1 N ow when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?

Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?”

2 A nd he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.

He said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us from that place, so that we may live and not die.”

3 A nd Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.

Then ten brothers of Joseph went down to buy grain from Egypt.

4 B ut Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.

But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “ I am afraid that harm may befall him.”

5 A nd the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.

6 A nd Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.

Now Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.

7 A nd Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.

When Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. And he said to them, “Where have you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.”

8 A nd Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him.

9 A nd Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them, and said to them, “You are spies; you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land.”

10 A nd they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.

Then they said to him, “No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.

11 W e are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.

We are all sons of one man; we are honest men, your servants are not spies.”

12 A nd he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

Yet he said to them, “No, but you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land!”

13 A nd they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.

But they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers in all, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no longer alive.”

14 A nd Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:

Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you, you are spies;

15 H ereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.

by this you will be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here!

16 S end one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.

Send one of you that he may get your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. But if not, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.”

17 A nd he put them all together into ward three days.

So he put them all together in prison for three days.

18 A nd Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:

Now Joseph said to them on the third day, “Do this and live, for I fear God:

19 I f ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:

if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison; but as for the rest of you, go, carry grain for the famine of your households,

20 B ut bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.

and bring your youngest brother to me, so your words may be verified, and you will not die.” And they did so.

21 A nd they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.

Then they said to one another, “ Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us.”

22 A nd Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

Reuben answered them, saying, “ Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood.”

23 A nd they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.

They did not know, however, that Joseph understood, for there was an interpreter between them.

24 A nd he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.

He turned away from them and wept. But when he returned to them and spoke to them, he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.

25 T hen Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.

Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain and to restore every man’s money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. And thus it was done for them.

26 A nd they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.

So they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed from there.

27 A nd as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth.

As one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money; and behold, it was in the mouth of his sack.

28 A nd he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?

Then he said to his brothers, “My money has been returned, and behold, it is even in my sack.” And their hearts sank, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “ What is this that God has done to us?” Simeon Is Held Hostage

29 A nd they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying,

When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying,

30 T he man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.

“The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly with us, and took us for spies of the country.

31 A nd we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:

But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies.

32 W e be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.

We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no longer alive, and the youngest is with our father today in the land of Canaan.’

33 A nd the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:

The man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘ By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me and take grain for the famine of your households, and go.

34 A nd bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.

But bring your youngest brother to me that I may know that you are not spies, but honest men. I will give your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’”

35 A nd it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, 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.

Now it came about as they were emptying their sacks, that behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were dismayed.

36 A nd Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.

Their father Jacob said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and you would take Benjamin; all these things are against me.”

37 A nd Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.

Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my care, and I will return him to you.”

38 A nd he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

But Jacob said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If harm should befall him on the journey you are taking, then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”