44 While the guests were still eating and drinking, Joseph said to his steward: "Fill their sacks with grain, as much as they can take with them. And you shall put their money back into each of them in a sack on top. 2 And my cup, the cup of silver, thou shalt put in the sack of the youngest of them, together with the silver which he brought for the payment of the grain." He did everything as Joseph commanded.

3 And when it was daylight, the brethren, with their donkeys laden to the utmost, were sent home; 4 But before they had gone far from the city, Joseph said to his steward: "Immediately set out in pursuit, catch up with these people! And when you have caught up with them, say to them thus: "Why have you repaid evil for good? 5Why have you stolen the silver cup from which my lord drinks? He predicts the future by it. You acted outrageously!'"

6When the steward had caught up with them, he told them all this word for word. 7"How can our lord say such a thing? They burst out in response. "Your slaves could not even think of encroaching on someone else's property!" 8For even the silver that we found in our sacks we brought back from Canaan to you. Why then did we steal silver or gold from your master's house? 9If a cup is found in the possession of any of us, death will be on him, but we will remain forever servants of our master!"

10"Let it be your way," said the steward. "But only the one with whom I find the cup will become my servant, the rest are not to blame and can go home." 11They, ahead of one another, lowered their sacks to the ground and untied them. 12The steward searched everyone, from the oldest to the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin's bag. 13In desperation, the brothers tore their clothes, loaded the donkeys, and returned to the city.

14 As soon as Judah and his brothers came to Joseph, finding him still at home, they immediately fell at his feet. 15"What have you done?! Joseph reproached them. "You should have known that a man in my position would be able to reveal that!"

16"How shall I answer my lord to this? Judas said. "What can we say and how can we justify ourselves?" God has revealed our transgression. From now on, we are your slaves, our lord, all of us, and, of course, the one who has the cup."

17"I will never do this! Joseph said. "Whoever has the cup will become my servant, let the rest return in peace to their father."

18Then Judas stepped forward and said: "Let it please my lord to allow me, your servant, to speak a word to you. [355] Only do not be angry with your servant for this, although you are like Pharaoh himself! 19My lord, you have asked us, your servants, if we have a father or a brother. 20We have told you, my lord, that we have an aged father, and he has a child of his old age, a younger son whose own brother is dead. Of his mother's sons, he is the only one left, and his father loves him very much.

21 Then thou commanded us thy servants to bring him with us, that thou mayest look upon him. 22 We, my lord, have told thee, that this lad cannot leave his father, for the father will not endure it, he shall die. 23But you commanded us your servants not to come to you without our younger brother.

24When we returned home to your servant our father, we told him what you had said, my lord, 25so that when our father again said to us, "Go back to Egypt and buy us some grain," 26 we had only one answer: "We must not go there. We will go to Egypt if our younger brother is with us, for otherwise we will not be allowed to see the man who rules the country there."

27Then your servant, my father, said: "You know that my wife Rachel bore me two sons. 28One left me and did not return, and then I said, "He has been torn to pieces by a wild beast." I haven't seen him since. 29If you take my other son away from me, and a misfortune befalls him, I will not be able to bear the loss. With sorrow for him you will bring my gray head to the grave[356]."

30And now, if I come to my father your servant without a son to whom he is attached with all his heart, 31he will die as soon as he sees that his youngest son is not with us. and we, thy servants, will bring down to the grave the gray head of our father thy servant in great sorrow. 32 Moreover, I, your servant, have sworn to my father, saying, "The lad will return home. If I don't bring him back to you, father, I'll be guilty to you all my life."

33 Now, my lord, let me[357] remain your servant in his place, and let him go with his brothers. E-34 For how shall I return to my father if Benjamin is not with me? I will not be able to look at the grief that will slay my father."

"Joseph lives!"