Genesis 44:1-22 ▼

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14 So Iudah and his brethren came to Iosephs house (for he was yet there) and they fel 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?

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 Lorde, both wee, and he, with whome the cuppe is founde.

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.

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.

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

20 And we answered my Lorde, 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.

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