Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Joseph couldn't control himself before all those who stood before him. He called out, "Have everyone leave me!" And there was no one else with him when he revealed himself to his brothers.

He wept aloud, and the Egyptians and Pharaoh's household heard. Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph; does my father yet live?" But they were unable to respond because of their distress at seeing him. Come near to me, I pray you, and I will tell you that I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here: for God sent me before you to preserve life. For two years now, the famine has ravaged the land, and yet there are still five years ahead with neither harvest nor crop. God sent me before you to preserve your lives by a great deliverance, and to keep a remnant of you on earth.

So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. Hurry, and go up to my father, saying to him, "Thus says your son Joseph: God has made me lord of all Egypt; do not delay coming down to me.

You shall reside in the land of Goshen, and you, your children, their descendants, along with your flocks, herds, and all that belongs to you, will be near me. And there I will sustain you, for yet five years of famine remain, lest you and your household come to poverty. You shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; then hasten to bring him down here.

And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, weeping, and Benjamin wept on his neck. Moreover, he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; after that, they began to speak with him. The news of their arrival was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, "Joseph's brothers have come," and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.

Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Tell your brothers, 'Load your livestock and go back to the land of Canaan.'" Take your father and your households, and come to me: I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land. Take wagons out of Egypt for your little ones and wives, and bring your father, and come.

Also, do not concern yourselves with your belongings; for everything in Egypt belongs to you. The children of Israel did so, and Joseph gave them wagons according to Pharaoh's commandment, along with provision for their journey. To all of them he gave each man changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of clothes.

To his father, he sent ten donkeys laden with Egypt's finest goods and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provisions for the journey. So he sent his brethren away, and they departed; and he said to them, See that you do not fall out with one another on the way.

And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt; Jacob's heart fainted because he did not believe them. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them; when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him and his household back to Canaan, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.

Israel said, "It is enough; my son Joseph is yet alive: I will go see him before I die."