Miketz 41:1-44:17

1 And it came to pass, at the end (miketz) of two full years, Pharaoh had a dream (cholem) and behold, he stood by the Nile (yeor) 2 and suddenly, out (min) of the Nile came seven cows (parah); fine (yaphot) looking (mareh), fat (bari) of flesh (basar) and they fed (ra'ah) among the reeds (achu) 3 and behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the Nile, of bad (raot) appearance (mareh) and thin (daq) in flesh, and they stood (amad) by the other cows on the bank (sefat) of the River (ha'or). 4 And ate up the cows of bad appearance and thin in flesh the seven cows of fair appearance and fat. Then awoke Pharaoh. 

5 And he slept and dreamt a second time and suddenly seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, fat and good, 6 and behold, seven heads, thin and scorched by the east wind, are sprang up after them; 7 and the thin ears swallowed the seven fat and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke and behold, it had been a dream.

8 And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled and he sent and called all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men and Pharaoh recounted to them his dream but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh. 

9 And spoke the chief cupbearer to Pharaoh, saying, "My faults I do remember this day; 10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker. 11 And we each had a dream in one night - I and he - each of us according to the interpretation of his dream, dreamed. 12 And there was there with us there a young man, a Hebrew servant to the captain of the guard. And we told him and he interpreted for us our dreams; to each man according to his own dream he interpreted. 13 And it came to pass, just as he interpreted to us, so it came to pass. Me he restored unto my office and him he hanged".

14 And sent Pharaoh and called Joseph and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon. And he shaved and changed his clothing and came to Pharaoh. 

15 And said Pharaoh to Joseph, "A dream I have dreamed and to interpret it  there is none. But I have heard of you it said that you can understand a dream to interpret it. 16 And answered Joseph to Pharaoh, saying, "not in me - Elohim will give an answer of peace to Pharaoh". 

17 And said Pharaoh to Joseph, "In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river: 18 And, behold, out of the river came up  seven cows, fat of flesh and fine looking. well favoured; and they fed among the reeds. 19 And, behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and gaunt. Never have I seen such as these in all the land of Egypt for ugliness: 20 And ate up the gaunt and ugy cows the first seven fat cows. 21 And they had devoured them among them. And no one would have known that they had devoured them among them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. 

22 And I saw in my dream, and behold, seven heads came up in one stalk, full and good: 23 And behold, seven heads, withered, thin and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them: 24 And devoured the thin heads the seven good heads. And I told this to the magicians; but there was no one who could explain to me".

25 And said Joseph to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one: What Elohim is about to do, He has shown Pharaoh. 26 The seven good cows are seven years and the seven good heads are seven years; the dream is one. 27 And the seven thin and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years. And the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. 28 This is the thing that I have spoken to Pharaoh: What Elohim is about to do; He has shown Pharaoh. 29 Indeed, seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt. 30 But will arise seven years of famine  after them. And will be forgotten all the plenty in the land of Egypt and the famine shall consume the land. 31 And shall not be known the plenty in the land because of that famine thus following; for it will be very severe. 32 And was repeated the dream to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by Elohim, and Elohim will shortly bring it to pass. 

33 Now therefore let select Pharaoh a discerning man and wise. And set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this; and let him appoint officers over the land to take a fifth from the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of the good years that are coming and store up grain under the hand of Pharaoh; food in the cities to be preserved. 36 That shall be food as a reserve for the land for seven years of the famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that not may perish the land during the famine.

37 And was good the advice in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And said Pharaoh to his servants, "Can we find such as this is; a man in whom the Spirit of Elohim is? 39 And said Pharaoh to Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 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. 

41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his 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; 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 

44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

46 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. 47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. 48 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. 49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.

50 And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. 51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. 52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.

53 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. 54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. 56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. 57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

1 And when saw Jacob that there was grain in Egypt, then Jacob to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?" 2 And he said, "Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down to that place and buy for us there; that we may live and not die". 3 And went down ten brothers of Joseph to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Benjamin, brother of Joseph, not did send Jacob with his brothers; for he said, "Lest befall him harm". 5 And went the sons of Israel to buy grain among those that journeyed: for was the famine in the land of Canaan. 6 And Joseph was the governor over the land and it was he that sold to all the people of the land. And came [the] brothers of Joseph and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground. 

7 And saw Joseph his brothers and he recognised them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke to them roughly. And he said to them, "From where do you come?" And they said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food". 8 And recognised Joseph his brothers but they did not recognise him.

9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed about them and he said to them, "You are spies!You have come to see the nakedness of the land". 10 And they said to him, "No my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all sons of one man; we are honest men, your servants are not spies". 12 And he said to them, "No, but the nakedness of the land you have come to see". 13 And they said, "Twelve of your servants are brothers; the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. And behold, the youngest is with our father today and one is no more. 

14 But Joseph said to them, "It is as I spoke to you; saying you are spies! 15 In this manner you shall be tested: By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go forth hence, except if your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send of you one and let him bring your brother. And you shall be kept in prison that may be tested your words; whether truth is in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies. 17 And he put them all together in prison for three days.

18 And said to them Joseph on the third day, "Do this and live; for I fear God: 19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in the house of imprisonment but you go and carry grain for the famine of your houses: 20 But your youngest brother bring to me; so shall be verified your words and you shall not die". And they did so. 

21 And they said one to another, "Truly guilty we are concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul, when he pleaded with us and not would we listen. Thus has come upon us this distress". 22 And Reuben answered them, saying, "Did not I speak to you, saying, do not sin against the boy'; and not would you listen! Therefore, his blood, behold, is also required". 23 And they did not know that Joseph understood them; for through an interpreter he spoke unto them. 24 And he turned himself away from them and wept. And returned again to them and talked with them. And he took from them Simeon and bound him before their eyes. 25 And commanded Joseph them to fill their sacks with grain and to restore silver of every man to his sack and to give them provision for the journey. And he did for them thus. 

26 And they loaded the grain on their donkeys and departed from there. 27 but as one of them opened his sack to feed his donkey at the lodging, he saw his silver there; behold, it was in the mouth of his sack. 28 So he said to his brothers, "My silver has been restored; and there it is in my sack". And their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying one to another, "What is this that God has done to us?".

29 And they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that happened to them, saying, 30 "Spoke the man, the lord of the land, to us roughly. And took us for spies of the country. 31 And we said unto him, 'Honest men we are; we are not spies: 32 We are twelve brothers; sons of our father; one is no more. And the youngest this day is with our father in the land of Canaan'. 33 And said to us the man, the lord of the country, 'By this I will know that you are  honest - one of your brothers leave here with me and take food for the famine of your households and be gone: 34 And bring your youngest brother to me; so I shall know that you are not spies but that you are honest. So will I deliver you your brother and you may trade in the land.

35 And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, each man's bundle of silver was in his sack. And when saw the bundles of silver, they and their father were afraid. 36 And said to them, Jacob, their father, "Me you have bereaved: Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more and you want to take Benjamin. Against me are all these things". 37 And spoke Reuben to his father, saying, "You may slay my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands and I will bring him back to you". 38 But he said, "Not shall go down my son with you; for his brother is dead and he is left alone. If any harm should befall him along the way in the which you go in, then you would bring down my gray hair in sorrow to Sheol".

1 And the famine was severe in the land. 2 And it came to pass, when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that said to them their father, "Go back, buy us a little food". 3 And spoke to him Judah, saying, "Solemnly warned us the man, saying, 'Not shall you see my face unless your brother is with you'. 4 If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy unto you food: 5 But if not you will send him, we will not go down: for the man said to us, 'Not shall you see my face, unless your brother is with you'. 

6 And Israel said, "Why dealt you ill to me, as to tell the man you had yet to you a brother?" 7 And they said, "Asked specifically tle man about ourselves and our family, saying, 'Is still your father alive? have you a brother?' And we told him according to the tenor of these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, 'Bring down brother?'". 8 And Judah said to Israel, his father, "Send the boy with me. And we will arise and go; that we may live and not die. Both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I will guarantee from my hand; shall you require, if not I bring him back to you and set him before you. Then let me bear the blame for all time: 10 For if not we had lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time".

11 And said to them Israel,  their father, "If so then this do. Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down for the man a present; a little balm and a little honey; spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds: 12 And take double silver in your hand and the silver that was returned in the mouth of your sacks, take back in your hand; peradventure an oversight it was: 13 And your brother, take also and arise; go back to the man: 14 And God Almighty (El Shaddai) may give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother, and Benjamin. And if I am bereaved. I am bereaved". 15 And the men took this present and they took double money in their hand and Benjamin - and arose and went down to Egypt, and they stood before Joseph.

16 And when saw Joseph with them Benjamin, he said to the steward of his house, "Take these men to my home and slaughter an animal and make ready; for with me will dine these men at noon". 17 And did the man as Joseph ordered. And brought the man the men into the house of Joseph . 18 And were afraid the men because they were brought into the house of Joseph. And they said, "It is because of the silver that was returned in our sacks the first time we are brought in; that he may assault against us and fall upon us and to take us as slaves and with our donkeys. 

19 And they drew near to the steward of the house of Joseph and they talked with him at the door of the house, 20 And said, "O Lord, indeed we came down the first time to buy food: 21 And it came to pass, when we came to the emcampment, that we opened our sacks, and behold, was silver each man's in the mouth of his sack. Our silver in full weight. So we have brought it back in our hand. 22 And other silver have we brought down in our hands to buy food; not do we know who put our silver in our sacks". 

23 And he said, "Peace be with you. Do not be afraid; your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks: I had your silver". And he brought out to them Simeon. 24 And brought the man the men into the house of Joseph and gave them water. And they washed their feet. And he gave feed to their donkeys. 25 And they made ready the gift for Joseph's arrival noon: for they heard that there they would eat bread.

26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present that was in their hand into the house and bowed down before him to the ground. 27 And he asked them if they were well and said, "Is well your father? the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?" 28 And they answered, "In good health your servant our father is; he is still alive". And they bowed down their heads and prostrated themselves. 29 And he lifted his eyes and saw Benjamin his brother, son of his mother. And said, "Is this your younger brother, of whom you spoke to me?" And he said, "God be gracious to you, my son!". 

30 And made haste Joseph; for yearned his heart for his brother. And he sought to weep; and he went into his chamber and wept there. 31 And he washed his face and came out and restrained himself. And said, "Serve the bread!". 32 And they set a place for him by himself and for them by themselves and the Egyptians eating with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews; for an abomination that is to Egypt. 33 And they sat before him the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth. And looked in astonishment the men at one another. 34 And he took portions from before him to them; but was a much the portion of Benjamin as any of theirs five times as much. And they drank and were merry with him.

1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, "Fill the sacks of the men with food, as much as they can carry. And put each man's silver in the mouth of his sack. 2 And my cup, the silver cup, put in the mouth of the sack of the youngest and silver for his grain". And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 

3 As soon as the morning was light, then the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. 4 When they were gone out of the city; not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, "Of his house, get up! Follow after the men. And when you overtake them, then say unto them, "Why have you repaid evil for good? 5 Is not this which my lord drinks from? and he indeed practices divination with? You have done evil in so doing".

6 And he overtook them and he spoke to them these words. 7 And they said to him, "Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing. 8 Behold, the silver, which we found in the mouth of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. Then how could we steal from the house of your lord silver or gold? 9 With whomsoever of your servants it is found, let him die and also we will be my lord's slaves". 

10 And he said, "Also now according to your words let it be. Who is found with it shall be my slave and you shall be blameless". 11 And speedily lowered each man his sack to the ground. And opened each his sack. 12 And he searched; he began at the eldest and left off with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 

13 And they rent their clothes. And laded each man his donkey and returned to the city.

14 And came Judah and his brothers into Joseph's house; and he was still there. And they fell before him on the ground. 15 And Joseph said to them, "What deed is this that you have done? Did you not know that a man such as I can surely practice divination? 

16 And Judah said, "What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants. Behold, we are my lord's servants; both we and he also with whom was found the cup". 17 And he said, "Far be it from me that I should do this. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, go up in peace to your father".

18 And came near to him Judah, and said, "Oh my lord, please let your servant speak a word in the ears of my lord. And do not let your anger burn against your servant. For you are even like Pharaoh. 

19 My lord asked his servants, saying, 'Have you a father, or a brother? 20 And we said to my lord, 'We have to us a father, an old man and a child of his old age; who is young. And his brother is dead and he is left alone of his mother's children. And his father loves him. 21 And you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes upon him'. 22 And we said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, then he would die'. 

23 And you said to your servants, 'If your youngest brother does not come down with you, no more shall you see my face'. 24 And it came to pass, when we went up to your servant my father, thatr we told to him the words of my lord. 

25 And our father said, 'Go back; buy us a little food'. 26 But we said, 'We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then will we go down, for not may we see the face of the man unless our youngest brother is with us'. 

27 And your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bare me two sons: 28 And the one went out from me, and I said, 'Surely he is torn in pieces'. And I have not seen him since: 29 If you take this also from me and mischief befall him, then you shall bring down my gray hairs in sorrow to the grave. 

30 Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father and the boy is not with us; since his life is bound up in the boy's life, 31 it will come to pass, when he sees not the boy, that he will die. And your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father in sorrow to the grave. 32 For your servant guaranteed the boy to my father, saying, 'If I do not bring him to back to you, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever'. 33 Now therefore, I pray, let your servant remain instead of the boy as a slave to my lord. And let the boy go up with his brothers. 34 For how shall I go up to my father if the boy is not with me? Lest I see the evil that shall come on my father'.