English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

1Joseph could stand it no longer. There were many people in the room, and he said to his attendants, “Out, all of you!” So he was alone with his brothers when he told them who he was.

2And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.

2Then he broke down and wept. He wept so loudly the Egyptians could hear him, and word of it quickly carried to Pharaoh’s palace.

3And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.

3“I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them.

4So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.

4“Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt.

5And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.

5But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.

6For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.

6This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

7And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.

7God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.

8So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

8So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.

9Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry.

9“Now hurry back to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me master over all the land of Egypt. So come down to me immediately!

10You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.

10You can live in the region of Goshen, where you can be near me with all your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own.

11There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’

11I will take care of you there, for there are still five years of famine ahead of us. Otherwise you, your household, and all your animals will starve.’”

12And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.

12Then Joseph added, “Look! You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that I really am Joseph!

13You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.”

13Go tell my father of my honored position here in Egypt. Describe for him everything you have seen, and then bring my father here quickly.”

14Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck.

14Weeping with joy, he embraced Benjamin, and Benjamin did the same.

15And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.

15Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after that they began talking freely with him. Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt

16When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants.

16The news soon reached Pharaoh’s palace: “Joseph’s brothers have arrived!” Pharaoh and his officials were all delighted to hear this.

17And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan,

17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘This is what you must do: Load your pack animals, and hurry back to the land of Canaan.

18and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’

18Then get your father and all of your families, and return here to me. I will give you the very best land in Egypt, and you will eat from the best that the land produces.’”

19And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.

19Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt to carry your little children and your wives, and bring your father here.

20Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

20Don’t worry about your personal belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

21The sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey.

21So the sons of Jacob did as they were told. Joseph provided them with wagons, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he gave them supplies for the journey.

22To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five changes of clothes.

22And he gave each of them new clothes—but to Benjamin he gave five changes of clothes and 300 pieces of silver.

23To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey.

23He also sent his father ten male donkeys loaded with the finest products of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other supplies he would need on his journey.

24Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”

24So Joseph sent his brothers off, and as they left, he called after them, “Don’t quarrel about all this along the way!”

25So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob.

25And they left Egypt and returned to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan.

26And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them.

26“Joseph is still alive!” they told him. “And he is governor of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn’t believe it.

27But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.

27But when they repeated to Jacob everything Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him, their father’s spirits revived.

28And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

28Then Jacob exclaimed, “It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.”

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.