45
1 Then
Joseph couldn’t control himself
before all those
who stood before
him, and he
called out, “Cause
everyone to go
out from me!”
No one else
stood with him,
while Joseph made
himself known to
his brothers.
2 He
wept aloud. The
Egyptians heard,
and the house
of Pharaoh heard.
3 Joseph
said to
his brothers, “I am
Joseph! Does
my father still
live?”
His brothers couldn’t answer
him; for they
were terrified at
his presence.
4 Joseph said
to his brothers, “Come
near to me,
please.”
They came near.
He said, “I am
Joseph, your brother, whom
you sold into
Egypt.
5 Now don’t
be grieved, nor
angry with
yourselves, that
you sold me
here, for God
sent me before
you to preserve
life.
6 For
these two years
the famine has been
in the land,
and there are
yet five years,
in which there
will be no plowing
and no harvest.
7 God
sent me before
you to preserve
for you a
remnant in
the earth, and to
save you alive
by a great
deliverance.
8 So
now it wasn’t you
who sent me
here, but God,
and he has
made me a father
to Pharaoh, lord
of all his
house, and ruler
over all the land
of Egypt.
9 Hurry,
and go up
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. Don’t wait.
10 You
shall dwell in
the land of Goshen,
and you will
be near to
me, you, your
children, your
children’s children,
your flocks, your
herds, and all
that you have.
11 There
I will provide
for you; for
there are yet
five years of
famine; lest you
come to poverty,
you, and your
household, and all
that you have.” ’
12 Behold,
your eyes see,
and the eyes
of my brother
Benjamin, that it
is my mouth
that speaks to
you.
13 You
shall tell
my father of all
my glory in
Egypt, and of
all that you
have seen. You
shall hurry and
bring my father
down here.”
14 He
fell on his brother
Benjamin’s neck
and wept, and
Benjamin wept on
his neck.
15 He
kissed all
his brothers, and
wept on them.
After that
his brothers talked
with him.
16 The
report of it
was heard in
Pharaoh’s house,
saying, “Joseph’s brothers
have come.” It
pleased Pharaoh
well, and his
servants.
17 Pharaoh said
to Joseph, “Tell
your brothers, ‘Do
this: Load
your animals, and
go, travel to
the land of Canaan.
18 Take
your father and
your households,
and come to me,
and I will
give you the
good of the land
of Egypt, and
you will eat the
fat of the land.’
19 Now
you are commanded
to do this:
Take wagons out
of the land of
Egypt for your
little ones, and
for your wives,
and bring
your father, and come.
20 Also, don’t
concern yourselves
about your belongings,
for the good
of all the land
of Egypt is yours.”
21 The
sons of Israel
did so. Joseph
gave them wagons,
according to the
commandment of
Pharaoh, and gave
them provision for
the way.
22 He
gave each one
of them changes
of clothing, but
to Benjamin he
gave three
hundred pieces of
silver and five
changes of
clothing.
23 He
sent the following
to his father: ten
donkeys loaded
with the good
things of Egypt,
and ten female
donkeys loaded
with grain and
bread and
provision for
his father by the
way.
24 So
he sent
his brothers away,
and they departed.
He said to them,
“See that you don’t
quarrel on the
way.”
25 They
went up out
of Egypt, and
came into the land
of Canaan, to
Jacob their father.
26 They
told him, saying, “Joseph
is still alive,
and he is
ruler over all
the land of Egypt.”
His heart fainted,
for he didn’t believe
them.
27 They
told him all
the words of
Joseph, which he
had said to
them. When he
saw the wagons
which Joseph had
sent to carry
him, the spirit
of Jacob,
their father, revived.
28 Israel said,
“It is enough.
Joseph my son
is still alive.
I will go
and see him
before I die.”