Genesis 45

1Joseph could no longer refrain himself before many that stood by: whereupon he commanded that all should go out, and no stranger be present at their knowing one another.

2And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians and all the house of Pharao heard.

3And he said to his brethren: I am Joseph: is my father yet living? His brethren could not answer him, being struck with exceeding great fear.

4And he said mildly to them: Come nearer to me. And when they were come near him, he said: I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

5Be not afraid, and let it not seem to you a hard case that you sold me into these countries: for God sent me before you into Egypt for your preservation.

6For it is two years since the famine began to be upon the land, and five years more remain, wherein there can be neither ploughing nor reaping.

7And God sent me before, that you may be preserved upon the earth, and may have food to live.

8Not by your counsel was I sent hither, but by the will of God: who hath made me as it were a father to Pharao, and lord of his whole house, and governor in all the land of Egypt.

9Make haste, and go ye up to my father, and say to him: Thus saith thy son Joseph: God hath made me lord of the whole land of Egypt: come down to me, linger not.

10And thou shalt dwell in the land of Gessen: and thou shalt be near me, thou and thy sons, and thy sons’ sons, thy sheep, and thy herds, and all things that thou hast.

11And there I will feed thee, (for there are yet five years of famine remaining), lest both thou perish, and thy house, and all things that thou hast.

12Behold, your eyes, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaketh to you.

13You shall tell my father of all my glory, and all things that you have seen in Egypt: make haste and bring him to me.

14And falling upon the neck of his brother Benjamin, he embraced him and wept: and Benjamin in like manner wept also on his neck.

15And Joseph kissed all his brethren, and wept upon every one of them: after which they were emboldened to speak to him.

16And it was heard, and the fame was abroad in the king’s court: The brethren of Joseph are come: and Pharao with all his family was glad.

17And he spoke to Joseph that he should give orders to his brethren, saying: Load your beasts, and go into the land of Chanaan.

18And bring away from thence your father and kindred, and come to me: and I will give you all the good things of Egypt, that you may eat the marrow of the land.

19Give orders also that they take wagons out of the land of Egypt, for the carriage of their children and their wives: and say: Take up your father, and make haste to come with all speed:

20And leave nothing of your household stuff: for all the riches of Egypt shall be yours.

21And the sons of Israel did as they were bid. And Joseph gave them wagons according to Pharao’s commandment: and provisions for the way.

22He ordered also to be brought out for every one of them two robes: but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver with five robes of the best:

23Sending to his father as much money and raiment, adding besides ten he asses to carry off all the riches of Egypt, and as many she asses, carrying wheat and bread for the journey.

24So he sent away his brethren, and at their departing said to them: Be not angry in the way.

25And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Chanaan to their father Jacob.

26And they told him, saying: Joseph thy son is living: and he is ruler in all the land of Egypt. Which when Jacob heard, he awaked as it were out of a deep sleep, yet did not believe them.

27They, on the other side, told the whole order of the thing. And when he saw the wagons and all that he had sent his spirit revived,

28And he said: It is enough for me, if Joseph my son be yet living: I will go and see him before I die.

1Non se poterat ultra cohibere Joseph multis coram astantibus: unde præcepit ut egrederentur cuncti foras, et nullus interesset alienus agnitioni mutuæ.

2Elevavitque vocem cum fletu, quam audierunt Ægyptii, omnisque domus Pharaonis.

3Et dixit fratribus suis: Ego sum Joseph: adhuc pater meus vivit? Non poterant respondere fratres nimio terrore perterriti.

4Ad quos ille clementer: Accedite, inquit, ad me. Et cum accessissent prope: Ego sum, ait, Joseph, frater vester, quem vendidistis in Ægyptum.

5Nolite pavere, neque vobis durum esse videatur quod vendidistis me in his regionibus: pro salute enim vestra misit me Deus ante vos in Ægyptum.

6Biennium est enim quod cœpit fames esse in terra: et adhuc quinque anni restant, quibus nec arari poterit, nec meti.

7Præmisitque me Deus ut reservemini super terram, et escas ad vivendum habere possitis.

8Non vestro consilio, sed Dei voluntate huc missum sum: qui fecit me quasi patrem Pharaonis, et dominum universæ domus ejus, ac principem in omni terra Ægypti.

9Festinate, et ascendite ad patrem meum, et dicetis ei: Hæc mandat filius tuus Joseph: Deus fecit me dominum universæ terræ Ægypti: descende ad me, ne moreris,

10et habitabis in terra Gessen: erisque juxta me tu, et filii tui, et filii filiorum tuorum, oves tuæ, et armenta tua, et universa quæ possides:

11ibique te pascam (adhuc enim quinque anni residui sunt famis) ne et tu pereas, et domus tua, et omnia quæ possides.

12En oculi vestri, et oculi fratris mei Benjamin, vident quod os meum loquatur ad vos.

13Nuntiate patri meo universam gloriam meam, et cuncta quæ vidistis in Ægypto: festinate, et adducite eum ad me.

14Cumque amplexatus recidisset in collum Benjamin fratris sui, flevit: illo quoque similiter flente super collum ejus.

15Osculatusque est Joseph omnes fratres suos, et ploravit super singulos: post quæ ausi sunt loqui ad eum.

16Auditumque est, et celebri sermone vulgatum in aula regis: Venerunt fratres Joseph: et gavisus est Pharao, atque omnis familia ejus.

17Dixitque ad Joseph ut imperaret fratribus suis, dicens: Onerantes jumenta, ite in terram Chanaan,

18et tollite inde patrem vestrum et cognationem, et venite ad me: et ego dabo vobis omnia bona Ægypti, ut comedatis medullam terræ.

19Præcipe etiam ut tollant plaustra de terra Ægypti, ad subvectionem parvulorum suorum ac conjugum: et dicito: Tollite patrem vestrum, et properate quantocius venientes.

20Nec dimittatis quidquam de supellectili vestra: quia omnes opes Ægypti vestræ erunt.

21Feceruntque filii Israël ut eis mandatum fuerat. Quibus dedit Joseph plaustra, secundum Pharaonis imperium, et cibaria in itinere.

22Singulis quoque proferri jussit binas stolas: Benjamin vero dedit trecentos argenteos cum quinque stolis optimis:

23tantumdem pecuniæ et vestium mittens patri suo, addens et asinos decem, qui subveherent ex omnibus divitiis Ægypti, et totidem asinas, triticum in itinere, panesque portantes.

24Dimisit ergo fratres suos, et proficiscentibus ait: Ne irascamini in via.

25Qui ascendentes ex Ægypto, venerunt in terram Chanaan ad patrem suum Jacob.

26Et nuntiaverunt ei, dicentes: Joseph filius tuus vivit: et ipse dominatur in omni terra Ægypti. Quo audito Jacob, quasi de gravi somno evigilans, tamen non credebat eis.

27Illi e contra referebant omnem ordinem rei. Cumque vidisset plaustra et universa quæ miserat, revixit spiritus ejus,

28et ait: Sufficit mihi si adhuc Joseph filius meus vivit: vadam, et videbo illum antequam moriar.

1Joseph was unable to restrain himself any longer, standing before so many. Therefore, he instructed that all should go outside, and that no stranger should be among them as they recognized one another.

2And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians heard, along with the entire house of Pharaoh.

3And he said to his brothers: “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” His brothers were unable to respond, being terrified by a very great fear.

4And he said to them mildly, “Approach toward me.” And when they had approached close by, he said: “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

5Do not be afraid, and let it not seem to you to be a hardship that you sold me into these regions. For God sent me before you into Egypt for your salvation.

6For it is two years since the famine began to be upon the land, and five years more remain, in which there can be neither plowing, nor reaping.

7And God sent me ahead, so that you may be preserved upon the earth, and so that you would be able to have food in order to live.

8I was sent here, not by your counsel, but by the will of God. He has caused me to be like a father to Pharaoh, and to be the lord of his entire house, as well as governor throughout all the land of Egypt.

9Hurry, and go up to my father, and say to him: ‘Your son Joseph commands this: God has caused me to be lord of the entire land of Egypt. Come down to me, do not delay,

10and you will live in the land of Goshen. And you will be next to me, you and your sons and the sons of your sons, your sheep and your herds, and all that you possess.

11And there I will pasture you, (for there are still five years of famine remaining) lest both you and your house perish, along with all that you possess.’

12Behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin can see that it is my mouth speaking to you.

13You will report to my father about all my glory, and about all that you have seen in Egypt. Hurry, and bring him to me.”

14And then falling upon the neck of his brother Benjamin, he embraced him and wept. And likewise, Benjamin wept at the same time on his neck.

15And Joseph kissed all his brothers, and he cried over each one. After this, they were emboldened to speak to him.

16And it was overheard, and the news spread by word throughout the king’s court. The brothers of Joseph had arrived, and Pharaoh was gladdened along with all his family.

17And he told Joseph that he should command his brothers, saying: “ ‘Burden your beasts, and go into the land of Canaan,

18and take from there your father and kindred, and come to me. And I will give you all the good things of Egypt, so that you may eat from the marrow of the land.’ ”

19“And you may even instruct that they take wagons from the land of Egypt, in order to transport their little ones as well as their wives. And say: ‘Take your father, and come quickly, as soon as possible.

20You need not give up anything from your household, for all the riches of Egypt will be yours.’ ”

21And the sons of Israel did just as they were commanded. And Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and provisions for the journey.

22Likewise, he ordered two robes for each of them to be brought. Yet truly, to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver along with five of the best robes.

23And he sent just as much money and clothing to his father, adding also ten male donkeys, with which to transport all the riches of Egypt, and as many female donkeys, carrying wheat and bread for the journey.

24Thus he sent away his brothers, and as they set out he said, “Do not become angry on the way.”

25And they ascended out of Egypt, and they arrived in the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob.

26And they reported to him, saying: “Your son Joseph is alive, and he is ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. When Jacob heard this, he was stirred up, as if from a deep sleep, yet he did not believe them.

27To the contrary, they explained the entire matter in order. And when he had seen the wagons, and all that he had sent, his spirit revived,

28and he said: “It is enough for me, if my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”