The previous abundance of the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows, for the famine will be very severe.

The dream was repeated to Pharaoh because the matter has been decreed by God, and God will make it happen soon.

Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “Certainly God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s house.”

He then said, “Look, I hear that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy grain for us so that we may live and not die.”

But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “What if some accident happens to him?”

You will be tested in this way: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not depart from this place unless your youngest brother comes here.

But if you will not send him, we won’t go down there because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’”

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.

Joseph said to them, “What did you think you were doing? Don’t you know that a man like me can find out things like this by divination?”

When he sees the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father in sorrow to the grave.

Indeed, your servant pledged security for the boy with my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I will bear the blame before my father all my life.’

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.

For these past two years there has been famine in the land and for five more years there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

So now, it is not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me an adviser to Pharaoh, lord over all his household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

I will provide you with food there because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise you would become poor – you, your household, and everyone who belongs to you.”’

They told him, “Joseph is still alive and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them.

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.”