Genesis 42:6-17

6Joseph had authority to rule Egypt at that time. He was the man who sold food to all the Egyptians. When Joseph's brothers arrived there, they bent down in front of him, with their faces to the ground.

7As soon as Joseph saw the men, he knew that they were his brothers. But he spoke to them as if they were strangers. He did not speak to them in a kind way. He asked them, ‘Where do you come from?’ They replied, ‘We come from the land of Canaan. We have come here to buy food.’

8Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

9Then Joseph remembered the dream that he had dreamed about his brothers. He said to them, ‘You have come here secretly to see how your people can attack our land.’

10They replied ‘No, my lord, that is not true! We are your servants and we have come to buy food.

11We are all the sons of one man. We are honest men. We are not your enemies.’

12But Joseph said, ‘No! You have come here to see if our country is weak so that you can attack us.’

13Joseph's brothers replied, ‘We belong to a family of 12 brothers. We are the sons of one man who lives in Canaan. Our youngest brother stayed at home with our father. One other brother is not with us any more.’

14Joseph said to them, ‘It is as I told you. You are our enemies!

15I will see if what you say is true. This is what I will do. I promise by the life of Pharaoh himself, I will not let you leave this place. You must first bring your youngest brother here. I will only let you go after that.

16One of you must go to bring your brother here. I will keep you others in prison. In that way I will know if what you said is true. If your youngest brother does not come, then I will certainly know that you are enemies!’

17Then Joseph put his brothers in prison for three days.