13. The brothers tore their clothes to show they were sad. Then they put their sacks back on the donkeys. And they returned to the city.
14. When Judah and his brothers went back to Joseph’s house, Joseph was still there. The brothers bowed facedown on the ground before him.
15. Joseph said to them, “What have you done? Didn’t you know that a man like me can learn things by signs and dreams?”
16. Judah said, “Sir, what can we say? And how can we show we are not guilty? God has uncovered our guilt. So all of us will be your slaves, not just Benjamin.”
17. But Joseph said, “I will not make you all slaves! Only the man who stole the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may go back safely to your father.”
18. Then Judah went to Joseph and said, “Sir, please let me speak plainly to you. Please don’t be angry with me. I know that you are as powerful as the king of Egypt himself.
19. When we were here before, you asked us, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’
20. And we answered you, ‘We have an old father. And we have a younger brother. He was born when our father was old. This youngest son’s brother is dead. So he is the only one of his mother’s children left alive. And our father loves him very much.’
21. Then you said to us, ‘Bring that brother to me. I want to see him.’