约瑟对他的弟兄们说:“我是约瑟!我的父亲还健在吗?”他的弟兄们吓得一句话也说不出来。

约瑟叫他们走近一点,等他们靠近了,便说:“我是你们卖到埃及的弟弟约瑟! 现在,你们不要因为把我卖到这里而自怨自责。上帝差我先来这里,是为了保住大家的性命。 地上的饥荒已经两年了,我们还有五年不能种、不能收。 上帝差我先来,是要为你们保留后代,又要大施拯救,保住你们的性命。 这样看来,不是你们,是上帝把我送到这里的。祂使我成为法老的宰相,管理他的家和整个埃及。 你们快回去告诉父亲,他儿子约瑟说,‘上帝已经使我管理整个埃及,请他立刻来这里。 10 他可以带着他的子孙、牛羊及一切所有住在歌珊。那里离我很近, 11 我可以奉养他,以免他和全家老少及仆婢牲畜都陷入绝境,因为还有五年的饥荒。’

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Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?”(A) But his brothers were not able to answer him,(B) because they were terrified at his presence.(C)

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”(D) When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!(E) And now, do not be distressed(F) and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here,(G) because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.(H) For two years now there has been famine(I) in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant(J) on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.[a](K)

“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.(L) He made me father(M) to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.(N) Now hurry(O) back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay.(P) 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen(Q) and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.(R) 11 I will provide for you there,(S) because five years of famine(T) are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’(U)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 45:7 Or save you as a great band of survivors