But when we came to the place where we spent the night, we opened our sacks and each of us found his money – the full amount – in the mouth of his sack. So we have returned it.

Joseph hurried out, for he was overcome by affection for his brother and was at the point of tears. So he went to his room and wept there.

We said to my lord, ‘We have an aged father, and there is a young boy who was born when our father was old. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’

We said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father. If he leaves his father, his father will die.’

But you said to your servants, ‘If your youngest brother does not come down with you, you will not see my face again.’

For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn’t bear to see my father’s pain.”

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” His brothers could not answer him because they were dumbfounded before him.

Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me,” so they came near. Then he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life!

He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.

Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”

Joseph said to the people, “Since I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you. Cultivate the land.

Joseph said to his father, “They are the sons God has given me in this place.” His father said, “Bring them to me so I may bless them.”

Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see you again, but now God has allowed me to see your children too.”

Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”

Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather together so I can tell you what will happen to you in the future.

So now, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little children.” Then he consoled them and spoke kindly to them.

The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women – for the Hebrew women are vigorous; they give birth before the midwife gets to them!”

Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get a nursing woman for you from the Hebrews, so that she may nurse the child for you?”

In those days, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and observed their hard labor, and he saw an Egyptian man attacking a Hebrew man, one of his own people.