Add parallel Print Page Options

Joseph’s Silver Cup

44 When his brothers were ready to leave, Joseph gave these instructions to his palace manager: “Fill each of their sacks with as much grain as they can carry, and put each man’s money back into his sack. Then put my personal silver cup at the top of the youngest brother’s sack, along with the money for his grain.” So the manager did as Joseph instructed him.

The brothers were up at dawn and were sent on their journey with their loaded donkeys. But when they had gone only a short distance and were barely out of the city, Joseph said to his palace manager, “Chase after them and stop them. When you catch up with them, ask them, ‘Why have you repaid my kindness with such evil? Why have you stolen my master’s silver cup,[a] which he uses to predict the future? What a wicked thing you have done!’”

When the palace manager caught up with the men, he spoke to them as he had been instructed.

“What are you talking about?” the brothers responded. “We are your servants and would never do such a thing! Didn’t we return the money we found in our sacks? We brought it back all the way from the land of Canaan. Why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house? If you find his cup with any one of us, let that man die. And all the rest of us, my lord, will be your slaves.”

10 “That’s fair,” the man replied. “But only the one who stole the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may go free.”

11 They all quickly took their sacks from the backs of their donkeys and opened them. 12 The palace manager searched the brothers’ sacks, from the oldest to the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack! 13 When the brothers saw this, they tore their clothing in despair. Then they loaded their donkeys again and returned to the city.

14 Joseph was still in his palace when Judah and his brothers arrived, and they fell to the ground before him. 15 “What have you done?” Joseph demanded. “Don’t you know that a man like me can predict the future?”

16 Judah answered, “Oh, my lord, what can we say to you? How can we explain this? How can we prove our innocence? God is punishing us for our sins. My lord, we have all returned to be your slaves—all of us, not just our brother who had your cup in his sack.”

17 “No,” Joseph said. “I would never do such a thing! Only the man who stole the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may go back to your father in peace.”

Judah Speaks for His Brothers

18 Then Judah stepped forward and said, “Please, my lord, let your servant say just one word to you. Please, do not be angry with me, even though you are as powerful as Pharaoh himself.

19 “My lord, previously you asked us, your servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ 20 And we responded, ‘Yes, my lord, we have a father who is an old man, and his youngest son is a child of his old age. His full brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him very much.’

21 “And you said to us, ‘Bring him here so I can see him with my own eyes.’ 22 But we said to you, ‘My lord, the boy cannot leave his father, for his father would die.’ 23 But you told us, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes with you, you will never see my face again.’

24 “So we returned to your servant, our father, and told him what you had said. 25 Later, when he said, ‘Go back again and buy us more food,’ 26 we replied, ‘We can’t go unless you let our youngest brother go with us. We’ll never get to see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’

27 “Then my father said to us, ‘As you know, my wife had two sons, 28 and one of them went away and never returned. Doubtless he was torn to pieces by some wild animal. I have never seen him since. 29 Now if you take his brother away from me, and any harm comes to him, you will send this grieving, white-haired man to his grave.[b]

30 “And now, my lord, I cannot go back to my father without the boy. Our father’s life is bound up in the boy’s life. 31 If he sees that the boy is not with us, our father will die. We, your servants, will indeed be responsible for sending that grieving, white-haired man to his grave. 32 My lord, I guaranteed to my father that I would take care of the boy. I told him, ‘If I don’t bring him back to you, I will bear the blame forever.’

33 “So please, my lord, let me stay here as a slave instead of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. 34 For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn’t bear to see the anguish this would cause my father!”

Joseph Reveals His Identity

45 Joseph 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. Then he broke down and wept. He wept so loudly the Egyptians could hear him, and word of it quickly carried to Pharaoh’s palace.

“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. “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. But 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. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.[c] So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser[d] to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.

“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! 10 You 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. 11 I 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.’”

12 Then Joseph added, “Look! You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that I really am Joseph! 13 Go tell my father of my honored position here in Egypt. Describe for him everything you have seen, and then bring my father here quickly.” 14 Weeping with joy, he embraced Benjamin, and Benjamin did the same. 15 Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after that they began talking freely with him.

Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt

16 The news soon reached Pharaoh’s palace: “Joseph’s brothers have arrived!” Pharaoh and his officials were all delighted to hear this.

17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘This is what you must do: Load your pack animals, and hurry back to the land of Canaan. 18 Then 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.’”

19 Then 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. 20 Don’t worry about your personal belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

21 So the sons of Jacob[e] did as they were told. Joseph provided them with wagons, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he gave them supplies for the journey. 22 And he gave each of them new clothes—but to Benjamin he gave five changes of clothes and 300 pieces[f] of silver. 23 He 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.

24 So Joseph sent his brothers off, and as they left, he called after them, “Don’t quarrel about all this along the way!” 25 And they left Egypt and returned 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. 27 But 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.

28 Then Jacob exclaimed, “It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.”

Jacob’s Journey to Egypt

46 So Jacob[g] set out for Egypt with all his possessions. And when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac. During the night God spoke to him in a vision. “Jacob! Jacob!” he called.

“Here I am,” Jacob replied.

“I am God,[h] the God of your father,” the voice said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation. I will go with you down to Egypt, and I will bring you back again. You will die in Egypt, but Joseph will be with you to close your eyes.”

So Jacob left Beersheba, and his sons took him to Egypt. They carried him and their little ones and their wives in the wagons Pharaoh had provided for them. They also took all their livestock and all the personal belongings they had acquired in the land of Canaan. So Jacob and his entire family went to Egypt— sons and grandsons, daughters and granddaughters—all his descendants.

These are the names of the descendants of Israel—the sons of Jacob—who went to Egypt:

Reuben was Jacob’s oldest son. The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

10 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul. (Shaul’s mother was a Canaanite woman.)

11 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

12 The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (though Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

13 The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puah,[i] Jashub,[j] and Shimron.

14 The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.

15 These were the sons of Leah and Jacob who were born in Paddan-aram, in addition to their daughter, Dinah. The number of Jacob’s descendants (male and female) through Leah was thirty-three.

16 The sons of Gad were Zephon,[k] Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

17 The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. Beriah’s sons were Heber and Malkiel.

18 These were the sons of Zilpah, the servant given to Leah by her father, Laban. The number of Jacob’s descendants through Zilpah was sixteen.

19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

20 Joseph’s sons, born in the land of Egypt, were Manasseh and Ephraim. Their mother was Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.[l]

21 Benjamin’s sons were Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.

22 These were the sons of Rachel and Jacob. The number of Jacob’s descendants through Rachel was fourteen.

23 The son of Dan was Hushim.

24 The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

25 These were the sons of Bilhah, the servant given to Rachel by her father, Laban. The number of Jacob’s descendants through Bilhah was seven.

26 The total number of Jacob’s direct descendants who went with him to Egypt, not counting his sons’ wives, was sixty-six. 27 In addition, Joseph had two sons[m] who were born in Egypt. So altogether, there were seventy[n] members of Jacob’s family in the land of Egypt.

Jacob’s Family Arrives in Goshen

28 As they neared their destination, Jacob sent Judah ahead to meet Joseph and get directions to the region of Goshen. And when they finally arrived there, 29 Joseph prepared his chariot and traveled to Goshen to meet his father, Jacob. When Joseph arrived, he embraced his father and wept, holding him for a long time. 30 Finally, Jacob said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen your face again and know you are still alive.”

31 And Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s entire family, “I will go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘My brothers and my father’s entire family have come to me from the land of Canaan. 32 These men are shepherds, and they raise livestock. They have brought with them their flocks and herds and everything they own.’”

33 Then he said, “When Pharaoh calls for you and asks you about your occupation, 34 you must tell him, ‘We, your servants, have raised livestock all our lives, as our ancestors have always done.’ When you tell him this, he will let you live here in the region of Goshen, for the Egyptians despise shepherds.”

Footnotes

  1. 44:5 As in Greek version; Hebrew lacks this phrase.
  2. 44:29 Hebrew to Sheol; also in 44:31.
  3. 45:7 Or and to save you with an extraordinary rescue. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  4. 45:8 Hebrew a father.
  5. 45:21 Hebrew Israel; also in 45:28. See note on 35:21.
  6. 45:22 Hebrew 300 [shekels], about 7.5 pounds or 3.4 kilograms in weight.
  7. 46:1 Hebrew Israel; also in 46:29, 30. See note on 35:21.
  8. 46:3 Hebrew I am El.
  9. 46:13a As in Syriac version and Samaritan Pentateuch (see also 1 Chr 7:1); Hebrew reads Puvah.
  10. 46:13b As in some Greek manuscripts and Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Num 26:24; 1 Chr 7:1); Hebrew reads Iob.
  11. 46:16 As in Greek version and Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Num 26:15); Hebrew reads Ziphion.
  12. 46:20 Greek version reads of Heliopolis.
  13. 46:27a Greek version reads nine sons, probably including Joseph’s grandsons through Ephraim and Manasseh (see 1 Chr 7:14-20).
  14. 46:27b Greek version reads seventy-five; see note on Exod 1:5.

The Brothers Are Brought Back

44 (A)Then he commanded his house steward, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the opening of his sack. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the opening of the sack of the youngest, and his money for the grain.” And he did [a]as Joseph had told him. [b]As soon as it was light, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys. They had just left (B)the city, and were not far away, when Joseph said to his house steward, “Up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? Is this not that from which my lord drinks, and which he indeed uses for (C)divination? You have done wrong in doing this!’”

So [c]he overtook them and spoke these words to them. And they said to him, “Why does my lord say such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! Behold, (D)the money which we found in the opening of our sacks we have brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? (E)With whomever of your servants it is found, he shall die, and we also shall be my lord’s (F)slaves.” 10 So he said, “Now let it indeed be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, but the rest of you shall be considered innocent.” 11 Then they hurried, each man lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. 12 And he searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest; and (G)the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they (H)tore their clothes in grief, and when each man had loaded his donkey, they returned to (I)the city.

14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there, and (J)they fell down to the ground before him. 15 Joseph said to them, “What is this thing that you have done? Do you not know that a man who is like me can indeed practice (K)divination?” 16 So Judah said, “What can we say to my lord? What words can we speak? And how can we justify ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s (L)slaves, both we and the one in whose [d]possession the cup has been found.” 17 But he said, “Far be it from me to do this. The man in whose [e]possession the cup has been found, he shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

18 Then Judah approached him and said, “Oh my lord, may your servant please speak a word in my lord’s ears, and [f](M)do not be angry with your servant; for (N)you are equal to Pharaoh. 19 (O)My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ 20 And we said to my lord, ‘We have an old father and (P)a little boy born in our father’s old age. Now (Q)his brother is dead, so he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.’ 21 Then you said to your servants, ‘(R)Bring him down to me so that I may set my eyes on him.’ 22 But we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, [g]his father would die.’ 23 You said to your servants, however, ‘(S)Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’ 24 So it came about when we went up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And (T)our father said, ‘Go back, buy us a little food.’ 26 But we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that (U)my wife bore me two sons; 28 and the one left me, and (V)I said, “Surely he is torn to pieces,” and I have not seen him since. 29 If you also take this one from [h]me, and harm happens to him, you will (W)bring my gray hair down to Sheol in [i]sorrow.’ 30 So now, when I come to your servant, my father, and the boy is not with us—since [j](X)our father’s life is so attached to the boy’s life— 31 when he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. So your servants will (Y)bring the gray hair of your servant, our father, down to Sheol in sorrow. 32 For your servant (Z)accepted responsibility for the boy from my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then [k]my father can let me take the blame forever.’ 33 So now, please let your servant remain as a slave to my lord instead of the boy, and let the boy go up with his brothers. 34 For how shall I go up to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear that I may see the evil that would [l]overtake my father.”

Joseph Deals Kindly with His Brothers

45 Then Joseph could not control himself in front of everyone standing before him, and he shouted, “Have everyone leave me!” So there [m]was no one with him (AA)when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. Then (AB)he [n]wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard about it. And Joseph said to his brothers, “(AC)I am Joseph! (AD)Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for (AE)they were terrified in his presence.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come [o]closer to me.” And they came [p]closer. And he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you (AF)sold to Egypt. Now do not be grieved or angry [q]with yourselves because (AG)you sold me here, for (AH)God sent me ahead of you [r]to save lives. For the famine has been in the land (AI)these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. So (AJ)God sent me ahead of you to ensure for you a remnant on the earth, and to [s]keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a (AK)father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father, and (AL)say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. 10 For you shall live in the land of (AM)Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your [t]grandchildren, and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. 11 There I will also (AN)provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, and you and your household and all that you have would be impoverished.”’ 12 Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth which is speaking to you. 13 Now you must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and all that you have seen; and you must hurry and (AO)bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and (AP)wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him.

16 Now when (AQ)the [u]news was heard in Pharaoh’s house [v]that Joseph’s brothers had come, it [w]pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your livestock and [x]go to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households and come to me; and (AR)I will give you the [y]best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’ 19 Now you are ordered, ‘Do this: [z]take (AS)wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come. 20 And do not [aa]concern yourselves with your property, for the [ab]best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them (AT)wagons according to the [ac]command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To [ad]each of them he gave (AU)changes of garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and (AV)five changes of garments. 23 And to his father he sent [ae]the following: ten male donkeys loaded with the [af]best things of Egypt, ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and sustenance for his father [ag]on the journey.

24 So he sent his brothers away, and [ah]as they departed, he said to them, “Do not [ai]quarrel on the journey.” 25 Then they went up from Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” But [aj]he was stunned, for (AW)he did not believe them. 27 When they told him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and when he saw the (AX)wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, then the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 Then Israel said, “It is enough; my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Jacob Moves to Egypt

46 So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to (AY)Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the (AZ)God of his father Isaac. And (BA)God spoke to Israel [ak]in visions of the night and said, “(BB)Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “(BC)I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will (BD)make you into a great nation there. (BE)I will go down with you to Egypt, and (BF)I will also assuredly bring you up again; and (BG)Joseph will [al]close your eyes.”

Then Jacob left Beersheba, and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob and their little ones and their wives in the (BH)wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. They also took their livestock and their possessions, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and (BI)came to Egypt, Jacob and all his [am]descendants with him: his sons and his grandsons with him, his daughters and his granddaughters, and all his [an]descendants he brought with him to Egypt.

Those Who Came to Egypt

Now these are the (BJ)names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. And the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 And the (BK)sons of Simeon: [ao]Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, [ap]Jachin, [aq]Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 And the sons of Levi: [ar]Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 And the sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). And the (BL)sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 And the sons of Issachar: Tola, [as]Puvvah, [at]Iob, and Shimron. 14 And the sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, with his daughter Dinah; [au]all his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three. 16 And the (BM)sons of Gad: [av]Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, [aw]Ezbon, Eri, [ax]Arodi, and Areli. 17 And the (BN)sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. And the (BO)sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah; and she bore to Jacob these sixteen persons. 19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 (BP)Now to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him. 21 And the (BQ)sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, [ay]Ehi, Rosh, [az]Muppim, [ba]Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob; there were fourteen persons in all. 23 And the sons of Dan: [bb]Hushim. 24 And the sons of Naphtali: [bc]Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and [bd]Shillem. 25 These are the (BR)sons of Bilhah, whom (BS)Laban gave to his daughter Rachel, and she bore these to Jacob; there were seven persons in all. 26 (BT)All the people belonging to Jacob, who came to Egypt, [be]his direct descendants, not including the wives of Jacob’s sons, were sixty-six persons in all, 27 and the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were [bf]two; (BU)all the people of the house of Jacob, who came to Egypt, were seventy.

28 Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph, to [bg]guide him to (BV)Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 And Joseph [bh]prepared his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; as soon as he appeared to him, Joseph threw himself on his neck and (BW)wept on his neck a long time. 30 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.” 31 But Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “(BX)I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me; 32 and the men are shepherds, for they have been [bi]keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls for you and says, ‘(BY)What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been [bj](BZ)keepers of livestock since our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ so that you may live in the land of (CA)Goshen; for every shepherd is an (CB)abomination to the Egyptians.”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 44:2 Or according to the word
  2. Genesis 44:3 Lit The morning was light
  3. Genesis 44:6 I.e., the steward
  4. Genesis 44:16 Lit hand
  5. Genesis 44:17 Lit hand
  6. Genesis 44:18 Lit let not your anger burn against
  7. Genesis 44:22 Lit he would
  8. Genesis 44:29 Lit my face
  9. Genesis 44:29 Lit evil
  10. Genesis 44:30 Lit his soul is bound with his soul
  11. Genesis 44:32 Lit I will be culpable for all the days before my father
  12. Genesis 44:34 Lit find
  13. Genesis 45:1 Lit stood
  14. Genesis 45:2 Lit gave forth his voice in weeping
  15. Genesis 45:4 Lit near
  16. Genesis 45:4 Lit near
  17. Genesis 45:5 Lit in your eyes
  18. Genesis 45:5 Lit for preservation of life
  19. Genesis 45:7 As in MT; another reading (cf. LXX) keep alive for you a great remnant
  20. Genesis 45:10 Lit children’s children
  21. Genesis 45:16 Lit voice
  22. Genesis 45:16 Lit saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come”
  23. Genesis 45:16 Lit was good in the eyes of
  24. Genesis 45:17 Lit come, go
  25. Genesis 45:18 Lit good
  26. Genesis 45:19 Lit take for yourselves
  27. Genesis 45:20 Lit let your eye look with regret upon your vessels
  28. Genesis 45:20 Lit good
  29. Genesis 45:21 Lit mouth
  30. Genesis 45:22 Lit all of them he gave each man
  31. Genesis 45:23 Lit like this
  32. Genesis 45:23 Lit good
  33. Genesis 45:23 Lit for
  34. Genesis 45:24 Lit they departed; and he said
  35. Genesis 45:24 Lit be agitated
  36. Genesis 45:26 Lit his heart grew numb
  37. Genesis 46:2 Lit in the visions
  38. Genesis 46:4 Lit put his hand on
  39. Genesis 46:6 Lit seed
  40. Genesis 46:7 Lit seed
  41. Genesis 46:10 In Num 26:12 and 1 Chr 4:24, Nemuel
  42. Genesis 46:10 In 1 Chr 4:24, Jarib
  43. Genesis 46:10 In Num 26:13 and 1 Chr 4:24, Zerah
  44. Genesis 46:11 In 1 Chr 6:16, Gershom
  45. Genesis 46:13 In Num 26:23, Puvah; in 1 Chr 7:1, Puah
  46. Genesis 46:13 In Num 26:24 and 1 Chr 7:1, Jashub
  47. Genesis 46:15 Lit all the souls of
  48. Genesis 46:16 In Num 26:15, Zephon
  49. Genesis 46:16 In Num 26:16, Ozni
  50. Genesis 46:16 In Num 26:17, Arod
  51. Genesis 46:21 In Num 26:38, Ahiram
  52. Genesis 46:21 In Num 26:39, Shephupham; in 1 Chr 7:12, Shuppim
  53. Genesis 46:21 In Num 26:39, Hupham
  54. Genesis 46:23 In Num 26:42, Shuham
  55. Genesis 46:24 In 1 Chr 7:13, Jahziel
  56. Genesis 46:24 In 1 Chr 7:13, Shallum
  57. Genesis 46:26 Lit who came out of his loins
  58. Genesis 46:27 Lit two souls
  59. Genesis 46:28 Lit instruct before him
  60. Genesis 46:29 Lit harnessed
  61. Genesis 46:32 Lit men
  62. Genesis 46:34 Lit men

Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man[a] returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer[b]: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Jesus Blesses the Children

15 One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

16 Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

The Rich Man

18 Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. 20 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’[c]

21 The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

22 When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.

24 When Jesus saw this,[d] he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

26 Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?”

27 He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”

28 Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.”

29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, 30 will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.”

Jesus Again Predicts His Death

31 Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. 32 He will be handed over to the Romans,[e] and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. 33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”

34 But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. 36 When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him that Jesus the Nazarene[f] was going by. 38 So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him.

But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord,” he said, “I want to see!”

42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” 43 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.

Footnotes

  1. 18:8 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
  2. 18:11 Some manuscripts read stood and prayed this prayer to himself.
  3. 18:20 Exod 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20.
  4. 18:24 Some manuscripts read When Jesus saw how sad the man was.
  5. 18:32 Greek the Gentiles.
  6. 18:37 Or Jesus of Nazareth.

Parables on Prayer

18 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they (A)ought to pray and not (B)become discouraged, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not (C)respect any person. Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my [a]opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor (D)respect any person, yet (E)because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice; otherwise [b]by continually coming she will (F)wear me out.’” And (G)the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge *said; now, will God not (H)bring about justice for His (I)elect who cry out to Him day [c]and night, and will He (J)delay long for them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, (K)will He find [d]faith on the earth?”

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Now He also told this parable to some people who (L)trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and (M)viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men (N)went up into the [e]temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee (O)stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I (P)fast twice a week; I (Q)pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, (R)standing some distance away, (S)was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but (T)was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be [f]merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; (U)for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

15 (V)Now they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. 16 But Jesus called for [g]the little ones, saying, “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not [h]forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I say to you, (W)whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

The Rich Young Ruler

18 (X)A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me [i]good? No one is [j]good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments, ‘(Y)Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not give false testimony, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these things I have kept since my youth.” 22 Now when Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; (Z)sell all that you possess and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have (AA)treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely wealthy. 24 And Jesus looked at him and said, (AB)How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For (AC)it is easier for a camel to [k]go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!” 26 Those who heard Him said, “And so who can be saved?” 27 But He said, (AD)The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

28 Peter said, “Behold, (AE)we have left [l]our own homes and followed You.” 29 And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, (AF)there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times as much at this time, and in (AG)the age to come, eternal life.”

31 (AH)Now He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, (AI)we are going up to Jerusalem, and (AJ)all the things that have been written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 (AK)For He will be [m]handed over to the Gentiles, and will be ridiculed, and abused, and spit upon, 33 and after they have flogged Him, they will kill Him; and on the third day He will rise.” 34 [n](AL)The disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.

Bartimaeus Receives Sight

35 (AM)Now as [o](AN)Jesus was approaching Jericho, a man who was blind was sitting by the road, begging. 36 But when he heard a crowd going by, he began inquiring what this was. 37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he called out, saying, “Jesus, (AO)Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “(AP)Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He asked him, 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Regain your sight; (AQ)your faith has [p]made you well.” 43 And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, (AR)glorifying God; and when (AS)all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 18:3 Or enemy
  2. Luke 18:5 Or in the end she may come and give me a black eye
  3. Luke 18:7 Or and night? He is also patient toward them
  4. Luke 18:8 Lit the faith
  5. Luke 18:10 I.e., the temple grounds
  6. Luke 18:13 Or propitious
  7. Luke 18:16 Lit them
  8. Luke 18:16 Or prevent
  9. Luke 18:19 I.e., morally, inherently good
  10. Luke 18:19 I.e., morally, inherently good
  11. Luke 18:25 Lit enter
  12. Luke 18:28 Lit our own things
  13. Luke 18:32 Or betrayed to
  14. Luke 18:34 Lit And they themselves
  15. Luke 18:35 Lit He
  16. Luke 18:42 Lit saved you