Joseph Reveals His Identity

45 Joseph could no longer keep his composure in front of all his attendants,[a] so he called out, “Send everyone away from me!” No one was with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers.(A) But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and also Pharaoh’s household heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But they could not answer him because they were terrified in his presence.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please, come near me,” and they came near. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt.(B) And now don’t be worried or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.(C) For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.[b] Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

“Return quickly 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 without delay. 10 You can settle in the land of Goshen(D) and be near me—you, your children, and grandchildren, your sheep, cattle, and all you have. 11 There I will sustain you, for there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you, your household, and everything you have will become destitute.”’(E) 12 Look! Your eyes and my brother Benjamin’s eyes can see that it is I , Joseph, who am[c] speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all my glory in Egypt and about all you have seen. And bring my father here quickly.”(F)

14 Then Joseph threw his arms around Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his shoulder. 15 Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept,[d] and afterward his brothers talked with him.

The Return for Jacob

16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and go on back to the land of Canaan. 18 Get your father and your families, and come back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you can eat from the richness of the land.’ 19 You are also commanded, ‘Do this: Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives and bring your father here.(G) 20 Do not be concerned about your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”(H)

21 The sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had commanded, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22 He gave each of the brothers changes of clothes,(I) but he gave Benjamin 300 pieces of silver and five changes of clothes.(J) 23 He sent his father the following: 10 donkeys carrying the best products of Egypt and 10 female donkeys carrying grain, food, and provisions for his father on the journey. 24 So Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Don’t argue on the way.”

25 So they went up from Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 They said, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned,[e] for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told Jacob all that Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to transport him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.

28 Then Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go to see him before I die.”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 45:1 Lit all those standing about him
  2. Genesis 45:7 Or keep alive for you many survivors
  3. Genesis 45:12 Lit that my mouth is
  4. Genesis 45:15 Lit brothers, and he wept over them
  5. Genesis 45:26 Lit Jacob’s heart was numb

Yusufu Yeeraga Baganda be

45 (A)Awo Yusufu n’atasobola kwefuga n’alemererwa okwongera okwekuuma mu maaso gaabo bonna abaaliwo; kwe kulagira nti, “Muggyeewo abantu bonna mu maaso gange.” Bwe kityo ne wataba muntu mulala yenna Yusufu bwe yali yeeraga eri baganda be. (B)Awo n’akaaba mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka, n’Abamisiri ne bamuwulira era n’ennyumba yonna eya Falaawo nabo ne bamuwulira.

(C)Yusufu n’agamba baganda be nti, “Nze Yusufu, kitange akyali mulamu?” Naye baganda be ne batayinza kumuddamu, kubanga okweraliikirira kwabayinga mu maaso ge.

(D)Awo Yusufu n’agamba baganda be nti, “Mbasaba munsemberere.” Ne basembera gy’ali. N’abagamba nti, “Nze muganda wammwe Yusufu gwe mwatunda e Misiri. (E)Naye kaakano temuggwaamu mwoyo, oba temwekubagiza olw’okuntunda wano, kubanga Katonda yantuma mbasookeyo nsobole okuwonya obulamu. Kubanga enjala ebadde mu nsi okumala emyaka gino ebiri; era wakyaliyo emirala etaano egitalibaamu kulima wadde okukungula. (F)Era Katonda yantuma mbasookeyo mbakuumire abalisigalawo ku nsi; ndyoke mbawonyezeewo abantu abangi ennyo mu ngeri ey’ekitalo.

(G)“Noolwekyo si mmwe mwansindika wano, wabula Katonda; era anfudde kitaawe wa Falaawo, era mukama w’ennyumba ye era omufuzi w’ensi yonna ey’e Misiri. (H)Kale mwanguwe, mwambuke eri kitange mumugambe nti, ‘Bw’ati mutabani wo Yusufu bw’agamba nti, Katonda anfudde mufuzi wa Misiri yenna; serengeta gye ndi, tolwa; 10 (I)ojja kubeera mu Goseni[a], olibeera kumpi nange. Ggwe n’abaana bo, n’abaana b’abaana bo, ebisibo byammwe, amagana gammwe ne byonna bye mulina; 11 (J)eyo gye nnaabagabiririranga; si kulwa nga mmwe n’ennyumba zammwe ne byonna bye mulina biggwaawo.’ 

12 “Era kaakano mwerabiddeko n’amaaso gammwe era ne muganda wange Benyamini akyerabiddeko nti nze njogera nammwe. 13 (K)Muteekwa okutegeeza kitange ekitiibwa kye nnina mu Misiri, ne byonna bye mulabye. Temulwa, muserengese kitange wano.”

14 Awo Yusufu n’agwa Benyamini mu kifuba n’akaaba ne Benyamini n’akaabira ku kibegabega kye. 15 (L)N’agwa baganda be mu kifuba, n’akaabira buli omu ku bo; n’oluvannyuma baganda be ne boogera naye.

Ab’olulyo lwa Yusufu Bayitibwa e Misiri

16 (M)Ebigambo eby’okujja kwa baganda ba Yusufu bwe byawulirwa mu nnyumba ya Falaawo ne bisanyusa nnyo Falaawo n’abaweereza be. 17 Falaawo n’agamba Yusufu nti, “Gamba baganda bo nti, ‘Mukole bwe muti: mutikke ensolo zammwe muddeyo mu nsi ya Kanani, 18 (N)munone kitammwe n’abantu bammwe n’ebyammwe mujje gye ndi, ndibawa ekifo ekisinga obulungi mu nsi y’e Misiri, nammwe mulirya obulungi obw’ensi.’

19 (O)“Era balagire batwale amagaali okuva mu nsi y’e Misiri olw’abaana baabwe abato ne bakyala bammwe, mujje ne kitammwe. 20 Wabula ebintu byammwe tebibateganya nnyo, kubanga ebisinga obulungi mu Misiri yenna bijja kuba byammwe.”

21 (P)Abaana ba Isirayiri ne bakola bwe batyo; Yusufu n’abawa amagaali, nga Falaawo bwe yalagira n’abawa n’entanda ey’omu kkubo. 22 (Q)Buli omu ku bo n’amuwa ebyambalo eby’okukyusa, naye ye Benyamini n’amuwa ebitundu bya ffeeza ebikumi bisatu n’ebyambalo eby’okuwanyisa emigogo etaano. 23 Kitaawe n’amuweereza endogoyi kkumi ezeetisse ebintu ebirungi eby’e Misiri n’endogoyi enkazi kkumi ezeetisse emmere, emigaati n’entanda ya kitaawe bw’aliba ajja. 24 (R)Awo n’asiibula baganda be. Bwe baali bagenda n’abagamba nti, “Temuyombera mu kkubo.”

25 Bwe batyo ne bambuka okuva mu Misiri ne batuuka mu nsi ya Kanani eri kitaabwe Yakobo. 26 (S)Bwe baatuuka ne bamutegeeza nti Yusufu akyali mulamu, era y’afuga ensi y’e Misiri yonna. Bwe yawulira ebyo n’awunga n’atasobola kubakkiriza. 27 (T)Naye bwe baamutegeeza ebigambo bya Yusufu byonna bye yabagamba, era bwe yalaba amagaali Yusufu ge yaweereza okumutwala n’addamu omwoyo; 28 n’agamba nti, “Mmatidde, omwana wange Yusufu akyali mulamu. Nzija kugenda mulabe nga sinnafa.”

Footnotes

  1. 45:10 Goseni kisangibwa mu Misiri, Omugga Kiyira we luyingirira mu nnyanja ennene, Meditereniyaani, era kifo kijimu nnyo.

45 At last Yosef could no longer control his feelings in front of his attendants and cried, “Get everybody away from me!” So no one else was with him when Yosef revealed to his brothers who he was. He wept aloud, and the Egyptians heard, and Pharaoh’s household heard. Yosef said to his brothers, “I am Yosef! Is it true that my father is still alive?” His brothers couldn’t answer him, they were so dumbfounded at seeing him. Yosef said to his brothers, “Please! Come closer.” And they came closer. He said, “I am Yosef, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But don’t be sad that you sold me into slavery here or angry at yourselves, because it was God who sent me ahead of you to preserve life. The famine has been over the land for the last two years, and for yet another five years there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God sent me ahead of you to ensure that you will have descendants on earth and to save your lives in a great deliverance. (iii) So it was not you who sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his household and ruler over the whole land of Egypt. Hurry, go up to my father, and tell him, ‘Here is what your son Yosef says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt! Come down to me, don’t delay! 10 You will live in the land of Goshen and be near me — you, your children, your grandchildren, flocks, herds, everything you own. 11 I will provide for you there, so that you won’t become poverty-stricken, you, your household and all that you have; because five years of famine are yet to come.”’ 12 Here! Your own eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Binyamin, that it is my own mouth speaking to you. 13 Tell my father how honored I am in Egypt and everything you have seen, and quickly bring my father down here!” 14 Then he embraced his brother Binyamin and wept, and Binyamin wept on his neck, 15 and he kissed all his brothers and wept on them. After that, his brothers talked with him.

16 The report of this reached Pharaoh’s house: “Yosef’s brothers have come”; and Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. 17 Pharaoh said to Yosef, “Tell your brothers, ‘Here is what you are to do. Load up your animals, go to the land of Kena‘an, 18 take your father and your families, and come back to me. I will give you good property in Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.

(iv) 19 “‘Moreover — and this is an order — do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt to carry your little ones and your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Don’t worry about your stuff, because everything good in the land of Egypt is yours.’”

21 The sons of Isra’el acted accordingly; and Yosef gave them wagons, as Pharaoh had ordered, and gave them provisions for their journey. 22 To each of them he gave a set of new clothes; but to Binyamin he gave seven-and-a-half pounds of silver and five sets of new clothes. 23 Likewise, to his father he sent ten donkeys loaded with the finest goods Egypt produced, as well as ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread and food for his father to eat on the return journey. 24 Thus he sent his brothers on their way, and they left; he said to them, “Don’t quarrel among yourselves while you’re traveling!”

25 So they went up out of Egypt, entered the land of Kena‘an and came to Ya‘akov their father. 26 They told him, “Yosef is still alive! He is ruler over the whole land of Egypt!” He was stunned at the news; he couldn’t believe them. 27 So they reported to him everything Yosef had said to them; but it was only when he saw the wagons which Yosef had sent to carry him that the spirit of Ya‘akov their father began to revive. (v) 28 Isra’el said, “Enough! My son Yosef is still alive! I must go and see him before I die.”

Joseph Makes Himself Known

45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself(A) before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!”(B) So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept(C) so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.(D)

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

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”(H) When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!(I) And now, do not be distressed(J) and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here,(K) because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.(L) For two years now there has been famine(M) 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(N) on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.[a](O)

“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.(P) He made me father(Q) to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.(R) Now hurry(S) 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.(T) 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen(U) and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.(V) 11 I will provide for you there,(W) because five years of famine(X) are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’(Y)

12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin,(Z) that it is really I who am speaking to you.(AA) 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt(AB) and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.(AC)

14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin(AD) embraced him,(AE) weeping. 15 And he kissed(AF) all his brothers and wept over them.(AG) Afterward his brothers talked with him.(AH)

16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come,(AI) Pharaoh and all his officials(AJ) were pleased.(AK) 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals(AL) and return to the land of Canaan,(AM) 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt(AN) and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’(AO)

19 “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts(AP) from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings,(AQ) because the best of all Egypt(AR) will be yours.’”

21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts,(AS) as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.(AT) 22 To each of them he gave new clothing,(AU) but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels[b] of silver and five sets of clothes.(AV) 23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys(AW) loaded with the best things(AX) of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey.(AY) 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”(AZ)

25 So they went up out of Egypt(BA) and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.(BB) 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.”(BC) Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.(BD) 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts(BE) Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced!(BF) My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”(BG)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 45:7 Or save you as a great band of survivors
  2. Genesis 45:22 That is, about 7 1/2 pounds or about 3.5 kilograms