Old Testament

New Testament

Genesis 44:3-16 English Standard Version (ESV)

3. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys.

4. They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?

5. Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’”

6. When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words.

7. They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing!

8. Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house?

9. Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord’s servants.”

10. He said, “Let it be as you say: he who is found with it shall be my servant, and the rest of you shall be innocent.”

11. Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack.

12. And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

13. Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.

14. When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground.

15. Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?”

16. And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.”

Read complete chapter Genesis 44