The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

Then Israel said to them: If it must needs be so, do what you will: take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down presents to the man, a little balm, and honey, and storax, myrrh, turpentine, and almonds.

And take with you double money, and carry back what you found in your sacks, lest perhaps it was done by mistake.

And take also your brother, and go to the man.

And may my almighty God make him favourable to you: and send back with you your brother, whom he keepeth, and this Benjamin: and as for me I shall be desolate without children.

So the men took the presents, and double money, and Benjamin: and went down into Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

And when he had seen them, and Benjamin with them, he commanded the steward of his house, saying: Bring in the men into the house, and kill victims, and prepare a feast: because they shall eat with me at noon.

He did as he was commanded, and brought the men into the house.

And they being much afraid, said there one to another: Because of the money, which we carried back the first time in our sacks, we are brought in: that he may bring upon us a false accusation, and by violence make slaves of us and our asses.

Wherefore, going up to the steward of the house, at the door,

They said: Sir, we desire thee to hear us. We came down once before to buy food:

And when we had bought, and were come to the inn, we opened our sacks, and found our money in the mouths of the sacks: which we have now brought again in the same weight.

And we have brought other money besides, to buy what we want: we cannot tell who put it in our bags.

But he answered: Peace be with you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks. For the money, which you gave me, I have for good. And he brought Simeon out to them.

And having brought them into the house, he fetched water, and they washed their feet, and he gave provender to their asses.

But they made ready the presents, against Joseph came at noon: for they had heard that they should eat bread there.

Then Joseph came in to his house, and they offered him the presents, holding them in their hands; and they bowed down with their face to the ground.

But he courteously saluting them again, asked them, saying: Is the old man your father in health, of whom you told me? Is he yet living?

And they answered: Thy servant our father, is in health; he is yet living. And bowing themselves, they made obeisance to him.

And Joseph lifting up his eyes, saw Benjamin, his brother by the same mother, and said: Is this your young brother, of whom you told me? And he said: God be gracious to thee, my son.

And he made haste, because his heart was moved upon his brother, and tears gushed out: and going into his chamber, he wept.

And when he had washed his face, coming out again, he refrained himself, and said: Set bread on the table.

And when it was set on, for Joseph apart, and for his brethren apart, for the Egyptians also that ate with him apart, (for it is unlawful for the Egyptians to eat with the Hebrews, and they think such a feast profane):

They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his age. And they wondered very much;

Taking the messes which they received of him: and the greater mess came to Benjamin, so that it exceeded by five parts. And they drank, and were merry with him.

And Joseph commanded the steward of his house, saying: Fill their sacks with corn, as much as they can hold: and put the money of every one in the top of his sack.

And in the mouth of the younger's sack put my silver cup, and the price which he gave for the wheat. And it was so done.

And when the morning arose, they were sent away with their asses.

And when they were now departed out of the city, and had gone forward a little way: Joseph sending for the steward of his house, said: Arise, and pursue after the men: and when thou hast overtaken them, say to them: Why have you returned evil for good?

The cup which you have stolen, is that in which my lord drinketh, and in which he is wont to divine: you have done a very evil thing.

He did as he had commanded him. And having overtaken them, he spoke to them the same words.

And they answered: Why doth our lord speak so, as though thy servants had committed so heinous a fact?

The money, that we found in the top of our sacks, we brought back to thee from the land of Chanaan: how then should it be that we should steal out of thy lord's house, gold or silver?

With whomsoever of thy servants shall be found that which thou seekest, let him die, and we will be the bondmen of my lord.

And he said to them: Let it be according to your sentence: with whomsoever it shall be found, let him be my servant, and you shall be blameless.

Then they speedily took down their sacks to the ground, and every man opened his sack.

Which when he had searched, beginning at the eldest, and ending at the youngest, he found the cup in Benjamin's sack.

Then they rent their garments, and loading their asses again, returned into the town.

And Juda at the head of his brethren went in to Joseph (for he was not yet gone out of the place) and they all together fell down before him on the ground.

And he said to them: Why would you do so? know you not that there is no one like me in the science of divining.

And Juda said to him: What shall we answer my lord? or what shall we say, or be able justly to allege? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are all bondmen to my lord, both we, and he with whom the cup was found.

Joseph answered: God forbid that I should do so: he that stole the cup, he shall be my bondman: and go you away free to your father.

Then Juda coming nearer, said boldly: I beseech thee, my lord, let thy servant speak a word in thy ears, and be not angry with thy servant: for after Pharao thou art.

My lord. Thou didst ask thy servants the first time: Have you a father or a brother.

And we answered thee, my lord: We have a father an old man, and a young boy, that was born in his old age; whose brother by the mother is dead; and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him tenderly.

And thou saidst to thy servants: Bring him hither to me, and I will set my eyes on him.

We suggested to my lord: The boy cannot leave his father: for if he leave him, he will die.

And thou saidst to thy servants: Except your youngest brother come with you, you shall see my face no more.

Therefore when we were gone up to thy servant our father, we told him all that my lord had said.

And our father said: Go again, and buy us a little wheat.

And we said to him: We cannot go: if our youngest brother go down with us, we will set out together: otherwise, without him we dare not see the man's face.

Whereunto he answered: You know that my wife bore me two.

One went out, and you said: A beast devoured him; and hitherto he appeareth not.

If you take this also, and any thing befall him in the way, you will bring down my grey hairs with sorrow unto hell.

Therefore, if I shall go to thy servant, our father, and the boy be wanting, (whereas his life dependeth upon the life of him,)

And he shall see that he is not with us, he will die, and thy servants shall bring down his grey hairs with sorrow unto hell.

Let me be thy proper servant, who took him into my trust, and promised, saying: If I bring him not again, I will be guilty of sin against my father for ever.

Therefore I, thy servant, will stay instead of the boy in the service of my lord, and let the boy go up with his brethren.

For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I be a witness of the calamity that will oppress my father.

Joseph could no longer refrain himself before many that stood by: whereupon he commanded that all should go out, and no stranger be present at their knowing one another.

And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians, and all the house of Pharao heard.

And he said to his brethren: I am Joseph: Is my father yet living? His brethren could not answer him, being struck with exceeding great fear.

And he said mildly to them: Come nearer to me. And when they were come near him, he said: I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

Be not afraid, and let it not seem to you a hard case that you sold me into these countries: for God sent me before you into Egypt for your preservation.

For it is two years since the famine began to be upon the land, and five years more remain, wherein there can be neither ploughing nor reaping.

And God sent me before, that you may be preserved upon the earth, and may have food to live.

Not by your counsel was I sent hither, but by the will of God: who hath made me as it were a father to Pharao, and lord of his whole house, and governor in all the land of Egypt.

Make haste, and go ye up to my father, and say to him: Thus saith thy son Joseph: God hath made me lord of the whole land of Egypt; come down to me, linger not.

And thou shalt dwell in the land of Gessen: and thou shalt be near me, thou and thy sons, and thy sons' sons, thy sheep, and thy herds, and all things that thou hast.

And there I will feed thee, (for there are yet five years of famine remaining) lest both thou perish, and thy house, and all things that thou hast.

Behold, your eyes, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, see that it is my mouth that speaketh to you.

You shall tell my father of all my glory, and all things that you have seen in Egypt: make haste and bring him to me.

And falling upon the neck of his brother Benjamin, he embraced him and wept: and Benjamin in like manner wept also on his neck.

And Joseph kissed all his brethren, and wept upon every one of them: after which they were emboldened to speak to him.

And it was heard, and the fame was spread abroad in the king's court: The brethren of Joseph are come; and Pharao with all his family was glad.

And he spoke to Joseph that he should give orders to his brethren, saying: Load your beasts, and go into the land of Chanaan,

And bring away from thence your father and kindred, and come to me; and I will give you all the good things of Egypt, that you may eat the marrow of the land.

Give orders also that they take wagons out of the land of Egypt, for the carriage of their children and their wives; and say: Take up your father, and make haste to come with all speed:

And leave nothing of your household stuff; for all the riches of Egypt shall be yours.

And the sons of Israel did as they were bid. And Joseph gave them wagons according to Pharao's commandment: and provisions for the way.

He ordered also to be brought out for every one of them two robes: but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, with five robes of the best:

Sending to his father as much money and raiment; adding besides, ten he-asses, to carry off all the riches of Egypt, and as many she- asses, carrying wheat and bread for the journey.

So he sent away his brethren, and at their departing said to them: Be not angry in the way.

And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Chanaan, to their father Jacob.

And they told him, saying: Joseph, thy son, is living; and he is ruler in all the land of Egypt. Which when Jacob heard, he awaked as it were out of a deep sleep, yet did not believe them.

They, on the other side, told the whole order of the thing. And when he saw the wagons, and all that he had sent, his spirit revived,

And he said: It is enough for me if Joseph, my son, be yet living: I will go and see him before I die.

And Israel taking his journey, with all that he had, came to the well of the oath, and killing victims there to the God of his father Isaac,

He heard him, by a vision in the night, calling him, and saying to him: Jacob, Jacob. And he answered him: Lo, here I am.

God said to him: I am the most mighty God of thy father; fear not, go down into Egypt, for I will make a great nation of thee there.

I will go down with thee thither, and will bring thee back again from thence: Joseph also shall put his hands upon thy eyes.

And Jacob rose up from the well of the oath: and his sons took him up, with their children and wives in the wagons, which Pharao had sent to carry the old man,

And all that he had in the land of Chanaan: and he came into Egypt with all his seed;

His sons, and grandsons, daughters, and all his offspring together.

And these are the names of the children of Israel, that entered into Egypt, he and his children. His firstborn Ruben,

The sons of Ruben: Henoch and Phallu, and Hesron and Charmi.

The sons of Simeon: Jamuel and Jamin and Ahod, and Jachin and Sohar, and Saul, the son of a woman of Chanaan.

The sons of Levi: Gerson and Caath, and Merari.

The sons of Juda: Her and Onan, and Sela, and Phares and Zara. And Her and Onan died in the land of Chanaan. And sons were born to Phares: Hesron and Hamul.

The sons of Issachar: Thola and Phua, and Job and Semron.

The sons of Zabulon: Sared, and Elon, and Jahelel.