Genesis 42:7-20

7Then Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with faces to the ground. When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he made himself unrecognizable to them. Then he spoke harshly and said to them, “Where have you come from?” “From the land of Canaan,” they said, “to buy grain as food.”

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

9Then Joseph remembered the dreams he had dreamed about them. He said to them, “You’re spies! You’ve come to see the undefended places in the land.”

10“No, my lord!” they said to him. “Your servants came to buy grain as food.

11All of us—we are sons of one man. We’re honest. Your servants have never been spies.”

12“Not so,” he said to them. “Rather, you’ve come to see the undefended places in the land.”

13But they said, “We your servants are twelve brothers, sons of one man in the land of Canaan. Look, the youngest is with our father today and the other one is no more.”

14Joseph said to them, “It’s just like I told you when I said, ‘You’re spies.’

15By this you’ll be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you’ll not leave from here until your youngest brother comes here!

16Send one from among yourselves to get your brother, while you remain confined, in order to test your words, to see whether the truth is with you. If not, by the life of Pharaoh, you’re definitely spies!”

17So he put them together in custody for three days.

18Then Joseph said to them on the third day, “Do this and you will live. I fear God.

19If you’re honest, let one of your brothers remain as a prisoner in the guardhouse where you’ve been, while you, go and bring grain for the hunger in your homes.

20And your youngest brother, bring to me so that your words can be verified—and you won’t die.” So they did.