Genesis Chapter 43
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
and, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill-favored and lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
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and the lean and ill-favored kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:
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and when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill-favored, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
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And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up upon one stalk, full and good:
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and, behold, seven ears, withered, thin,
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and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:
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and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears: and I told it unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.
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And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: what God is about to do he hath declared unto Pharaoh.
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The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.
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And the seven lean and ill-favored kine that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind; they shall be seven years of famine.
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That is the thing which I spake unto Pharaoh: what God is about to do he hath showed unto Pharaoh.
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Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
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and there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
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and the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine which followeth; for it shall be very grievous.
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And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh, it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
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Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
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Let Pharaoh do
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this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
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And let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up grain under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it.
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And the food shall be for a store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.
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And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
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And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom the spirit of God is?
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And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou:
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thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
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And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
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And Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
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and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he set him over all the land of Egypt.
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And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.
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And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On. And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.
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And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
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And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
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And he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
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And Joseph laid up grain as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left off numbering; for it was without number.
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And unto Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On, bare unto him.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And the famine was grievous in the land.
2
And it came to pass, when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, Go again, buy us a little food.
3
And Judah spoke to him, saying, The man did positively testify to us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, unless your brother be with you.
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If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food;
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but if thou do not send [him], we will not go down, for the man said to us, Ye shall not see my face, unless your brother be with you.
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And Israel said, Why did ye deal [so] ill with me [as] to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
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And they said, The man asked very closely after us, and after our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye a brother? And we told him according to the tenor of these words. Could we at all know that he would say, Bring your brother down?
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And Judah said to Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live, and not die, both we and thou and our little ones.
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I will be surety for him: of my hand shalt thou require him; if I bring him not to thee, and set him before thy face, then shall I be guilty toward thee for ever.
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For had we not lingered, we should now certainly have returned already twice.
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And their father Israel said to them, If it is then so, do this: take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a gift: a little balsam and a little honey, tragacanth and ladanum, pistacia-nuts and almonds.
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And take other money in your hand, and the money that was returned to you in the mouth of your sacks, carry back in your hand: perhaps it is an oversight.
13
And take your brother, and arise, go again to the man.
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And the AlmightyGod give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother and Benjamin! And I, if I be bereaved of children, am bereaved.
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And the men took that gift, and took double money in their hand, and Benjamin, and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and came before Joseph.
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And Joseph saw Benjamin with them, and said to the [man] who was over his house, Bring the men into the house, and slaughter cattle, and make ready; for the men shall eat with me at noon.
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And the man did as Joseph had said; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.
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And the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph's house, and said, Because of the money that was returned to us in our sacks at the beginning are we brought in, that he may turn against us, and fall upon us and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
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And they came up to the man that was over Joseph's house, and they spoke to him at the door of the house,
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and said, Ah! my lord, we came indeed down at the first to buy food.
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And it came to pass when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and behold, [every] man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money according to its weight; and we have brought it again in our hand.
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And other money have we brought down in our hand to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.
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And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: yourGod, and theGod of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; your money came to me. And he brought Simeon out to them.
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And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses food.
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And they made ready the gift for Joseph's coming at noon; for they had heard that they should eat bread there.
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When Joseph came home, they brought him the gift that was in their hand, into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.
27
And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well — the old man of whom ye spoke? Is he yet alive?
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And they said, Thy servant our father is well; he is yet alive. And they bowed, and made obeisance.
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And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother of whom ye spoke to me? And he said,God be gracious to thee, my son!
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And Joseph made haste, for his bowels burned for his brother; and he sought [a place] to weep, and he went into the chamber, and wept there.
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And he washed his face, and came out, and controlled himself, and said, Set on bread.
32
And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
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And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth; and the men marvelled one at another.
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And he had portions carried to them from before him. And Benjamin's portion was five times greater than the portions of them all. And they drank, and made merry with him.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
But the famine prevailed in the land.
2
And it came to pass, when they had finished eating the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, that their father said to them, Go again; buy us a little food.
3
And Judas spoke to him, saying, The man, the lord of the country, positively testified to us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, unless your younger brother be with you.
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If, then, thou send our brother with us, we will go down, and buy thee food;
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but if thou send not our brother with us, we will not go: for the man spoke to us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, unless your younger brother be with you.
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And Israel said, Why did ye harm me, inasmuch as ye told the man that ye had a brother?
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And they said, The man closely questioned us about our family also, saying, Does your father yet live, and have ye a brother? and we answered him according to this question: did we know that he would say to us, Bring your brother?
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And Judas said to his father Israel, Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and thou, and our store.
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And I engage for him; at my hand do thou require him; if I bring him not to thee, and place him before thee, I shall be guilty toward thee for ever.
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For if we had not tarried, we should now have returned twice.
11
And Israel, their father, said to them, If it be so, do this; take of the fruits of the earth in your vessels, and carry down to the man presents of gum and honey, and frankincense, and stacte, and turpentine, and walnuts.
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And take double money in your hands, and the money that was returned in your sacks, carry back with you, lest peradventure it is a mistake.
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And take your brother; and arise, go down to the man.
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And my God give you favour in the sight of the man, and send away your other brother, and Benjamin, for I accordingly as I have been bereaved, am bereaved.
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And the men having taken these presents, and the double money, took in their hands also Benjamin; and they rose up and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
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And Joseph saw them and his brother Benjamin, born of the same mother; and he said to the steward of his household, Bring the men into the house, and slay beasts and make ready, for the men are to eat bread with me at noon.
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And the man did as Joseph said; and he brought the men into the house of Joseph.
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And the men, when they perceived that they were brought into the house of Joseph, said, We are brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first; even in order to inform against us, and lay it to our charge; to take us for servants, and our asses.
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And having approached the man who was over the house of Joseph, they spoke to him in the porch of the house,
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saying, We pray [thee], Sir; we came down at first to buy food.
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And it came to pass, when we came to unlade, and opened our sacks, [there was] also this money of each in his sack; we have now brought back our money by weight in our hands.
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And we have brought other money with us to buy food; we know not who put the money into our sacks.
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And he said to them, [God deal] mercifully with you; be not afraid; your God, and the God of your fathers, has given you treasures in your sacks, and I have enough of your good money. And he brought Symeon out to them.
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And he brought water to wash their feet; and gave provender to their asses.
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And they prepared their gifts, until Joseph came at noon, for they heard that he was going to dine there.
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And Joseph entered into the house, and they brought him the gifts which they had in their hands, into the house; and they did him reverence with their face to the ground.
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And he asked them, How are ye? and he said to them, Is your father, the old man of whom ye spoke, well? Does he yet live?
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And they said, Thy servant our father is well; he is yet alive. And he said, Blessed be that man by God;—and they bowed, and did him reverence.
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And Joseph lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, born of the same mother; and he said, Is this your younger brother, whom ye spoke of bringing to me? and he said, God have mercy on thee, my son.
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And Joseph was troubled, for his bowels yearned over his brother, and he sought to weep; and he went into his chamber, and wept there.
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And he washed his face and came out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.
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And they set on [bread] for him alone, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians feasting with him by themselves, for the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for it is an abomination to the Egyptians.
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And they sat before him, the first-born according to his seniority, and the younger according to his youth; and the men looked with amazement every one at his brother.
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And they took their portions from him to themselves; but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as the portions of [the others]. And they drank and were filled with drink with him.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Interim fames omnem terram vehementer premebat.
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Consumptisque cibis quos ex Ægypto detulerant, dixit Iacob ad filios suos: Revertimini, et emite nobis pauxillum escarum.
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Respondit Iudas: Denuntiavit nobis vir ille sub attestatione iurisiurandi, dicens: Non videbitis faciem meam, nisi fratrem vestrum minimum adduxeritis vobiscum.
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Si ergo vis eum mittere nobiscum, pergemus pariter, et ememus tibi necessaria:
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sin autem non vis, non ibimus: vir enim, ut sæpe diximus, denunciavit nobis, dicens: Non videbitis faciem meam absque fratre vestro minimo.
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Dixit eis Israel: In meam hoc fecistis miseriam, ut indicaretis ei et alium habere vos fratrem.
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At illi responderunt: Interrogavit nos homo per ordinem nostram progeniem: si pater viveret: si haberemus fratrem: et nos respondimus ei consequenter iuxta id quod fuerat sciscitatus: numquid scire poteramus quod dicturus esset: Adducite fratrem vestrum vobiscum?
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Iudas quoque dixit patri suo: Mitte puerum mecum, ut proficiscamur, et possimus vivere: ne moriamur nos et parvuli nostri.
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Ego suscipio puerum: de manu mea require illum. nisi reduxero, et reddidero eum tibi, ero peccati reus in te omni tempore.
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Si non intercessisset dilatio, iam vice alter venissemus.
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Igitur Israel pater eorum dixit ad eos: Si sic necesse est, facite quod vultis: sumite de optimis terræ fructibus in vasis vestris, et deferte viro munera, modicum resinæ, et mellis, et storacis, stactes, et terebinthi, et amygdalarum.
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Pecuniam quoque duplicem ferte vobiscum: et illam, quam invenistis in sacculis, reportate, ne forte errore factum sit:
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sed et fratrem vestrum tollite, et ite ad virum.
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Deus autem meus omnipotens faciat vobis eum placabilem: et remittat vobiscum fratrem vestrum quem tenet, et hunc Beniamin: ego autem quasi orbatus absque liberis ero.
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Tulerunt ergo viri munera, et pecuniam duplicem, et Beniamin: descenderuntque in Ægyptum, et steterunt coram Ioseph.
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Quos cum ille vidisset, et Beniamin simul, præcepit dispensatori domus suæ, dicens: Introduc viros domum, et occide victimas, et instrue convivium: quoniam mecum sunt comesturi meridie.
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Fecit ille quod sibi fuerat imperatum, et introduxit viros domum.
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Ibique exterriti, dixerunt mutuo: Propter pecuniam, quam retulimus prius in saccis nostris, introducti sumus: ut devolvat in nos calumniam, et violenter subiiciat servituti et nos, et asinos nostros.
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Quamobrem in ipsis foribus accedentes ad dispensatorem domus
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locuti sunt: Oramus domine ut audias nos. Iam ante descendimus ut emeremus escas:
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quibus emptis, cum venissemus ad diversorium, aperuimus saccos nostros, et invenimus pecuniam in ore saccorum: quam nunc eodem pondere reportavimus.
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Sed et aliud attulimus argentum, ut emamus quæ nobis necessaria sunt: non est in nostra conscientia quis posuerit eam in marsupiis nostris.
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At ille respondit: Pax vobiscum, nolite timere: Deus vester, et Deus patris vestri dedit vobis thesauros in saccis vestris. nam pecuniam, quam dedistis mihi, probatam ego habeo. Eduxitque ad eos Simeon.
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Et introductis domum, attulit aquam, et laverunt pedes suos, deditque pabulum asinis eorum.
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Illi vero parabant munera, donec ingrederetur Ioseph meridie: audierant enim quod ibi comesturi essent panem.
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Igitur ingressus est Ioseph domum suam, obtuleruntque ei munera, tenentes in manibus suis: et adoraverunt proni in terram.
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At ille, clementer resalutatis eis, interrogavit eos, dicens: Salvusne est pater vester senex, de quo dixeratis mihi? Adhuc vivit?
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Qui responderunt: Sospes est servus tuus pater noster, adhuc vivit. Et incurvati, adoraverunt eum.
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Attollens autem Ioseph oculos, vidit Beniamin fratrem suum uterinum, et ait: Iste est frater vester parvulus, de quo dixeratis mihi? Et rursum: Deus, inquit, misereatur tui, fili mi.
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Festinavitque quia commota fuerant viscera eius super fratre suo, et erumpebant lacrymæ: et introiens cubiculum flevit.
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Rursumque lota facie egressus, continuit se, et ait: Ponite panes.
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Quibus appositis, seorsum Ioseph, et seorsum fratribus, Ægyptiis quoque qui vescebantur simul, seorsum (illicitum est enim Ægyptiis comedere cum Hebræis, et profanum putant huiuscemodi convivium)
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sederunt coram eo, primogenitus iuxta primogenita sua, et minimus iuxta ætatem suam. Et mirabantur nimis,
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sumptis partibus quas ab eo acceperant: maiorque pars venit Beniamin, ita ut quinque partibus excederet. Biberuntque et inebriati sunt cum eo.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
The famine was severe in the land.
2
When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little more food.”
3
Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’
4
If you’ll send our brother with us, we’ll go down and buy you food;
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but if you don’t send him, we won’t go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’”
6
Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly, telling the man that you had another brother?”
7
They said, “The man asked directly concerning ourselves, and concerning our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ We just answered his questions. Is there any way we could know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”
8
Judah said to Israel, his father, “Send the boy with me, and we’ll get up and go, so that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones.
9
I’ll be collateral for him. From my hand will you require him. If I don’t bring him to you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever;
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for if we hadn’t delayed, surely we would have returned a second time by now.”
11
Their father, Israel, said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down a present for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, and almonds;
12
and take double money in your hand, and take back the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight.
13
Take your brother also, get up, and return to the man.
14
May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
15
The men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and got up, went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
16
When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and butcher an animal, and prepare; for the men will dine with me at noon.”
17
The man did as Joseph commanded, and the man brought the men to Joseph’s house.
18
The men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “Because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time, we’re brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, attack us, and seize us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”
19
They came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they spoke to him at the door of the house,
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and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food.
21
When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks, and behold, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. We have brought it back in our hand.
22
We have brought down other money in our hand to buy food. We don’t know who put our money in our sacks.”
23
He said, “Peace be to you. Don’t be afraid. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your money.” He brought Simeon out to them.
24
The man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet. He gave their donkeys fodder.
25
They prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.
26
When Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves down to the earth before him.
27
He asked them of their welfare, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he yet alive?”
28
They said, “Your servant, our father, is well. He is still alive.” They bowed down humbly.
29
He lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” He said, “God be gracious to you, my son.”
30
Joseph hurried, for his heart yearned over his brother; and he sought a place to weep. He entered into his room, and wept there.
31
He washed his face, and came out. He controlled himself, and said, “Serve the meal.”
32
They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians don’t eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
33
They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, and the men marveled with one another.
34
He sent portions to them from before him, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. They drank, and were merry with him.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And the famine <FI>is<Fi> severe in the land;
2
and it cometh to pass, when they have finished eating the corn which they brought from Egypt, that their father saith unto them, `Turn back, buy for us a little food.'
3
And Judah speaketh unto him, saying, `The man protesting protested to us, saying, Ye do not see my face without your brother <FI>being<Fi> with you;
4
if thou art sending our brother with us, we go down, and buy for thee food,
5
and if thou art not sending--we do not go down, for the man said unto us, Ye do not see my face without your brother <FI>being<Fi> with you.'
6
And Israel saith, `Why did ye evil to me, by declaring to the man that ye had yet a brother?'
7
and they say, `The man asked diligently concerning us, and concerning our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye a brother? and we declare to him according to the tenor of these things; do we certainly know that he will say, Bring down your brother?'
8
And Judah saith unto Israel his father, `Send the youth with me, and we arise, and go, and live, and do not die, both we, and thou, and our infants.
9
I--I am surety <FI>for<Fi> him, from my hand thou dost require him; if I have not brought him in unto thee, and set him before thee--then I have sinned against thee all the days;
10
for if we had not lingered, surely now we had returned these two times.'
11
And Israel their father saith unto them, `If so, now, this do: take of the praised thing of the land in your vessels, and take down to the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds;
12
and double money take in your hand, even the money which is brought back in the mouth of your bags, ye take back in your hand, it may be it <FI>is<Fi> an oversight.
13
`And take your brother, and rise, turn back unto the man;
14
and God Almighty give to you mercies before the man, so that he hath sent to you your other brother and Benjamin; and I, when I am bereaved--I am bereaved.'
15
And the men take this present, double money also they have taken in their hand, and Benjamin; and they rise, and go down to Egypt, and stand before Joseph;
16
and Joseph seeth Benjamin with them, and saith to him who <FI>is<Fi> over his house, `Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal, and make ready, for with me do the men eat at noon.'
17
And the man doth as Joseph hath said, and the man bringeth in the men into the house of Joseph,
18
and the men are afraid because they have been brought into the house of Joseph, and they say, `For the matter of the money which was put back in our bags at the commencement are we brought in--to roll himself upon us, and to throw himself on us, and to take us for servants--our asses also.'
19
And they come nigh unto the man who <FI>is<Fi> over the house of Joseph, and speak unto him at the opening of the house,
20
and say, `O, my lord, we really come down at the commencement to buy food;
21
and it cometh to pass, when we have come in unto the lodging-place, and open our bags, that lo, each one's money <FI>is<Fi> in the mouth of his bag, our money in its weight, and we bring it back in our hand;
22
and other money have we brought down in our hand to buy food; we have not known who put our money in our bags.'
23
And he saith, `Peace to you, fear not: your God and the God of your father hath given to you hidden treasure in your bags, your money came unto me;' and he bringeth out Simeon unto them.
24
And the man bringeth in the men into Joseph's house, and giveth water, and they wash their feet; and he giveth provender for their asses,
25
and they prepare the present until the coming of Joseph at noon, for they have heard that there they do eat bread.
26
And Joseph cometh into the house, and they bring to him the present which <FI>is<Fi> in their hand, into the house, and bow themselves to him, to the earth;
27
and he asketh of them of peace, and saith, `Is your father well? the aged man of whom ye have spoken, is he yet alive?'
28
and they say, `Thy servant our father <FI>is<Fi> well, he is yet alive;' and they bow, and do obeisance.
29
And he lifteth up his eyes, and seeth Benjamin his brother, his mother's son, and saith, `Is this your young brother, of whom ye have spoken unto me?' and he saith, `God favour thee, my son.'
30
And Joseph hasteth, for his bowels have been moved for his brother, and he seeketh to weep, and entereth the inner chamber, and weepeth there;
31
and he washeth his face, and goeth out, and refraineth himself, and saith, `Place bread.'
32
And they place for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians who are eating with him by themselves: for the Egyptians are unable to eat bread with the Hebrews, for it <FI>is<Fi> an abomination to the Egyptians.
33
And they sit before him, the first-born according to his birthright, and the young one according to his youth, and the men wonder one at another;
34
and he lifteth up gifts from before him unto them, and the gift of Benjamin is five hands more than the gifts of all of them; and they drink, yea, they drink abundantly with him.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).