1And he instructed the steward of his house: “Fill each of these men's sacks with grain, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. 2And then put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, along with his grain money.” And the steward did as Joseph had instructed. 3And as morning was dawning, the eleven brothers were sent off with their donkeys. 4And they had not gone far out of the city, when Joseph told his steward, “Up, pursue those men; and when you overtake them, say, ‘Why have you rewarded evil for good, 5By stealing my master’s silver cup from which my lord drinks, and by which, indeed, he divines? You have done evil in doing this.’”

6And the steward overtook them, and he spoke those same words to them. 7And they said, “Why does my lord say these words? God forbid that your servants should do such a thing! 8We even brought back the money that we found in our sacks' mouths from the land of Canaan. Why, then, would we steal silver or gold from your lord's house? 9If any of us is found to have it, let him die, and we will also be my lord's slaves.” 10And the steward said, “Very well, then. Let it be as you say: the one with whom it is found shall be my servant; and you others shall be blameless.” 11Then they quickly lowered every man’s sack to the ground, and opened each sack. 12And the steward searched, beginning at the eldest, and ended at the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13Then they tore their clothes, and each man re-loaded his donkey, and returned to the city.

14And Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house; for he was still there. And they fell on the ground before him. 15And Joseph said to them, “What is this that you have done? Do you not know that such a man as I can predict the future?” 16And Judah said, “What can we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; and now we shall be my lord's slaves - both we, and the one with whom the cup was found.” 17But Joseph said, “God forbid that I should do that; only the one with whom the cup is found shall be my slave; and as for the rest of you, go in peace to your father.”

18Then Judah came closer and said, “Oh my lord, please let your servant speak a word in your ears, and do not be angry with your servant; for you are as powerful as Pharaoh, himself. 19You asked us, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’ 20And we told my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him dearly.’ 21And you told us, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes upon him.’ 22And we told you, ‘The lad cannot leave his father; for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ 23But you said, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’ 24And when we returned to our father, we told him your words. 25And our father said, ‘Go again, and buy us a little food.’ 26And we said, ‘We cannot go unless our youngest brother is with us; for we may not see the man's face, unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27And my father said, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons: 28And the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn in pieces”; and I have never seen him since. 29And if you take this one from me, also, and mischief befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.’ 30Therefore, when we return to your servant, our father, and the lad is not with us; since his life is bound up in the lad's life; 31When he sees that the lad is not with us, he will surely die: and we shall bring down the gray hairs of our father with sorrow to the grave. 32For I became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame to my father forever.’ 33Therefore, please, let me stay instead of the lad as your slave; and let the lad go back with his brothers. 34For how shall I return to my father, and the lad not be with me? And then perhaps see the evil that shall come upon my father.”