1. And the famine was severe in the land.
2. And it came to pass, when they had consumed the corn which they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, Go again, buy us a little food.
3. And Judah spoke to him, saying, The man did solemnly protest to us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
4. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:
5. But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
6. And Israel said, Why dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
7. And they said, The man asked us strictly concerning our state, and our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: Could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?
8. And Judah said to Israel, his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.
9. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not to thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:
10. For except we had delayed, surely now we had returned this second time.