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1 Joseph gave the following orders to the manager of his house: “Fill the luggage of these men with all the food they can carry, and put each man's silver in the mouth of his luggage.
2 Then put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the youngest son's baggage, together with the silver paid for the wheat.” And he did everything according to Joseph's orders.
3 As soon as morning dawned, they sent the men away with their donkeys.
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4 They had not yet gone far from the city, when Joseph said to the administrator of his house: “Go after those men, and when you overtake them, say to them: Why did they return good for evil?
5 Isn't this the cup that my lord uses to drink and make divinations? You have committed great evil! “
6 When he reached them, he repeated these words to them.
7 But they answered him, “Why does my lord say this? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing!
8 We brought back to you, from the land of Canaan, the silver that we found in the mouth of our baggage. How would we steal silver or gold from your master's house?
9 If any of her servants are found with her, he will die; and we, the rest, will be slaves to my master.”
10 And he said: “I agree. Only whoever is found with her will be my slave; the rest will be free.”
11 Each of them quickly unloaded their luggage and opened it.
12 The administrator then began the search, from the oldest to the youngest's luggage. And the cup was found in Benjamin's luggage.
13 At this, they tore their clothes. Then they all loaded their donkeys again and returned to the city.
14 When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph's house, he was still there. Then they fell to the ground before him.
15 And Joseph asked them, “What have you done? Don't you know that a man like me has the power to divine? “
16 Judah replied, “What shall we say to my lord? What can we talk about? How can we prove our innocence? God has brought to light the guilt of your servants. Now we are slaves to my master, just like the one who was found with the cup.”
17 But Joseph said, “Far be it from me to do such a thing! Only the one who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest can return to their father’s house in peace.”
18 Then Judah addressed him, saying: “Please, my lord, allow me to say a word to you. Let not your anger be kindled against your servant, although you are equal to Pharaoh himself.
19 My lord asked his servants if we still had a father and any other brothers.
20 And we answer: We have an elderly father, whose youngest son was born to him in his old age. His brother has already died, and he is the only remaining son of the same mother, and his father loves him very much.
21 “Then you told your servants to bring him to you so that your eyes could see him.
22 And we answered my lord that the young man could not leave his father, for if he did, his father would die.
23 However, you told your servants that if our youngest brother did not come with us, we would never see your face again.
24 When we returned to your servant, my father, we told him what my lord had said.
25 “When our father sent us back to buy some more food,
26 We said to him: We can only go back there if our youngest brother goes with us. For we will not be able to see that man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.
27 “Your servant my father then said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me only two sons.
28 One of them was gone, and I said, Surely he was torn to pieces. And to this day, I've never seen him again.
29 If now you also take this one from me, and any harm happens to him, the sadness you will cause me will make my gray hairs go down to the grave.'
30 “Now therefore, if I return to your servant, my father, without taking the young man with us, as soon as my father, who is so attached to him,
31 realizing that the young man is not with us, he will die. Your servants will make your old father lower his white hair to the grave with sadness.
32 “Moreover, your servant assured his father of the young man's safety, saying to him: If I do not bring him back, I will bear this guilt before you for the rest of my life!
33 “So now I ask you, please let your servant remain as my master's slave in the young man's place and allow him to return with his brothers.
34 How can I return to my father without taking the young man with me? No! I cannot see the harm that would come to my father.”
