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

Joseph Reveals His Identity

1Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me!”

So none of them were with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it.

3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?”

But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.

4Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so.

“I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! 5And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. 6For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. 7God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.#45:7 Or and to keep you alive as a great band of survivors 8Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Joseph Sends for His Father

9Now return quickly to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay. 10You shall settle in the land of Goshen and be near me—you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own. 11And there I will provide for you, because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you and your household and everything you own will come to destitution.’

12Behold! You and my brother Benjamin can see that I, Joseph, am the one speaking with you. 13Tell my father about all my splendor in Egypt and everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”

14Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept as they embraced. 15Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept over them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.

Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt

16When the news reached Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased.

17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do as follows: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan. 18Then bring your father and your families and return to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat from the fat of the land.’ 19You are also directed to tell them: ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives, and bring your father and come back. 20But pay no regard to your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

21So the sons of Israel did as they were told. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22He gave new garments to each of them, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver #45:22 300 shekels is approximately 7.5 pounds or 3.4 kilograms of silver. and five sets of clothes. 23And he sent to his father the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provisions for his father’s journey.

24Then Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way!”

The Revival of Jacob

25So the brothers went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26“Joseph is still alive,” they said, “and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!”

But Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them. 27However, when they relayed all that Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob was revived.

28“Enough!” declared Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.”

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Genesis 45

Genesis 45