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Genesis 40-42
New International Version
Genesis 40-42
New International Version
The Cupbearer and the Baker
40 Some time later, the cupbearer(A) and the baker(B) of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2 Pharaoh was angry(C) with his two officials,(D) the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard,(E) in the same prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard(F) assigned them to Joseph,(G) and he attended them.
After they had been in custody(H) for some time, 5 each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream(I) the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.(J)
6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody(K) with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”(L)
8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”(M)
Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God?(N) Tell me your dreams.”
9 So the chief cupbearer(O) told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, 10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed,(P) and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.”
12 “This is what it means,(Q)” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days.(R) 13 Within three days(S) Pharaoh will lift up your head(T) and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer.(U) 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me(V) and show me kindness;(W) mention me to Pharaoh(X) and get me out of this prison. 15 I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews,(Y) and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”(Z)
16 When the chief baker(AA) saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation,(AB) he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets(AC) of bread.[a] 17 In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”
18 “This is what it means,” Joseph said. “The three baskets are three days.(AD) 19 Within three days(AE) Pharaoh will lift off your head(AF) and impale your body on a pole.(AG) And the birds will eat away your flesh.”(AH)
20 Now the third day(AI) was Pharaoh’s birthday,(AJ) and he gave a feast for all his officials.(AK) He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker(AL) in the presence of his officials: 21 He restored the chief cupbearer(AM) to his position,(AN) so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand(AO)— 22 but he impaled the chief baker,(AP) just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.(AQ)
23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.(AR)
Pharaoh’s Dreams
41 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream:(AS) He was standing by the Nile,(AT) 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat,(AU) and they grazed among the reeds.(AV) 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.(AW)
5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain,(AX) healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind.(AY) 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up;(AZ) it had been a dream.
8 In the morning his mind was troubled,(BA) so he sent for all the magicians(BB) and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.(BC)
9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.(BD) 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants,(BE) and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.(BF) 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.(BG) 12 Now a young Hebrew(BH) was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard.(BI) We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.(BJ) 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.(BK)”
14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon.(BL) When he had shaved(BM) and changed his clothes,(BN) he came before Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it.(BO) But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”(BP)
16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”(BQ)
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,(BR) 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.(BS) 19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22 “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.(BT)”
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same.(BU) God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.(BV) 26 The seven good cows(BW) are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.(BX)
28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.(BY) 29 Seven years of great abundance(BZ) are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine(CA) will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.(CB) 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided(CC) by God, and God will do it soon.(CD)
33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man(CE) and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.(CF) 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners(CG) over the land to take a fifth(CH) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.(CI) 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food.(CJ) 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt,(CK) so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.(CL) 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God[b]?”(CM)
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,(CN) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.(CO) 40 You shall be in charge of my palace,(CP) and all my people are to submit to your orders.(CQ) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.(CR)”
Joseph in Charge of Egypt
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”(CS) 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring(CT) from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes(CU) of fine linen(CV) and put a gold chain around his neck.(CW) 43 He had him ride in a chariot(CX) as his second-in-command,[c](CY) and people shouted before him, “Make way[d]!”(CZ) Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.(DA)
44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”(DB) 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph(DC) the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest(DD) of On,[e](DE) to be his wife.(DF) And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old(DG) when he entered the service(DH) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance(DI) the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities.(DJ) In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea;(DK) it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.(DL) 51 Joseph named his firstborn(DM) Manasseh[f](DN) and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim[g](DO) and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful(DP) in the land of my suffering.”
53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine(DQ) began,(DR) just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine,(DS) the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”(DT)
56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians,(DU) for the famine(DV) was severe throughout Egypt.(DW) 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph,(DX) because the famine was severe everywhere.(DY)
Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt
42 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt,(DZ) he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” 2 He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us,(EA) so that we may live and not die.”(EB)
3 Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain(EC) from Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin,(ED) Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.(EE) 5 So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain,(EF) for there was famine in the land of Canaan(EG) also.(EH)
6 Now Joseph was the governor of the land,(EI) the person who sold grain to all its people.(EJ) So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.(EK) 7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them.(EL) “Where do you come from?”(EM) he asked.
“From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”
8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.(EN) 9 Then he remembered his dreams(EO) about them and said to them, “You are spies!(EP) You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”(EQ)
10 “No, my lord,(ER)” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food.(ES) 11 We are all the sons of one man. Your servants(ET) are honest men,(EU) not spies.(EV)”
12 “No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”(EW)
13 But they replied, “Your servants(EX) were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan.(EY) The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”(EZ)
14 Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies!(FA) 15 And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives,(FB) you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.(FC) 16 Send one of your number to get your brother;(FD) the rest of you will be kept in prison,(FE) so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth.(FF) If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!(FG)” 17 And he put them all in custody(FH) for three days.
18 On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God:(FI) 19 If you are honest men,(FJ) let one of your brothers stay here in prison,(FK) while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.(FL) 20 But you must bring your youngest brother to me,(FM) so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.
21 They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother.(FN) We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress(FO) has come on us.”
22 Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?(FP) But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting(FQ) for his blood.”(FR) 23 They did not realize(FS) that Joseph could understand them,(FT) since he was using an interpreter.
24 He turned away from them and began to weep,(FU) but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.(FV)
25 Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain,(FW) to put each man’s silver back in his sack,(FX) and to give them provisions(FY) for their journey.(FZ) After this was done for them, 26 they loaded their grain on their donkeys(GA) and left.
27 At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey,(GB) and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack.(GC) 28 “My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.”
Their hearts sank(GD) and they turned to each other trembling(GE) and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”(GF)
29 When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan,(GG) they told him all that had happened to them.(GH) They said, 30 “The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us(GI) and treated us as though we were spying on the land.(GJ) 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies.(GK) 32 We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.’(GL)
33 “Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go.(GM) 34 But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men.(GN) Then I will give your brother back to you,(GO) and you can trade[h] in the land.(GP)’”
35 As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his pouch of silver!(GQ) When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened.(GR) 36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more,(GS) and now you want to take Benjamin.(GT) Everything is against me!(GU)”
37 Then Reuben said to his father, “You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care,(GV) and I will bring him back.”(GW)
38 But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead(GX) and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him(GY) on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave(GZ) in sorrow.(HA)”
Footnotes
- Genesis 40:16 Or three wicker baskets
- Genesis 41:38 Or of the gods
- Genesis 41:43 Or in the chariot of his second-in-command; or in his second chariot
- Genesis 41:43 Or Bow down
- Genesis 41:45 That is, Heliopolis; also in verse 50
- Genesis 41:51 Manasseh sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for forget.
- Genesis 41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for twice fruitful.
- Genesis 42:34 Or move about freely
Genesis 40-42
King James Version
Genesis 40-42
King James Version
40 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.
2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.
3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.
5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.
6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.
7 And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?
8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.
9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:
11 And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.
14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.
16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:
17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.
18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:
19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:
22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.
41 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.
2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.
3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
4 And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.
6 And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.
7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.
8 And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:
10 Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker:
11 And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.
12 And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.
13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:
18 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:
19 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
20 And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:
21 And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
22 And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:
23 And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:
24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.
25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.
27 And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.
32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.
37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.
46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.
50 And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.
51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.
52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
53 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.
54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.
42 Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?
2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
3 And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.
4 But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.
5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6 And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
10 And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.
11 We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.
12 And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
13 And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.
14 And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
15 Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.
17 And he put them all together into ward three days.
18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:
19 If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:
20 But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
21 And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
22 And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
23 And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.
24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.
25 Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.
26 And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.
27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth.
28 And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?
29 And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying,
30 The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.
31 And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:
32 We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.
33 And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:
34 And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.
35 And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.
36 And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.
37 And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.
38 And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
New International Version (NIV) 
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