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.”
17. Joseph told them, “I would never punish all of you. Only the one who was caught with the cup will become my slave. The rest of you are free to go home to your father.”
18. Judah went over to Joseph and said:Sir, you have as much power as the king himself, and I am only your slave. Please don't get angry if I speak.
19. You asked us if our father was still alive and if we had any more brothers.
20. So we told you, “Our father is a very old man. In fact, he was already old when Benjamin was born. Benjamin's brother is dead. Now Benjamin is the only one of the two brothers who is still alive, and our father loves him very much.”