Genesis — Chapter 44

1Then Joseph instructed his steward: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each one’s silver in the mouth of his sack.

2Put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” So the steward did as Joseph had instructed.

3At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.

4They had not gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward, “Pursue the men at once, and when you overtake them, ask, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?

5Is this not the cup my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’”

6When the steward overtook them, he relayed these words to them.

7“Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing.

8We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found in the mouths of our sacks. Why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?

9If any of your servants is found to have it, he must die, and the rest will become slaves of my lord.”

10“As you say,” replied the steward. “But only the one who is found with the cup will be my slave, and the rest of you shall be free of blame.”

11So each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.

12The steward searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest—and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

13Then they all tore their clothes, loaded their donkeys, and returned to the city.

14When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.

15“What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”

16“What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”

17But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.”

18Then Judah approached Joseph and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh himself.

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

20And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’

21Then you told your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so that I can see him for myself.’

22So we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father. If he were to leave, his father would die.’

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

24Now when we returned to your servant my father, we relayed your words to him.

25Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us some food.’

26But we answered, ‘We cannot go down there unless our younger brother goes with us. So if our younger brother is not with us, we cannot see the man.’

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

28When one of them was gone, I said: “Surely he has been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since.

29Now if you also take this one from me and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’

30So if the boy is not with us when I return to your servant, and if my father, whose life is wrapped up in the boy’s life,

31sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow.

32Indeed, your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father, saying, ‘If I do not return him to you, I will bear the guilt before you, my father, all my life.’

33Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers.

34For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”

1And 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 his sack’s mouth.

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

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

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

5Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.

6And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.

7And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:

8Behold, 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?

9With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen.

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

11Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.

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

13Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.

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

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

16And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.

17And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.

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

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

20And we said unto 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 loveth him.

21And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.

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

23And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.

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

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

26And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man’s face, except our youngest brother be with us.

27And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:

28And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:

29And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

30Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life;

31It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.

32For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.

33Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.

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

1And 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 his sack`s mouth.

2And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack`s mouth of the youngest, and his grain money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

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

4[And] when they were gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?

5Is not this that in which my lord drinketh, and whereby he indeed divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.

6And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these words.

7And they said unto him, Wherefore speaketh my lord such words as these? Far be it from thy servants that they should do such a thing.

8Behold, 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?

9With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, let him die, and we also will be my lord`s bondmen.

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

11Then they hasted, and took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.

12And he searched, [and] began at the eldest, and left off at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin`s sack.

13Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.

14And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph`s house; and he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.

15And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? know ye not that such a man as I can indeed divine?

16And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord`s bondmen, both we, and he also in whose hand the cup is found.

17And he said, Far be it from me that I should do so: the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my bondman; but as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.

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

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

20And we said unto 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 loveth him.

21And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.

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

23And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.

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

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

26And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man`s face, expect our youngest brother be with us.

27And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:

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

29and if ye take this one also from me, and harm befall him, ye will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.

30Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad is not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad`s life;

31it will come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not [with us], that he will die: and thy servants will bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to Sheol.

32For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then shall I bear the blame to my father for ever.

33Now therefore, let thy servant, I pray thee, abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.

34For how shall I go up to my father, if the lad be not with me? lest I see the evil that shall come on my father.

1He instructed the servant who was over his household, “Fill the sacks of the men with as much food as they can carry and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack.

2Then put my cup—the silver cup—in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the money for his grain.” He did as Joseph instructed.

3When morning came, the men and their donkeys were sent off.

4They had not gone very far from the city when Joseph said to the servant who was over his household, “Pursue the men at once! When you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?

5Doesn’t my master drink from this cup and use it for divination? You have done wrong!’”

6When the man overtook them, he spoke these words to them.

7They answered him, “Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing!

8Look, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. Why then would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?

9If one of us has it, he will die, and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves!”

10He replied, “You have suggested your own punishment! The one who has it will become my slave, but the rest of you will go free.”

11So each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.

12Then the man searched. He began with the oldest and finished with the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack!

13They all tore their clothes! Then each man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.

14So Judah and his brothers came back to Joseph’s house. He was still there, and they threw themselves to the ground before him.

15Joseph said to them, “What did you think you were doing? Don’t you know that a man like me can find out things like this by divination?”

16Judah replied, “What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? How can we clear ourselves? God has exposed the sin of your servants! We are now my lord’s slaves, we and the one in whose possession the cup was found.”

17But Joseph said, “Far be it from me to do this! The man in whose hand the cup was found will become my slave, but the rest of you may go back to your father in peace.”

18Then Judah approached him and said, “My lord, please allow your servant to speak a word with you. Please do not get angry with your servant, for you are just like Pharaoh.

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

20We said to my lord, ‘We have an aged father, and there is a young boy who was born when our father was old. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’

21“Then you told your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so I can see him.’

22We said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father. If he leaves his father, his father will die.’

23But you said to your servants, ‘If your youngest brother does not come down with you, you will not see my face again.’

24When we returned to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.

25“Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little food.’

26But we replied, ‘We cannot go down there. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go, for we won’t be permitted to see the man’s face if our youngest brother is not with us.’

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

28The first disappeared and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” I have not seen him since.

29If you take this one from me too and an accident happens to him, then you will bring down my gray hair in tragedy to the grave.’

30“So now, when I return to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us—his very life is bound up in his son’s life.

31When he sees the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father in sorrow to the grave.

32Indeed, your servant pledged security for the boy with my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I will bear the blame before my father all my life.’

33“So now, please let your servant remain as my lord’s slave instead of the boy. As for the boy, let him go back with his brothers.

34For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn’t bear to see my father’s pain.”

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

2Put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, with his grain money.” He did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

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

4When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men. When you overtake them, ask them, ‘Why have you rewarded evil for good?

5Isn’t this that from which my lord drinks, and by which he indeed divines? You have done evil in so doing.’”

6He overtook them, and he spoke these words to them.

7They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants that they should do such a thing!

8Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again to you out of the land of Canaan. How then should we steal silver or gold out of your lord’s house?

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

10He said, “Now also let it be according to your words: he with whom it is found will be my slave; and you will be blameless.”

11Then they hurried, and each man took his sack down to the ground, and each man opened his sack.

12He searched, beginning with the oldest, and ending at the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

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

14Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there. They fell on the ground before him.

15Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Don’t you know that such a man as I can indeed divine?”

16Judah said, “What will we tell my lord? What will we speak? Or how will we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants. Behold, we are my lord’s slaves, both we, and he also in whose hand the cup is found.”

17He said, “Far be it from me that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he will be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

18Then Judah came near to him, and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and don’t let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even as Pharaoh.

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

20We 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.’

21You said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’

22We said to my lord, ‘The boy can’t leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’

23You said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will see my face no more.’

24When we came up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.

25Our father said, ‘Go again and buy us a little food.’

26We said, ‘We can’t go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down: for we may not see the man’s face, unless our youngest brother is with us.’

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

28and the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn in pieces”; and I haven’t seen him since.

29If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.’

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

31it will happen, when he sees that the boy is no more, that he will die. Your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant, our father, with sorrow to Sheol.

32For your servant became collateral for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I don’t bring him to you, then I will bear the blame to my father forever.’

33Now therefore, please let your servant stay instead of the boy, my lord’s slave; and let the boy go up with his brothers.

34For how will I go up to my father, if the boy isn’t with me?—lest I see the evil that will come on my father.”