Genesis Chapter 43
1 The famine was severe in the land.
2 When they had eaten up the grain that they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, Go again, buy us a little food.
3 Judah spoke to him saying, The man solemnly protested to us saying, You will not see me unless your brother is with you.
4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.
5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down. For the man said to us, You will not see me again unless your brother is with you.
6 Israel said, Why have you dealt ill with me to tell the man that you had a brother?
7 They said, The man asked us strictly of our state and of our kindred saying, Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother? We told him according to the tenor of these words. How could we know that he would say, Bring your brother down?
8 Judah said to Israel his father, Send the boy with me and we will arise and go so that we may live and not die, both we and you and our little children.
9 I will be surety for him. You shall require him of my hand. If I do not bring him to you and set him before you, I will be a sinner against you all the days.
10 For unless we had lingered, surely now we would have returned the second time.
11 Their father Israel said to them, If it be so now, do this. Take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and bring a present down to the man, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds.
12 Take double silver in your hand, and the silver that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand. Perhaps it was an oversight.
13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man.
14 God Almighty give you mercy before the man so that he may send away your other brother and Benjamin. If I am deprived⁺ I am deprived.
15 The men took that present and double silver in their hand, and Benjamin. They rose and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring the men into the house, and kill an animal and make ready. For the men shall dine with me at noon.
17 The man did as Joseph said. And the man brought the men into Joseph's house.
18 The men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house. They said, Because of the silver that was returned in our sacks at the first time we are brought in, to throw himself on us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our donkeys.
19 They came near to the man over Joseph's house and talked with him at the door of the house.
20 They said, Sir, we indeed came down the first time to buy food.
21 When we came to the inn and opened our sacks, behold, every man's silver was in the mouth of his sack. Silver in full weight and we have brought it again in our hands.
22 We have brought down other silver in our hands to buy food. We cannot tell who put our silver in our sacks.
23 He said, Peace to you. Do not fear. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your silver. And he brought Simeon out to them.
24 The man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet. And he gave fodder to their donkeys.
25 They made ready the presents for the coming of Joseph at noon. For they heard that they should eat bread there.
26 When Joseph came home, they brought the present into the house and bowed to him.
27 He asked them as to their welfare and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?
28 They answered, your servant, our father, is in good health. He is still alive. Then they bowed down their heads and fell before him.
29 He lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son and said, Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me? And he said, God bless you, my son.
30 Joseph made haste, for his bowels yearned toward his brother. And he sought a place to weep. And he entered into his room and wept there.
31 He washed his face, and went out, and controlled himself and said, Set the bread on.
32 They set it on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians may not eat bread with the Hebrews. For that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
33 They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth. And the men marveled at one another.
34 One took portions to them from before him. But Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. Then they drank and were merry with him.