1
And Joseph commanded the steward of his house , saying: Fill their sacks with corn, as much as they can hold: and put the money of every one in the top of his sack.
2
And in the mouth of the younger 's sack put my silver cup, and the price which he gave for the wheat. And it was so done.
3
And when the morning arose, they were sent away with their asses .
4
And when they were now departed out of the city , and had gone forward a little way ; Joseph sendingfor the steward of his house , said : Arise , and pursue after the men: and when thou hast overtaken them, say to them: Why have you returned evil for good ?
5
The cup which you have stolen is that in which my lord drinketh , and in which he is wont to divine: you have done a very evil thing.
6
He did as he had commanded him. And having overtaken them, he spoke to them the same words .
7
And they answered: Why doth our lord speak so, as though thy servants had committed so heinous a fact?
8
The money , that we found in the top of our sacks, we brought back to thee from the land of Chanaan: how then should it be that we should steal out of thy lord 's house , gold or silver ?
9
With whomsoever of thy servants shall be found that which thou seekest, let him die , and we will be the bondmen of my lord .
10
And he said to them: Let it be according to your sentence: with whomsoever it shall be found , let him be my servant , and you shall be blameless.
11
Them they speedily took down their sacks to the ground , and every man opened his sack.
12
Which when he had searched, beginning at the eldest and ending at the youngest , he found the cup in Benjamin's sack.
13
Then they rent their garments , and loading their asses again, returned into the town .
14
And Juda at the head of his brethren went in to Joseph , (for he was not yet gone out of the place, ) and they altogether fell down before him on the ground .
15
And he said to them: Why would you do so? know you not that there is no one like me in the science of divining.
16
And Juda said to him: What shall we answer my lord ? or what shall we say , or be able justly to allege? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants : behold, we are all bondmen to my lord , both we, and he with whom the cup was found .
17
Joseph answered: God forbid that should do so: he that stole the cup, he shall be my bondman: and go you away free to your father .
18
Then Juda coming hearer, said boldly: I beseech thee, my lord , let thy servant speak a word in thy ears,and be not angry with thy servant : for after Pharao thou art,
19
My lord . Thou didst ask thy servants the first time: Have you a father or a brother ?
20
And we answered thee, my lord : We have a father an old man, and a young boy , that was born in his old age; whose brother by the mother is dead : and he alone is left of his mother , and his father loveth him tenderly.
21
And thou saidst to thy servants : Bring him hither to me, and I will set my eyes on him.
22
We suggested to my lord : The boy cannot leave his father : for if he leave him, he will die .
23
And thou saidst to thy servants : Except your youngest brother come with you, you shall see my face no more.
24
Therefore when we were gone up to thy servant our father , we told him all that my lord had said .
25
And our father said : Go again, and buy us a little wheat.
26
And we said to him: We cannot go : if our youngest brother go down with us , we will set out together: otherwise, without him we dare not see the man 's face .
27
Whereunto he answered: You know that my wife bore two .
28
One went out, and you said : A beast devoured him: and hitherto he appeareth not.
29
If you take this also, and any thing befall him in the way you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow unto hell .
30
30Therefore if I shall go to thy servant our father , and the boy be wanting, (whereas his life dependeth upon the life of him,)
31
And he shall see that he is not with us , he will die , and thy servants shall bring down his gray hairs with sorrow unto hell .
32
Let me be tht proper servant , who took him into my trust, and promised, saying: If I bring him not again, I will be guilty of sin against my father for ever.
33
Therefore I thy servant will stay instead of the boy in the service of my lord , and let the boy go up with his brethren .
34
For I cannot return to my father without the boy , lest I be a witness of the calamity that will oppress my father .