Benjamin and the Silver Cup

1And Joseph commanded the steward of his house, saying: Fill their sacks with corn, as much as they can hold: and put the money of every one in the top of his sack. 2And in the mouth of the younger's sack put my silver cup, and the price which he gave for the wheat. And it was so done. 3And when the morning arose, they were sent away with their asses. 4And when they were now departed out of the city, and had gone forward a little way; Joseph sendingfor the steward of his house, said: Arise, and pursue after the men: and when thou hast overtaken them, say to them: Why have you returned evil for good? 5The cup which you have stolen is that in which my lord drinketh, and in which he is wont to divine: you have done a very evil thing.

6He did as he had commanded him. And having overtaken them, he spoke to them the same words. 7And they answered: Why doth our lord speak so, as though thy servants had committed so heinous a fact? 8The money, that we found in the top of our sacks, we brought back to thee from the land of Chanaan: how then should it be that we should steal out of thy lord's house, gold or silver?\ 9With whomsoever of thy servants shall be found that which thou seekest, let him die, and we will be the bondmen of my lord. 10And he said to them: Let it be according to your sentence: with whomsoever it shall be found, let him be my servant, and you shall be blameless. 11Them they speedily took down their sacks to the ground, and every man opened his sack. 12Which when he had searched, beginning at the eldest and ending at the youngest, he found the cup in Benjamin's sack. 13Then they rent their garments, and loading their asses again, returned into the town.

14And Juda at the head of his brethren went in to Joseph, (for he was not yet gone out of the place, ) and they altogether fell down before him on the ground. 15And he said to them: Why would you do so? know you not that there is no one like me in the science of divining. 16And Juda said to him: What shall we answer my lord? or what shall we say, or be able justly to allege? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are all bondmen to my lord, both we, and he with whom the cup was found. 17Joseph answered: God forbid that should do so: he that stole the cup, he shall be my bondman: and go you away free to your father.

Judah Pleads for Benjamin

18Then Juda coming hearer, said boldly: I beseech thee, my lord, let thy servant speak a word in thy ears,and be not angry with thy servant: for after Pharao thou art, 19My lord. Thou didst ask thy servants the first time: Have you a father or a brother? 20And we answered thee, my lord: We have a father an old man, and a young boy, that was born in his old age; whose brother by the mother is dead: and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him tenderly. 21And thou saidst to thy servants: Bring him hither to me, and I will set my eyes on him. 22We suggested to my lord: The boy cannot leave his father: for if he leave him, he will die. 23And thou saidst to thy servants: Except your youngest brother come with you, you shall see my face no more. 24Therefore when we were gone up to thy servant our father, we told him all that my lord had said. 25And our father said: Go again, and buy us a little wheat. 26And we said to him: We cannot go: if our youngest brother go down with us, we will set out together: otherwise, without him we dare not see the man's face. 27Whereunto he answered: You know that my wife bore two. 28One went out, and you said: A beast devoured him: and hitherto he appeareth not. 29If you take this also, and any thing befall him in the way you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow unto hell. 3030Therefore if I shall go to thy servant our father, and the boy be wanting, (whereas his life dependeth upon the life of him,) 31And he shall see that he is not with us, he will die, and thy servants shall bring down his gray hairs with sorrow unto hell. 32Let me be tht proper servant, who took him into my trust, and promised, saying: If I bring him not again, I will be guilty of sin against my father for ever. 33Therefore I thy servant will stay instead of the boy in the service of my lord, and let the boy go up with his brethren. 34For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I be a witness of the calamity that will oppress my father.