Genesis 42:14–24

¹⁴Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies!^{m 15}And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives,ⁿ you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.^{o 16}Send one of your number to get your brother;^p the rest of you will be kept in prison,^q so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth.^r If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!^s” ¹⁷And he put them all in custody^t for three days.

¹⁸On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God:^{u 19}If you are honest men,^v let one of your brothers stay here in prison,^w while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.^{x 20}But you must bring your youngest brother to me,^y so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.

²¹They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother.^z We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress^a has come on us.”

²²Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?^b But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting^c for his blood.”^{d 23}They did not realize^e that Joseph could understand them,^f since he was using an interpreter.

²⁴He turned away from them and began to weep,^g but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.^h