17. So Joseph imprisoned them together for three days.
18. On the third day Joseph said to them, “I fear God — do this and you will live.
19. If you are honest, let one of you be confined to the guardhouse, while the rest of you go and take grain to relieve the hunger of your households.
20. Bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be confirmed; then you won’t die.” And they consented to this.
21. Then they said to each other, “Obviously, we are being punished for what we did to our brother. We saw his deep distress when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this trouble has come to us.”
22. But Reuben replied: “Didn’t I tell you not to harm the boy? But you wouldn’t listen. Now we must account for his blood! ”
23. They did not realize that Joseph understood them, since there was an interpreter between them.