Genesis 43
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1But the famine continued to ravage the land of Canaan.1Now the famine in the land was severe.
2When the grain they had brought from Egypt was almost gone, Jacob said to his sons, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”2When they had used up the grain they had brought back from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go back and buy us some food."
3But Judah said, “The man was serious when he warned us, ‘You won’t see my face again unless your brother is with you.’3But Judah said to him, "The man specifically warned us: 'You will not see me again unless your brother is with you.'
4If you send Benjamin with us, we will go down and buy more food.4If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you.
5But if you don’t let Benjamin go, we won’t go either. Remember, the man said, ‘You won’t see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”5But if you will not send him, we will not go, for the man said to us, 'You will not see me again unless your brother is with you.'""
6“Why were you so cruel to me?” Jacob moaned. “Why did you tell him you had another brother?”6Why did you cause me so much trouble?" Israel asked. "Why did you tell the man that you had another brother?"
7“The man kept asking us questions about our family,” they replied. “He asked, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ So we answered his questions. How could we know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?”7They answered, "The man kept asking about us and our family: 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother? And we answered him accordingly. How could we know that he would say, 'Bring your brother here'?"
8Judah said to his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will be on our way. Otherwise we will all die of starvation—and not only we, but you and our little ones.8Then Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me. We will be on our way so that we may live and not die--neither we, nor you, nor our children.
9I personally guarantee his safety. You may hold me responsible if I don’t bring him back to you. Then let me bear the blame forever.9I will be responsible for him. You can hold me personally accountable! If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, I will be guilty before you forever.
10If we hadn’t wasted all this time, we could have gone and returned twice by now.”10If we had not wasted time, we could have come back twice by now."
11So their father, Jacob, finally said to them, “If it can’t be avoided, then at least do this. Pack your bags with the best products of this land. Take them down to the man as gifts—balm, honey, gum, aromatic resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds.11Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and take them down to the man as a gift--some balsam and some honey, aromatic gum and resin, pistachios and almonds.
12Also take double the money that was put back in your sacks, as it was probably someone’s mistake.12Take twice as much money with you. Return the money that was returned to you in the top of your bags. Perhaps it was a mistake.
13Then take your brother, and go back to the man.13Take your brother also, and go back at once to the man.
14May God Almighty give you mercy as you go before the man, so that he will release Simeon and let Benjamin return. But if I must lose my children, so be it.”14May God Almighty cause the man to be merciful to you so that he will release your other brother and Benjamin to you. As for me, if I am deprived of my sons, then I am deprived."
15So the men packed Jacob’s gifts and double the money and headed off with Benjamin. They finally arrived in Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph.15The men took this gift, double the amount of money, and Benjamin. They made their way down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.
16When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the manager of his household, “These men will eat with me this noon. Take them inside the palace. Then go slaughter an animal, and prepare a big feast.”16When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his steward, "Take the men to my house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for they will eat with me at noon."
17So the man did as Joseph told him and took them into Joseph’s palace.17The man did as Joseph had said and brought them to Joseph's house.
18The brothers were terrified when they saw that they were being taken into Joseph’s house. “It’s because of the money someone put in our sacks last time we were here,” they said. “He plans to pretend that we stole it. Then he will seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys.” A Feast at Joseph’s Palace18But the men were afraid because they were taken to Joseph's house. They said, "We have been brought here because of the money that was returned in our bags the first time. They intend to overpower us, seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys."
19The brothers approached the manager of Joseph’s household and spoke to him at the entrance to the palace.19So they approached Joseph's steward and spoke to him at the doorway of the house.
20“Sir,” they said, “we came to Egypt once before to buy food.20They said, "Sir, we really did come down here the first time only to buy food.
21But as we were returning home, we stopped for the night and opened our sacks. Then we discovered that each man’s money—the exact amount paid—was in the top of his sack! Here it is; we have brought it back with us.21When we came to the place where we lodged for the night and opened our bags of grain, each one's money was at the top of his bag! It was the full amount of our money, and we have brought it back with us.
22We also have additional money to buy more food. We have no idea who put our money in our sacks.”22We have brought additional money with us to buy food. We don't know who put our money in the bags."
23“Relax. Don’t be afraid,” the household manager told them. “Your God, the God of your father, must have put this treasure into your sacks. I know I received your payment.” Then he released Simeon and brought him out to them.23Then the steward said, "May you be well. Don't be afraid. Your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your bags. I received your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.
24The manager then led the men into Joseph’s palace. He gave them water to wash their feet and provided food for their donkeys.24The steward brought the men into Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet, and got feed for their donkeys.
25They were told they would be eating there, so they prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon.25Since the men had heard that they were going to eat a meal there, they prepared their gift for Joseph's arrival at noon.
26When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought him, then bowed low to the ground before him.26When Joseph came home, they brought him the gift they had carried into the house, and they bowed to the ground before him.
27After greeting them, he asked, “How is your father, the old man you spoke about? Is he still alive?”27He asked if they were well, and he said, "How is your elderly father that you told me about? Is he still alive?"
28“Yes,” they replied. “Our father, your servant, is alive and well.” And they bowed low again.28They answered, "Your servant our father is well. He is still alive." And they bowed down to honor him.
29Then Joseph looked at his brother Benjamin, the son of his own mother. “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” Joseph asked. “May God be gracious to you, my son.”29When he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, he asked, "Is this your youngest brother that you told me about?" Then he said, "May God be gracious to you, my son."
30Then Joseph hurried from the room because he was overcome with emotion for his brother. He went into his private room, where he broke down and wept.30Joseph hurried out because he was overcome with emotion for his brother, and he was about to weep. He went into an inner room to weep.
31After washing his face, he came back out, keeping himself under control. Then he ordered, “Bring out the food!”31Then he washed his face and came out. Regaining his composure, he said, "Serve the meal."
32The waiters served Joseph at his own table, and his brothers were served at a separate table. The Egyptians who ate with Joseph sat at their own table, because Egyptians despise Hebrews and refuse to eat with them.32They served him by himself, his brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who were eating with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, since that is abhorrent to them.
33Joseph told each of his brothers where to sit, and to their amazement, he seated them according to age, from oldest to youngest.33They were seated before him in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest. The men looked at each other in astonishment.
34And Joseph filled their plates with food from his own table, giving Benjamin five times as much as he gave the others. So they feasted and drank freely with him.34Portions were served to them from Joseph's table, and Benjamin's portion was five times larger than any of theirs. They drank, and they got intoxicated with Joseph.
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.Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Genesis 42
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