New Living Translation NLT
New International Version NIV
1 Joseph could stand it no longer. There were many people in the room, and he said to his attendants, “Out, all of you!” So he was alone with his brothers when he told them who he was.
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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.
2 Then he broke down and wept. He wept so loudly the Egyptians could hear him, and word of it quickly carried to Pharaoh’s palace.
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And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.
3 “I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them.
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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.
4 “Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt.
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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!
5 But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.
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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.
6 This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.
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For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping.
7 God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.
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But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.
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“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.
9 “Now hurry back to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me master over all the land of Egypt. So come down to me immediately!
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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.
10 You can live in the region of Goshen, where you can be near me with all your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own.
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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.
11 I will take care of you there, for there are still five years of famine ahead of us. Otherwise you, your household, and all your animals will starve.’”
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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.’
12 Then Joseph added, “Look! You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that I really am Joseph!
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“You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you.
13 Go tell my father of my honored position here in Egypt. Describe for him everything you have seen, and then bring my father here quickly.”
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Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”
14 Weeping with joy, he embraced Benjamin, and Benjamin did the same.
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Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping.
15 Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after that they began talking freely with him.
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And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.
16 The news soon reached Pharaoh’s palace: “Joseph’s brothers have arrived!” Pharaoh and his officials were all delighted to hear this.
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When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased.
17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘This is what you must do: Load your pack animals, and hurry back to the land of Canaan.
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Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan,
18 Then get your father and all of your families, and return here to me. I will give you the very best land in Egypt, and you will eat from the best that the land produces.’”
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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.’
19 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt to carry your little children and your wives, and bring your father here.
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“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.
20 Don’t worry about your personal belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”
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Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’ ”
21 So the sons of Jacob did as they were told. Joseph provided them with wagons, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he gave them supplies for the journey.
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So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.
22 And he gave each of them new clothes—but to Benjamin he gave five changes of clothes and 300 pieces of silver.
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To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes.
23 He also sent his father ten male donkeys loaded with the finest products of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other supplies he would need on his journey.
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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.
24 So Joseph sent his brothers off, and as they left, he called after them, “Don’t quarrel about all this along the way!”
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Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”
25 And they left Egypt and returned to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan.
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So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.
26 “Joseph is still alive!” they told him. “And he is governor of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn’t believe it.
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They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.
27 But when they repeated to Jacob everything Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him, their father’s spirits revived.
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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.
28 Then Jacob exclaimed, “It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.”
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And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
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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.