17. Joseph told them, “I would never punish all of you. Only the one who was caught with the cup will become my slave. The rest of you are free to go home to your father.”
18. Judah went over to Joseph and said:Sir, you have as much power as the king himself, and I am only your slave. Please don't get angry if I speak.
19. You asked us if our father was still alive and if we had any more brothers.
20. So we told you, “Our father is a very old man. In fact, he was already old when Benjamin was born. Benjamin's brother is dead. Now Benjamin is the only one of the two brothers who is still alive, and our father loves him very much.”
21. You ordered us to bring him here, so you could see him for yourself.
22. We told you that our father would die if Benjamin left him.
23. But you warned us that we could never see you again, unless our youngest brother came with us.
24. So we returned to our father and reported what you had said.