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

Then Joseph told the man who took care of his house, “Fill the men’s bags with as much food as they can carry. And put each man’s money in his bag.

2 a nd put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, with the money of his wheat. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

Put my silver cup in the bag of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did what Joseph had told him to do.

3 A s soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.

Early in the morning the men were sent away with their donkeys.

4 A nd when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Rise up, follow after those men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Why have ye rewarded evil for good?

When they had left the city and were not far away, Joseph said to the man who took care of his house, “Get up and follow the men. When you come to them, say to them, ‘Why have you returned bad for good? Why have you stolen the silver cup?

5 I s this not the one in which my lord drinks and in which indeed he divines? Ye have done evil in so doing.

Is this not my lord’s drinking cup that he uses for telling about the future? You have done wrong.’”

6 W hen he overtook them, he spoke unto them these same words.

So he came to them and spoke these words to them.

7 A nd they said unto him, Why saith my lord these words? In no wise should thy slaves do according to this thing.

And they said to him, “Why does my lord say these things? Your servants would never do such a thing.

8 B ehold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan; how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold?

Remember how we returned to you from the land of Canaan with the money we found in the top of our bags. Why then would we steal silver or gold from your owner’s house?

9 W ith whoever of thy slaves it is found, both let him die and we also will be my lord’s bond slaves.

If the cup is found with any of your servants, let him be put to death. And the others of us will be your servants.”

10 A nd he said, Now also let it be according unto your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and ye shall be blameless.

He answered, “Let it be as you say. He who is found to have the cup will be my servant. But you others will be without blame.”

11 T hen they made haste, and each one took his sack down to the ground, and each one opened his sack.

Then each man put his bag down on the ground in a hurry and opened it.

12 A nd he searched and began at the eldest and finished at the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

The man looked for it, beginning with the oldest and stopping with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s bag.

13 T hen they rent their clothes, and each one laded his ass, and they returned to the city.

Then they tore their clothes. After each man loaded his donkey again, they returned to the city.

14 A nd Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house, for he was yet there; and they fell before him on the ground.

When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell to the ground in front of him.

15 A nd Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? Know ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?

Joseph said to them, “What is this that you have done? Did you not know that a man like me has power to know what is not known by others?”

16 T hen Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? What shall we speak or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of thy slaves; behold, we are my lord’s slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup is found.

Judah said, “We do not know what to say to my lord. How can we make ourselves right in your eyes? God has shown the guilt of your servants. See, we are your servants, both we and the one who was found with the cup.”

17 A nd he said, in no wise should I do so; but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my slave; and as for you, go up in peace unto your father.

But Joseph said, “No. I will do no such thing. The person who was found with the cup will be my servant. But you others may go in peace to your father.”

18 ¶ Then Judah came near unto him and said, Oh my lord, let thy slave, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy slave; for thou art even as Pharaoh.

Then Judah came near to him, and said, “O my lord, let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears. Do not be angry with your servant. For you are like Pharaoh himself.

19 M y lord asked his slaves, saying, Have ye a father or a brother?

My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’

20 A nd we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a young man of his old age, yet a lad; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.

We said to my lord, ‘We have an old father and a young brother who was born to him when he was old. Now his brother is dead. So he is all that is left of his mother, and his father loves him.’

21 A nd thou didst say unto thy slaves, Bring him down unto me that I may set my eyes upon him.

Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him here to me, so I may see him.’

22 A nd we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father; for if he should leave his father, his father would die.

But we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father. For if he should leave his father, his father would die.’

23 A nd thou didst say unto thy slaves, Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, ye shall see my face no more.

Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes here with you, you will not see my face again.’

24 A nd it came to pass when we came up unto thy slave my father, we told him the words of my lord.

“When we returned to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said.

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

Our father said, ‘Go again and buy us a little food.’

26 A nd we said, We cannot go down; if our youngest brother is with us, then will we go down; for we may not see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.

But we said, ‘We cannot go there. If our youngest brother is with us, we will go there. For we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’

27 T hen thy slave my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bore me two sons;

“Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife gave birth to two of my sons.

28 a nd the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces, and I have not seen him since;

One left me, and I said, “For sure he is torn to pieces.” I have not seen him since.

29 a nd if ye take this one also from me and some disaster should befall him, ye shall bring my gray hairs with sorrow down to Sheol.

If you take this one also from me, and something happens to him, you will bring my white hair down to the grave in sorrow.’

30 N ow therefore when I come to thy slave my father, and the lad is not with us, seeing that his soul is bound up in the lad’s soul,

My father’s life and the boy’s life are one. If I return to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us,

31 i t shall come to pass when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy slaves shall bring the gray hairs of thy slave our father down with sorrow to Sheol.

when he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. So your servants will bring the white hair of your servant our father down to the grave in sorrow.

32 F or thy slave became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the sin before my father for ever.

For I put myself as trust for the boy to my father. I said, ‘If I do not return him to you, then let the blame be on me forever.’

33 N ow therefore, I pray thee, let thy slave remain instead of the lad as a bond slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brethren.

So let your servant stay and work for my lord, instead of the boy. Let the boy go home with his brothers.

34 F or how shall I go up to my father and the lad not be with me? I cannot go lest I see the evil that shall come on my father.

For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I am afraid to see the sorrow that my father would suffer.”