(KJV) Genesis 44¹

⥃Benjamin and the Silver Cup

[1] And he commanded the steward² of his house, saying, Fill the³ 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, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.⁴ [3] As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. [4] [And] when they were gone out of the city, [and] not [yet] far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up⁵, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore⁶ have ye rewarded evil for good? [5] [Is] not this [it] in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth⁷? ye have done evil in so doing.

[6] [¶]And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. [7] And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:⁸ [8] Behold, the money⁹, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then¹⁰ should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold? [9] With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both¹¹ let him die, and we¹² also will be my lord’s bondmen. [10] And he said, Now also [let] it [be] according unto your words: he with whom¹³ it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. [11] Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. [12] And he searched, [and] began¹⁴ at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup¹⁵ was found in Benjamin’s sack. [13] Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.¹⁶

[14] [¶]And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he [was] yet¹⁷ there: and they fell¹⁸ before him on the ground. [15] And Joseph said unto them, What¹⁹ deed [is] this that ye have done? wot ye not²⁰ that such a man as I can certainly divine²¹? [16] And Judah²² said, What shall we say²³ unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath²⁴ found out the iniquity²⁵ of thy servants: behold²⁶, we [are] my lord’s servants, both we, and [he] also with whom the cup is found. [17] And he said, God forbid²⁷ that I should do so: [but] the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall²⁸ be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace²⁹ unto your father.

⥃Judah Pleads for Benjamin

[18] Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord³⁰, let thy³¹ servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger³² burn against thy servant: for thou [art] even as Pharaoh³³. [19] My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?³⁴ [20] And we said³⁵ unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child³⁶ of his old age, a little one; and his brother³⁷ is dead, and he alone³⁸ is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. [21] And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring³⁹ him down unto me, that I may⁴⁰ set mine eyes upon him. [22] And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for [if] he should leave his father, [his father] would die⁴¹. [23] And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.⁴² [24] And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him⁴³ the words of my lord. [25] And our father said, Go again, [and] buy us a little food.⁴⁴ [26] And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man’s face, except our youngest brother [be] with us.⁴⁵ [27] And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two [sons]:⁴⁶ [28] And the one⁴⁷ went out from me, and I said, Surely⁴⁸ he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: [29] And if⁴⁹ ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow⁵⁰ to the grave. [30] Now therefore when I⁵¹ come to thy servant my father, and the lad [be] not with us; seeing that his life⁵² is bound up in the lad’s life; [31] It shall come to pass, when he⁵³ seeth that the lad [is] not [with us], that he will die: and thy servants shall⁵⁴ bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave⁵⁵. [32] For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.⁵⁶ [33] Now therefore⁵⁷, I pray thee⁵⁸, let thy servant abide instead⁵⁹ of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. [34] For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad [be] not with me? lest⁶⁰ peradventure I see the evil that shall come on⁶¹ my father.