Genesis 42:8-26
English Standard Version
Chapter 42
8And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. 9And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, "You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land." 10They said to him, "No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. 11We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies."
12He said to them, "No, it is the nakedness of the land that you have come to see."
13And they said, "We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more."
14But Joseph said to them, "It is as I said to you. You are spies.
15By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
16Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies."
17And he put them all together in custody for three days.
18On the third day Joseph said to them, "Do this and you will live, for I fear God:
19if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households,
20and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die." And they did so.
21Then they said to one another, "In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us."
22And Reuben answered them, "Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood."
23They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them.
24Then he turned away from them and wept. And he returned to them and spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.
25And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace every man 's money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. This was done for them.
