1And the famine was sore in the land . 2And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn 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 us straitly of our state, and of 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 certainly 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 now we had returned this second time . 11And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now , do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels , and carry down the man a present , a little balm , and a little honey , spices , and myrrh , nuts , and almonds : 12And take double money in your hand ; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks , carry it 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 send away your other brother , and Benjamin . 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 ruler of his house , Bring these men home , and slay , and make ready ; for these men shall dine with me at noon . 17And the man did as Joseph bade ; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house . 18And the men were afraid , because they were brought into 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 communed with him at the door of the house , 20And said , O sir , we came indeed down at the first time to buy food : 21And it came to pass, when we came to the inn , 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 hands to buy food : we cannot tell 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 came 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 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 answered , Thy servant our father is in good health , he is yet alive . And they bowed down their heads , and made obeisance . 29And he lifted up his eyes , and saw his brother Benjamin , his mother’s son , and said , Is this your younger brother , of whom ye spake unto me? And he said , God be gracious unto thee, my son . 30And Joseph made haste ; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother : and he sought where to weep ; and he entered into his chamber , and wept there. 31And he washed his face , and went out , and refrained himself, and said , Set on bread . 32And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians , which 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 firstborn according to his birthright , and the youngest according to his youth : and the men marvelled one at 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.