1-2. Later, Joseph told the servant in charge of his house, “Fill the men's grain sacks with as much as they can hold and put their money in the sacks. Also put my silver cup in the sack of the youngest brother.” The servant did as he was told.
3. Early the next morning, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.
4. But they had not gone far from the city when Joseph told the servant, “Go after those men! When you catch them, say, ‘My master has been good to you. So why have you stolen his silver cup?
5. Not only does he drink from his cup, but he also uses it to learn about the future. You have done a terrible thing.’ ”
6. When the servant caught up with them, he said exactly what Joseph had told him to say.
7. But they replied, “Sir, why do you say such things? We would never do anything like that!
8. We even returned the money we found in our grain sacks when we got back to Canaan. So why would we want to steal any silver or gold from your master's house?
9. If you find that one of us has the cup, then kill him, and the rest of us will become your slaves.”
10. “Good!” the man replied, “I'll do what you have said. But only the one who has the cup will become my slave. The rest of you can go free.”
11. Each of the brothers quickly put his sack on the ground and opened it.
12. Joseph's servant started searching the sacks, beginning with the one that belonged to the eldest brother. When he came to Benjamin's sack, he found the cup.
13. This upset the brothers so much that they began tearing their clothes in sorrow. Then they loaded their donkeys and returned to the city.
14. When Judah and his brothers got there, Joseph was still at home. So they bowed down to Joseph,
15. who asked them, “What have you done? Didn't you know I could find out?”
16. “Sir, what can we say?” Judah replied. “How can we prove we are innocent? God has shown that we are guilty. And now all of us are your slaves, especially the one who had the cup.”