Genesis 44

1 Afterward he commanded his steward, saying, Fill the mens sackes with foode, as much as they can carry, and put euery mans money in his sackes mouth.

Then Joseph instructed the steward of his house, saying: “Fill their sacks with grain, as much as they are able to hold. And place each one’s money at the top of the sack.

2 And put my cup, I meane the siluer cup, in the sackes mouth of the yongest, and his corne money. And he did according to the commandement that Ioseph gaue him.

But place my silver bowl, and the price that he gave for the wheat, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest.” And so it was done.

3 And in the morning the men were sent away, they, and their asses.

And when morning arose, they were sent away with their donkeys.

4 And when they went out of the citie not farre off, Ioseph sayd to his stewarde, Vp, follow after the men: and when thou doest ouertake them, say vnto them, Wherefore haue ye rewarded euill for good?

And now they had departed from the city and had set out a short distance. Then Joseph, sending for the steward of his house, said: “Rise up and pursue the men. And when you have overtaken them, say: ‘Why have you returned evil for good?

5 Is that not the cuppe, wherein my Lord drinketh? and in the which he doeth deuine and prophecie? ye haue done euill in so doing.

The cup that you have stolen, it is that from which my lord drinks, and in which he is accustomed to discern signs. You have done a very sinful thing.’”

6 And when he ouertooke them, he sayde those wordes vnto them.

He did as he had been ordered. And having overtaken them, he spoke to them according to the order.

7 And they answered him, Wherefore sayeth my lorde such wordes? God forbid that thy seruants should do such a thing.

And they responded: “Why does our lord speak in this way, as though your servants had committed such a shameful act?

8 Behold, the money which we found in our sackes mouthes, wee brought againe to thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steale out of thy lordes house siluer or golde?

The money, which we found at the top of our sacks, we carried back to you from the land of Canaan. So in what way does it follow that we would steal, from the house of your lord, gold or silver?

9 With whomesoeuer of thy seruants it bee found, let him dye, and we also will be my lordes bondmen.

Whichever of your servants will be found to have what you seek, may he die, and we shall be the servants of my lord.”

10 And he said, Now then let it be according vnto your wordes: he with whome it is found, shall be my seruant, and ye shalbe blamelesse.

And he said to them: “Let it be according to your verdict. With whomever it will be found, let him be my servant, but you will be unharmed.”

11 Then at once euery man tooke downe his sacke to the grounde, and euery one opened his sacke.

And so, they quickly placed their sacks down to the ground, and each one was opened.

12 And he searched, and began at the eldest and left at the yongest: and the cuppe was found in Beniamins sacke.

And when he had searched, beginning with the oldest, all the way to the youngest, he found the cup in Benjamin’s sack.

13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded euery man his asse, and went againe into the citie.

But they, tearing their garments and burdening their donkeys again, returned to the town.

14 So Iudah and his brethren came to Iosephs house (for he was yet there) and they fel before him on the ground.

And Judah, first among his brothers, entered to Joseph (for he had not yet departed from the place) and together they all fell down before him to the ground.

15 Then Ioseph sayd vnto them, What acte is this, which ye haue done? know ye not that such a man as I, can deuine and prophecie?

And he said to them: “Why would you choose to act in this way? Could you be ignorant that there is no one like me in the knowledge of discerning signs?”

16 Then sayd Iudah, What shall we say vnto my lord? what shall we speake? and howe can we iustifie our selues? God hath found out the wickednesse of thy seruants: beholde, we are seruants to my Lord, both wee, and he, with whome the cuppe is founde.

And Judah said to him, “What could we answer to my lord? And what would we be able to say, or to justly claim? God has discovered the iniquity of your servants. See, we have all become servants to my lord, both we, and he with whom the cup was found.”

17 But he answered, God forbid, that I should doe so, but the man, with whome the cuppe is founde, he shalbe my seruant, and go ye in peace vnto your father.

Joseph responded: “Far be it from me that I should act in this way. He who stole the cup, he will be my servant. But you may go away free to your father.”

18 Then Iudah drewe neere vnto him, and sayde, O my Lord, let thy seruant nowe speake a worde in my lordes eares, and let not thy wrath be kindled against thy seruant: for thou art euen as Pharaoh.

Then Judah, approaching closer, said confidently: “I beg you, my lord, let your servant speak a word in your ears, and do not be angry with your servant. For you are next to Pharaoh.

19 My Lord asked his seruants, saying, Haue ye a father, or a brother?

My lord, you questioned your servants before: ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’

20 And we answered my Lord, We haue a father that is olde, and a young childe, which he begate in his age: and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loueth him.

And we answered you, my lord: ‘There is our father, an old man, and a young boy, who was born in his old age. His brother of the same womb has died, and he alone is left to his mother and father, who truly love him tenderly.’

21 Now thou saidest vnto thy seruants, Bring him vnto me, that I may set mine eye vpon him.

And you said to your servants, ‘Bring him to me, and I will set my eyes on him.’

22 And we answered my lord, The childe can not depart from his father: for if he leaue his father, his father would die.

We suggested to my lord: ‘The boy is not able to leave his father. For if he sends him away, he will die.’

23 Then saydest thou vnto thy seruants, Except your yonger brother come downe with you, looke in my face no more.

And you said to your servants: ‘Unless your youngest brother arrives with you, you will not see my face any more.’

24 So when we came vnto thy seruant our father, and shewed him what my lord had sayd,

Therefore, when we had gone up to your servant our father, we explained to him all that my lord had spoken.

25 And our father sayde vnto vs, Goe againe, bye vs a litle foode,

And our father said: ‘Return and buy us a little wheat.’

26 Then we answered, We can not go downe: but if our yongest brother go with vs, then will we go downe: for we may not see the mans face, except our yongest brother be with vs.

And we said to him: ‘We cannot go. If our youngest brother descends with us, we will set out together. Otherwise, in his absence, we do not dare to see the face of the man.’

27 Then thy seruant my father sayde vnto vs, Ye knowe that my wife bare me two sonnes,

To which he responded: ‘You know that my wife conceived twice by me.

28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Of a suretie he is torne in pieces, and I sawe him not since.

One went out, and you said, “A beast devoured him.” And since then, he has not appeared.

29 Nowe yee take this also away from me: if death take him, then yee shall bring my graye head in sorowe to the graue. (Sheol h7585)

If you take this one also, and anything happens to him on the way, you will lead my grey hairs down with grief to the grave.’ (Sheol h7585)

30 Nowe therefore, when I come to thy seruant my father, and the childe be not with vs (seeing that his life dependeth on the childes life)

Therefore, if I would have gone to your servant, our father, with the boy not present, (though his life depends upon the life of him)

31 Then when hee shall see that the childe is not come, he will die: so shall thy seruants bring the graye head of thy seruant our father with sorowe to the graue. (Sheol h7585)

and if he were to see that he is not with us, he would die, and your servants will lead his grey hairs down with sorrow to the grave. (Sheol h7585)

32 Doubtlesse thy seruant became suertie for the childe to my father, and said, If I bring him not vnto thee againe, then I will beare the blame vnto my father for euer.

Let me be your very own servant, for I accepted this one into my trust, and I promised, saying: ‘Unless I lead him back, I will be guilty of a sin against my father for all time.’

33 Nowe therefore, I pray thee, let me thy seruant bide for the childe, as a seruant to my Lord, and let the childe go vp with his brethren.

And so I, your servant, will remain in place of the boy, in ministry to my lord, and then let the boy go up with his brothers.

34 For how can I go vp to my father, if the childe be not with me, vnlesse I woulde see the euil that shall come on my father?

For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I appear as a witness to the calamity that will oppress my father.”