Genesis 45

I Am Joseph

1Joseph could no longer hold himself back in front of all his attendants. “Have everyone leave me!” he cried. No one else was with him when he made himself known to his brothers. 2He wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. 3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” His brothers could not answer him; they were terrified in his presence.

4“Please come closer,” Joseph said. They came closer, and he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.

6The famine has been in the land for two years, and five more years remain without plowing or harvest. 7God sent me ahead of you to preserve a remnant for you on the earth and to keep you alive through a great deliverance. 8So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his whole household, and ruler over all Egypt.

Bring My Father Here

9Hurry back to my father and tell him, ‘Your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay. 10You can settle in Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you have. 11I will provide for you there, for five years of famine remain. Otherwise you, your household, and all you have will fall into poverty.’

12You can see for yourselves, and my brother Benjamin can see, that it is my own mouth speaking to you. 13Tell my father about all the honor I have in Egypt and everything you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.”

14Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15He kissed all his brothers and wept over them. After that, his brothers spoke with him.