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Joseph Sends for Jacob

45 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he called out, “Have everyone go out from me.” So there [a]was no man with him (A)when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. (B)Then he [b]wept loudly. And the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “(C)I am Joseph! (D)Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for (E)they were terrified at his presence.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” And they came near. And he said, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you (F)sold into Egypt. So now do not be grieved or angry [c]with yourselves because (G)you sold me here, for (H)God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land (I)these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. (J)So God sent me before you to establish for you a remnant in the earth and to keep you alive for a great remnant of survivors. So now, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has set me as a (K)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 (L)say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, “God has set me as lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. 10 And you shall [d]live in the land of (M)Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. 11 There I will also (N)provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, lest you and your household and all that you have be impoverished.”’ 12 And behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth which is speaking to you. 13 So you must tell my father of all my glory in Egypt and all that you have seen; and you must hurry and (O)bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and (P)wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 He kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him.

16 Now (Q)the [e]news was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” And it was good in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and [f]go to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households and come to me, and (R)I will give you the [g]best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’ 19 Now you are commanded, ‘Do this: [h]take (S)wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come. 20 Now do not [i]concern yourselves with your goods, for the [j]best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them (T)wagons according to the [k]command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To [l]each of them he gave (U)changes of garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and (V)five changes of garments. 23 Now to his father he sent [m]as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the [n]best things of Egypt and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and sustenance for his father [o]on the journey.

24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed. And he said to them, “Do not be stirred up 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 [p]his heart was stunned, for (W)he did not believe them. 27 Yet they told him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and he saw the (X)wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him. Then the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “It is enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 45:1 Lit stood
  2. Genesis 45:2 Lit gave forth his voice in weeping
  3. Genesis 45:5 Lit in your eyes
  4. Genesis 45:10 Lit dwell
  5. Genesis 45:16 Lit voice
  6. Genesis 45:17 Lit come, go
  7. Genesis 45:18 Lit good
  8. Genesis 45:19 Lit take for yourselves
  9. Genesis 45:20 Lit let your eye look with regret upon your vessels
  10. Genesis 45:20 Lit good
  11. Genesis 45:21 Lit mouth
  12. Genesis 45:22 Lit all of them he gave each man
  13. Genesis 45:23 Lit like this
  14. Genesis 45:23 Lit good
  15. Genesis 45:23 Lit for
  16. Genesis 45:26 Lit his heart grew numb

约瑟向他的兄弟表明身分

45 约瑟在所有侍立在他左右的人面前,不能自制,就喊叫说:“叫各人都离开我出去。”这样,约瑟向他的兄弟们表白自己身分的时候,没有别人在场。 于是他放声大哭,埃及人听到了;法老一家也听闻这事。 约瑟对他的兄弟们说:“我就是约瑟,我的父亲还在吗?”他的兄弟们不能回答他,因为他们在约瑟面前都非常惊惶。 约瑟对他的兄弟们说:“请你们上前来。”他们就上前去。他说:“我就是被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来,而自忧自责。这原是 神差派我在你们以先来这里,为要保全性命。 现在这地的饥荒已经有两年了,还有五年不能耕种,也没有收成。  神差派我在你们以先来这里,为要给你们在地上留下余种,大大施行拯救,保全你们的性命。 这样看来,差派我到这里来的,不是你们,而是 神。他立我作法老之父,作他全家之主,又作全埃及地的首相。 你们要赶快上到我父亲那里去,对他说:‘你的儿子约瑟这样说: 神立我作了全埃及的主;请你下到我这里来,不要耽延。 10 你和你的众儿孙、牛羊,以及你一切所有的,都可以住在歌珊地,与我相近。 11 我要在那里供养你,因为还有五年的饥荒,免得你和你的家人,以及你一切所有的,都陷入穷困里。’ 12 看哪,你们和我弟弟便雅悯都亲眼看见,是我亲口对你们说话。 13 你们也要把我在埃及的一切尊荣,和你们所看见的一切,都告诉我的父亲,又要赶快把我的父亲接到这里来。” 14 于是,约瑟伏在他弟弟便雅悯的颈项上,哭起来了;便雅悯也伏在约瑟的颈项上哭。 15 他又与众兄弟亲吻,拥抱着他们哭。然后,他的兄弟们就跟他说话。

法老命约瑟迎接父亲

16 消息传到法老的家里,说:“约瑟的兄弟们来了。”法老和他的臣仆都很高兴。 17 法老对约瑟说:“你要对你的兄弟们说:‘你们要这样作:使你们的牲口载满货物,起程到迦南地去, 18 把你们的父亲和家人都接到我这里来;我要把埃及地美好的产物赐给你们,你们也可以吃这地肥美的食物。’ 19 现在我再吩咐你对他们说:‘你们要这样作:从埃及地带些车辆回去,用来接你们的孩子和妻子,并且把你们的父亲接来。 20 不要顾惜你们的家具,因为埃及全地美好的产物都是你们的。’”

21 以色列的儿子们就照样作了。约瑟照着法老所吩咐的,给了他们一些车辆和路上用的食物。 22 又给了他们各人一套新衣服,但是给便雅悯三千四百二十克银子和五套衣服。 23 约瑟送去给他父亲的,有公驴十头,载着埃及美好的产物,以及母驴十头,载着五谷、饼和给他父亲在路上用的食物。 24 于是,约瑟打发他的兄弟们回去,他们走的时候,约瑟对他们说:“你们在路上不要争吵。”

兄弟回家迎接父亲

25 他们离开埃及,上到迦南地他们父亲雅各那里去, 26 告诉他,说:“约瑟还在,并且作了埃及全地的首相。”雅各的心冷淡麻木,因为他不相信他们。 27 他们就把约瑟对他们所说的一切话,都告诉了他。他们的父亲雅各看见了约瑟派来接他的车辆,心才苏醒过来。 28 以色列说:“够了!约瑟我的儿子还在;在我还没有死以前,我要去看看他。”

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