Genesis 45

Then Joseph couldn't hold himself together any longer in front of everyone standing there, and he called out, “Get everyone out.” So there was nobody with him when he made himself known to his brothers.

And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it.

And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers couldn't answer him, because they were shocked at the sight of him.

And Joseph said to his brothers, “Come here to me.” So they came. And he said, “I'm your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt.

And now — don't be upset with yourselves, and don't be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me on ahead of you to save lives.

There've been two years of famine in the land now, and there'll be another five with no ploughing and no harvest.

But God sent me on ahead of you to keep a remnant of you alive on the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

So it wasn't you who sent me here, but God. He's made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his whole household, and ruler over all Egypt.

Now hurry back to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says. God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me. Don't hold off.

You'll live in the region of Goshen and be near me — you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you have.

And I'll provide for you there, because there are five more years of famine to come. Otherwise you and your household and everyone who's yours will come to nothing.’

You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it's really me talking to you.

Tell my father about all the honour I've been given in Egypt, and about everything you've seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”

Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept as he held him.

And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. And after that his brothers talked with him.

When the news reached Pharaoh's household that Joseph's brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased.

And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this. Load your animals and go back to Canaan,

and bring your father and your families back to me. I'll give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you'll live off the fat of the land.’

And tell them this as well: ‘Take carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and bring your father and come.

Don't worry about your belongings, because the best of everything in Egypt will be yours.’”

So the sons of Israel did it. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had ordered, and supplies for the journey.

He gave each of them new clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of clothes.

And to his father he sent this: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other food for the journey.

So he sent his brothers off, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don't fall out on the way.”

So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in Canaan.

And they told him, “Joseph is still alive. He's the ruler of the whole land of Egypt.” And Jacob was stunned. He didn't believe them.

But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob came alive again.

And Israel said, “It's enough. My son Joseph is still alive. I'll go and see him before I die.”