First ReadingGenesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a
From the Book of Genesis
55When all the land of Egypt was famished,the people cried to Pharaoh for bread,and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph.What he says to you, do.”56The famine was over all the surface of the earth.Joseph opened all the store houses,and sold to the Egyptians.The famine was severe in the land of Egypt.57All countries came into Egypt,to Joseph, to buy grain,because the famine was severe in all the earth. some verses are not read5The sons of Israel came to buy among those who came,for the famine was in the land of Canaan.6Joseph was the governor over the land.It was he who sold to all the people of the land.Joseph’s brothers came,and bowed themselves down to him with their faces to the earth.7Joseph saw his brothers,and he recognized them,but acted like a stranger to them,and spoke roughly with them.He said to them, “Where did you come from?”
They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” verses 8–16 are not read17He put them all together into custody for three days.
18Joseph said to them the third day,“Do this, and live, for I fear God.19If you are honest men,then let one of your brothers be bound in your prison;but you go, carry grain for the famine of your houses.20Bring your youngest brother to me;so will your words be verified, and you won’t die.”
They did so.21They said to one another,“We are certainly guilty concerning our brother,in that we saw the distress of his soul,when he begged us,and we wouldn’t listen.Therefore this distress has come upon us.”22Reuben answered them,saying, “Didn’t I tell you,saying, ‘Don’t sin against the child,’and you wouldn’t listen?Therefore also, behold, his blood is required.”23They didn’t know that Joseph understood them;for there was an interpreter between them.24He turned himself away from them, and wept.Then he returned to them,and spoke to them,and took Simeon from among them,and bound him before their eyes.