¹⁸ On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God:^{(A) 19} If you are honest men,^(B) let one of your brothers stay here in prison,^(C) while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.^{(D) 20} But you must bring your youngest brother to me,^(E) so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.

²¹ They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother.^(F) We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress^(G) has come on us.”

²² Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?^(H) But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting^(I) for his blood.”^{(J) 23} They did not realize^(K) that Joseph could understand them,^(L) since he was using an interpreter.

²⁴ He turned away from them and began to weep,^(M) but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.^(N)

²⁵ Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain,^(O) to put each man’s silver back in his sack,^(P) and to give them provisions^(Q) for their journey.^(R) After this was done for them, ²⁶ they loaded their grain on their donkeys^(S) and left.

²⁷ At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey,^(T) and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack.^{(U) 28} “My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.”

Their hearts sank^(V) and they turned to each other trembling^(W) and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”^(X)