The Second Journey to Egypt

43 Now the famine was still severe in the land.^{(A) 2} So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt,^(B) their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”^(C)

³ But Judah^(D) said to him, “The man warned us solemnly, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’^(E)

¹¹ Then their father Israel^(A) said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products^(B) of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift^(C)—a little balm^(D) and a little honey, some spices^(E) and myrrh,^(F) some pistachio nuts and almonds.

¹³ Take your brother also and go back to the man at once.^{(A) 14} And may God Almighty^[a](B) grant you mercy^(C) before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you.^(D) As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”^(E)

¹⁵ So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver,^(F) and Benjamin also. They hurried^(G) down to Egypt and presented themselves^(H) to Joseph.

²⁶ When Joseph came home,^(A) they presented to him the gifts^(B) they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground.^{(C) 27} He asked them how they were, and then he said, “How is your aged father^(D) you told me about? Is he still living?”^(E)

²⁸ They replied, “Your servant our father^(F) is still alive and well.” And they bowed down,^(G) prostrating themselves before him.^(H)

²⁹ As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son,^(I) he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?”^(J) And he said, “God be gracious to you,^(K) my son.” ³⁰ Deeply moved^(L) at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept^(M) there.

³¹ After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself,^(N) said, “Serve the food.”^(O)

³³ The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn^(A) to the youngest;^(B) and they looked at each other in astonishment. ³⁴ When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s.^(C) So they feasted^(D) and drank freely with him.