Genesis 44 - GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Joseph’s Plan to Trap His Brothers

44 Joseph commanded the man in charge of his house,

“Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry. Put each man’s money in his sack. 2 Then put my silver cup in the youngest brother’s sack along with the money for his grain.” He did what Joseph told him.

3 At dawn the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. 4 They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to the man in charge of his house, “Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, ‘Why have you paid me back with evil when I was good to you? 5 Isn’t this the cup that my master drinks from and that he uses for telling the future? What you have done is evil!’ ”

6 When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. 7 They answered him, “Sir, how can you say such things? We would never think of doing anything like that! 8 We brought the money we found in our sacks back from Canaan. So why would we steal any silver or gold from your master’s house? 9 If one of us has it, he will die, and the rest of us will become your slaves.”

10 “I agree,” he said. “We’ll do what you’ve said. The man who has the cup will be my slave, and the rest of you can go free.”

11 Each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. 12 Then the man made a thorough search. He began with the oldest and ended with the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 When they saw this, they tore their clothes in grief. Then each one loaded his donkey and went back into the city.

14 Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house while Joseph was still there. Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground. 15 Joseph asked them, “What have you done? Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out because he knows the future?”

16 “Sir, what can we say to you?” Judah asked. “How else can we explain it? How can we prove we’re innocent? God has uncovered our guilt. Now all of us are your slaves, including the one who had the cup.”

17 But Joseph said, “I would never think of doing that! Only the man who had the cup will be my slave. The rest of you can go back to your father in peace.”

Judah Defends Benjamin

18 Then Judah went up to Joseph and said, “Please, sir, let me speak openly with you. Don’t be angry with me, although you are equal to Pharaoh. 19 Sir, you asked us, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ 20 We answered, ‘We have a father who is old and a younger brother born to him when he was already old. The boy’s brother is dead, so he’s the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’

21 “Then you said to us, ‘Bring him here to me so that I can see him myself.’ 22 We replied, ‘The boy can’t leave his father. If the boy leaves him, his father will die.’ 23 Then you told us, ‘If your youngest brother doesn’t come here with you, you will never be allowed to see me again.’ 24 When we went back to our father, we told him what you had said.

25 “Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little more food.’ 26 We answered, ‘We can’t go back. We can only go back if our youngest brother is with us. The man won’t see us unless our youngest brother is with us.’

27 “Then our father said to us, ‘You know that my wife ⌞Rachel⌟ gave me two sons. 28 One is gone, and I said, “He must have been torn to pieces!” I haven’t seen him since. 29 If you take this one away from me too and anything happens to him, you’ll drive this gray-haired old man to his grave.’

30 “Our father’s life is wrapped up with the boy’s life. If I come ⌞home⌟ without the boy 31 and he sees that the boy isn’t ⌞with me⌟, he’ll die. The grief would drive our gray-haired old father to his grave.

32 “I guaranteed my father that the boy would come back. I said, ‘If I don’t bring him back to you, then you can blame me the rest of my life, Father.’ 33 Sir, please let me stay and be your slave in the boy’s place, and let the boy go back with his brothers. 34 How could I go back to my father if the boy isn’t with me? I couldn’t bear to see my father’s misery!”

You Might Also Like:

Genesis 44 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

44 And he commandeth him who [is] over his house, saying, `Fill the bags of the men [with] food, as they are able to bear, and put the money of each in the mouth of his bag; 2 and my cup, the silver cup, thou dost put in the mouth of the bag of the young one, and his corn-money;' and he doth accordi...
Read More

Genesis 44 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

44 Forsooth Joseph commanded the dispenser of his house, and said, Fill thou their sacks with wheat, as much as they may take, and put thou the money of each in the height of the sack; (And Joseph commanded to the steward of his house, and said, Fill up their sacks with as much corn, or as much grai...
Read More

Genesis 44 - World English Bible (WEB)

44 He commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in his sack’s mouth. 2 Put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, with his grain money.” He did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. ...
Read More

Genesis 44 - The Voice (VOICE)

44 After the meal was over, Joseph commanded the steward of his house.Joseph: Fill the men’s sacks with food—as much as they can carry. Put each man’s money back into the top of his sack. 2 One more thing: I want you to put my personal cup, my silver cup, into the top of the sack of the youngest, a...
Read More

Genesis 44 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Joseph Tests His Brothers44 Then he commanded the one over his household saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they are able to carry and put money in the opening of each man’s sack. 2 Put my cup, the silver cup, in the opening of the sack of the youngest along with his grain money.” S...
Read More

Genesis 44 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Joseph Detains Benjamin44 Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, 2 and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did ...
Read More

Genesis 44 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Joseph Detains Benjamin44 Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, 2 and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did ...
Read More

Genesis 44 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Joseph Detains Benjamin44 Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the top of his sack. 2 Put my cup, the silver cup, in the top of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Josep...
Read More

Genesis 44 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Joseph Detains Benjamin44 Then he commanded the steward of his house, ‘Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the top of his sack. 2 Put my cup, the silver cup, in the top of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.’ And he did as Josep...
Read More

Genesis 44 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Joseph Detains Benjamin44 Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the top of his sack.(A)2 Put my cup, the silver cup, in the top of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Jose...
Read More

Genesis 44 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Joseph’s Silver Cup44 When his brothers were ready to leave, Joseph gave these instructions to his palace manager: “Fill each of their sacks with as much grain as they can carry, and put each man’s money back into his sack. 2 Then put my personal silver cup at the top of the youngest brother’s sack,...
Read More

Genesis 44 - New Life Version (NLV)

Joseph’s Cup44 Then Joseph told the man who took care of his house, “Fill the men’s bags with as much food as they can carry. And put each man’s money in his bag. 2 Put my silver cup in the bag of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did what Joseph had told him to do. 3 Early in th...
Read More

Genesis 44 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Joseph’s Cup44 And he commanded [a]the (A)steward of his house, saying, (B)“Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. 2 Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.” So he did acco...
Read More

Genesis 44 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

A silver cup in a sack44 Now Joseph gave these instructions to the steward of his house: ‘Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack. 2 Then put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver f...
Read More

Genesis 44 - New International Version (NIV)

A Silver Cup in a Sack44 Now Joseph gave these instructions to the steward of his house:(A) “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack.(B) 2 Then put my cup,(C) the silver one,(D) in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with t...
Read More

Genesis 44 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

A Silver Cup in a Sack44 Joseph told the manager of his house what to do. “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry,” he said. “Put each man’s money in his sack. 2 Then put my silver cup in the youngest one’s sack. Put it there along with the money he paid for his grain.” So the man...
Read More

Genesis 44 - New English Translation (NET)

The Final Test44 He instructed the servant who was over his household, “Fill the sacks of the men with as much food as they can carry and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. 2 Then put[a] my cup—the silver cup—in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the money for his grain.” ...
Read More