Genesis 44:1-15

1Joseph told the servant who took care of his house, ‘Fill the men's bags. Give them as much food as their animals can carry. Put each man's money back in the top of his bag.

2Then take my silver cup and put it in the top of the youngest man's bag. Put it with the money that he brought to pay for his food.’ The servant did what Joseph had told him to do.

3When morning came, the men started their journey with their donkeys.

4They had travelled only a short way from the city. Then Joseph said to his servant, ‘Go now and follow those men. When you find them, say to them, “My master was kind to you. So why have you done this bad thing against us?

5You have taken my master's own special cup. It is the cup that he drinks from. He also uses it to find out about future things. You have done a very bad thing!” ’

6So Joseph's servant followed the men and he reached them. He told them Joseph's message.

7But the brothers said to him, ‘Sir, why do you say these things? We are your servants. We would not do anything like that!

8When we found the money in our bags last time, we brought it back to you from Canaan. So we would never take valuable silver or gold things from your master's house.

9If any one of us has this silver cup, he must die. We others will become your slaves, sir.’

10The servant said, ‘What you say is fair. Whoever has the cup, will become my slave. The rest of you will go free.’

11Each of the brothers quickly put his bag on the ground and opened it.

12Then the servant began to look in the bags. He began with the oldest brother's bag and he finished with the youngest brother's bag. Then he found the cup in Benjamin's bag!

13When this happened, all the brothers were very upset. They tore their clothes. Then they put their bags back on their donkeys. They returned to the city.

14Joseph was still in his house when Judah and his brothers arrived. They threw themselves on the ground in front of Joseph.

15Joseph said, ‘Why have you done this bad thing? You should have known about an important man like me. I can use magic to find out what people do.’