1
When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?"
2
And he said, "Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die."
3
So Joseph's ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.
4
But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, "Lest some calamity befall him."
5
And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6
Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth.
7
Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, "Where do you come from?" And they said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food."
8
So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.
9
Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, "You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!"
10
And they said to him, "No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.
11
We are all one man's sons; we are honest men; your servants are not spies."
12
But he said to them, "No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land."
13
And they said, "Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more."
14
But Joseph said to them, "It is as I spoke to you, saying, 'You are spies!'
15
In this manner you shall be tested: By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
16
Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!"
17
So he put them all together in prison three days.
18
Then Joseph said to them the third day, "Do this and live, for I fear God:
19
If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses.
20
And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die." And they did so.
21
Then they said to one another, "We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us."
22
And Reuben answered them, saying, "Did I not speak to you, saying, 'Do not sin against the boy'; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us."
23
But they did not know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter.
24
And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.