Bible (King James)/Genesis/Chapter 44

For other versions of this work, see Genesis (Bible).

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CHAP. XLIV.
1 Joſeph's policy to ſlay his brethren. 6 His cup is found in Benjamin's ſack. 14 They are brought before Joſeph. 18 Judah's humble ſupplication to him.

And he commanded †† Heb. him that was over his houſe. the ſteward of his houſe, ſaying, Fill the men's ſacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his ſack's mouth.

2 And put my cup, the ſilver cup, in the ſack's mouth of the youngeſt, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joſeph had ſpoken.

3 As ſoon as the morning was light, the men were ſent away, they and their aſſes.

4 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joſeph ſaid unto his ſteward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou doſt overtake them, ſay unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?

5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he ‖‖ Or, maketh trial. divineth? ye have done evil in ſo doing.

6 ¶ And he overtook them, and he ſpake unto them theſe ſame words.

7 And they ſaid unto him, Wherefore ſaith my lord theſe words? God forbid that thy ſervants ſhould do according to this thing:

8 Behold, [1] the money, which we found in our ſackſ' mouths we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then ſhould we ſteal out of thy lord's houſe ſilver or gold?

9 With whomſoever of thy ſervants it be found, [2] both let him die, and we alſo will be my lord's bondmen.

10 And he ſaid, Now alſo let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found ſhall be my ſervant; and ye ſhall be blameleſs.

11 Then they ſpeedily took down every man his ſack to the ground, and opened every man his ſack.

12 And he ſearched, and began at the eldeſt, and left at the youngeſt: and the cup was found in Benjamin's ſack.

13 Then they [3] rent their clothes and laded every man his aſs and returned to the city.

14 ¶ And Judah and his brethren came to Joſeph's houſe; for he was yet there: and they [4] fell before him on the ground.

15 And Joſeph ſaid unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that ſuch a man as I can certainly ‖‖ Or, make trial.
ver. 5. divine?

16 And Judah ſaid, What ſhall we ſay unto my lord? what ſhall we ſpeak? or how ſhall we clear ourſelves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy ſervants: behold, [5] we are my lord's ſervants both we, and he alſo with whom the cup is found.

17 And he ſaid, [6] God forbid that I ſhould do ſo: but the man in whoſe hand the cup is found, he ſhall be my ſervant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.

18 ¶ Then Judah came near unto him, and ſaid, Oh my lord, let thy ſervant, I pray thee, ſpeak a word in my lord's ears, and [7] let not thine anger burn againſt thy ſervant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.

19 My lord aſked his ſervants ſaying, Have ye a father, or a brother?

20 And we ſaid unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and [8] a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.

21 And thou ſaidſt unto thy ſervants, [9] Bring him down unto me, that I may ſet mine eyes upon him.

22 And we ſaid unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he ſhould leave his father, his father would die.

23 And thou ſaidſt unto thy ſervants, ​[10] Except your youngeſt brother come down with you, ye ſhall ſee my face no more.

24 And it came to paſs when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.

25 And [11] our father ſaid, Go again, and buy us a little food.

26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us.

27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that [12] my wife bare me two sons:

28 And the one went out from me, and I said, [13] Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:

29 And if ye [14] take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that [15] his life is bound up in the lad's life;

31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.

32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, [16] If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.

33 Now therefore, I pray thee, [17] let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.

34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall †† Heb. find my father.
Exod. 18. 8.
Job. 31. 29.
Pſ. 116. 3.
& 119. 143. come on my father.

  1. ↑ ch. 43. 21.
  2. ↑ ch. 31. 32.
  3. ↑ ch. 37. 29, 34.
    Numb. 14. 6.
    2 Sam. 1. 11.
  4. ↑ ch. 37. 7.
  5. ↑ ver. 9.
  6. ↑ Prov. 17. 15.
  7. ↑ ch. 18. 30, 32.
    Exod. 32. 22.
  8. ↑ ch. 37. 3.
  9. ↑ ch. 42. 15, 20.
  10. ↑ ch. 43. 3, 5.
  11. ↑ ch. 43. 2.
  12. ↑ ch. 46. 19.
  13. ↑ ch. 37. 33.
  14. ↑ ch. 42. 36, 38.
  15. ↑ 1 Sam. 18. 1.
  16. ↑ ch. 43. 9.
  17. ↑ Exod. 32. 32.
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