Genesis, Chapter 43:

Verses from Genesis, Chapter 43 of the Book of Genesis of the Bible.

Genesis - Old Testament — Genesis – Old Testament

The second trip to Egypt

1. Hunger continued to be severe in the land.
2. When they had finished eating the grain they brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us some more grain.”
3. But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, 'You will not see my face again unless you have your brother with you.'
4. If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy grain for you.
5. But if you do not send him, we will not come down, because the man said, 'You will not see my face again unless you have your brother with you.'
6. Israel asked, “Why have you caused me so much trouble? Why did they tell the man they had another brother?”
7. They replied: “The man asked us specifically about ourselves and our family. He asked us: 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' We answered his questions. How could we have known he would say, 'Bring your brother'?”
8. Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Let the lad go with me, so that we can get up and go. Thus, we and you and our children will live and not die.
9. I personally commit myself to him; you can demand it from him. If I don't bring him back and present him to you, I will be guilty before you for the rest of my life.
10. If we hadn’t taken so long, we would have been back twice already.”
11. Then their father Israel said to them, “If it is so, so be it. Do this: take some of the best fruits on earth in your bags and carry them as a gift to the man, some balm, some honey, some spices and myrrh, dates and almonds.
12. Also take twice as much money, take back the money that was returned in your cereal bags. Maybe it was a mistake.
13. Take your brother and return to the man.
14. May Almighty God grant you mercy before man, so that he will release Simeon and Benjamin. As for me, if I am childless, I will be childless.”
15. The men took the gift, double the money and Benjamin. They got up, went to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph.
16. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men home, kill an animal and prepare dinner, for they will eat with me at noon.”
17. The steward did as Joseph told him and took them to Joseph's house.
18. As they approached Joseph's house, the brothers were terrified and said to each other, “Because of the money that was returned in our sacks of grain, we were brought here. He will attack us, dominate us and turn us into slaves, and take our donkeys.”
19. So they approached the steward of Joseph's house and, at the gate, said to him:
20. “Please sir, we were brought here the first time to buy grain.
21. But when we arrived at the place where we spent the night and opened our bags of grain, we found everyone's money exactly in its place. We brought that money back.
22. We also brought more money to buy more cereal. We don’t know who put the money in our cereal bags.”
23. The butler replied, “Don’t worry. Do not be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks of grain. The money you paid for your grain is in my possession.” And he brought Simeon to them.
24. The steward took them to Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet and food for their donkeys.
25. They prepared the gift for Joseph's arrival at noon, because they knew they would eat there.
26. When Joseph arrived home, they brought him the gift they had brought and prostrated themselves before him on the ground.
27. Joseph asked how they were and said, “How is your father, the old man you told me about? Are you still alive?”
28. They replied, “Yes, your servant, our father, is alive and well.” And they bowed down and prostrated themselves.
29. Joseph looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and asked, "Is this your younger brother, the one you told me about?" And he added: “God be gracious to you, my son.”
30. Moved by his brother, Joseph looked for a place where he could cry. He went into his room and cried there.
31. After washing his face, he went out and, controlling himself, ordered: “Serve the food.”
32. They served Joseph separately, his brothers also separately, and the Egyptians who ate with him also separately, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, whom they considered an abomination.
33. They sat down before him, the oldest first and the youngest last, and they looked at each other in astonishment.
34. He served them the food that was in front of them, but he gave Benjamin's portion five times larger than the others'. And they drank and rejoiced with him.