Joseph Makes Himself Known
1Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.
3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
4Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.45:7 Or save you as a great band of survivors
8“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’
12“You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”
14Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.
16When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. 17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’
19“You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’ ”
21So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels45:22 That is, about 7 1/2 pounds or about 3.5 kilograms of silver and five sets of clothes. 23And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. 24Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”
25So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
约瑟与弟兄相认
1约瑟在侍从面前再也控制不住自己，于是令所有侍从都出去。这样，约瑟跟弟兄们相认时，没有外人在场。 2约瑟放声大哭，埃及人听见了他的哭声，法老家也听到了消息。 3约瑟对他的弟兄们说：“我是约瑟！我的父亲还健在吗？”他的弟兄们吓得说不出话来。
4约瑟叫他们走近一点，等他们靠近了，便说：“我是被你们卖到埃及的弟弟约瑟！ 5现在，你们不要因为把我卖到这里而自怨自责。上帝差我先来这里，是为了保住大家的性命。 6地上的饥荒已经两年了，我们还有五年不能种、不能收。 7上帝差我先来，是要为你们保留后代，又要大施拯救，保住你们的性命。 8这样看来，不是你们，是上帝把我送到这里的。祂使我成为法老的宰相，管理他的家和整个埃及。 9你们快回去告诉我父亲，他儿子约瑟说，‘上帝已经使我管理整个埃及，请你立刻来我这里。 10你可以带着你的子孙、牛羊及一切所有住在歌珊。那里离我很近， 11我可以奉养你，以免你和全家老少及仆婢牲畜都陷入绝境，因为还有五年的饥荒。’ 12你们和我弟弟便雅悯都亲眼看见了，这是我亲口对你们说的。 13你们要把我在埃及享有的尊荣和你们见到的一切都告诉父亲，尽快把他接来。” 14约瑟和弟弟便雅悯抱头痛哭， 15又亲吻其他哥哥，抱着他们痛哭，然后弟兄们跟他交谈起来。
16约瑟的弟兄们到来的消息传到法老的王宫，法老和他的臣仆都感到高兴。 17法老对约瑟说：“你去吩咐你的弟兄给牲畜驮上货物，返回迦南， 18把你们的父亲和家眷都接到我这里。我要把埃及最好的土地赐给他们，让他们享受这里肥美的物产。 19吩咐你的弟兄从埃及带着车去把他们的妻子、儿女和你们的父亲接来。 20不要舍不得你们在迦南的财产，因为埃及全国的美物都是你们的。”
21以色列的儿子们就这样做了。约瑟遵照法老的吩咐，为他的弟兄们预备好车辆和路上需用的粮食， 22又给他们每人一套新衣服，但给了便雅悯五套新衣服和三百块银子。 23约瑟送给父亲十头公驴，驮着埃及的美物，还送了十头母驴，驮着粮食、饼和其他食物，让父亲路上用。 24约瑟送弟兄们回去，临行前嘱咐他们路上不要争吵。
25于是，他们离开埃及，回到迦南的父亲雅各那里， 26对父亲说：“约瑟还活着，并且做了埃及的宰相。”雅各惊呆了，不敢相信他们的话。 27雅各听了他们转述约瑟的话，又看见约瑟派来接他的车，才回过神来。 28以色列说：“我信了！我儿约瑟还活着，我要在死之前去见他。”
