Genesis Chapter 44

Genesis Chapter 44
1 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 him.
3 And in the morning the men were sent
away, they, and their asses. 4 And when
they went out of the city not far off,
Joseph said to 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 that not the cup, wherein my Lord
drinketh? And in the which he doth
divine and prophesy? Ye have done evil
in so doing.
6 And when he overtook them, he said
those words unto them.
7 And they answered him, Wherefore
saith my lord such words? God forbid
that thy servants should do such a thing.
8 Behold, the money which we found in
our sack’s mouths, we brought again to
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, let him die, and we also will be
my lord’s bondmen.
10 And he said, Now then let it be
according unto your words: he with
whom it is found, shall be my servant,
and ye shall be blameless.
11 Then at once every man took down
his sack to the ground, and every one
opened 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 went again
into the city.
14 So Judah and his brethren came to
Joseph’s house (for he was yet there)
and they fell before him on the ground.
15 Then Joseph said unto them, What act
is this, which ye have done? Know ye
not that such a man as I, can divine and
prophesy?
16 Then said Judah, What shall we say
unto my lord? What shall we speak?
And how can we justify ourselves? God
hath found out the wickedness of thy
servants: behold, we are servants to my
Lord, both we, and he, with whom the
cup is found.
17 But he answered, God forbid, that I
should do so, but the man, with whom
the cup is found, he shall be my servant,
and go ye in peace unto your father. 18
Then Judah drew near unto him, and
said, O my Lord, let thy servant now
speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let
not thy wrath be kindled 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 answered my Lord, We have
a father that is old, and a young child,
which he begat in his age: and his
brother is dead, and he alone is left of
his mother, and his father loveth him.
21 Now thou saidst unto thy servants,
Bring him unto me, that I may set mine
eye upon him.
22 And we answered my lord, The child
cannot depart from his father: for if he
leave his father, his father would die.
23 Then saidst thou unto thy servants,
Except your younger brother come down
with you, look in my face no more.
24 So when we came unto thy servant
our father, and showed him what my lord
had said,
25 And our father said unto us, Go again,
buy us a little food, 26 Then we
answered, We cannot go down: but if
our youngest brother go with us, then
will we go down: for we may not see the
man’s face, except our youngest brother
be with us.
27 Then thy servant my father said unto
us, Ye know that my wife bear me two
sons,
28 And the one went out from me, and I
said, Of a surety he is torn in pieces, and
I saw him not since.
29 Now ye take this also away from me:
if death take him, then ye shall bring my
gray head in sorrow to the grave.
30 Now therefore, when I come to thy
servant my father, and the child be not
with us (seeing that his life dependeth on
the child’s life) 31 Then when he shall
see that the child is not come, he will
die: so shall thy servants bring the gray
head of thy servant our father with
sorrow to the grave.
32 Doubtless thy servant became surety
for the child to my father, and said, If I
bring him not unto thee again, then I will
bear the blame unto my father forever.
33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let me thy
servant abide for the child, as a servant
to my Lord, and let the child go up with
his brethren.
34 For how can I go up to my father, if
the child be not with me, unless I would
see the evil that shall come on my
father?