Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)

1 Meanwhile, Joseph was led into Egypt. And Putiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, a leader of the army, an Egyptian man, purchased him from the hand of the Ishmaelites, by whom he was brought.

2 And the Lord was with him, and he was a man who prospered in everything that he did. And he lived in the house of his lord,

3 who knew very well that the Lord was with him, and that all the things that were done by him were directed by his hand.

4 And Joseph found favor in the sight of his lord, and he ministered to him. And, having been placed in charge of everything by him, he governed the house that was entrusted to him and all the things that had been delivered to him.

5 And the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian, because of Joseph, and he multiplied all his substance, as much in the buildings, as in the fields.

6 Neither did he know anything other than the bread that he ate. Now Joseph was beautiful in form, and stately in appearance.

7 And so, after many days, his mistress cast her eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Sleep with me.”

8 And without consenting at all to the wicked act, he said to her: “Behold, my lord has delivered all things to me, and he does not know what he has in his own house.

9 Neither is there anything which is not in my power, or that he has not delivered to me, except you, for you are his wife. How then can I do this evil act and sin against my God?”

10 With such words as these, throughout each day, the woman was pestering the young man, and he was refusing the adultery.

11 Then it happened, on a certain day, that Joseph entered the house, and he was doing something, without any witnesses.

12 And she, grasping the hem of his garment, said, “Sleep with me.” But he, leaving behind the cloak in her hand, fled and went outside.

13 And when the woman saw the garment in her hands and herself being treated with disrespect,

14 she called to herself the men of her house, and she said to them: “Lo, he has brought in a Hebrew man to abuse us. He entered toward me, in order to join with me; and when I had shouted out,

15 and he had heard my voice, he left behind the cloak that I held, and he fled outside.”

16 As a proof, therefore, of her fidelity, she retained the cloak, and she showed it to her husband, when he returned home.

17 And she said: “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought in to me, approached me to abuse me.

18 And when he had heard me cry out, he left behind the cloak that I held, and he fled outside.”

19 His lord, upon hearing these things, and having excessive trust in the words of his mate, was very angry.

20 And he delivered Joseph into prison, where the prisoners of the king were kept, and he was enclosed in that place.

21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and, having mercy on him, he gave him favor in the sight of the leader of the prison,

22 who delivered into his hand all the prisoners who were held in custody. And whatever was done, was under him.

23 Neither did he himself know anything, having entrusted all things to him. For the Lord was with him, and he directed everything that he did.

1 While these things were going on, it happened that two eunuchs, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt, and the miller of grain, offended their lord.

2 And Pharaoh, being angry with them, (now the one was in charge of the cupbearers, the other of the millers of grain)

3 sent them to the prison of the leader of the military, in which Joseph also was a prisoner.

4 But the keeper of the prison delivered them to Joseph, who ministered to them also. Some little time passed by, while they were held in custody.

5 And they both saw a similar dream on one night, whose interpretations should be related to one another.

6 And when Joseph had entered to them in the morning, and had seen them sad,

7 he consulted them, saying, “Why is your expression sadder today than usual?”

8 They responded, “We have seen a dream, and there is no one to interpret it for us.” And Joseph said to them, “Doesn’t interpretation belong to God? Recount for me what you have seen.”

9 The chief cupbearer explained his dream first. “I saw before me a vine,

10 on which were three shoots, which grew little by little into buds, and, after the flowers, it matured into grapes.

11 And the cup of Pharaoh was in my hand. Therefore, I took the grapes, and I pressed them into the cup that I held, and I handed the cup to Pharaoh.”

12 Joseph responded: “This is the interpretation of the dream. The three shoots are the next three days,

13 after which Pharaoh will remember your service, and he will restore you to your former position. And you will give him the cup according to your office, as you were accustomed to do before.

14 Only remember me, when it will be well with you, and do me this mercy, to suggest to Pharaoh to lead me out of this prison.

15 For I have been stolen from the land of the Hebrews, and here, innocently, I was cast into the pit.”

16 The chief miller of grain, seeing that he had wisely unraveled the dream, said: “I also saw a dream: that I had three baskets of meal above my head,

17 and in one basket, which was the highest, I carried all foods that are made by the art of baking, and the birds ate from it.”

18 Joseph responded: “This is the interpretation of the dream. The three baskets are the next three days,

19 after which Pharaoh will carry away your head, and also suspend you from a cross, and the birds will tear your flesh.”

20 The third day thereafter was the birthday of Pharaoh. And making a great feast for his servants, he remembered, during the banquet, the chief cupbearer and the chief miller of grain.

21 And he restored the one to his place, to present him the cup;

22 the other he hanged on a gallows, and thus the truth of the interpreter of dreams was proven.

23 And although he advanced with so much prosperity, the chief cupbearer forgot his interpreter of dreams.

1 After two years, Pharaoh saw a dream. He thought himself to be standing above a river,

2 from which ascended seven cows, exceedingly beautiful and stout. And they pastured in marshy places.

3 Likewise, another seven emerged from the river, filthy and thoroughly emaciated. And they pastured on the same bank of the river, in green places.

4 And they devoured those whose appearance and condition of body was so wonderful. Pharaoh, having been awakened,

5 slept again, and he saw another dream. Seven ears of grain sprung up on one stalk, full and well-formed.

6 Likewise, other ears of grain, of the same number, rose up, thin and struck with blight,

7 devouring all the beauty of the first. Pharaoh, when he awakened after his rest,

8 and when morning arrived, being terrified with fear, sent to all the interpreters of Egypt and to all of the wise men. And when they were summoned, he explained to them his dream; but there was no one who could interpret it.

9 Then at last the chief cupbearer, remembering, said, “I confess my sin.

10 The king, being angry with his servants, ordered me and the chief miller of grain to be forced into the prison of the leader of the military.

11 There, in one night, both of us saw a dream presaging the future.

12 In that place, there was a Hebrew, a servant of the same commander of the military, to whom we explained our dreams.

13 Whatever we heard was proven afterwards by the event of the matter. For I was restored to my office, and he was suspended on a cross.”

14 Immediately, by the king’s authority, Joseph was led out of prison, and they shaved him. And changing his apparel, they presented him to him.

15 And he said to him, “I have seen dreams, and there is no one who can unfold them. I have heard that you are very wise at interpreting these.”

16 Joseph responded, “Apart from me, God will respond favorably to Pharaoh.”

17 Therefore, Pharaoh explained what he had seen: “I thought myself to be standing on the bank of a river,

18 and seven cows climbed up from the river, exceedingly beautiful and full of flesh. And they grazed in a pasture of a marshy greenery.

19 And behold, there followed after these, another seven cows, with such deformity and emaciation as I had never seen in the land of Egypt.

20 These devoured and consumed the first,

21 giving no indication of being full. But they remained in the same state of emaciation and squalor. Awakening, but being weighed down into sleep again,

22 I saw a dream. Seven ears of grain sprang up on one stalk, full and very beautiful.

23 Likewise, another seven, thin and struck with blight, rose up from the stalk.

24 And they devoured the beauty of the first. I explained this dream to the interpreters, and there is no one who can unfold it.”

25 Joseph responded: “The dream of the king is one. What God will do, he has revealed to Pharaoh.

26 The seven beautiful cows, and the seven full ears of grain, are seven years of abundance. And so the force of the dreams is understood to be the same.

27 Likewise, the seven thin and emaciated cows, which ascended after them, and the seven thin ears of grain, which were struck with the burning wind, are seven approaching years of famine.

28 These will be fulfilled in this order.

29 Behold, there will arrive seven years of great fertility throughout the entire land of Egypt.

30 After this, there will follow another seven years, of such great barrenness that all the former abundance will be delivered into oblivion. For the famine will consume all the land,

31 and the greatness of this destitution will cause the greatness of the abundance to be lost.

32 Now, as to what you saw the second time, it is a dream pertaining to the same thing. It is an indication of its firmness, because the word of God shall be done, and it shall be completed swiftly.

33 Now therefore, let the king provide a wise and industrious man, and place him over the land of Egypt,

34 so that he may appoint overseers throughout all the regions. And let a fifth part of the fruits, throughout the seven fertile years

35 that now have already begun to occur, be gathered into storehouses. And let all the grain be stored away, under the power of Pharaoh, and let it be kept in the cities.

36 And let it be prepared for the future famine of seven years, which will oppress Egypt, and then the land will not be consumed by destitution.”

37 The counsel pleased Pharaoh and all his ministers.

38 And he said to them, “Would we be able to find another such man, who is full of the Spirit of God?”

39 Therefore, he said to Joseph: “Because God has revealed to you all that you have said, would I be able to find anyone wiser and as much like you?

40 You will be over my house, and to the authority of your mouth, all the people will show obedience. Only in one way, in the throne of the kingdom, will I go before you.”

41 And again, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, I have appointed you over the entire land of Egypt.”

42 And he took the ring from his own hand, and he gave it into his hand. And he clothed him with a robe of fine linen, and he placed a necklace of gold around his neck.

43 And he caused him to ascend upon his second swift chariot, with the herald proclaiming that everyone should bend their knee before him, and that they should know that he was governor over the entire land of Egypt.

44 Likewise, the king said to Joseph: “I am Pharaoh: apart from your authority, no one will move hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”

45 And he changed his name and called him, in the Egyptian tongue: ‘Savior of the world.’ And he gave him as a wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of Heliopolis. And so Joseph went out into the land of Egypt.

46 (Now he was thirty years old when he stood in the sight of king Pharaoh.) And he traveled throughout the regions of Egypt.

47 And the fertility of the seven years arrived. And when the grain fields were reduced to sheaves, these were gathered into the storehouses of Egypt.

48 And now all the abundance of grain was stored away in every city.

49 And there was such a great abundance of wheat that it was comparable to the sands of the sea, and its bounty exceeded all measure.

50 Then, before the famine arrived, Joseph had two sons born, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of Heliopolis, bore for him.

51 And he called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has caused me to forget all my labors and the house of my father.”

52 Likewise, he named the second Ephraim, saying, “God has caused me to increase in the land of my poverty.”

53 And so, when the seven years of fertility that occurred in Egypt had passed,

54 the seven years of destitution, which Joseph had predicted, began to arrive. And the famine prevailed throughout the whole world, but there was bread in all the land of Egypt.

55 And being hungry, the people cried out to Pharaoh, asking for provisions. And he said to them: “Go to Joseph. And do whatever he will tell you.”

56 Then the famine increased daily in all the land. And Joseph opened all of the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. For the famine had oppressed them also.

57 And all the provinces came to Egypt, to buy food and to temper the misfortune of their destitution.

1 Then Jacob, hearing that food was being sold in Egypt, said to his sons: “Why are you negligent?

2 I have heard that wheat is being sold in Egypt. Go down and buy necessities for us, so that we may be able to live, and not be consumed by destitution.”

3 And so, when ten brothers of Joseph went down to buy grain in Egypt,

4 Benjamin was kept at home by Jacob, who said to his brothers, “Lest perhaps he may suffer harm on the journey.”

5 And they entered into the land of Egypt with the others who traveled to buy. For the famine was in the land of Canaan.

6 And Joseph was governor in the land of Egypt, and grain was sold under his direction to the people. And when his brothers had reverenced him

7 and he had recognized them, he spoke harshly, as if to foreigners, questioning them: “Where did you come from?” And they responded, “From the land of Canaan, to buy necessary provisions.”

8 And although he knew his brothers, he was not known by them.

9 And remembering the dreams, which he had seen in another time, he said to them: “You are scouts. You have come in order to see which parts of the land are weaker.”

10 And they said: “It is not so, my lord. But your servants have arrived in order to buy food.

11 We are all sons of one man. We have come in peace, nor do any of your subjects devise evil.”

12 And he answered them: “It is otherwise. You have come to examine the unguarded parts of this land.”

13 But they said: “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is with our father; the other is not living.”

14 He said: “This is just as I have said. You are scouts.

15 I will now continue to put you to the test. By the health of Pharaoh, you will not depart from here, until your youngest brother arrives.

16 Send one of you and bring him. But you will be in chains, until what you have said is proven to be either true or false. Otherwise, by the health of Pharaoh, you are scouts.”

17 Therefore, he delivered them into custody for three days.

18 Then, on the third day, he brought them out of prison, and he said: “Do as I have said, and you will live. For I fear God.

19 If you are peaceful, let one of your brothers be bound in prison. Then you may go away and carry the grain that you have bought to your houses.

20 And bring your youngest brother to me, so that I may be able to test your words, and you may not die.” They did as he had said,

21 and they spoke to one another: “We deserve to suffer these things, because we have sinned against our brother, seeing the anguish of his soul, when he begged us and we would not listen. For that reason, this tribulation has come upon us.”

22 And Reuben, one of them, said: “Did not I say to you, ‘Do not sin against the boy,’ and you would not listen to me? See, his blood is exacted.”

23 But they did not know that Joseph understood, because he was speaking to them through an interpreter.

24 And he turned himself away briefly and wept. And returning, he spoke to them.

25 And taking Simeon, and binding him in their presence, he ordered his ministers to fill their sacks with wheat, and to replace each one’s money in their sacks, and to give them, in addition, provisions for the way. And they did so.

26 Then, having loaded their donkeys with the grain, they set out.

27 And one of them, opening a sack to give his beast of burden fodder at the inn, looked upon the money at the sack’s mouth,

28 and he said to his brothers: “My money has returned to me. See, it is held in the sack.” And they were astonished and troubled, and they said to one another, “What is this that God has done to us?”

29 And they went to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, and they explained to him all the things that had befallen them, saying:

30 “The lord of the land spoke harshly to us, and he considered us to be scouts of the province.

31 And we answered him: ‘We are peaceful, and we do not intend any treachery.

32 We are twelve brothers conceived of one father. One is not living; the youngest is with our father in the land of Canaan.’

33 And he said to us: ‘Thus will I prove that you are peaceful. Release one of your brothers to me, and take necessary provisions for your houses, and go away,

34 and bring your youngest brother to me, so that I may know that you are not scouts. And this one, who is held in chains, you may be able to receive again. And thereafter, you shall have permission to buy what you want.’ “

35 Having said this, when they poured out their grain, each found his money tied to the mouth of his sack. And all were terrified together.

36 Their father Jacob said, “You have caused me to be without children. Joseph is not living, Simeon is held in chains, and Benjamin you would carry away. All these evils have fallen back upon me.”

37 And Reuben answered him, “Put my two sons to death, if I do not lead him back to you. Deliver him into my hand, and I will restore him to you.”

38 But he said: “My son will not go down with you. His brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any adversity will befall him in the land to which you travel, you would lead my grey hairs down with sorrow to the grave.”

1 Meanwhile, the famine pressed heavily on all the land.

2 And having consumed the provisions that they had brought out of Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Return and buy us a little food.”

3 Judah answered: “The man himself declared to us, under the attestation of an oath, saying: ‘You will not see my face, unless you bring your youngest brother with you.’

4 If therefore you are willing to send him with us, we will travel together, and we will buy necessities for you.

5 But if you are not willing, we will not go. For the man, as we have often said, declared to us, saying: ‘You will not see my face without your youngest brother.’ “

6 Israel said to them, “You have done this for my misery, in that you revealed to him that you also had another brother.”

7 But they responded: “The man questioned us in order, concerning our family: whether our father lived, if we had a brother. And we answered him respectively, according to what he demanded. How could we know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother with you?’ “

8 Likewise, Judah said to his father: “Send the boy with me, so that we may set out and be able to live, lest we and our little ones should die.

9 I accept the boy; require him at my hand. Unless I lead him back and restore him to you, I will be guilty of a sin against you for all time.

10 If a delay had not intervened, by now we would have returned here a second time.”

11 Therefore, their father Israel said to them: “If it is necessary to do so, then do what you will. Take, in your vessels, from the best fruits of the land, and carry down gifts to the man: a little resin, and honey, and storax ointment, oil of myrrh, turpentine, and almonds.

12 Also, take with you double the money, and carry back what you found in your sacks, lest perhaps it was done in error.

13 But also take your brother, and go to the man.

14 Then may my Almighty God cause him to be pleased by you. And send your brother, whom he holds, back with you, along with this one, Benjamin. But as for me, without my children, I will be like one who is bereaved.”

15 Therefore, the men took the gifts, and double the money, and Benjamin. And they went down into Egypt, and they stood in the presence of Joseph.

16 And when he had seen them and Benjamin together, he instructed the steward of his house, saying: “Lead the men into the house, and kill victims, and prepare a feast, because they will be eating with me at midday.”

17 He did what he had been ordered to do, and he brought the men into the house.

18 And there, being terrified, they said one to another: “Because of the money, which we carried back the first time in our sacks, we have been brought in, so that he may unleash a false accusation against us, and by violence subjugate both us and our donkeys into servitude.”

19 For this reason, approaching the steward of the house at his door,

20 they said: “We beg you, lord, to hear us. We came down once before to buy food.

21 And having bought it, when we arrived at the inn, we opened our sacks and found the money in the mouths of the sacks, which we now have carried back in the same amount.

22 But we have also brought other silver, so that we may buy those things that are necessary for us. It is not on our conscience who had placed it in our bags.”

23 But he responded: “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you the treasure in your sacks. As for the money that you gave to me, I held it as a test.” And he led Simeon out to them.

24 And having led them into the house, he brought water, and they washed their feet, and he gave fodder to their donkeys.

25 But they also prepared the gifts, until Joseph entered at midday. For they had heard that they would eat bread there.

26 And so Joseph entered his house, and they offered him the gifts, holding them in their hands. And they reverenced prone on the ground.

27 But he, gently greeting them again, questioned them, saying: “Is your father, the old man about whom you spoke to me, in good health? Is he still alive?”

28 And they answered: “Your servant, our father, is safe; he is still alive.” And bowing, they reverenced him.

29 Then Joseph, lifting up his eyes, saw Benjamin, his brother of the same womb, and he said, “Is this your little brother, about whom you spoke to me?” And again, he said, “May God be compassionate to you, my son.”

30 And he hurried out, because his heart had been moved over his brother, and tears gushed out. And going into his chamber, he wept.

31 And when he had washed his face, coming out again, he composed himself, and he said, “Set out bread.”

32 And when it was set out, separately for Joseph, and separately for his brothers, likewise separately for the Egyptians, who ate at the same time, (for it is unlawful for Egyptians to eat with Hebrews, and they consider feasting in this way to be profane)

33 they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his state of life. And they wondered exceedingly,

34 taking the portions that they received from him. And the greater portion went to Benjamin, so much so that it exceeded five parts. And they drank and became inebriated along with him.

1 Then Joseph instructed the steward of his house, saying: “Fill their sacks with grain, as much as they are able to hold. And place each one’s money at the top of the sack.

2 But place my silver bowl, and the price that he gave for the wheat, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest.” And so it was done.

3 And when morning arose, they were sent away with their donkeys.

4 And now they had departed from the city and had set out a short distance. Then Joseph, sending for the steward of his house, said: “Rise up and pursue the men. And when you have overtaken them, say: ‘Why have you returned evil for good?

5 The cup that you have stolen, it is that from which my lord drinks, and in which he is accustomed to discern signs. You have done a very sinful thing.’ “

6 He did as he had been ordered. And having overtaken them, he spoke to them according to the order.

7 And they responded: “Why does our lord speak in this way, as though your servants had committed such a shameful act?

8 The money, which we found at the top of our sacks, we carried back to you from the land of Canaan. So in what way does it follow that we would steal, from the house of your lord, gold or silver?

9 Whichever of your servants will be found to have what you seek, may he die, and we shall be the servants of my lord.”

10 And he said to them: “Let it be according to your verdict. With whomever it will be found, let him be my servant, but you will be unharmed.”

11 And so, they quickly placed their sacks down to the ground, and each one was opened.

12 And when he had searched, beginning with the oldest, all the way to the youngest, he found the cup in Benjamin’s sack.

13 But they, tearing their garments and burdening their donkeys again, returned to the town.

14 And Judah, first among his brothers, entered to Joseph (for he had not yet departed from the place) and together they all fell down before him to the ground.

15 And he said to them: “Why would you choose to act in this way? Could you be ignorant that there is no one like me in the knowledge of discerning signs?”

16 And Judah said to him, “What could we answer to my lord? And what would we be able to say, or to justly claim? God has discovered the iniquity of your servants. See, we have all become servants to my lord, both we, and he with whom the cup was found.”

17 Joseph responded: “Far be it from me that I should act in this way. He who stole the cup, he will be my servant. But you may go away free to your father.”

18 Then Judah, approaching closer, said confidently: “I beg you, my lord, let your servant speak a word in your ears, and do not be angry with your servant. For you are next to Pharaoh.

19 My lord, you questioned your servants before: ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’

20 And we answered you, my lord: ‘There is our father, an old man, and a young boy, who was born in his old age. His brother of the same womb has died, and he alone is left to his mother and father, who truly love him tenderly.’

21 And you said to your servants, ‘Bring him to me, and I will set my eyes on him.’

22 We suggested to my lord: ‘The boy is not able to leave his father. For if he sends him away, he will die.’

23 And you said to your servants: ‘Unless your youngest brother arrives with you, you will not see my face any more.’

24 Therefore, when we had gone up to your servant our father, we explained to him all that my lord had spoken.

25 And our father said: ‘Return and buy us a little wheat.’

26 And we said to him: ‘We cannot go. If our youngest brother descends with us, we will set out together. Otherwise, in his absence, we do not dare to see the face of the man.’

27 To which he responded: ‘You know that my wife conceived twice by me.

28 One went out, and you said, “A beast devoured him.” And since then, he has not appeared.

29 If you take this one also, and anything happens to him on the way, you will lead my grey hairs down with grief to the grave.’

30 Therefore, if I would have gone to your servant, our father, with the boy not present, (though his life depends upon the life of him)

31 and if he were to see that he is not with us, he would die, and your servants will lead his grey hairs down with sorrow to the grave.

32 Let me be your very own servant, for I accepted this one into my trust, and I promised, saying: ‘Unless I lead him back, I will be guilty of a sin against my father for all time.’

33 And so I, your servant, will remain in place of the boy, in ministry to my lord, and then let the boy go up with his brothers.

34 For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I appear as a witness to the calamity that will oppress my father.”

1 Joseph was unable to restrain himself any longer, standing before so many. Therefore, he instructed that all should go outside, and that no stranger should be among them as they recognized one another.

2 And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians heard, along with the entire house of Pharaoh.

3 And he said to his brothers: “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” His brothers were unable to respond, being terrified by a very great fear.

4 And he said to them mildly, “Approach toward me.” And when they had approached close by, he said: “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

5 Do not be afraid, and let it not seem to you to be a hardship that you sold me into these regions. For God sent me before you into Egypt for your salvation.

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

7 And God sent me ahead, so that you may be preserved upon the earth, and so that you would be able to have food in order to live.

8 I was sent here, not by your counsel, but by the will of God. He has caused me to be like a father to Pharaoh, and to be the lord of his entire house, as well as governor throughout all the land of Egypt.

9 Hurry, and go up to my father, and say to him: ‘Your son Joseph commands this: God has caused me to be lord of the entire land of Egypt. Come down to me, do not delay,

10 and you will live in the land of Goshen. And you will be next to me, you and your sons and the sons of your sons, your sheep and your herds, and all that you possess.

11 And there I will pasture you, (for there are still five years of famine remaining) lest both you and your house perish, along with all that you possess.’

12 Behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin can see that it is my mouth speaking to you.

13 You will report to my father about all my glory, and about all that you have seen in Egypt. Hurry, and bring him to me.”

14 And then falling upon the neck of his brother Benjamin, he embraced him and wept. And likewise, Benjamin wept at the same time on his neck.

15 And Joseph kissed all his brothers, and he cried over each one. After this, they were emboldened to speak to him.

16 And it was overheard, and the news spread by word throughout the king’s court. The brothers of Joseph had arrived, and Pharaoh was gladdened along with all his family.

17 And he told Joseph that he should command his brothers, saying: ” ‘Burden your beasts, and go into the land of Canaan,

18 and take from there your father and kindred, and come to me. And I will give you all the good things of Egypt, so that you may eat from the marrow of the land.’ “

19 “And you may even instruct that they take wagons from the land of Egypt, in order to transport their little ones as well as their wives. And say: ‘Take your father, and come quickly, as soon as possible.

20 You need not give up anything from your household, for all the riches of Egypt will be yours.’ “

21 And the sons of Israel did just as they were commanded. And Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and provisions for the journey.

22 Likewise, he ordered two robes for each of them to be brought. Yet truly, to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver along with five of the best robes.

23 And he sent just as much money and clothing to his father, adding also ten male donkeys, with which to transport all the riches of Egypt, and as many female donkeys, carrying wheat and bread for the journey.

24 Thus he sent away his brothers, and as they set out he said, “Do not become angry on the way.”

25 And they ascended out of Egypt, and they arrived in the land of Canaan, to their father Jacob.

26 And they reported to him, saying: “Your son Joseph is alive, and he is ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. When Jacob heard this, he was stirred up, as if from a deep sleep, yet he did not believe them.

27 To the contrary, they explained the entire matter in order. And when he had seen the wagons, and all that he had sent, his spirit revived,

28 and he said: “It is enough for me, if my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

1 And so Joseph entered and reported to Pharaoh, saying: “My father and brothers, their sheep and herds, and everything that they possess, have arrived from the land of Canaan. And behold, they stand together in the land of Goshen.”

2 Likewise, he stood in the sight of the king five men, the last of his brothers.

3 And he questioned them, “What do you have for work?” They responded: “Your servants are pastors of sheep, both we and our fathers.

4 We came to sojourn in your land, because there is no grass for the flocks of your servants, the famine being very grievous in the land of Canaan. And we petition you that you may order us, your servants, to be in the land of Goshen.”

5 And so the king said to Joseph: “Your father and brothers have come to you.

6 The land of Egypt is in your sight. Cause them to live in the best place, and deliver to them the land of Goshen. And if you know there to be industrious men among them, appoint these as foremen over my cattle.”

7 After this, Joseph brought in his father to the king, and he stood him in his sight. He blessed him,

8 and he questioned him: “How many are the days of the years of your life?”

9 He responded, “The days of my sojourn are one hundred and thirty years, few and unworthy, and they do not reach even to the days of the sojourning of my fathers.”

10 And blessing the king, he went outside.

11 Truly, Joseph gave his father and brothers a possession in Egypt, in the best place of the land, in Rameses, as Pharaoh had instructed.

12 And he fed them, along with all his father’s house, providing portions of food to each one.

13 For in the whole world there was a lack of bread, and a famine had oppressed the land, most of all Egypt and Canaan,

14 from which he gathered together all the money for the grain that they bought, and he took it into the treasury of the king.

15 And when the buyers had run out of money, all Egypt came to Joseph, saying: “Give us bread. Why should we die in your sight, lacking money?”

16 And he responded to them: “Bring me your cattle, and I will give food to you in exchange for them, if you do not have money.”

17 And when they had brought them, he gave them food for their horses, and sheep, and oxen, and donkeys. And he sustained them in that year in exchange for their cattle.

18 Likewise, they came the second year, and they said to him: “We will not conceal from our lord that our money is gone; likewise our cattle are gone. Neither are you unaware that we have nothing left but our bodies and our land.

19 Therefore, why should you watch us die? Both we and our land will be yours. Buy us into royal servitude, but provide seed, lest by the dying off of cultivators the land be reduced to a wilderness.”

20 Therefore, Joseph bought all the land of Egypt, each one selling his possessions because of the magnitude of the famine. And he subjected it to Pharaoh,

21 along with all of its people, from the newest borders of Egypt, even to its furthest limits,

22 except the land of the priests, which had been delivered to them by the king. To these also a portion of food was supplied out of the public storehouses, and, for this reason, they were not compelled to sell their possessions.

23 Therefore, Joseph said to the people: “So, as you discern, both you and your lands are possessed by Pharaoh; take seed and sow the fields,

24 so that you may be able to have grain. One fifth part you will give to the king; the remaining four I permit to you, as seed and as food for your families and children.

25 And they responded: “Our health is in your hand; only let our lord look kindly upon us, and we will serve the king with gladness.”

26 From that time, even to the present day, in the entire land of Egypt, the fifth part is turned over to the kings, and it has become like a law, except in the land of the priests, which was free from this condition.

27 And so, Israel lived in Egypt, that is, in the land of Goshen, and he possessed it. And he increased and was multiplied exceedingly.

28 And he lived in it seventeen years. And all the days of his life that passed were one hundred and forty-seven years.

29 And when he discerned that the day of his death was approaching, he called his son Joseph, and he said to him: “If I have found favor in your sight, place your hand under my thigh. And you shall show me mercy and truth, not to bury me in Egypt.

30 But I shall sleep with my fathers, and you will carry me from this land and bury me in the sepulcher of my ancestors.” And Joseph answered him, “I will do what you have ordered.”

31 And he said, “Then swear it to me.” And as he was swearing, Israel adored God, turning to the head of his resting place.

1 After these things were done, it was reported to Joseph that his father was sick. And taking his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim, he went directly to him.

2 And it was told to the old man, “Behold, your son Joseph is coming to you.” And being strengthened, he sat up in bed.

3 And when he had entered to him, he said: “Almighty God appeared to me at Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, and he blessed me.

4 And he said: ‘I will increase and multiply you, and I will make you influential among the people. And I will give this land to you, and to your offspring after you, as an everlasting possession.’

5 Therefore, your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came here to you, will be mine. Ephraim and Manasseh will be treated by me just like Reuben and Simeon.

6 But the remainder, whom you will conceive after them, will be yours, and they will be called by the name of their brothers among their possessions.

7 As for me, when I came from Mesopotamia, Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the very journey, and it was springtime. And I entered Ephrath and buried her next to the way of Ephrath, which by another name is called Bethlehem.”

8 Then, seeing his sons, he said to him: “Who are these?”

9 He responded, “They are my sons, whom God gave to me as a gift in this place.” “Bring them to me,” he said, “so that I may bless them.”

10 For Israel’s eyes were clouded by reason of his great age, and he was unable to see clearly. And when they were placed up against him, he kissed and embraced them.

11 And he said to his son: “I have not been cheated out of seeing you. Moreover, God has shown me your offspring.”

12 And when Joseph had taken them from his father’s lap, he reverenced prone on the ground.

13 And he placed Ephraim on his right, that is, towards the left hand of Israel. Yet truly Manasseh was on his left, namely, towards his father’s right hand. And he placed them both up against him.

14 And he, extending his right hand, placed it over the head of Ephraim, the younger brother, but the left hand was on the head of Manasseh, who was the elder, so that his hands were crossed.

15 And Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, and he said: “God, in whose sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, God who pastured me from my youth until the present day,

16 the Angel, who rescues me from all evils: bless these boys. And let my name be invoked over them, and also the names of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac. And may they increase into a multitude across the earth.”

17 But Joseph, seeing that his father had placed his right hand over the head of Ephraim, took it gravely. And grasping his father’s hand, he tried to lift it from Ephraim’s head and transfer it onto the head of Manasseh.

18 And he said to his father: “It should not have come to pass this way, father. For this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand over his head.”

19 But refusing, he said: “I know, my son, I know. And this one, indeed, will be among the people and will be multiplied. But his younger brother will be greater than he. And his offspring will increase among the nations.”

20 And he blessed them at that time, saying: “In you, Israel will be blessed, and it will be said: ‘May God treat you like Ephraim, and like Manasseh.’ ” And he established Ephraim before Manasseh.

21 And he said to his son Joseph: “See, I am dying, and God will be with you, and he will lead you back to the land of your fathers.

22 I give you one part beyond that of your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”