Genesis 44:1-17

Darby Translation

44 And he commanded him who was over his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry; and put every man's money in the mouth of his sack.

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

³ In the morning, when it was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.

⁴ They were gone out of the city, [and] not [yet] far off, when Joseph said to him who was over his house, Up! follow after the men; and when thou overtakest them, thou shalt say to them, Why have ye rewarded evil for good?

⁵ Is not this [it] in which my lord drinks, and in which indeed he divines? Ye have done evil [in] what ye have done.

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

⁷ And they said to him, Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from thy servants to do such a thing!

⁸ Behold, the money that we found in our sacks' mouths we have brought again to thee from the land of Canaan; and how should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?

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

¹⁰ And he said, Now also [let] it [be] according to your words: let him with whom it is found be my bondman, but ye shall be blameless.

¹¹ And they hasted and laid down every man his sack on the ground, and opened every man his sack.

¹² And he searched carefully: he began at the eldest, and ended at the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

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

¹⁴ And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; and he was still there; and they fell down before him to the ground.

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

¹⁶ And Judah said, What shall we say to my lord? what shall we speak, and how justify ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of thy servants; behold, we are my lord's bondmen, both we, and he in whose hand the cup has been found.

¹⁷ And he said, Far be it from me to do so! The man in whose hand the cup has been found, he shall be my bondman; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.