Jacob, Joseph & Egypt

My lord. Thou didst ask thy servants the first time: Have you a father or a brother.

And we answered thee, my lord: We have a father an old man, and a young boy, that was born in his old age; whose brother by the mother is dead; and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him tenderly.

And thou saidst to thy servants: Bring him hither to me, and I will set my eyes on him.

We suggested to my lord: The boy cannot leave his father: for if he leave him, he will die.

And thou saidst to thy servants: Except your youngest brother come with you, you shall see my face no more.

Therefore when we were gone up to thy servant our father, we told him all that my lord had said.

And our father said: Go again, and buy us a little wheat.

And we said to him: We cannot go: if our youngest brother go down with us, we will set out together: otherwise, without him we dare not see the man's face.

Whereunto he answered: You know that my wife bore me two.

One went out, and you said: A beast devoured him; and hitherto he appeareth not.

If you take this also, and any thing befall him in the way, you will bring down my grey hairs with sorrow unto hell.

Therefore, if I shall go to thy servant, our father, and the boy be wanting, (whereas his life dependeth upon the life of him,)

And he shall see that he is not with us, he will die, and thy servants shall bring down his grey hairs with sorrow unto hell.

Let me be thy proper servant, who took him into my trust, and promised, saying: If I bring him not again, I will be guilty of sin against my father for ever.

Therefore I, thy servant, will stay instead of the boy in the service of my lord, and let the boy go up with his brethren.

For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I be a witness of the calamity that will oppress my father.

Joseph could no longer refrain himself before many that stood by: whereupon he commanded that all should go out, and no stranger be present at their knowing one another.

And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians, and all the house of Pharao heard.

And he said to his brethren: I am Joseph: Is my father yet living? His brethren could not answer him, being struck with exceeding great fear.

And he said mildly to them: Come nearer to me. And when they were come near him, he said: I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

Be not afraid, and let it not seem to you a hard case that you sold me into these countries: for God sent me before you into Egypt for your preservation.

For it is two years since the famine began to be upon the land, and five years more remain, wherein there can be neither ploughing nor reaping.

And God sent me before, that you may be preserved upon the earth, and may have food to live.

Not by your counsel was I sent hither, but by the will of God: who hath made me as it were a father to Pharao, and lord of his whole house, and governor in all the land of Egypt.

Make haste, and go ye up to my father, and say to him: Thus saith thy son Joseph: God hath made me lord of the whole land of Egypt; come down to me, linger not.