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 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

CHAPTER 45

1Joseph might no longer abstain himself, while many men stood there before him; wherefore he commanded that all men should go out, and that none alien were present in the knowing of Joseph and his brethren.

2And Joseph raised up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians heard, and all the household of Pharaoh.

3And he said to his brethren, I am Joseph; liveth my father yet? His brethren might not answer, and were aghast with full much dread.

4To whom Joseph said meekly, Cometh nigh to me. And when they had nighed nigh, he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt;

5do not ye dread, neither seem it to be hard to you, that ye sold me into these countries; for God hath sent me before you into Egypt for your health.

6For it is two years that hunger began to be in the land, yet five more years shall pursue, in which men shall not be able to ear, neither reap;

7and God before-sent me, that ye be kept alive on earth, and may have meats to live.

8I was sent hither not by your counsel, but by God’s will, which hath made me as the father of Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and prince in all the land of Egypt.

9Haste ye, and goeth up to my father, and ye shall say to him, Thy son Joseph sendeth these things to thee; God hath made me lord of all the land of Egypt; come down here to me, and tarry not,

10and dwell in the land of Goshen; and thou shalt be beside me, thou, and thy sons, and the sons of thy sons, thy sheep, and thy great beasts, and all things which thou wieldest,

11and there I shall feed thee; for yet five years of hunger be left, lest both thou perish, and thine house, and all things which thou wieldest.

12Lo! your eyes, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that my mouth speaketh to you;

13tell ye to my father all my glory, and all things which ye saw in Egypt; haste ye, and bring ye him to me.

14And when he had embraced, and felled into the neck of Benjamin, his brother, he wept, the while also Benjamin wept in like manner on the neck of Joseph.

15And Joseph kissed all his brethren, and wept on them all; after which things they were hardy to speak to him.

16And it was heard, and published by famous word in the king’s hall, The brethren of Joseph be come. And Pharaoh joyed, and all his household;

17and Pharaoh said to Joseph, that he should command his brethren, and say to them, Charge ye your beasts, and go ye into the land of Canaan,

18and take ye from thence your father, and your kindred, and come ye back to me; and I shall give you all the goods of Egypt, that ye eat the marrow of the land.

19Command thou also, that they take wains of the land of Egypt to the carriage of their little children, and wives, and say thou, Take ye your father, and haste ye in coming soon,

20neither leave ye anything of the appurtenance of your house, for all the riches of Egypt shall be yours.

21The sons of Israel did as it was commanded to them; to which Joseph gave wains, by the behest of Pharaoh, and meats in the way;

22and he commanded two stoles to be brought forth to each; forsooth he gave to Benjamin three hundred pieces of silver, with five of the best stoles;

23and he sent to his father so much of silver, and of clothes, and he added to them ten male asses, that should bear of the riches of Egypt, and so many female asses, bearing wheat and loaves in the way.

24Therefore he let go his brethren, and said to them going forth, Be ye not wroth in the way.

25Which went up from Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob;

26and they told to him, and said, Joseph, thy son, liveth, and he is lord in all the land of Egypt. And when this was heard, Jacob waked as of a grievous sleep; nevertheless he believed not to them.

27They told on the contrary to him all the order of the thing; and when Jacob had seen the wains, and all things which Joseph had sent, his spirit lived again,

28and he said, It sufficeth to me, if Joseph my son liveth yet; I shall go and see him before that I die.

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