6. Now Joseph was the ruler of the country, the one who sold grain to all the people of the country. Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.
7. When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger to them and spoke to them harshly. He asked, “Where do you come from?” They answered, “From the land of Canaan, to buy grain for food.”
8. Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.
9. Then Joseph remembered the dreams he had dreamed about them, and he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see if our land is vulnerable!”
10. But they exclaimed, “No, my lord! Your servants have come to buy grain for food!
11. We are all the sons of one man; we are honest men! Your servants are not spies.”
12. “No,” he insisted, “but you have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”
13. They replied, “Your servants are from a family of twelve brothers. We are the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is with our father at this time, and one is no longer alive.”
14. But Joseph told them, “It is just as I said to you: You are spies!
15. You will be tested in this way: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not depart from this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
16. One of you must go and get your brother, while the rest of you remain in prison. In this way your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If not, then, as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”
17. He imprisoned them all for three days.
18. On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do as I say and you will live, for I fear God.
19. If you are honest men, leave one of your brothers confined here in prison while the rest of you go and take grain back for your hungry families.
20. But you must bring your youngest brother to me. Then your words will be verified and you will not die.” They did as he said.