New International Version NIV
New International Reader's Version NIRV
1 Then 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.
1
Joseph couldn't control himself anymore in front of all of his attendants. He cried out, "Have everyone leave me!" So there wasn't anyone with Joseph when he told his brothers who he was.
2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.
2
He sobbed so loudly that the Egyptians heard him. Everyone in Pharaoh's house heard about it.
3 Joseph 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.
3
Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But his brothers weren't able to answer him. They were too afraid of him.
4 Then 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!
4
Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." So they did. Then he said, "I am your brother Joseph. I'm the one you sold into Egypt.
5 And 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.
5
But don't be upset. And don't be angry with yourselves because you sold me here. God sent me ahead of you to save many lives.
6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping.
6
"For two years now, there hasn't been enough food in the land. And for the next five years, people won't be plowing or gathering crops.
7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
7
But God sent me ahead of you to keep some of you alive on earth. He sent me here to save your lives by an act of mighty power.
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.
8
"So then, it wasn't you who sent me here. It was God. He made me like a father to Pharaoh. He made me master of Pharaoh's whole house. He made me ruler of the whole land of Egypt.
9 Now 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.
9
"Now hurry back to my father. Say to him, 'Your son Joseph says, "God has made me master of the whole land of Egypt. Come down to me. Don't waste any time.
10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.
10
You will live in the area of Goshen. You, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you have will be near me.
11 I 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.’
11
There I will provide everything you need. " ' "Five years without enough food are still coming. If you don't come down here, you and your family and everyone who belongs to you will lose everything." '
12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you.
12
"Brothers, you can see for yourselves that it's really I, Joseph, speaking to you. My brother Benjamin can see it too.
13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”
13
"Tell my father about all of the honor that has been given to me in Egypt. Tell him about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly."
14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping.
14
Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and sobbed. Benjamin also hugged him and sobbed.
15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.
15
Joseph kissed all of his brothers and sobbed over them. After that, his brothers talked with him.
16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased.
16
The news reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come. Pharaoh and all of his officials were pleased.
17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan,
17
Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Here's what I want you to tell your brothers. Say to them, 'Load your animals. Return to the land of Canaan.
18 and 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.’
18
Bring your father and your families back to me. I'll give you the best land in Egypt. You can enjoy all of the good things in 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.
19
"And here's something else I want you to tell them. Say to them, 'Take some carts from Egypt. Your children and your wives can use them. Get your father and come back.
20 Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’ ”
20
Don't worry about the things you have back there. The best of everything in Egypt will belong to you.' "
21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.
21
So the sons of Israel did it. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded. He also gave them supplies for their journey.
22 To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes.
22
He gave new clothes to each of them. But he gave more than seven pounds of silver to Benjamin. He also gave him five sets of clothes.
23 And 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.
23
He sent his father ten donkeys loaded with the best things from Egypt. He also sent ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other supplies for his journey.
24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”
24
Then Joseph sent his brothers away. As they were leaving he said to them, "Don't argue on the way!"
25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.
25
So they went up out of Egypt. They came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.
26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.
26
They told him, "Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of the whole land of Egypt." Jacob was shocked. He didn't believe them.
27 But 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.
27
So they told him everything Joseph had said to them. Jacob saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back. That gave new life to their father Jacob.
28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
28
Israel said, "I believe it now! My son Joseph is still alive. I'll go and see him before I die."
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.