14. Joseph said to them, "It’s just as I’ve said to you. You are spies!
15. But here is how to prove yourselves: As Pharaoh lives, you won’t leave here until your youngest brother arrives.
16. Send one of you to get your brother, but the rest of you will stay in prison. We will find out if your words are true. If not, as Pharaoh lives, you are certainly spies."
17. He put them all in prison for three days.
18. On the third day, Joseph said to them, "Do this and you will live, for I’m a God-fearing man.
19. If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay in prison, and the rest of you, go, take grain back to those in your households who are hungry.
20. But bring your youngest brother back to me so that your words will prove true and you won’t die."So they prepared to do this.
21. The brothers said to each other, "We are clearly guilty for what we did to our brother when we saw his life in danger and when he begged us for mercy, but we didn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this danger now."
22. Reuben responded to them, "Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t do anything wrong to the boy’? But you wouldn’t listen. So now this is payback for his death."
23. They didn’t know that Joseph was listening to them because they were using an interpreter.
24. He stepped away from them and wept. When he returned, he spoke with them again. Then he took Simeon from them and tied him up in front of them.