Genesis 44

Revised Geneva Translation

44 Afterward, he commanded his steward, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry; and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.

² “And put my cup (I mean, the silver cup) in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money.” And he did according to the commandment that Joseph gave.

³ And in the morning, the men were sent away (they and their donkeys).

⁴ And when they had not gone far out of the city, Joseph said to his steward, “Up! Follow after the men. And when you catch up to them, say, “Why have you rewarded evil for good?

⁵ “Is not that the cup wherein my lord drinks and in which he divines and prophesies? You have done evil by doing this!”

⁶ And when he caught up to them, he said these words to them.

⁷ And they answered him, “Why does my lord say such words? God forbid that your servants should do such a thing.

⁸ “Behold, we brought back to you (from the land of Canaan) the money which we found in our sacks’ mouths. 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, also, will be my lord’s slaves.”

¹⁰ And he said, “Now then let it be as you say. He with whom it is found shall be my servant; and you shall be blameless.”

¹¹ Then, at once, every man took down his sack to the ground; and everyone opened his sack.

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

¹³ Then they tore their clothes; and every man loaded his donkey and went again into the city.

¹⁴ So, Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house (for he was still there); and they fell on the ground before him.

¹⁵ Then Joseph said to them, “What act is this which you have done? Do you not know that such a man as I can divine and prophesy?”

¹⁶ Then Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? And how can we justify ourselves? God has revealed the wickedness of your servants. Behold, we are servants to my lord, both we and he with whom the cup is found.”

¹⁷ But he answered, “May it never be that I should do so. The man with whom the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and you shall go in peace to your father.”

¹⁸ Then Judah drew near to him, and said, “Oh my lord, let your servant now speak a word in my lord’s ears; and do not let your wrath be kindled against your servant. For you are just as Pharaoh.

¹⁹ “My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’

²⁰ “And we answered my lord, ‘We have a father who is old, and a young child whom he begat in his old age. And his brother is dead; and he is the only surviving son of his mother. And his father loves him.’

²¹ “Now you said to your servants, ‘Bring him to me, so that I may set my eye upon him.’

²² “And we answered my lord, ‘The child cannot leave his father. For if he leaves him, his father will die.’

²³ “Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will look in my face no more.’

²⁴ “So, when we came to your servant, our father, we showed him what my lord had said.

²⁵ “And our father said to us, ‘Go back. Buy us a little food.’

²⁶ “Then we answered, ‘We cannot go down. But, if our youngest brother goes with us, then will we go down. For we may not see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’

²⁷ “Then your servant, my father, said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.

²⁸ ‘And one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn in pieces.” And I have not seen him since.

²⁹ ‘Now you also take this away from me. If death takes him, then you shall bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.’

³⁰ “Now, therefore, when I shall come to your servant, my father, and the child is not with us (seeing that his life depends on the child’s life),

³¹ “then (when he shall see that the child has not come) he will die. So shall your servants bring down the gray head of your servant, our father, to the grave with sorrow.

³² “Doubtless, your servant became surety for the child to my father; and, if I do not bring him back to you, then I will bear the blame to my father forever.

³³ “Now, therefore, please let me, your servant, stand in for the child (as a servant to my lord) and let the child go up with his brothers.

³⁴ “For how can I go up to my father if the child is not with me, lest I would see the evil that shall come on my father.”