English Bible Presentation Sharing - Genesis Book, chapter 43, verse 29 in Hcsb Version

Genesis 43 : 1 (HCSB)

Now the famine in the land was severe.

Genesis 43 : 2 (HCSB)

When they had used up the grain they had brought back from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go back and buy us some food."

Genesis 43 : 3 (HCSB)

But Judah said to him, "The man specifically warned us: 'You will not see me again unless your brother is with you.'

Genesis 43 : 4 (HCSB)

If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you.

Genesis 43 : 5 (HCSB)

But if you will not send him, we will not go, for the man said to us, 'You will not see me again unless your brother is with you.'"

Genesis 43 : 6 (HCSB)

"Why did you cause me so much trouble?" Israel asked. "Why did you tell the man that you had another brother?"

Genesis 43 : 7 (HCSB)

They answered, "The man kept asking about us and our family: 'Is your father still alive? Do you have *another brother?' And we answered him accordingly. How could we know that he would say, 'Bring your brother here'?"

Genesis 43 : 8 (HCSB)

Then Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me. We will be on our way so that we may live, and not die-- neither we, nor you, nor our children.

Genesis 43 : 9 (HCSB)

I will be responsible for him. You can hold me personally accountable! If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, I will be guilty before you forever.

Genesis 43 : 10 (HCSB)

If we had not wasted time, we could have come back twice by now."

Genesis 43 : 11 (HCSB)

Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and take them down to the man as a gift-- some balsam and some honey, aromatic gum and resin, pistachios and almonds.

Genesis 43 : 12 (HCSB)

Take twice as much money with you. Return the money that was returned *to you in the top of your bags. Perhaps it was a mistake.

Genesis 43 : 13 (HCSB)

Take your brother also, and go back at once to the man.

Genesis 43 : 14 (HCSB)

May God Almighty cause the man to be merciful to you so that he will release your other brother and Benjamin to you. As for me, if I am deprived of my sons, then I am deprived."

Genesis 43 : 15 (HCSB)

The men took this gift, double the amount of money, and Benjamin. They made their way down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

Genesis 43 : 16 (HCSB)

When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his steward, "Take the men to *my house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for they will eat with me at noon."

Genesis 43 : 17 (HCSB)

The man did as Joseph had said and brought them to Joseph's house.

Genesis 43 : 18 (HCSB)

But the men were afraid because they were taken to Joseph's house. They said, "We have been brought here because of the money that was returned in our bags the first time. They intend to overpower us, seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys."

Genesis 43 : 19 (HCSB)

So they approached Joseph's steward and spoke to him at the doorway of the house.

Genesis 43 : 20 (HCSB)

They said, "Sir, we really did come down here the first time only to buy food.

Genesis 43 : 21 (HCSB)

When we came to the place where we lodged for the night and opened our bags of grain, each one's money was at the top of his bag! It was the full amount of our money, and we have brought it back with us.

Genesis 43 : 22 (HCSB)

We have brought additional money with us to buy food. We don't know who put our money in the bags."

Genesis 43 : 23 (HCSB)

Then the steward said, "May you be well. Don't be afraid. Your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your bags. I received your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.

Genesis 43 : 24 (HCSB)

The man brought the men into Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet, and got feed for their donkeys.

Genesis 43 : 25 (HCSB)

Since the men had heard that they were going to eat a meal there, they prepared their gift for Joseph's arrival at noon.

Genesis 43 : 26 (HCSB)

When Joseph came home, they brought him the gift they had carried into the house, and they bowed to the ground before him.

Genesis 43 : 27 (HCSB)

He asked if they were well, and he said, "How is your elderly father that you told me about? Is he still alive?"

Genesis 43 : 28 (HCSB)

They answered, "Your servant our father is well. He is still alive." And they bowed down to honor him.

Genesis 43 : 29 (HCSB)

When he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, he asked, "Is this your youngest brother that you told me about?" Then he said, "May God be gracious to you, my son."

Genesis 43 : 30 (HCSB)

Joseph hurried out because he was overcome with emotion for his brother, and he was about to weep. He went into an inner room to weep.

Genesis 43 : 31 (HCSB)

Then he washed his face and came out. Regaining his composure, he said, "Serve the meal."

Genesis 43 : 32 (HCSB)

They served him by himself, his brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who were eating with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, since that is abhorrent to them.

Genesis 43 : 33 (HCSB)

They were seated before him in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest. The men looked at each other in astonishment.

Genesis 43 : 34 (HCSB)

Portions were served to them from Joseph's table, and Benjamin's portion was five times larger than any of theirs. They drank, and they got drunk with Joseph.