« | Genesis 45 | » |
1 Joseph could not control himself any longer. He cried in front of all the people who were there. Joseph said, "Tell everyone to leave here." So all the people left. Only the brothers were left with Joseph. Then he told them who he was.
2 Joseph continued to cry, and all the Egyptian people in Pharaoh's house heard it.
3 He said to his brothers, "I am your brother Joseph. Is my father doing well?" But the brothers did not answer him because they were confused and scared.
4 So Joseph said to his brothers again, "Come here to me. I beg you, come here." When the brothers went to him, he said to them, "I am your brother Joseph. I am the one you sold as a slave to Egypt.
5 Now don't be worried. Don't be angry with yourselves for what you did. It was God's plan for me to come here. I am here to save people's lives.
6 This terrible famine has continued for two years now, and there will be five more years without planting or harvest.
7 So God sent me here ahead of you so that I can save your people in this country.
8 It wasn't your fault that I was sent here. It was God's plan. God made me like a father to Pharaoh. I am the governor over all his house and over all of Egypt."
9 Joseph said, "Hurry up and go to my father. Tell him his son Joseph sent this message: 'God made me the governor of Egypt. So come here to me quickly. Don't wait.
10 You can live near me in the land of Goshen. You, your children, your grandchildren, and all of your animals are welcome here.
11 I will take care of you during the next five years of hunger. So you and your family will not lose everything you own.'
12 "Surely you can see that I really am Joseph. Even my brother Benjamin knows it is me, your brother, talking to you.
13 So tell my father about the honor I have received here in Egypt. Tell him about everything you have seen here. Now hurry, go bring my father back to me."
14 Then Joseph hugged his brother Benjamin, and they both began crying.
15 Then Joseph cried as he kissed all his brothers. After this, the brothers began talking with him.
16 Pharaoh learned that Joseph's brothers had come to him. This news spread throughout Pharaoh's house. Pharaoh and his servants were very excited!
17 So Pharaoh told Joseph, "Tell your brothers to take all the food they need and go back to the land of Canaan.
18 Tell them to bring your father and their families back here to me. I will give you the best land in Egypt to live on. And your family can eat the best food we have here.
19 Also give your brothers some of our best wagons. Tell them to go to Canaan and bring your father and all the women and children back in the wagons.
20 Don't worry about bringing all of their belongings. We can give them the best of Egypt."
21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them good wagons just as Pharaoh had promised. And Joseph gave them enough food for their trip.
22 He gave each brother a suit of beautiful clothes. But to Benjamin he gave five suits of beautiful clothes and 300 pieces of silver.
23 Joseph also sent gifts to his father. He sent ten donkeys with bags full of many good things from Egypt. And he sent ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and other food for his father on his trip back.
24 Then Joseph told his brothers to go. While they were leaving, he said to them, "Go straight home, and don't fight on the way."
25 So the brothers left Egypt and went to their father in the land of Canaan.
26 They told him, "Father, Joseph is still alive! And he is the governor over the whole country of Egypt." Their father did not know what to think. At first he didn't believe them.
27 But then they told him everything Joseph had said. Then their father saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to bring him back to Egypt, and he became excited and very happy.
28 Israel said, "Now I believe you. My son Joseph is still alive! I am going to see him before I die!"
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.