: for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours. 21And the children of Israel did so: and Ioseph gaue them charets according to the commandement of Pharaoh: hee gaue them vitaile also for the iourney. 22He gaue them all, none except, change of raiment: but vnto Beniamin he gaue three hundreth pieces of siluer, and fiue sutes of raiment. 23And vnto his father likewise hee sent ten hee asses laden with the best things of Egypt, and ten shee asses laden with wheate, and bread and meate for his father by the way. 24So sent he his brethren away, and they departed: and he sayde vnto them, Fall not out by the way. 25Then they went vp from Egypt, and came vnto the land of Canaan vnto Iaakob their father, 26And tolde him, saying, Ioseph is yet aliue, and he also is gouernour ouer all the lande of Egypt, and Iaakobs heart failed: for he beleeued them not. 27And they told him al the words of Ioseph, which he had said vnto the: but when he saw the charets, which Ioseph had sent to cary him, then the spirit of Iaakob their father reuiued. 28And Israel said, I haue inough: Ioseph my sonne is yet aliue: I will go and see him yer I die.

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Genesis 45

Genesis 45