10. “No, my lord!” they said to him. “Your servants came to buy grain as food.
11. All of us—we are sons of one man. We’re honest. Your servants have never been spies.”
12. “Not so,” he said to them. “Rather, you’ve come to see the undefended places in the land.”
13. But they said, “We your servants are twelve brothers, sons of one man in the land of Canaan. Look, the youngest is with our father today and the other one is no more.”
14. Joseph said to them, “It’s just like I told you when I said, ‘You’re spies.’
15. By this you’ll be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you’ll not leave from here until your youngest brother comes here!
16. Send one from among yourselves to get your brother, while you remain confined, in order to test your words, to see whether the truth is with you. If not, by the life of Pharaoh, you’re definitely spies!”
17. So he put them together in custody for three days.
18. Then Joseph said to them on the third day, “Do this and you will live. I fear God.
19. If you’re honest, let one of your brothers remain as a prisoner in the guardhouse where you’ve been, while you, go and bring grain for the hunger in your homes.
20. And your youngest brother, bring to me so that your words can be verified—and you won’t die.” So they did.
21. Then each man said to his brother, “We’re truly guilty for our brother. We saw the distress of his soul when he begged us for mercy, but we didn’t listen. That’s why this distress has come to us.”