¹¹ “Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food.^(A)

Joseph and the Famine

¹³ There was no food, however, in the whole region because the famine was severe; both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine.^{(A) 14} Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan in payment for the grain they were buying,^(B) and he brought it to Pharaoh’s palace.^{(C) 15} When the money of the people of Egypt and Canaan was gone,^(D) all Egypt came to Joseph^(E) and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes?^(F) Our money is all gone.”

¹¹ I will provide for you there,^(A) because five years of famine^(B) are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’^(C)

⁵ And now, do not be distressed^(A) and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here,^(B) because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.^{(C) 6} For two years now there has been famine^(D) in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping.

The Second Journey to Egypt

43 Now the famine was still severe in the land.^(A)

⁵ So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain,^(A) for there was famine in the land of Canaan^(B) also.^(C)

⁵⁴ and the seven years of famine^(A) began,^(B) just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. ⁵⁵ When all Egypt began to feel the famine,^(C) the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”^(D)

⁵⁶ When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians,^(E) for the famine^(F) was severe throughout Egypt.^{(G) 57} And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph,^(H) because the famine was severe everywhere.^(I)