Genesis 44:1-17

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

44 And Joseph commanded the steward of his house, saying: Fill their sacks with corn, as much as they can hold: and put the money of every one in the top of his sack.

² And in the mouth of the younger's sack put my silver cup, and the price which he gave for the wheat. And it was so done.

³ And when the morning arose, they were sent away with their asses.

⁴ And when they were now departed out of the city, and had gone forward a little way; Joseph sending for the steward of his house, said: Arise, and pursue after the men: and when thou hast overtaken them, say to them: Why have you returned evil for good?

⁵ The cup which you have stolen is that in which my lord drinketh, and in which he is wont to divine: you have done a very evil thing.

⁶ He did as he had commanded him. And having overtaken them, he spoke to them the same words.

⁷ And they answered: Why doth our lord speak so, as though thy servants had committed so heinous a fact?

⁸ The money, that we found in the top of our sacks, we brought back to thee from the land of Chanaan: how then should it be that we should steal out of thy lord's house, gold or silver?

⁹ With whomsoever of thy servants shall be found that which thou seekest, let him die, and we will be the bondmen of my lord.

¹⁰ And he said to them: Let it be according to your sentence: with whomsoever it shall be found, let him be my servant, and you shall be blameless.

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

¹² Which when he had searched, beginning at the eldest and ending at the youngest, he found the cup in Benjamin's sack.

¹³ Then they rent their garments, and loading their asses again, returned into the town.

¹⁴ And Juda at the head of his brethren went in to Joseph, (for he was not yet gone out of the place,) and they altogether fell down before him on the ground.

¹⁵ And he said to them: Why would you do so? know you not that there is no one like me in the science of divining.

¹⁶ And Juda said to him: What shall we answer my lord? or what shall we say, or be able justly to allege? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are all bondmen to my lord, both we, and he with whom the cup was found.

¹⁷ Joseph answered: God forbid that I should do so: he that stole the cup, he shall be my bondman: and go you away free to your father.