The first New Testament printed in English

by Unknown

Chapter .xxxvi.
These are the generations of Esau which is called Edom. Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan Ada the daughter of Elon an Hethite, and Ahalibama the daughter of Ana, which Ana was the son of Zibeon an Hevite; And Basmath Ismael's daughter and sister of Nebaioth. And Ada bare unto Esau, Eliphas: and Basmath bare Reguel: And Ahalibama bare Ieus, Iaelam and Korah. These are the sons of Esau which were born him in the land of Canaan. And Esau took his wives, his sons and daughters and all the souls of his house: his goods and all his cattle and all his substance which he had got in the land of Canaan, and went into a country away from his brother Iacob: for their riches was so much, that they could not dwell together, and that the land wherein they were strangers, could not receive them: because of their cattle. Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir, which Esau is called Edom. These are the generations of Esau father of the Edomites in mount Seir, and these are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphas the son of Ada the wife of Esau, and Reguel the son of Basmath the wife of Esau also. And the sons of Eliphas were: Theman, Omar, Zepho, Gaetham and Kenas. And Thimna was concubine to Eliphas Esau's son, and bare unto Eliphas, Amalek. And these, be the sons of Ada Esau's wife. And these are the sons of Reguel: Nahath, Serah, Samma and Misa: these were the sons of Basmath Esau's wife. And these were the sons of Ahalibama Esau's wife the daughter of Ana son of Zebeon, which she bare unto Esau: Ieus, Iaelam and Korah. These were dukes of the sons of Esau. The children of Eliphas the first son of Esau were these: duke Theman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenas, duke Korah, duke Gaetham and duke Amaleck: these are the dukes that came of Eliphas in the land of Edom, and these were the sons of Ada. These were the children of Reguel Esau's sonne: duke Nahath, duke Serah, duke Samma, duke Misa. These are the dukes that came of Reguel in the land of Edom, and these were the sons of Basmath Esau's wife. These were the children of Ahalibama Esau's wife: duke Ieus, duke Gaelam, duke Korah these dukes came of Ahalibama the daughter of Ana Esau's wife. These are the children of Esau, and these are the dukes of them: which Esau is called Edom: These are the children of Seir the Horite, the inhabiter of the land: Lothan, Sobal, Zibeon, Ana, Dison, Eser and Disan. These are the dukes of the Horites the children of Seir in the land of Edom. And the children of Lothan were: Hori and Hemam. And Lothan's sister was called Thimna. The children of Sobal were these: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Sepho and Onam. These were the children of Zibeon. Aia and Ana, this was that Ana that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed his father Zibeon's asses. The children of Ana were these. Dison and Ahalibama the daughter of Ana. These are the children of Dison. Hemdan, Esban, Iethran, and Cheran. The children of Ezer were these, Bilhan, Seavan and Akan. The children of Disan were: Ur and Aran. These are the dukes that came of Hori: duke Lothan, duke Sobal, duke Zibeon, duke Ana, duke Dison, duke Ezer, duke Disan. These be the dukes that came of Hori in their dukedoms in the land of Seir. These are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before there reigned any king among the children of Israel. Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edomea, and the name of his city was Dinhaba. And when Bela died, Iobab the son of Serah out of Bezara, reigned in his stead. When Iobab was dead, Husam of the land of Themany reigned in his stead. And after the death of Husam, Hadad the son of Bedad which slew the Madianites in the field of the Moabites, reigned in his stead, and the name of his city was Avith. When Hadad was dead, Samla of Masreka reigned in his stead. When Samla was dead, Saul of the river Rehoboth reigned in his stead. When Saul was dead, Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. And after the death of Baal Hanan the son of Achbor, Hadad reigned in his stead, and the name of his city was Pagu. And his wife's name Mehetabeel the daughter of Matred the daughter of Mesaab. These are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, in their kindreds, places and names: Duke Thimma, duke Alua, duke Ietheth, duke Ahalibama, duke Ela, duke Pinon, duke Kenas, duke Theman, duke Mibzar, duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These be the dukes of Edomea in their habitations, in the land of their possessions. This Esau is the father of the Edomites.

Chapter .xxxvij.
And Iacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, that is to say in the land of Canaan. And these are the generations of Iacob: when Ioseph was seventeen years old, he kept sheep with his brethren, and the lad was with the sons of Bilha and of Zilpha his father's wives. And he brought unto their father an evil saying that was of them. And Israel loved Ioseph more than all his children, because he begat him in his old age, and he made him a coat of many colours. When his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak one kind word unto him. Moreover Ioseph dreamed a dream and told it his brethren: wherefore they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them hear I pray yow this dream which I have dreamed: Behold we were making sheaves in the field: and lo, my sheaf arose and stood upright, and yours stood round about and made obeisance to my sheaf. Then said his brethren unto him: what, shalt thou be our king or shalt thou reign over us? And they hated him yet the more, because of his dream and of his words. And he dreamed yet another dream and told it his brethren saying: behold, I have had one dream more: me thought the sonne and the moon and eleven stars made obeisance to me. And when he had told it unto his father and his brethren, his father rebuked him and said unto him: what meaneth this dream which thou hast dreamed: shall I and thy mother and thy brethren come and fall on the ground before thee? And his brethren hated him, but his father noted the saying. His brethren went to keep their father's sheep in Sichem, and Israel said unto Ioseph: do not thy brethren keep in Sichem? come that I may send thee to them. And he answered here am I. And he said unto him: go and see whether it be well with thy brethren and the sheep, and bring me word again: And sent him out of the vale of Hebron, for to go to Sichem. And a certain man found him wandering out of his way in the field, and asked him what he sought. And he answered: I seek my brethren, tell me I pray thee where they keep sheep. And the man said, they are departed hence, for I heard them say, let us go unto Dothan. Thus went Ioseph after his brethren, and found them in Dothan. And when they saw him afar off before he came at them, they took counsel {councell} against him, for to slay him, and said one to another: Behold this dreamer cometh, come now and let us slay him and cast him into some pit, and let us say that sonne wicked beast hath devoured him, and let us see what his dreams will come to. When Ruben heard that, he went about to rid him out of their hands and said, let us not kill him. And Ruben said moreover unto them, shed not his blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hands upon him: for he would have rid him out of their hands and delivered him to his father again. And as soon as Ioseph was come unto his brethren, they stripped him out, of his gay coat that was upon him, and they took him and cast him into a pit. But the pit was empty and had no water therein. And they sat them down to eat bread. And as they lift up their eyes and looked about, there came a company of Ismaelites from Gilead, and their camels laden with spicery, balm, and myrrh, and were going down into Egypt. Then said Iuda to his brethren, what availeth it that we slay our brother, and keep his blood secret? come on, let us sell him to the Ismaelites, and let not our hands be defiled upon him: for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then as the Madianites merchant men passed by, they drew Ioseph out of the pit and sold him unto the Ismaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they brought him into Egypt. And when Ruben came again unto the pit and found not Ioseph there, he rent his clothes and went again unto his brethren saying: the lad is not yonder, and whither shall I go? And they took Ioseph's coat and killed a goat, and dipped the coat in the blood. And they sent that gay coat and caused it to be brought unto their father and said: This have we found: see, whether it be thy son's coat or no. And he knew it saying: it is my son's coat: a wicked beast hath devoured him, and Ioseph is rent in pieces. And Iacob rent his clothes, and put sack cloth about his loins, and sorrowed for his son a long season. Then came all his sons and all his daughters to comfort him. And he would not be comforted, but said: I will go down into the grave unto my son, mourning. And thus his father wept for him. And the Madianites sold him in Egypt unto Putiphar a lord of Pharao's: and his chief marshal.

Chapter .xxxviij.
And it fortuned at that time that Iudas went from his brethren and gat him to a man called Hira of Odollam, and there he saw the daughter of a man called Sua a Cananite. And he took her and went in unto her. And she conceived and bare a son and called his name Er. And she conceived again and bare a son and called him Onan. And she conceived the third time and bare a son, whom she called Sela: and he was at Chesib when she bare him. And Iudas gave Er his eldest son, a wife whose name was Thamar. But this Er Iuda's eldest son was wicked in the sight of the LORD, wherefore the LORD slew him. Then said Iudas unto Onan: go in to thy brother's wife and marry her, and stir up seed unto thy brother. And when Onan perceived that the seed should not be his: therefore when he went in to his brother's wife, he spilled it on the ground, because he would not give seed unto his brother. And the thing which he did, displeased the LORD, wherefore he slew him also. Then said Iuda to Thamar his daughter-in-law: remain a widow at thy father's house, till Sela my son be grown: for he feared lest he should have died also, as his brethren did. Thus went Thamar and dwelt in her father's house. And in process of time, the daughter of Sua Iuda's wife died. Then Iudas when he had left mourning, went unto his sheep shearers to Thimnath with his friend Hira of Odollam. And one told Thamar saying: behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Thimnath, to shear his sheep. And she put her widow's garments off from her and covered her with a cloak, and disguised herself: And sat her down at the entering of Enaim which is by the high way's side to Thimnath, for because she saw that Sela was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. When Iuda saw her he thought it had been an whore, because she had covered her face. And turned to her unto the way and said, come I pray thee, let me lie with thee, for he knew not that it was his daughter-in-law. And she said what wilt thou give me, for to lie with me? Then said he, I will send thee a kid from the flock. She answered: Then give me a pledge till thou send it. Then said he, what pledge shall I give thee? And she said: thy signet, thy necklace, and thy staff that is in thy hand. And he gave it her and lay by her, and she was with child by him. And she gat her up and went and put her mantle from her, and put on her widow's raiment again. And Iudas sent the kid by his neighbour of Odollam, for to fetch out his pledge again from the wife's hand. But he found her not. Then asked he the men of the same place saying: where is the whore that sat at Enaim in the way? And they said: there was no whore here. And he came to Iuda again saying: I can not find her, and also the men of the place said: that there was no whore there. And Iuda said: let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: for I sent the kid and thou couldest not find her. And it came to pass that after three months, one told Iuda saying: Thamar thy daughter-in-law hath played the whore, and with playing the whore is become great with child. And Iuda said: bring her forth and let her be brent. And when they brought her forth, she sent to her father-in-law saying: by the man unto whom these things pertain, am I with child. And said also: look whose are this seal, necklace, and staff. And Iuda knew them saying: she is more righteous than I, because I gave her not to Sela my son. But he lay with her no more. When time was come that she should be delivered, behold there was two twins in her womb. And as she travailed, the one put out his hand and the midwife took and bound a red thread about it saying: this will come out first. But he plucked his hand back again, and his brother came out. And she said: wherefore hast thou rent a rent upon thee? and called him Pharez. And afterward came out his brother that had the red thread about his hand, which was called Zarah.

Chapter .xxxix.
Ioseph was brought unto Egypt, and Putiphar a lord of Pharao's: and his chief marshal an Egyptian, bought him of the Ismaelites which brought him thither. And the LORD was with Ioseph, and he was a lucky fellow and continued in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all that he did prosper in his hand: Wherefore he found grace in his master's sight, and served him. And his master made him ruler of his house, and put all that he had in his hand. And as soon as he had made him ruler over his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed this Egyptian's house for Ioseph's sake, and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had: both in the house and also in the fields. And therefore he left all that he had in Ioseph's hand, and looked upon nothing that was with him, save only on the bread which he ate. And Ioseph was a goodly person and a well favored. And it fortuned after this, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Ioseph and said come lie with me. But he denied and said to her: Behold, my master woteth not what he hath in the house with me, but hath committed all that he hath to my hand. He himself is not greater in the house than I, and hath kept nothing from me, but only thee because thou art his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, for to sin against God? And after this manner spake she to Ioseph day by day: but he hearkened not unto her, to sleep near her or to be in her company. And it fortuned about the same season, that Ioseph entered into the house, to do his business: and there was none of the household by, in the house. And she caught him by the garment saying: come sleep with me. And he left his garment in her hand and fled and got him out. When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled out, she called unto the men of the house, and told them saying: See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to do us shame: for he came in to me, for to have slept with me. But I cried with a loud voice. And when he heard, that I lift up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me and fled away and got him out. And she laid up his garment by her, until her lord came home. And she told him according to these words saying. This Hebrews' servant which thou hast brought unto us came in to me to do me shame. But as soon as I lift up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me and fled out. When his master heard the words of his wife which she told him saying: after this manner did thy servant to me, he waxed wroth. And he took Ioseph and put him in prison: even in the place where the king's prisoners lay bound. And there continued he in prison, but the LORD was with Ioseph and shewed him mercy, and got him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison which committed to Ioseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison house. And whatsoever was done there, that did he. And the keeper of the prison looked unto nothing that was under his hand, because the LORD was with him, and because that whatsoever he did, the LORD made it come luckily to pass.

Chapter .xl.
And it chanced after this, that the chief butler of the king of Egypt and his chief baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharao was angry with them and put them in ward in his chief marshal's house: even in the prison where Ioseph was bound. And the chief marshal gave Ioseph a charge with them, and he served them. And they continued a season in ward. And they dreamed either of them in one night: both the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt which were bound in the prison house, either of them his dream, and each man's dream of a sundry interpretation. When Ioseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them: behold, they were sad. And he asked them saying, wherefore look ye so sadly today? They answered him, we have dreamed a dream, and have no man to declare it. And Ioseph said unto them. Interpreting belongeth to God, but tell me yet. And the chief butler told his dream to Ioseph and said unto him: In my dream me thought there stood a vine before me, and in the vine were three branches, and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth: and the grapes thereof waxed ripe. And I had Pharao's cup in my hand, and took of the grapes and wrung them into Pharao's cup, and delivered Pharao's cup into his hand. And Ioseph said unto him, this is the interpretation of it. The three branches are three days: for within three days shall Pharao lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thine office again, and thou shalt deliver Pharao's cup into his hand, after the old manner, even as thou didst when thou wast his butler. But think on me with thee, when thou art in good case, and shew mercy unto me. And make mention of me to Pharao, and help to bring me out of this house: for I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also have I done nothing at all wherefore they should have put me into this dungeon. When the chief baker saw that he had well interpreted it, he said unto Ioseph, me thought also in my dream, that I had three wicker baskets on my head? And in the uppermost basket, of all manner bakemeats for Pharao. And the birds ate them out of the basket upon my head. Ioseph answered and said: this is the interpretation thereof. The three baskets are three days, for this day three days shall Pharao take thy head from thee, and shall hang thee on a tree, and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee. And it came to pass the third day which was Pharao's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants. And he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. And restored the chief butler unto his butlership again, and he reached the cup into Pharao's hand, and hanged the chief baker: even as Ioseph had interpreted unto them. Notwithstanding the chief butler remembered not Ioseph, but forgot him.

Chapter .xlj.
And it fortuned at two years' end, that Pharao dreamed, and thought that he stood by a river's side, and that there came out of the river seven goodly kine and fat fleshed, and fed in a meadow. And him thought that seven other kine came up after them out of the river evil favored and lean fleshed and stood by the other upon the brink of the river. And the evil favored and lean fleshed kine: ate up the seven well favored and fat kine: and he awoke therewith. And he slept again and dreamed the second time, that seven ears of corn grew upon one stalk rank and goodly. And that seven thin ears blasted with the wind, sprang up after them: and that the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And then Pharao awaked: and see, here is his dream. When the morning came, his spirit was troubled; And he sent and called for all the soothsayers of Egypt and all the wise men thereof, and told them his dream: but there was none of them that could interpret it unto Pharao. Then spake the chief butler unto Pharao saying. I do remember my fault this day. Pharao was angry with his servants, and put in ward in the chief marshal's house both me and the chief baker. And we dreamed both of us in one night and each man's dream of a sundry interpretation. And there was with us a young man, an Hebrew born, servant unto the chief marshal. And we told him, and he declared our dreams to us according to either of our dreams. And as he declared them unto us, even so it came to pass. I was restored to mine office again, and he was hanged. Then Pharao sent and called Ioseph. And they made him haste out of prison. And he shaved himself and changed his raiment, and went in to Pharao. And Pharao said unto Ioseph: I have dreamed a dream and no man can interpretate it, but I have heard say of thee that as soon as thou hearest a dream, thou dost interpretate it. And Ioseph answered Pharao saying: God shall give Pharao an answer of peace without me. Pharao said unto Ioseph: in my dream me thought I stood by a river's side, and there came out of the river seven fat fleshed and well favored kine, and fed in the meadow. And then seven other kine came up after them, poor and very evil favored and lean fleshed: so that I never saw their like in all the land of Egypt in evil favoredness. And the seven lean and evil favored kine ate up the first seven fat kine. And when they had eaten them up, a man could not perceive that they had eaten them: for they were still as evil favored as they were at the beginning. And I awoke. And I saw again in my dream seven ears spring out of one stalk full and good, and seven other ears withered, thin and blasted with wind, spring up after them. And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears. And I have told it unto the soothsayers, but no man can tell me what it meaneth. Then Ioseph said unto Pharao: both Pharao's dreams are one. And God doth shew Pharao what he is about to do. The seven good kine are seven years: and the seven good ears are seven years also, and is but one dream. Likewise, the seven thin and evil favored kine that came out after them, are seven years: and the seven empty and blasted ears shall be seven years of hunger. This is that which I said unto Pharao, that God doth shew Pharao what he is about to do. Behold there shall come seven year of great plenteousness throughout all the land of Egypt. And there shall arise after them seven years of hunger. So that all the plenteousness shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt. And the hunger shall consume the land: so that the plenteousness shall not be once a seen in the land by reason of that hunger that shall come after, for it shall be exceeding great. And as concerning that the dream was doubled unto Pharao the second time, it betokeneth that the thing is certainly prepared of God, and that God will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore let Pharao provide for a man of understanding and wisdom, and set him over the land of Egypt. And let Pharao make officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years and let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up corn under the power of Pharao: that there may be food in the cities, and there let them keep it: that there may be food in store in the land, against the seven years of hunger which shall come in the land of Egypt, and that the land perish not thorow hunger. And the saying pleased Pharao and all his servants. Then said Pharao unto his servants: where shall we find such a man as this is, that hath the spirit of God in him? wherefore Pharao said unto Ioseph: forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is no man of understanding nor of wisdom like unto thee. Thou therefore shalt be over my house, and according to thy word shall all my people obey: only in the king's seat will I be above thee. And he said unto Ioseph: behold, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And he took off his ring from his finger, and put it upon Ioseph's finger, and arrayed him in raiment of byss, and put a golden chain about his neck and set him upon the best chariot that he had save one. And they cried before him Abrech, and that Pharao had made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharao said unto Ioseph: I am Pharao, without thy will, shall no man lift up either his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And he called Ioseph's name Zaphnath Paenea. And he gave him to wife Asnath the daughter of Potiphar priest of On. Then went Ioseph abroad in the land of Egypt. And he was thirty years old when he stood before Pharao king of Egypt. And then Ioseph departed from Pharao, and went thorow out all the land of Egypt. And in the seven plenteous years they made sheaves and gathered up all the food of the seven plenteous years which were in the land of Egypt and put it into the cities. And he put the food of the fields that grew round about every city: even in the same. And Ioseph laid up corn in store, like unto the sand of the sea in multitude out of measure, until he left numbering: For it was without number. And unto Ioseph were born two sons before the years of hunger came, which Asnath the daughter of Potiphar priest of On, bare unto him. And he called the name of the first son Manasse, for God (said he) hath made me forget all my labour and all my father's household. The second called he Ephraim, for God (said he) hath caused me to grow in the land of my trouble. And when the seven years of plenteousness that was in the land of Egypt were ended, then came the seven years of dearth, according as Ioseph had said. And the dearth was in all lands: but in the land of Egypt was there yet food. When now all the land of Egypt began to hunger, then cried the people to Pharao for bread. And Pharao said unto all Egypt: go unto Ioseph, and what he saith to you that do. And when the dearth was thorow out all the land, Ioseph opened all that was in the cities, and sold unto the Egyptians. And hunger waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came to Egypt to Ioseph for to buy corn: because that the hunger was so sore in all lands.

Chapter .xlij.
When Iacob saw that there was corn to be sold in Egypt, he said unto his sons: why are ye negligent? behold, I have heard that there is corn to be sold in Egypt. Get you thither and buy us corn from thence, that we may live and not die. So went Ioseph's ten brethren down to buy corn in Egypt, for Ben Iamin Ioseph's brother would not Iacob send with his other brethren: for he said: some misfortune might happen him. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among other that came, for there was dearth also in the land of Canaan. And Ioseph was governor in the land, and sold corn to all the people of the land. And his brethren came, and fell flat on the ground before him. When Ioseph saw his brethren, he knew them: But made strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them saying: Whence come ye? and they said: out of the land of Canaan, to buy vitaille. Ioseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. And Ioseph remembered his dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them: ye are spies, and to see where the land is weak is your coming. And they said unto him: nay, my lord: but to buy vitaille thy servants are come. We are all one man's sons, and mean truly, and thy servants are no spies. And he said unto them: nay verily, but even to see where the land is weak is your coming. And they said: we thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is yet with our father, and one no man woteth where he is. Ioseph said unto them, that is it that I said unto you, that ye are surely spies. Here by ye shall be proved. For by the life of Pharao, ye shall not go hence, until your youngest brother be come hither. Send therefore one of you and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be in prison in the mean season. And thereby shall your words be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharao, ye are but spies. And he put them in ward three days. And Ioseph said unto the third day: This do and live, for I fear God. {Gode} If ye mean no hurt, let one of your brethren be bound in the prison, and go ye and bring the necessary food unto your households, and bring your youngest brother unto me: that your words may be believed, and that ye die not; And they did so. Then they said one to another: we have verily sinned against our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us, and would not hear him: therefore is this trouble come upon us. Ruben answered them saying: said I not unto you that ye should not sin against the lad? but ye would not hear; And now verily see, his blood is required. They were not aware that Ioseph understood them, for he spake unto them by an interpreter. And he turned from them and wept, and then turned to them again and communed with them, and took out Simeon from among them and bound him before their eyes, and commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to put every man's money in his sack, and to give them vitaille to spend by the way. And so it was done to them. And they laded their asses with the corn and departed thence. And as one of them opened his sack, for to give his ass provender in the Inn, he spied his money in his sack's mouth. And he said unto his brethren: my money is restored me again, and is even in my sack's mouth. Then their hearts failed them, and were astonied and said one to another: how cometh it that God dealeth thus with us? And they came unto Iacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that had happened them saying: The lord of the land spake roughly to us, and took us for spies to search the country. And we said unto him: we mean truly and are no spies. We be twelve brethren sons of our father, one is away, and the youngest is now with our father in the land of Canaan. And the lord of the country said unto us: hereby shall I know if ye mean truly: leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food necessary for your households and get you away, and bring your youngest brother unto me; And thereby shall I know that ye are no spies, but mean truly: So will I deliver you your brother again, and ye shall occupy in the land. And as they emptied their sacks, behold: every man's bundle of money was in his sack. And when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. And Iacob their father said unto them: Me have ye robbed of my children: Ioseph is away, and Simeon is away, and ye will take Ben Iamin away. All these things fall upon me. Ruben answered his father saying: Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee again. Deliver him therefore to my hand, and I will bring him to thee again: And he said: my son shall not go down with you. For his brother is dead, and he is left alone. Moreover some misfortune might happen upon him by the way which ye go. And so should ye bring my gray head with sorrow unto the grave.

Chapter .xliij.
And the dearth waxed sore in the land. And when they had eaten up that corn which they brought out of the land of Egypt, their father said unto them: go again and buy us a little food. Then said Iuda unto him: the man did testify unto us saying: look that ye see not my face except your brother be with you. Therefore if thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go and buy the food. But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go: for the man said unto us: look that ye see not my face, except your brother be with you. And Israel said: wherefore dealt ye so cruelly with me, as to tell the man that ye had yet another brother? And they said: The man asked us of our kindred saying: is your father yet alive? have ye not another brother? And we told him according to these words. How could we know that he would bid us bring our brother down with us? Then said Iuda unto Israel his father: Send the lad with me, and we will rise and go, that we may live and not die: both we, thou and also our children. I will be surety for him, and of my hands require him. If I bring him not to thee and set him before thine eyes, then let me bear the blame for ever. For except we had made this tarrying: by this we had been there twice and come again. Then their father Israel said unto them: if it must needs be so now: then do thus, take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and bring the man a present, a courtesy balm, and a courtesy of honey, spices and myrrh, dates and almonds. And take as much money more with you. And the money that was brought again in your sacks, take it again with you in your hands, peradventure it was some oversight. Take also your brother with you, and arise and go again to the man. And God almighty give you mercy in the sight of the man and send you your other brother and also Ben Iamin, and I will be as a man robbed of his children. Thus took they the present and twice so much more money with them, and Ben Iamin. And rose up, went down to Egypt, and presented themself to Ioseph. When Ioseph saw Ben Iamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house: bring these men home, and slay and make ready: for they shall dine with me at noon. And the man did as Ioseph bade, and brought them in to Ioseph's house. When they were brought to Ioseph's house, they were afraid, and said: because of the money that came in our sacks' mouths at the first time, are we brought, to pick a quarrel with us and to lay some thing to our charge: to bring us in bondage and our asses also. Therefore came they to the man that was the ruler over Ioseph's house, and communed with him at the door and said: Sir, we came hither at the first time to buy food, and as we came to an inn and opened our sacks: behold, every man's money was in his sack with full weight: But we have brought it again with us, and other money have we brought also in our hands, to buy food, but we can not tell who put our money in our sacks. And he said: be of good cheer, fear not: Your God and the God of your fathers hath put you that treasure in your sacks, for I had your money. And he brought Simeon out to them and led them into Ioseph's house, and gave them water to wash their feet, and gave their asses provender: And they made ready their present against Ioseph came at noon, for they heard say that they should dine there. When Ioseph came home, they brought the present into the house to him, which they had in their hands, and fell flat on the ground before him. And he welcomed them courteously saying: is your father that old man which ye told me of, in good health? and is he yet alive? they answered: thy servant our father is in good health, and is yet alive. And they bowed them selves and fell to the ground. And he lift up his eyes and beheld his brother Ben Iamin his mother's son, and said: is this your youngest brother of whom ye said unto me? And said: God be merciful unto thee my son. And Ioseph made haste (for his heart did melt upon his brother) and sought for to weep, and entered into his chamber, for to weep there. And he washed his face and came out and refrained himself, and bade set bread on the table. And they prepared for him by himself, and for them by them selves, and for the Egyptians which ate with him by them selves, because the Egyptians may not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. And they sat before him: the eldest according unto his age, and the youngest according unto his youth. And the men marvelled among them selves. And they brought rewards unto them from before him: but Ben Iamin's part was five times so much as any of theirs. And they ate and they drank, and were drunk with him.

Chapter .xliiij.
And he commanded the ruler of his house saying: fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his bag mouth, and put my silver cup in the sack's mouth of the youngest and his corn money also. And he did as Ioseph had said. And in the morning as soon as it was light, the men were let go with their asses. And when they were out of the city and not yet far away, Ioseph said unto the ruler of his house: up and follow after the men and overtake them, and say unto them: wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? is that not the cup of which my lord drinketh, and doth he not prophesy therein? ye have evil done that ye have done. And he overtook them and said the same words unto them. And they answered him: wherefore saith my lord such words? God forbid that thy servants should do so. Behold, the money which we found in our sack's mouths, we brought again unto thee, out of the land of Canaa: how then should we steal out of my lord's house, either silver or gold? with whosoever of thy servants it be found let him die, and let us also be my lord's bondmen. And he said: Now therefore according unto your words, he with whom it is found, shall be my servant: but ye, shall be harmless. And at once every man took down his sack to the ground, and every man opened his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest and left at the youngest. And the cup was found in Ben Iamin's sack. Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass and went again unto the city. And Iuda and his brethren came to Ioseph's house, for he was yet there, and they fell before him on the ground. And Ioseph said unto them: what deed is this which ye have done? wist ye not that such a man as I can prophesy? Then said Iuda: what shall we say unto my lord, what shall we speak or what excuse can we make? God hath found out the wickedness of thy servants. Behold, both we and he with whom the cup is found, are thy servants. And he answered: God forbid that I should do so, the man with whom the cup is found, he shall be my servant: but go ye in peace unto your father. Then Iuda went unto him and said: oh my lord, let thy servant speak a word in my lord's audience, {ear} and be not wroth with thy servant: for thou art even as Pharao. My lord asked his servant saying: have ye a father or a brother? And we answered my lord, we have a father that is old, and a young lad which he begat in his age: and the brother of the said lad is dead, and he is all that is left of that mother. And his father loveth him. Then said my lord unto his servants bring him unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. And we answered my lord, that the lad could not go from his father, for if he should leave his father, he were but a dead man. Then saidest thou unto thy servants: except your youngest brother come with you, look that ye see my face no more. And when we came unto thy servant our father, we shewed him what my lord had said. And when our father said unto us, go again and buy us a little food: we said, that we could not go. Nevertheless if our youngest brother go with us then will we go, for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us. Then said thy servant our father unto us. Ye know that my wife bare me two sons. And the one went out from me and it is said of a surety that he is torn in pieces of wild beasts, and I saw him not since. If ye shall take this also away from me and some misfortune happen upon him, then shall ye bring my gray head with sorrow unto the grave. Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, if the lad be not with me: seeing that his life hangeth by the lad's life, then as soon as he seeth that the lad is not come, he will die. So shall we thy servants bring the gray head of thy servant our father with sorrow unto the grave. For I thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father and said: if I bring him not unto thee again. I will bear the blame all my life long. Now therefore let me thy servant bide here for the lad, and be my lord's bondman: and let the lad go home with his brethren. For how can I go unto my father, and the lad not with me: lest I should see the wretchedness that shall come on my father.

Chapter .xlv.
And Ioseph could no longer refrain before all them that stood about him, but commanded that they should go all out from him, and that there should be no man with him, while he uttered himself unto his brethren. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians and the house of Pharao heard it. And he said unto his brethren: I am Ioseph: doth my father yet live? But his brethren could not answer him, for they were abashed at his presence. And Ioseph said unto his brethren: come near to me, and they came near. And he said: I am Ioseph your brother whom ye sold into Egypt. And now be not grieved therewith, neither let it seem a cruel thing in your eyes, that ye sold me hither. For God did send me before you to save life. For this is the second year of dearth in the land, and five more are behind in which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. Wherefore God sent me before you to make provision, that ye might continue in the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not ye that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me father unto Pharao and lord over all his house, and ruler in all the land of Egypt. Haste you and go to my father and tell him, this sayeth thy son Ioseph: God hath made me lord over all Egypt. Come down unto me and tarry not. And thou shalt dwell in the land of Gosan and be by me: both thou and thy children, and thy children's children: and thy sheep, and beasts and all that thou hast. There will I make provision for thee: for there remain yet five years of dearth, lest thou and thy household and all that thou hast perish. Behold, your eyes do see, and the eyes also of my brother Ben Iamin, that I speak to you by mouth. Therefore tell my father of all my honour which I have in Egypt and of all that ye have seen, and make haste and bring in father hither. And he fell on his brother Ben Iamin's neck and wept, and Ben Iamin wept on his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brethren and wept upon them. And after that, his brethren talked with him. And when the tidings was come unto Pharao's house that Ioseph's brethren were come, it pleased Pharao well and all his servants. And Pharao spake unto Ioseph: say unto thy brethren, this do ye: lade your beasts and get you hence. And when ye be come unto the land of Canaan, take your father and your households and come unto me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. And commanded also. This do ye: take chariots with you out of the land of Egypt, for your children and for your wives: and bring your father and come. Also, regard not your stuff, for the goods of all the land of Egypt shall be yours. And the children of Israel did even so. And Ioseph gave them chariots at the commandment of Pharao, and gave them vitaille also to spend by the way. And he gave unto each of them change of raiment: but unto Ben Iamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of raiment. And unto his father he sent after the same manner: ten he asses laden with goods out of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn, bread and meat: to serve his father by the way. So sent he his brethren away, and they departed. And he said unto them: see that ye fall not out by the way. And they departed from Egypt and came into the land of Canaan unto Iacob their father, and told him saying. Ioseph is yet alive and is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Iacob's heart wavered, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Ioseph which he had said unto them. But when he saw the chariots which Ioseph had sent to carry him, then his spirits revived. And Israel said: I have enough, if Ioseph my son be yet alive: I will go and see him, yer that I die.