1 ¶ Then he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in the mouth of his sack.

2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain. And he did according to what Joseph had said.

3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys.

4 And when they had left the city, but were not yet far away, Joseph said to his steward, Rise, follow after the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, Why have you rewarded evil for good?

5 Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he divines? you have done evil in doing this.

6 When he overtook them, he spoke those same words to them.

7 And they said to him, Why does my lord say these things? far be it from your servants to do such a thing:

8 Consider that we brought back, from the land of Canaan, the money that we found in the mouth of our sacks: why then would we steal silver or gold out of your lord’s house?

9 With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we will also be my lord’s slaves.

10 And he said, Now let it be as you say: he with whom it is found will be my slave; and the rest of you will be blameless.

11 Then every man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and every man opened his sack.

12 And he searched, beginning with the eldest, and stopping with the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

13 Then they rent their clothes, and after each man had loaded his donkey, returned to the city.

14 And Judah and his brothers went to Joseph’s house; for he was still there: and they fell before him on the ground.

15 And Joseph said to them, What deed is this that you have done? do you not realize that a man such as I can certainly divine?

16 And Judah said, What shall we say to you my lord? how shall we reply? or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants: behold, we are my lord’s slaves, both we, and he with whom the cup was found.

17 But Joseph said, God forbid that I should do that: only the man in whose hand the cup was found will be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.

18 ¶ Then Judah came near to him, and said, Oh my lord, let your servant, I pray you, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and do not let your anger burn against your servant: for you are even as Pharaoh.

19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have you a father, or a brother?

20 And we said to my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.

21 And you said to your servants, Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.

22 And we said to my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.

23 But you said to your servants, Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.

24 And when we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said.

25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.

26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother goes with us, then will we go down: for we cannot see the man’s face, unless our youngest brother is with us.

27 And your servant my father said to us, You know that my wife bore me two sons:

28 And one left me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I have never seen him since:

29 And if you take this son from me also, and mischief befalls him, you will bring down my gray hairs in sorrow to the grave.

30 Now therefore since his life is bound up with the lad’s life; when I return to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us;

31 When he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die: and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave.

32 For your servant became security for the lad to my father, saying, If I do not bring him back to you, then I will bear the blame before my father forever.

33 Now therefore, I pray you, let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord; and let the lad return with his brothers.

34 For how can I go back to my father, if the lad is not with me? There to witness the grief that my father will endure.