Genesis 45

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Then 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,	1 Joseph could no longer control himself in the presence of all his attendants, so he cried out, "Have everyone withdraw from me!" Thus no one else was about when he made himself known to his brothers.
2 but he wept so loudly that al the Egyptians heard, and the news reached Pharaoh's palace.	2 But his sobs were so loud that the Egyptians heard him, and so the news reached Pharaoh's palace.
3 Joseph 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.	3 "I am Joseph," he said to his brothers. "Is my father still in good health?" But his brothers could give him no answer, so dumbfounded were they at him.
4 Then 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.	4 "Come closer to me," he told his brothers. When they had done so, he said: "I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt.
5 But now, do not grieve, do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here, since God sent mebefore you to preserve your lives.	5 But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.
6 For this is the second year there has been famine in the country, and there are still five years to comewithout ploughing or harvest.	6 For two years now the famine has been in the land, and for five more years tillage will yield no harvest.
7 God sent me before you to assure the survival of your race on earth and to save your lives by a greatdeliverance.	7 God, therefore, sent me on ahead of you to ensure for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives in an extraordinary deliverance.
8 So 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.	8 So it was not really you but God who had me come here; and he has made of me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his household, and ruler over the whole land 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.	9 "Hurry back, then, to my father and tell him: 'Thus says your son Joseph: God has made me lord of all Egypt; come to me without delay.
10 You 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.	10 You will settle in the region of Goshen, where you will be near me--you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything that you own.
11 There 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.' "	11 Since five years of famine still lie ahead, I will provide for you there, so that you and your family and all that are yours may not suffer want.'
12 You can see with your own eyes, and my brother Benjamin can see too, that I am who I say I am.	12 Surely, you can see for yourselves, and Benjamin can see for himself, that it is I, Joseph, who am speaking to you.
13 Give 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.'	13 Tell my father all about my high position in Egypt and what you have seen. But hurry and bring my father down here."
14 Then throwing his arms round the neck of his brother Benjamin he wept; and Benjamin wept on hisshoulder.	14 Thereupon he flung himself on the neck of his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept in his arms.
15 He kissed al his brothers, weeping on each one. Only then were his brothers able to talk to him.	15 Joseph then kissed all his brothers, crying over each of them; and only then were his brothers able to talk with him.
16 News reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come, and Pharaoh was pleased to hearit, as were his servants.	16 When the news reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come, Pharaoh and his courtiers were pleased.
17 Pharaoh told Joseph, 'Say to your brothers, "Do this: load your beasts and hurry away to Canaan.	17 So Pharaoh told Joseph: "Say to your brothers: 'This is what you shall do: Load up your animals and go without delay to the land of Canaan.
18 Fetch 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."	18 There get your father and your families, and then come back here to me; I will assign you the best land in Egypt, where you will live off the fat of the land.'
19 And 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.	19 Instruct them further: 'Do this. Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your children and your wives and to transport your father on your way back here.
20 Never mind about your property, for the best of all Egypt will be yours." '	20 Do not be concerned about your belongings, for the best in the whole land of Egypt shall be yours.'"
21 Israel's sons did as they were told. Joseph gave them waggons as Pharaoh had ordered, and hegave them provisions for the journey.	21 The sons of Israel acted accordingly. Joseph gave them the wagons, as Pharaoh had ordered, and he supplied them with provisions for the journey.
22 To each and every one he gave new clothes, and to Benjamin three hundred shekels of silver andfive changes of clothes.	22 He also gave to each of them fresh clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of garments.
23 And 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.	23 Moreover, what he sent to his father was ten jackasses loaded with the finest products of Egypt and ten jennies loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey.
24 And so he sent his brothers on their way. His final words to them were, 'And let there be no upsetson the way!'	24 As he sent his brothers on their way, he told them, "Let there be no recriminations on the way."
25 And so they left Egypt. When they reached their father Jacob in Canaan,	25 So they left Egypt and made their way to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.
26 they 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.	26 When they told him, "Joseph is still alive--in fact, it is he who is ruler of all the land of Egypt," he was dumbfounded; he could not believe them.
27 However, 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,	27 But when they recounted to him all that Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent for his transport, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.
28 and Israel said, 'That is enough! My son Joseph is stil alive. I must go and see him before I die.'	28 "It is enough," said Israel. "My son Joseph is still alive! I must go and see him before I die."