Genesis 45

¹Joseph was unable to restrain himself any longer, standing before so many. Therefore, he instructed that all should go outside, and that no stranger should be among them as they recognized one another.

²And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians heard, along with the entire house of Pharaoh.

³And he said to his brothers: “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” His brothers were unable to respond, being terrified by a very great fear.

⁴And he said to them mildly, “Approach toward me.” And when they had approached close by, he said: “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

⁵Do not be afraid, and let it not seem to you to be a hardship that you sold me into these regions. For God sent me before you into Egypt for your salvation.

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

⁷And God sent me ahead, so that you may be preserved upon the earth, and so that you would be able to have food in order to live.

⁸I was sent here, not by your counsel, but by the will of God. He has caused me to be like a father to Pharaoh, and to be the lord of his entire house, as well as governor throughout all the land of Egypt.

⁹Hurry, and go up to my father, and say to him: ‘Your son Joseph commands this: God has caused me to be lord of the entire land of Egypt. Come down to me, do not delay,

¹⁰and you will live in the land of Goshen. And you will be next to me, you and your sons and the sons of your sons, your sheep and your herds, and all that you possess.

¹¹And there I will pasture you, (for there are still five years of famine remaining) lest both you and your house perish, along with all that you possess.’

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

¹³You will report to my father about all my glory, and about all that you have seen in Egypt. Hurry, and bring him to me.”

¹⁴And then falling upon the neck of his brother Benjamin, he embraced him and wept. And likewise, Benjamin wept at the same time on his neck.

¹⁵And Joseph kissed all his brothers, and he cried over each one. After this, they were emboldened to speak to him.

¹⁶And it was overheard, and the news spread by word throughout the king’s court. The brothers of Joseph had arrived, and Pharaoh was gladdened along with all his family.

¹⁷And he told Joseph that he should command his brothers, saying: “ ‘Burden your beasts, and go into the land of Canaan,

¹⁸and take from there your father and kindred, and come to me. And I will give you all the good things of Egypt, so that you may eat from the marrow of the land.’ ”

¹⁹“And you may even instruct that they take wagons from the land of Egypt, in order to transport their little ones as well as their wives. And say: ‘Take your father, and come quickly, as soon as possible.

²⁰You need not give up anything from your household, for all the riches of Egypt will be yours.’ ”

²¹And the sons of Israel did just as they were commanded. And Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and provisions for the journey.

²²Likewise, he ordered two robes for each of them to be brought. Yet truly, to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver along with five of the best robes.

²³And he sent just as much money and clothing to his father, adding also ten male donkeys, with which to transport all the riches of Egypt, and as many female donkeys, carrying wheat and bread for the journey.

²⁴Thus he sent away his brothers, and as they set out he said, “Do not become angry on the way.”

²⁵And they ascended out of Egypt, and they arrived in the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob.

²⁶And they reported to him, saying: “Your son Joseph is alive, and he is ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. When Jacob heard this, he was stirred up, as if from a deep sleep, yet he did not believe them.

²⁷To the contrary, they explained the entire matter in order. And when he had seen the wagons, and all that he had sent, his spirit revived,

²⁸and he said: “It is enough for me, if my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Genesis 45

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 not 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 spread 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.