5. Isn’t this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.” ’
6. When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them.
7. But they said to him, ‘Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do anything like that!
8. We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found inside the mouths of our sacks. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?
9. If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves.’
10. ‘Very well, then,’ he said, ‘let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame.’
11. Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.
12. Then the steward proceeded to search, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
13. At this, they tore their clothes. Then they all loaded their donkeys and returned to the city.
14. Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him.
15. Joseph said to them, ‘What is this you have done? Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?’
16. ‘What can we say to my lord?’ Judah replied. ‘What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants’ guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves – we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.’