16. Send one of you back to get your brother. The rest of you will be kept in prison. "I'll put your words to the test. Then we'll find out whether you are telling the truth. You can be sure that Pharaoh lives. And you can be just as sure that if you aren't telling the truth, we'll know that you are spies!"
17. So Joseph kept all of them under guard for three days.
18. On the third day, Joseph spoke to them again. He said, "Do what I say. Then you will live, because I have respect for God.
19. If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison. The rest of you may go and take grain back to your hungry families.
20. "But you must bring your youngest brother to me. That will prove that your words are true. Then you won't die." So they did what he said.
21. They said to one another, "God is certainly punishing us because of our brother. We saw how troubled he was when he begged us to let him live. But we wouldn't listen. That's why all of this trouble has come to us."