1. And the famine was severe in the land.
2. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.
3. And Judah spoke unto him, saying, The man did solemnly warn unto us, saying, You shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
4. If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food:
5. But if you will not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, You shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
6. And Israel said, Why dealt you so ill with me, as to tell the man whether you had yet a brother?
7. And they said, The man asked us carefully of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have you another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we in any way know that he would say, Bring your brother down?
8. And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones.
9. I will be surety for him; of my hand shall you require him: if I bring him not unto you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever: