Genesis 44

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.

He instructed his house manager, "Pack their bags with food, as much as they can hold, and secretly return their money in the bags."

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

Joseph instructed, "Place my cherished silver cup in the youngest one's sack, along with the money for his grain." And so it was done, just as Joseph had said.

As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.

As dawn broke, the men, along with their donkeys, were gently ushered away.

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?

Once they had left the city but were still nearby, Joseph instructed his servant, "Quick, follow those men. When you catch up to them, ask, 'Why have you repaid kindness with wrongdoing?'"

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

Isn't this the cup my master drinks from, and also uses for divination? You've done wrong by taking it.

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

He caught up with them, passionately repeating his message.

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

They asked him, "Why would you say such a thing? We would never dare to do what you're suggesting, it's unthinkable in the eyes of God!"

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?

Look, we returned the money we found in our bags from Canaan. Why would we then steal silver or gold from your master's house?

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

If any of your servants is found with it, let him die, and the rest of us will become your slaves.

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.

He declared, "Let it be as you say. The one found guilty will serve me, and the rest of you will be innocent."

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

Quickly, each man dropped his bag to the ground and eagerly opened it.

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

He began his search, starting from the eldest, down to the youngest. And there was the cup, hidden away in Benjamin's sack.

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

Overwhelmed with grief, they tore their clothes in despair. Each man loaded his donkey and, with heavy hearts, they journeyed back to the city.

And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.

Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph's home, finding him still present. Overwhelmed with emotion, they fell to their knees before him.

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?

Joseph asked them, "Why have you done this? Don't you realize that a man like me can surely find things out by divination?"

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.

Judah pleaded, "What can we possibly say to you, our master? How can we explain ourselves? God has revealed our guilt. We are all your servants, including the one found with the cup."

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.

He exclaimed, "May God prevent me from such an act! The one found with the cup will serve me. As for the rest of you, return to your father in peace."

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.

With a humble heart, Judah approached him, pleading, "Please, my lord, allow me to share my thoughts. Don't let your anger flare against me. Remember, you hold the same authority as Pharaoh."

My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?

My lord, you asked us, your servants, "Do you have a father or a brother?"

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.

We told our master, "We have an elderly father and his young son, born in his later years. The boy's brother has passed away, leaving him as the only child of his mother. His father adores him deeply."

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

You told your servants, "Bring him to me, I long to see him with my own eyes."

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

We pleaded, "Sir, the boy can't leave his dad. His departure would shatter his father's heart to death."

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

You told us firmly, unless our youngest brother comes with you, we won't see you again.

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

When we returned to your servant, our father, we relayed to him your profound words, my lord.

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

Our father, with a pleading voice, urged us, "Please, return and bring back a bit of sustenance for us."

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.

We insisted, we can't go unless our little brother comes with us. We won't be allowed to see the man without him.

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

My father, your humble servant, once told us, "Remember, my beloved wife gave me two precious sons."

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

One left my side, and I thought, surely he's been torn to pieces; I haven't seen him since.

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

If you take this from me too, and harm comes to him, you'll fill my final years with grief, leading me to a sorrowful end.

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;

When I return to your servant, my father, without the boy, who is his life and soul, his heart will shatter with grief.

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.

When he realizes the boy is gone, he'll be heartbroken, and we'll be responsible for our father's grief-stricken descent into his grave.

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.

I promised my father to protect the boy, swearing that if I failed, I'd carry that guilt forever.

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.

Please, I beg you, let me stay as your servant instead of the young boy; let him return home with his brothers.

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.

How can I face my father without the boy by my side? I fear the heartbreak it may cause him.