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- Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, "Why are you staring at one another?"
- He said, "Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us from that place, so that we may live and not die."
- Then ten brothers of Joseph went down to buy grain from Egypt.
- But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, "I am afraid that harm may befall him."
- So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.
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- When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why do you just keep looking at each other?"
- He continued, "I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die."
- Then ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.
- But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.
- So Israel's sons were among those who went to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.
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- Now Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold to all the people of the land And Joseph's brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.
- When Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. And he said to them, "Where have you come from?" And they said, "From the land of Canaan, to buy food."
- But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him.
- Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them, and said to them, "You are spies; you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land."
- Then they said to him, "No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.
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- Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph's brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.
- As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. "Where do you come from?" he asked. "From the land of Canaan," they replied, "to buy food."
- Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.
- Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, "You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected."
- "No, my lord," they answered. "Your servants have come to buy food.
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- "We are all sons of one man; we are honest men, your servants are not spies."
- Yet he said to them, "No, but you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land!"
- But they said, "Your servants are twelve brothers in all, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no longer alive."
- Joseph said to them, "It is as I said to you, you are spies;
- by this you will be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here!
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- We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies."
- "No!" he said to them. "You have come to see where our land is unprotected."
- But they replied, "Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more."
- Joseph said to them, "It is just as I told you: You are spies!
- And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
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- "Send one of you that he may get your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. But if not, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies."
- So he put them all together in prison for three days.
- Now Joseph said to them on the third day, "Do this and live, for I fear God:
- if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison; but as for the rest of you, go, carry grain for the famine of your households,
- and bring your youngest brother to me, so your words may be verified, and you will not die." And they did so.
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- Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!"
- And he put them all in custody for three days.
- On the third day, Joseph said to them, "Do this and you will live, for I fear God:
- If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.
- But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die." This they proceeded to do.
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- Then they said to one another, "Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us."
- Reuben answered them, saying, "Did I not tell you, 'Do not sin against the boy'; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood."
- They did not know, however, that Joseph understood, for there was an interpreter between them.
- He turned away from them and wept But when he returned to them and spoke to them, he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.
- Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain and to restore every man's money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. And thus it was done for them.
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- They said to one another, "Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress has come upon us."
- Reuben replied, "Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn't listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood."
- They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter.
- He turned away from them and began to weep, but then turned back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.
- Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man's silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them,
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