Study Desk

And when they were gone out of the city, but not yet far off, Joseph said to the steward, Arise, pursue the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, Why have you returned evil for good?

And Judah and his brothers came to Josephs house; for he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground.

And he said to them, Far be it from me that I should do such a thing; only the man with whom the cup has been found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, go up in peace to your father.

Then Judah came near to him and said, I beg you, O my lord, let your servant speak a few words in my lords presence, and let not your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like Pharaoh.

And we said to my lord, The lad cannot leave his father; for if he should leave his father, his father would die.

And we said to our father, We cannot go down; if our youngest brother goes down with us, then we will go down; for we cannot see the mans face unless our youngest brother is with us.

For your servant became surety for the lad to our father, saying, If l do not bring him back to you, then I shall be guilty before my father forever.

For how can I go up to my father, if the lad is not with me? Lest I see the misfortune which will come on my father.

Now do not be grieved, nor displeased with yourselves, that you sold me here; for it was to provide for you that God sent me before you.

For behold the famine has been in the land for two years; and yet there are five years, in which there will be no one that sows or that reaps.

And there I will provide for you; for the famine will yet last five years more; lest you, your household, and all that you have perish.

Behold, you are the governor; say to your brothers, Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your wives and for your little ones, and bring your father, and come.

And do not regard your stuff which you leave behind; for the choicest of all the land of Egypt is yours.

And the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey.

And to his father he sent after this manner: ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden with wheat, wine, and provisions for his fathers journey.

And they told him, saying, Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. But Jacob disregarded their story, for he did not believe them.

And he said, This is great news for me, for my son Joseph is still alive; I will go and see him before I die.

Then he said to him. I am El, the God of your father; fear not to go down to Egypt; for I will there make of you a great people;

And Joseph made ready his chariots, and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen, and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck for a while.

And the men are shepherds, for they are cattle raisers; and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.