1And the famine was sore in the land. 2And it came to pass , when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt , their father said unto them , Go again , buy us a little food. 3And Judah spake unto him , saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us , saying, Ye shall not see my face , except your brother be with you . 4If thou wilt send our brother with us , we will go down and buy thee food: 5but if thou wilt not send him , we will not go down ; for the man said unto us , Ye shall not see my face , except your brother be with you . 6And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me , as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? 7And they said , The man asked straitly concerning ourselves , and concerning 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 in any wise know that he would say , Bring your brother down ? 8And Judah said unto 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 . 9I will be surety for him ; of my hand shalt thou require him : if I bring him not unto thee , and set him before thee , then let me bear the blame for ever : 10for except we had lingered , surely we had now returned a second time . 11And their father Israel said unto them , If it be so now , do this : take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels , and carry down the man a present , a little balm , and a little honey , spicery and myrrh , nuts, and almonds ; 12and take double money in your hand ; and the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks carry again in your hand ; peradventure it was an oversight : 13take also your brother, and arise , go again unto the man: 14and God Almighty give you mercy before the man , that he may release unto you your other brother and Benjamin . And if I be bereaved of my children , I am bereaved .
Judah's Plea for Benjamin
15And the men took that present , and they took double money in their hand , and Benjamin ; and rose up , and went down to Egypt , and stood before Joseph . 16And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them , he said to the steward of his house , Bring the men into the house , and slay , and make ready ; for the men shall dine with me at noon . 17And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men to Joseph ’s house . 18And the men were afraid , because they were brought to Joseph ’s house ; and they said , Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in ; that he may seek occasion against us , and fall upon us , and take us for bondmen , and our asses . 19And they came near to the steward of Joseph ’s house , and they spake unto him at the door of the house , 20and said, Oh, my lord, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: 21and it came to pass , when we came to the lodging-place, that we opened our sacks, and , behold , every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight : and we have brought it again in our hand . 22And other money have we brought down in our hand to buy food: we know not who put our money in our sacks.
The Brothers' Arrival and Joseph's Hospitality
23And he said , Peace be to you , fear not : your God , and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money . And he brought Simeon out unto them . 24And the man brought the men into Joseph ’s house , and gave them water , and they washed their feet ; and he gave their asses provender . 25And they made ready the present against Joseph ’s coming at noon : for they heard that they should eat bread there . 26And when Joseph came home , they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house , and bowed down themselves to him to the earth. 27And he asked them of their welfare , and said, Is your father well , the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive ? 28And they said, Thy servant our father is well , he is yet alive . And they bowed the head , and made obeisance . 29And he lifted up his eyes , and saw Benjamin his brother, his mother’s son , and said, Is this your youngest brother, of whom ye spake unto me ? And he said, God be gracious unto thee , my son . 30And Joseph made haste ; for his heart yearned over his brother: and he sought where to weep ; and he entered into his chamber , and wept there . 31And he washed his face , and came out ; and he refrained himself , and said , Set on bread . 32And they set on for him by himself , and for them by themselves , and for the Egyptians , that did eat with him , by themselves : because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews ; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians . 33And they sat before him , the first-born according to his birthright , and the youngest according to his youth : and the men marvelled one with another . 34And he took and sent messes unto them from before him : but Benjamin ’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank , and were merry with him .