New American Bible, Revised Edition

Genesis 42:8-18 New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)

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

9. he was reminded of the dreams he had about them. He said to them: “You are spies. You have come to see the weak points of the land.”

10. “No, my lord,” they replied. “On the contrary, your servants have come to buy food.

11. All of us are sons of the same man. We are honest men; your servants have never been spies.”

12. But he answered them: “Not so! It is the weak points of the land that you have come to see.”

13. “We your servants,” they said, “are twelve brothers, sons of a certain man in Canaan; but the youngest one is at present with our father, and the other one is no more.”

14. “It is just as I said,” Joseph persisted; “you are spies.

15. This is how you shall be tested: I swear by the life of Pharaoh that you shall not leave here unless your youngest brother comes here.

16. So send one of your number to get your brother, while the rest of you stay here under arrest. Thus will your words be tested for their truth; if they are untrue, as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”

17. With that, he locked them up in the guardhouse for three days.

18. On the third day Joseph said to them: “Do this, and you shall live; for I am a God-fearing man.