New Living Translation | NET Bible |
1Joseph could stand it no longer. There were many people in the room, and he said to his attendants, “Out, all of you!” So he was alone with his brothers when he told them who he was. | 1Joseph was no longer able to control himself before all his attendants, so he cried out, "Make everyone go out from my presence!" No one remained with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. |
2Then he broke down and wept. He wept so loudly the Egyptians could hear him, and word of it quickly carried to Pharaoh’s palace. | 2He wept loudly; the Egyptians heard it and Pharaoh's household heard about it. |
3“I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them. | 3Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" His brothers could not answer him because they were dumbfounded before him. |
4“Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. | 4Joseph said to his brothers, "Come closer to me," so they came near. Then he said, "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. |
5But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. | 5Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life! |
6This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. | 6For these past two years there has been famine in the land and for five more years there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. |
7God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. | 7God sent me ahead of you to preserve you on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. |
8So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt. | 8So now, it is not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me an adviser to Pharaoh, lord over all his household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. |
9“Now hurry back to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me master over all the land of Egypt. So come down to me immediately! | 9Now go up to my father quickly and tell him, 'This is what your son Joseph says: "God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not delay! |
10You can live in the region of Goshen, where you can be near me with all your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own. | 10You will live in the land of Goshen, and you will be near me--you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and everything you have. |
11I will take care of you there, for there are still five years of famine ahead of us. Otherwise you, your household, and all your animals will starve.’” | 11I will provide you with food there because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise you would become poor--you, your household, and everyone who belongs to you."' |
12Then Joseph added, “Look! You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that I really am Joseph! | 12You and my brother Benjamin can certainly see with your own eyes that I really am the one who speaks to you. |
13Go tell my father of my honored position here in Egypt. Describe for him everything you have seen, and then bring my father here quickly.” | 13So tell my father about all my honor in Egypt and about everything you have seen. But bring my father down here quickly!" |
14Weeping with joy, he embraced Benjamin, and Benjamin did the same. | 14Then he threw himself on the neck of his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. |
15Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after that they began talking freely with him. Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt | 15He kissed all his brothers and wept over them. After this his brothers talked with him. |
16The news soon reached Pharaoh’s palace: “Joseph’s brothers have arrived!” Pharaoh and his officials were all delighted to hear this. | 16Now it was reported in the household of Pharaoh, "Joseph's brothers have arrived." It pleased Pharaoh and his servants. |
17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘This is what you must do: Load your pack animals, and hurry back to the land of Canaan. | 17Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and go to the land of Canaan! |
18Then get your father and all of your families, and return here to me. I will give you the very best land in Egypt, and you will eat from the best that the land produces.’” | 18Get your father and your households and come to me! Then I will give you the best land in Egypt and you will eat the best of the land.' |
19Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt to carry your little children and your wives, and bring your father here. | 19You are also commanded to say, 'Do this: Take for yourselves wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives. Bring your father and come. |
20Don’t worry about your personal belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’” | 20Don't worry about your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt will be yours.'" |
21So the sons of Jacob did as they were told. Joseph provided them with wagons, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he gave them supplies for the journey. | 21So the sons of Israel did as he said. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed, and he gave them provisions for the journey. |
22And he gave each of them new clothes—but to Benjamin he gave five changes of clothes and 300 pieces of silver. | 22He gave sets of clothes to each one of them, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of clothes. |
23He also sent his father ten male donkeys loaded with the finest products of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other supplies he would need on his journey. | 23To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best products of Egypt and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, food, and provisions for his father's journey. |
24So Joseph sent his brothers off, and as they left, he called after them, “Don’t quarrel about all this along the way!” | 24Then he sent his brothers on their way and they left. He said to them, "As you travel don't be overcome with fear." |
25And they left Egypt and returned to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan. | 25So they went up from Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. |
26“Joseph is still alive!” they told him. “And he is governor of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn’t believe it. | 26They told him, "Joseph is still alive and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!" Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them. |
27But when they repeated to Jacob everything Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him, their father’s spirits revived. | 27But when they related to him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to transport him, their father Jacob's spirit revived. |
28Then Jacob exclaimed, “It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.” | 28Then Israel said, "Enough! My son Joseph is still alive! I will go and see him before I die." |
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