The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Genesis 45

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Torah

Genesis chapter 45 — part of the Torah in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried: 'Cause every man to go out from me.' And there…” — the complete text of all 28 verses is below, free to read online.

1Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried: 'Cause every man to go out from me.' And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

2And he wept aloud; and the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.

3And Joseph said unto his brethren: 'I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?' And his brethren could not answer him; for they were affrighted at his presence.

4And Joseph said unto his brethren: 'Come near to me, I pray you.' And they came near. And he said: 'I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

5And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for G-d did send me before you to preserve life.

6For these two years hath the famine been in the land; and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest.

7And G-d sent me before you to give you a remnant on the earth, and to save you alive for a great deliverance.

8So now it was not you that sent me hither, but G-d; and He hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

9Hasten ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him: Thus saith thy son Joseph: G-d hath made me lord of all Egypt; come down unto me, tarry not.

10And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast;

11and there will I sustain thee; for there are yet five years of famine; lest thou come to poverty, thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast.

12And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.

13And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall hasten and bring down my father hither.'

14And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.

15And he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them; and after that his brethren talked with him.

16And the report thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying: 'Joseph's brethren are come'; and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.

17And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: 'Say unto thy brethren: This do ye: lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;

18and take your father and your households, and come unto me; and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.

19Now thou art commanded, this do ye: take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.

20Also regard not your stuff; for the good things of all the land of Egypt are yours.'

21And the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.

22To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver, and five changes of raiment.

23And to his father he sent in like manner ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden with corn and bread and victual for his father by the way.

24So he sent his brethren away, and they departed; and he said unto them: 'See that ye fall not out by the way.'

25And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father.

26And they told him, saying: 'Joseph is yet alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.' And his heart fainted, for he believed them not.

27And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them; and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.

28And Israel said: 'It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive; I will go and see him before I die.'

28 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

‹ Genesis 44 Genesis 46 ›

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