Aussie Bible logo Aussie BibleFair Dinkum Edition

Genesis 43

And the famine had a grip on the country. And when they'd eaten through the grain they'd brought out of Egypt, their father said to them: Go back and buy us a bit more food. And Judah said to him: The man told us straight out: You won't see my face unless your brother's with you. If you'll send our brother with us, we'll go down and buy y

Now reading: Fair DinkumRead:

You’re in Study Mode. Each verse can show the Fair Dinkum, Plain English and King James Version (1611) together. Use the buttons above to show or hide any version.

Judah stands surety

And the famine had a grip on the country. And when they'd eaten through the grain they'd brought out of Egypt, their father said to them: Go back and buy us a bit more food. And Judah said to him: The man told us straight out: You won't see my face unless your brother's with you. If you'll send our brother with us, we'll go down and buy you food. But if you won't send him, we're not going. Because the man told us: You won't see my face unless your brother's with you. And Israel said: Why did you do the wrong thing by me and tell the man you had another brother? And they said: The man questioned us hard about ourselves and our family. Is your father still alive? Have you got another brother? And we answered him straight. How were we to know he'd say: Bring your brother down? And Judah said to Israel his father: Send the boy with me and we'll get up and go, so we live and don't die — us and you and our little ones as well. I'll stand good for him. You can hold me to account for him. If I don't bring him back to you and stand him in front of you, then let me wear the blame for good. If we hadn't hung about like this, we'd have been there and back twice by now. And their father Israel said to them: If that's how it has to be, then do this. Take the best the country's got in your bags and carry the man a present — a bit of balm and a bit of honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds. And take double the money with you, and carry back the money that turned up in the mouth of your sacks. It might have been an oversight. Take your brother too, and get up and go back to the man. And God Almighty give you mercy in front of the man, so he lets your other brother go, and Benjamin. And if I lose my children, then I lose them.

And the famine was bad in the land. And when they'd finished eating the grain they'd brought out of Egypt, their father said to them: Go again, buy us a bit of food. And Judah spoke to him: The man warned us hard: You won't see my face unless your brother is with you. If you'll send our brother with us, we'll go down and buy you food. But if you won't send him, we won't go down. Because the man said to us: You won't see my face unless your brother is with you. And Israel said: Why did you deal so badly with me, to tell the man you had another brother? And they said: The man asked us straight about ourselves and about our family: Is your father still alive? Have you got another brother? And we told him according to what he asked. Could we have known for sure he'd say, Bring your brother down? And Judah said to Israel his father: Send the boy with me, and we'll get up and go, so we can live and not die, both us and you and our little ones. I'll be surety for him. You'll want him from my hand. If I don't bring him to you and set him in front of you, then let me carry the blame forever. Because if we hadn't held back, we'd definitely have come back this second time by now. And their father Israel said to them: If it has to be so now, do this. Take some of the best fruits of the land in your bags, and carry the man a gift — a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds. And take double money in your hand. And carry back in your hand the money that was put back in the mouth of your sacks. Maybe it was a mistake. Take your brother too, and get up, go again to the man. And God Almighty give you mercy in front of the man, so he sends away your other brother and Benjamin. If I'm bereaved of my children, I'm bereaved.

And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food. And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down? And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever: For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time. And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

1

And the famine had a grip on the country.

Plain English

And the famine was bad in the land.

King James Version, 1611

And the famine was sore in the land.

2

And when they'd eaten through the grain they'd brought out of Egypt, their father said to them: Go back and buy us a bit more food.

Plain English

And when they'd finished eating the grain they'd brought out of Egypt, their father said to them: Go again, buy us a bit of food.

King James Version, 1611

And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

3

And Judah said to him: The man told us straight out: You won't see my face unless your brother's with you.

Plain English

And Judah spoke to him: The man warned us hard: You won't see my face unless your brother is with you.

King James Version, 1611

And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

4

If you'll send our brother with us, we'll go down and buy you food.

King James Version, 1611

If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:

5

But if you won't send him, we're not going. Because the man told us: You won't see my face unless your brother's with you.

Plain English

But if you won't send him, we won't go down. Because the man said to us: You won't see my face unless your brother is with you.

King James Version, 1611

But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

6

And Israel said: Why did you do the wrong thing by me and tell the man you had another brother?

Plain English

And Israel said: Why did you deal so badly with me, to tell the man you had another brother?

King James Version, 1611

And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?

7

And they said: The man questioned us hard about ourselves and our family. Is your father still alive? Have you got another brother? And we answered him straight. How were we to know he'd say: Bring your brother down?

Plain English

And they said: The man asked us straight about ourselves and about our family: Is your father still alive? Have you got another brother? And we told him according to what he asked. Could we have known for sure he'd say, Bring your brother down?

King James Version, 1611

And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

8

And Judah said to Israel his father: Send the boy with me and we'll get up and go, so we live and don't die — us and you and our little ones as well.

Plain English

And Judah said to Israel his father: Send the boy with me, and we'll get up and go, so we can live and not die, both us and you and our little ones.

King James Version, 1611

And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

9

I'll stand good for him. You can hold me to account for him. If I don't bring him back to you and stand him in front of you, then let me wear the blame for good.

Plain English

I'll be surety for him. You'll want him from my hand. If I don't bring him to you and set him in front of you, then let me carry the blame forever.

King James Version, 1611

I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

10

If we hadn't hung about like this, we'd have been there and back twice by now.

Plain English

Because if we hadn't held back, we'd definitely have come back this second time by now.

King James Version, 1611

For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

11

And their father Israel said to them: If that's how it has to be, then do this. Take the best the country's got in your bags and carry the man a present — a bit of balm and a bit of honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds.

Plain English

And their father Israel said to them: If it has to be so now, do this. Take some of the best fruits of the land in your bags, and carry the man a gift — a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds.

King James Version, 1611

And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

12

And take double the money with you, and carry back the money that turned up in the mouth of your sacks. It might have been an oversight.

Plain English

And take double money in your hand. And carry back in your hand the money that was put back in the mouth of your sacks. Maybe it was a mistake.

King James Version, 1611

And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:

13

Take your brother too, and get up and go back to the man.

Plain English

Take your brother too, and get up, go again to the man.

King James Version, 1611

Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:

14

And God Almighty give you mercy in front of the man, so he lets your other brother go, and Benjamin. And if I lose my children, then I lose them.

Plain English

And God Almighty give you mercy in front of the man, so he sends away your other brother and Benjamin. If I'm bereaved of my children, I'm bereaved.

King James Version, 1611

And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

The meal at Joseph's house

And the men took the present, and took double the money with them, and Benjamin. And they got up and went down to Egypt and stood in front of Joseph. And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the man who ran his house: Bring these men inside, and kill something and get it ready. They're eating with me at midday. And the man did as Joseph said, and brought the men into Joseph's house. And the men were frightened, being brought into Joseph's house, and they said: It's over the money that went back in our sacks the first time. He's looking for something to pin on us, so he can come down on us and take us for slaves, and our donkeys with us. So they went up to the steward of Joseph's house and had a word with him at the door, and said: Look here, sir — we came down the first time to buy food. And when we got to where we camped and opened our sacks, there was every man's money in the mouth of his sack, our money, the full weight of it. And we've brought it back with us. And we've brought other money down as well, to buy food. We've no idea who put our money in our sacks. And he said: Peace be with you. Do not be afraid. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your money. And he brought Simeon out to them. And the man brought them into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their feet. And he fed their donkeys. And they got the present ready for when Joseph came at midday, because they'd heard they were to eat there. And when Joseph came home they brought him the present they had with them into the house, and bowed down to him to the ground. And he asked how they were getting on, and said: Is your father well, the old man you told me about? Is he still alive? And they answered: Your servant our father is in good health. He's still alive. And they bowed their heads and bowed down. And he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son, and said: Is this the younger brother you told me about? And he said: God be good to you, my son. And Joseph got out in a hurry, because his heart was going out to his brother and he was looking for somewhere to weep. And he went into his own room and wept there. And he washed his face and came out, and held himself together, and said: Put the food on. And they set it out for him on his own, and for them on their own, and for the Egyptians eating with him on their own. Because Egyptians can't eat with Hebrews — it's not done among them. And they sat down in front of him, the firstborn by his birthright and the youngest by his youth. And the men looked at each other, astonished. And he sent them helpings from his own table, but Benjamin's was five times the size of anyone else's. And they drank, and had a good time of it with him.

And the men took that gift, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin. And they got up and went down to Egypt and stood in front of Joseph. And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house: Bring these men home, and kill and get it ready. Because these men will eat with me at noon. And the man did what Joseph said. And the man brought the men into Joseph's house. And the men were frightened because they were brought into Joseph's house. And they said: We're brought in because of the money that was put back in our sacks the first time — so he can find something against us and fall on us and take us as slaves, and our donkeys. And they came near the steward of Joseph's house and talked with him at the door of the house. And they said: My lord, we really came down the first time to buy food. And when we came to the inn and opened our sacks, look — every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. And we've brought it back in our hand. And we've brought other money down in our hand to buy food. We can't tell who put our money in our sacks. And he said: Peace be with you. Don't be frightened. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money. And he brought Simeon out to them. And the man brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their feet. And he gave their donkeys feed. And they got the gift ready for when Joseph came at noon. Because they heard they'd eat bread there. And when Joseph came home, they brought him the gift that was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth. And he asked how they were and said: Is your father well, the old man you spoke about? Is he still alive? And they answered: Your servant our father is well. He's still alive. And they bowed their heads and bowed down. And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said: Is this your younger brother you spoke to me about? And he said: God be gracious to you, my son. And Joseph hurried, because his insides longed for his brother. And he looked for somewhere to weep. And he went into his room and wept there. And he washed his face and came out and held himself back, and said: Set on the bread. And they set on for him on his own, and for them on their own, and for the Egyptians who ate with him on their own. Because the Egyptians can't eat bread with the Hebrews, because that's disgusting to the Egyptians. And they sat in front of him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth. And the men wondered at each other. And he took servings to them from in front of him. But Benjamin's serving was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him.

And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses. And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand. And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks. And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them. And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender. And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there. And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth. And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread. And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another. And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

15

And the men took the present, and took double the money with them, and Benjamin. And they got up and went down to Egypt and stood in front of Joseph.

Plain English

And the men took that gift, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin. And they got up and went down to Egypt and stood in front of Joseph.

King James Version, 1611

And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

16

And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the man who ran his house: Bring these men inside, and kill something and get it ready. They're eating with me at midday.

Plain English

And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house: Bring these men home, and kill and get it ready. Because these men will eat with me at noon.

King James Version, 1611

And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.

17

And the man did as Joseph said, and brought the men into Joseph's house.

Plain English

And the man did what Joseph said. And the man brought the men into Joseph's house.

King James Version, 1611

And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.

18

And the men were frightened, being brought into Joseph's house, and they said: It's over the money that went back in our sacks the first time. He's looking for something to pin on us, so he can come down on us and take us for slaves, and our donkeys with us.

Plain English

And the men were frightened because they were brought into Joseph's house. And they said: We're brought in because of the money that was put back in our sacks the first time — so he can find something against us and fall on us and take us as slaves, and our donkeys.

King James Version, 1611

And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.

19

So they went up to the steward of Joseph's house and had a word with him at the door,

Plain English

And they came near the steward of Joseph's house and talked with him at the door of the house.

King James Version, 1611

And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,

20

and said: Look here, sir — we came down the first time to buy food.

Plain English

And they said: My lord, we really came down the first time to buy food.

King James Version, 1611

And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

21

And when we got to where we camped and opened our sacks, there was every man's money in the mouth of his sack, our money, the full weight of it. And we've brought it back with us.

Plain English

And when we came to the inn and opened our sacks, look — every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. And we've brought it back in our hand.

King James Version, 1611

And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.

22

And we've brought other money down as well, to buy food. We've no idea who put our money in our sacks.

Plain English

And we've brought other money down in our hand to buy food. We can't tell who put our money in our sacks.

King James Version, 1611

And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

23

And he said: Peace be with you. Do not be afraid. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your money. And he brought Simeon out to them.

Plain English

And he said: Peace be with you. Don't be frightened. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money. And he brought Simeon out to them.

King James Version, 1611

And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

24

And the man brought them into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their feet. And he fed their donkeys.

Plain English

And the man brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their feet. And he gave their donkeys feed.

King James Version, 1611

And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

25

And they got the present ready for when Joseph came at midday, because they'd heard they were to eat there.

Plain English

And they got the gift ready for when Joseph came at noon. Because they heard they'd eat bread there.

King James Version, 1611

And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.

26

And when Joseph came home they brought him the present they had with them into the house, and bowed down to him to the ground.

Plain English

And when Joseph came home, they brought him the gift that was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

King James Version, 1611

And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

27

And he asked how they were getting on, and said: Is your father well, the old man you told me about? Is he still alive?

Plain English

And he asked how they were and said: Is your father well, the old man you spoke about? Is he still alive?

King James Version, 1611

And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?

28

And they answered: Your servant our father is in good health. He's still alive. And they bowed their heads and bowed down.

Plain English

And they answered: Your servant our father is well. He's still alive. And they bowed their heads and bowed down.

King James Version, 1611

And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.

29

And he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son, and said: Is this the younger brother you told me about? And he said: God be good to you, my son.

Plain English

And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said: Is this your younger brother you spoke to me about? And he said: God be gracious to you, my son.

King James Version, 1611

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

30

And Joseph got out in a hurry, because his heart was going out to his brother and he was looking for somewhere to weep. And he went into his own room and wept there.

Plain English

And Joseph hurried, because his insides longed for his brother. And he looked for somewhere to weep. And he went into his room and wept there.

King James Version, 1611

And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

31

And he washed his face and came out, and held himself together, and said: Put the food on.

Plain English

And he washed his face and came out and held himself back, and said: Set on the bread.

King James Version, 1611

And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

32

And they set it out for him on his own, and for them on their own, and for the Egyptians eating with him on their own. Because Egyptians can't eat with Hebrews — it's not done among them.

Plain English

And they set on for him on his own, and for them on their own, and for the Egyptians who ate with him on their own. Because the Egyptians can't eat bread with the Hebrews, because that's disgusting to the Egyptians.

King James Version, 1611

And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

33

And they sat down in front of him, the firstborn by his birthright and the youngest by his youth. And the men looked at each other, astonished.

Plain English

And they sat in front of him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth. And the men wondered at each other.

King James Version, 1611

And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.

34

And he sent them helpings from his own table, but Benjamin's was five times the size of anyone else's. And they drank, and had a good time of it with him.

Plain English

And he took servings to them from in front of him. But Benjamin's serving was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him.

King James Version, 1611

And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.