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.

And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the 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, 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.

And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his food money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

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

As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and 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 when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded 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.

Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.

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

And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.

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

And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:

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?

Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold?

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

With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen.

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, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.

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

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

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

And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

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

Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his donkey, and returned to the city.

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 and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on 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 Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?

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, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is 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.

And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto 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 came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.

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

My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye 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 said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.

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

And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon 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.

And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.

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

And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.

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

And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.

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

And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.

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, 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.

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

And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:

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.

And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:

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)

And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow 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)

Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life;

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)

It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father 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.

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.

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.

Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.

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 how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.