43:1 Now the famine was severe in the land.
43:1 Now the famine was severe in the land.

43:2 And when they had eaten the grain which they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go again, buy us a little food."
43:2 And when they had eaten up the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go again, buy us a little more food."

43:3 But Judah said to him, "The man solemnly warned us, saying, `You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.'
43:3 But Judah said to him, "The man solemnly warned us, saying, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.'

43:4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food;
43:4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food;

43:5 but if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, `You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.'"
43:5 but if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, 'You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.'"

43:6 Israel said, "Why did you treat me so ill as to tell the man that you had another brother?"
43:6 Israel said, "Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?"

43:7 They replied, "The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, `Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?' What we told him was in answer to these questions; could we in any way know that he would say, `Bring your brother down'?"
43:7 They replied, "The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?' What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?"

43:8 And Judah said to Israel his father, "Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones.
43:8 Then Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me, and let us be on our way, so that we may live and not die--you and we and also our little ones.

43:9 I will be surety for him; of my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame for ever;
43:9 I myself will be surety for him; you can hold me accountable for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.

43:10 for if we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice."
43:10 If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice."

43:11 Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man a present, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds.
43:11 Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry them down as a present to the man--a little balm and a little honey, gum, resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds.

43:12 Take double the money with you; carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight.
43:12 Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the top of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight.

43:13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man;
43:13 Take your brother also, and be on your way again to the man;

43:14 may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may send back your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved."
43:14 may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, so that he may send back your other brother and Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved."

43:15 So the men took the present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin; and they arose and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
43:15 So the men took the present, and they took double the money with them, as well as Benjamin. Then they went on their way down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

43:16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, "Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon."
43:16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, "Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon."

43:17 The man did as Joseph bade him, and brought the men to Joseph's house.
43:17 The man did as Joseph said, and brought the men to Joseph's house.

43:18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house, and they said, "It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may seek occasion against us and fall upon us, to make slaves of us and seize our asses."
43:18 Now the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house, and they said, "It is because of the money, replaced in our sacks the first time, that we have been brought in, so that he may have an opportunity to fall upon us, to make slaves of us and take our donkeys."

43:19 So they went up to the steward of Joseph's house, and spoke with him at the door of the house,
43:19 So they went up to the steward of Joseph's house and spoke with him at the entrance to the house.

43:20 and said, "Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food;
43:20 They said, "Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food;

43:21 and when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was every man's money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it again with us,
43:21 and when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each one's money in the top of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it back with us.

43:22 and we have brought other money down in our hand to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks."
43:22 Moreover we have brought down with us additional money to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks."

43:23 He replied, "Rest assured, do not be afraid; your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your sacks for you; I received your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.
43:23 He replied, "Rest assured, do not be afraid; your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your sacks for you; I received your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.

43:24 And when the man had brought the men into Joseph's house, and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their asses provender,
43:24 When the steward had brought the men into Joseph's house, and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder,

43:25 they made ready the present for Joseph's coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.
43:25 they made the present ready for Joseph's coming at noon, for they had heard that they would dine there.

43:26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which they had with them, and bowed down to him to the ground.
43:26 When Joseph came home, they brought him the present that they had carried into the house, and bowed to the ground before him.

43:27 And he inquired about their welfare, and said, "Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?"
43:27 He inquired about their welfare, and said, "Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?"

43:28 They said, "Your servant our father is well, he is still alive." And they bowed their heads and made obeisance.
43:28 They said, "Your servant our father is well; he is still alive." And they bowed their heads and did obeisance.

43:29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, "Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!"
43:29 Then he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, "Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!"

43:30 Then Joseph made haste, for his heart yearned for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there.
43:30 With that, Joseph hurried out, because he was overcome with affection for his brother, and he was about to weep. So he went into a private room and wept there.

43:31 Then he washed his face and came out; and controlling himself he said, "Let food be served."
43:31 Then he washed his face and came out; and controlling himself he said, "Serve the meal."

43:32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
43:32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

43:33 And they sat before him, the first-born according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked at one another in amazement.
43:33 When they were seated before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth, the men looked at one another in amazement.

43:34 Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.
43:34 Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.