Genesis 42:25-38

New International Version

²⁵ Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain,^(A) to put each man’s silver back in his sack,^(B) and to give them provisions^(C) for their journey.^(D) After this was done for them, ²⁶ they loaded their grain on their donkeys^(E) and left.

²⁷ At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey,^(F) and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack.^{(G) 28} “My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.”

Their hearts sank^(H) and they turned to each other trembling^(I) and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”^(J)

²⁹ When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan,^(K) they told him all that had happened to them.^(L) They said, ³⁰ “The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us^(M) and treated us as though we were spying on the land.^{(N) 31} But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies.^{(O) 32} We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.’^(P)

³³ “Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go.^{(Q) 34} But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men.^(R) Then I will give your brother back to you,^(S) and you can trade^[a] in the land.^(T)’”

³⁵ As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his pouch of silver!^(U) When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened.^{(V) 36} Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more,^(W) and now you want to take Benjamin.^(X) Everything is against me!^(Y)”

³⁷ Then Reuben said to his father, “You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care,^(Z) and I will bring him back.”^(AA)

³⁸ But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead^(AB) and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him^(AC) on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave^(AD) in sorrow.^(AE)”