English Bible Presentation Sharing - Genesis Book, chapter 43, verse 9 in Nlv Version

Genesis 43 : 1 (NLV)

The time of no food was hard in the land.

Genesis 43 : 2 (NLV)

When they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go again and buy us a little food."

Genesis 43 : 3 (NLV)

But Judah told him, "The man said to us with sharp words, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'

Genesis 43 : 4 (NLV)

If you send our brother with us, we will go to Egypt and buy you food.

Genesis 43 : 5 (NLV)

But if you do not send him, we will not go. For the man said, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.' "

Genesis 43 : 6 (NLV)

Israel said, "Why did you do me such a wrong by telling the man that you had another brother?"

Genesis 43 : 7 (NLV)

And they said, "The man asked questions about us and our family. He said, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' So we answered his questions. How could we know that he would say, 'Bring your brother here'?"

Genesis 43 : 8 (NLV)

Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me. And we will get up and go, so we and you and our children may live and not die.

Genesis 43 : 9 (NLV)

I will put myself as trust for him. You may put him in my care. If I do not return him to you and set him in front of you, then let the blame be on me forever.

Genesis 43 : 10 (NLV)

For if we had not waited, we would have returned twice by now."

Genesis 43 : 11 (NLV)

Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best things of the land in your bags. Carry them to the man as a gift. Give him perfume and honey and spices and special things to eat.

Genesis 43 : 12 (NLV)

Take twice as much money with you to take the place of the money that was returned in your bags. It may be that it was a mistake.

Genesis 43 : 13 (NLV)

Take your brother also. Get up, and return to the man.

Genesis 43 : 14 (NLV)

May the All-powerful God give you such favor with the man that he may let your other brother and Benjamin return. If my children are taken from me, I am filled with sorrow."

Genesis 43 : 15 (NLV)

So the men took the gift, and twice as much money, and Benjamin. They got up and went to Egypt, and stood in front of Joseph.

Genesis 43 : 16 (NLV)

When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the man who took care of his house, "Bring the men into the house. And kill an animal and make it ready. For the men will eat with me at noon."

Genesis 43 : 17 (NLV)

So the man did what Joseph said, and brought the men to Joseph's house.

Genesis 43 : 18 (NLV)

The men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house. They said, "We are being brought in because of the money that was returned in our bags the first time we came. He is looking for something against us. He will come down on us and take us for servants with our donkeys."

Genesis 43 : 19 (NLV)

So they came near the man who took care of Joseph's house, and spoke to him at the door of the house.

Genesis 43 : 20 (NLV)

They said, "O, my lord, we came here the first time to buy food.

Genesis 43 : 21 (NLV)

When we came to the place where we stayed the night, we opened our bags. And we found that the full weight of each man's money was at the top of the bag. So we have brought it again with us.

Genesis 43 : 22 (NLV)

We have brought other money with us also to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our bags."

Genesis 43 : 23 (NLV)

But he answered, "Peace be with you. Do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you riches in your bags. I received your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.

Genesis 43 : 24 (NLV)

The man brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water to wash their feet. And he fed their donkeys.

Genesis 43 : 25 (NLV)

So they made the gift ready to give to Joseph when he came at noon. For they had heard that they were to eat there.

Genesis 43 : 26 (NLV)

When Joseph came home, they gave him the gift they had brought with them. They bowed to the ground in front of him.

Genesis 43 : 27 (NLV)

Then Joseph asked them about their well-being. He said, "Is your father well, the old man you spoke about? Is he still alive?"

Genesis 43 : 28 (NLV)

And they said, "Your servant, our father is well. He is still alive." Then they bowed their heads low in honor to Joseph.

Genesis 43 : 29 (NLV)

As he looked up, he saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son. He said, "Is this your youngest brother whom you told me about? May God show you loving-favor, my son."

Genesis 43 : 30 (NLV)

Then Joseph went out in a hurry. For he had much feeling for his brother. He went in his room and cried.

Genesis 43 : 31 (NLV)

Then he washed his face and came out. Hiding his feelings, he said, "Bring the food."

Genesis 43 : 32 (NLV)

So they brought food to Joseph by himself, and to them by themselves, and to the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves. The Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews because they thought it would be sinful.

Genesis 43 : 33 (NLV)

Joseph's brothers were seated in front of him by the way they were born, from the oldest to the youngest. And the men looked at each other in wonder.

Genesis 43 : 34 (NLV)

Joseph took food to them from his own table. But Benjamin's food was five times as much as any of theirs. And they were free in eating and drinking with him.