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Giovedi, 28 marzo 2024 - San Castore di Tarso ( Letture di oggi)

Genesis 45


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1Then Joseph could not control his feelings in front of al his retainers, and he exclaimed, 'Let everyoneleave me.' No one therefore was present with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers,2but he wept so loudly that al the Egyptians heard, and the news reached Pharaoh's palace.3Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am Joseph. Is my father real y stil alive?' His brothers could not answerhim, they were so dumbfounded at seeing him.4Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'Come closer to me.' When they had come closer to him he said, 'Iam your brother Joseph whom you sold into Egypt.5But now, do not grieve, do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here, since God sent mebefore you to preserve your lives.6For this is the second year there has been famine in the country, and there are still five years to comewithout ploughing or harvest.7God sent me before you to assure the survival of your race on earth and to save your lives by a greatdeliverance.8So it was not you who sent me here but God, and he has set me up as a father to Pharaoh, as lord ofal his household and governor of the whole of Egypt.9'Return quickly to your father and tel him, "Your son Joseph says this: 'God has made me lord of alEgypt. Come down to me without delay.10You wil live in the region of Goshen where you wil be near me, you, your children and yourgrandchildren, your flocks, your cattle and al your possessions.11There I shal provide for you -- for there are five years of famine stil to come -- so that you, yourhousehold and all yours are not reduced to penury.' "12You can see with your own eyes, and my brother Benjamin can see too, that I am who I say I am.13Give my father a ful report of al the honour I enjoy in Egypt, and of al you have seen; and quicklybring my father down here.'14Then throwing his arms round the neck of his brother Benjamin he wept; and Benjamin wept on hisshoulder.15He kissed al his brothers, weeping on each one. Only then were his brothers able to talk to him.16News reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come, and Pharaoh was pleased to hearit, as were his servants.17Pharaoh told Joseph, 'Say to your brothers, "Do this: load your beasts and hurry away to Canaan.18Fetch your father and your families, and come back to me. I will give you the best territory in Egypt,where you wil live off the fat of the land."19And you, for your part, give them this order: "Do this: take waggons from Egypt, for your little onesand your wives. Get your father and come.20Never mind about your property, for the best of all Egypt will be yours." '21Israel's sons did as they were told. Joseph gave them waggons as Pharaoh had ordered, and hegave them provisions for the journey.22To each and every one he gave new clothes, and to Benjamin three hundred shekels of silver andfive changes of clothes.23And to his father he sent ten donkeys laden with the best that Egypt offered, and ten she-donkeysladen with grain, bread and food for his father's journey.24And so he sent his brothers on their way. His final words to them were, 'And let there be no upsetson the way!'25And so they left Egypt. When they reached their father Jacob in Canaan,26they gave him this report, 'Joseph is stil alive. He is at this moment governor of al Egypt!' But hewas as one stunned, for he did not believe them.27However, when they told him all Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the waggons thatJoseph had sent to fetch him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived,28and Israel said, 'That is enough! My son Joseph is stil alive. I must go and see him before I die.'