Chapter 44 Joseph and his brothers

[1] And 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.

[2] And 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.

[3] As 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 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?

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

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

[7] And they said unto him, 

wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:

[8] Behold, 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?

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

[10] And 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.

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

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

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

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

[15] And Joseph said unto them, 

what deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?

[16] And 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.

[17] And 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.

[18] Then 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.

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

[20] And 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.

[21] And thou saidst unto thy servants, 

Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.

[22] And we said unto my lord, 

the lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.

[23] And thou saidst unto thy servants, 

except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.

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

[25] And our father said, 

Go again, and buy us a little food.

[26] And 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.

[27] And thy servant my father said unto us, 

ye know that my wife bare me two sons:

[28] And the one went out from me, and I said, 

surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:

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

[30] Now 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;

[31] It 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.

[32] For 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.

[33] Now 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.

[34] For 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.

Chapter 45