1Now the faminewas severein the land.2So it cameabout whenthey had finishedeatingthe grainwhichthey had broughtfrom Egypt,that their fathersaidto them, "Goback,buyus a littlefood."3Judahspoketo him, however, saying,"The mansolemnlywarnedus, 'You shall not seemy faceunlessyour brotheris with you.'4"Ifyou sendour brotherwith us, we will godownand buyyou food.5"But ifyou do not send[him], we will not godown;for the mansaidto us, 'You will not seemy faceunlessyour brotheris with you.'"6Then Israelsaid,"Whydid you treatme so badlyby tellingthe manwhether you stillhad [another] brother?"7But they said,"The manquestionedparticularlyabout us and our relatives,saying,Is your fatherstillalive?Haveyou [another] brother?'So we answeredhis questions.Could we possiblyknowthat he would say,'Bringyour brotherdown'?"8Judahsaidto his fatherIsrael,"Sendthe ladwith me and we will ariseand go,that we may liveand not die,we as wellas you and our littleones.9"I myselfwill be suretyfor him; you may holdme responsiblefor him. IfI do not bringhim [back] to you and sethim beforeyou, then let me bearthe blamebefore you forever.10"For ifwe had not delayed,surelyby nowwe could have returnedtwice."
11Then their fatherIsraelsaidto them, "If[it must be] so,thendothis:takesomeof the bestproductsof the landin your bags,and carrydownto the manas a present,a littlebalmand a littlehoney,aromaticgumand myrrh,pistachionutsand almonds.12"Takedouble[the] moneyin your hand,and takebackin your handthe moneythat was returnedin the mouthof your sacks;perhapsit was a mistake.13"Takeyour brotheralso, and arise,returnto the man;14and may GodAlmightygrantyou compassionin the sightof the man,so that he will releaseto you your otherbrotherand Benjamin.And as for me, ifI am bereavedof my children,I am bereaved."15So the mentookthispresent,and they tookdouble[the] moneyin their hand,and Benjamin;then they aroseand wentdownto Egyptand stoodbeforeJoseph.
16When JosephsawBenjaminwith them, he saidto his housesteward,"Bringthe meninto the house,and slayan animaland makeready;for the menare to dinewith me at noon."17So the mandidas Josephsaid,and broughtthe mento Joseph'shouse.18Now the menwere afraid,becausethey were broughtto Joseph'shouse;and they said,"[It is] becauseof the moneythat was returnedin our sacksthe firsttimethat we are being broughtin, that he may seekoccasionagainstus and fallupon us, and takeus for slaveswith our donkeys."19So they camenearto Joseph'shousesteward,and spoketo him at the entranceof the house,20and said,"Oh,my lord,we indeedcamedownthe firsttimeto buyfood,21and it cameabout whenwe cameto the lodgingplace,that we openedour sacks,and behold,eachman'smoneywas in the mouthof his sack,our moneyin full.So we have broughtit backin our hand.22"We have also broughtdownothermoneyin our handto buyfood;we do not knowwhoputour moneyin our sacks."23He said,"Be at ease,do not be afraid.Your Godand the Godof your fatherhas givenyou treasurein your sacks;I hadyour money."Then he broughtSimeonout to them.24Then the manbroughtthe meninto Joseph'shouseand gavethem water,and they washedtheir feet;and he gavetheir donkeysfodder.25So they preparedthe presentfor Joseph'scomingat noon;for they had heardthat they were to eata mealthere.
26When Josephcamehome,they broughtinto the houseto him the presentwhichwas in their handand bowedto the groundbefore him.27Then he askedthem about their welfare,and said,"Is your oldfatherwell,of whomyou spoke?Is he stillalive?"28They said,"Your servantour fatheris well;he is stillalive."They boweddownin homage.29As he liftedhis eyesand sawhis brotherBenjamin,his mother'sson,he said,"Is thisyour youngestbrother,of whomyou spoketo me?" And he said,"May Godbe graciousto you, my son."30Josephhurried[out] for he was deeplystirredoverhis brother,and he sought[a place] to weep;and he enteredhis chamberand weptthere.31Then he washedhis faceand cameout; and he controlledhimself and said,"Servethe meal."32So they servedhim by himself,and them by themselves,and the Egyptianswho atewith him by themselves,becausethe Egyptianscouldnot eatbreadwith the Hebrews,for that is loathsometo the Egyptians.33Now they were seatedbeforehim, the firstbornaccording to his birthrightand the youngestaccording to his youth,and the menlookedat oneanotherin astonishment.34He tookportionsto them from his own table,but Benjamin'sportionwas fivetimesas muchas anyof theirs. So they feastedand drankfreelywith him.
