Genesis 42:1-16
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 42
1Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, 'Why are you staring at one another?' 2Then he said, 'Look, 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.' 3So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, 'I am afraid that harm may happen to him.' 5So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, because the famine was also in the land of Canaan.
6Now Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold grain to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.
7When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. He said to them, 'Where have you come from?' And they said, 'From the land of Canaan, to buy food.'
8But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him.
9And Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them, and he said to them, 'You are spies; you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land.'
10And they said to him, 'No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.
11We are all sons of one man; we are honest men, your servants are not spies.'
12Yet he said to them, 'No, but you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land!'
13But 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.'
14Yet Joseph said to them, 'It is as I said to you, you are spies;
15by this you will be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here!
16Send one of you and have him get your brother, while you remain confined, so that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. But if not, by the life of Pharaoh, you are certainly spies!'
King James Version
Chapter 42
1Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? 2And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
3And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.
4But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.
5And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
7And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
8And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
9And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
10And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.
11We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.
12And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
13And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.
14And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
15Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
16Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 42
1When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why do you keep looking at each other? 2Listen," he went on, "I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us so that we will live and not die." 3So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he thought, "Something might happen to him."
5The sons of Israel were among those who came to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6Joseph was in charge of the country; he sold grain to all its people. His brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.
8Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.
9Joseph remembered his dreams about them and said to them, "You are spies. You have come to see the weakness of the land."
10"No, my lord. Your servants have come to buy food," they said.
11"We are all sons of one man. We are honest; your servants are not spies."
14Then Joseph said to them, "I have spoken: ‘You are spies!’
15This is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
16Send one from among you to get your brother. The rest of you will be imprisoned so that your words can be tested to see if they are true. If they are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!"
New Living Translation
Chapter 42
1When Jacob heard that grain was available in Egypt, he said to his sons, 'Why are you standing around looking at one another? 2I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy enough grain to keep us alive. Otherwise we’ll die.'
3So Joseph’s ten older brothers went down to Egypt to buy grain.
4But Jacob wouldn’t let Joseph’s younger brother, Benjamin, go with them, for fear some harm might come to him.
5So Jacob’s sons arrived in Egypt along with others to buy food, for the famine was in Canaan as well.
8Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him.
9And he remembered the dreams he’d had about them many years before. He said to them, 'You are spies! You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.'
10No, my lord!' they exclaimed. 'Your servants have simply come to buy food.
11We are all brothers — members of the same family. We are honest men, sir! We are not spies!'
14But Joseph insisted, 'As I said, you are spies!
15This is how I will test your story. I swear by the life of Pharaoh that you will never leave Egypt unless your youngest brother comes here!
16One of you must go and get your brother. I’ll keep the rest of you here in prison. Then we’ll find out whether or not your story is true. By the life of Pharaoh, if it turns out that you don’t have a younger brother, then I’ll know you are spies.'
English Standard Version
Chapter 42
1When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?" 2And he said, "Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die." 3So ten of Joseph 's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 4But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph 's brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him. 5Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph 's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.
7Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. "Where do you come from?" he said. They said, "From the land of Canaan, to buy food."
8And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.
9And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, "You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land."
10They said to him, "No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food.
11We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies."
12He said to them, "No, it is the nakedness of the land that you have come to see."
13And they said, "We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more."
14But Joseph said to them, "It is as I said to you. You are spies.
15By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
16Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies."
New International Version
Chapter 42
1When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why do you just keep looking at each other?" 2He 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."
3Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.
4But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.
5So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also.
8Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.
9Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, "You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected."
10"No, my lord," they answered. "Your servants have come to buy food.
11We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies."
14Joseph said to them, "It is just as I told you: You are spies!
15And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
16Send 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!"
New King James Version
Chapter 42
1When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” 2And he said, “Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.”
3So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.
4But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “Lest some calamity befall him.”
5And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
8So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.
9Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!”
10And they said to him, “No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.
11We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men; your servants are not spies.”
14But Joseph said to them, “It is as I spoke to you, saying, ‘You are spies!’
15In this manner you shall be tested: By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
16Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!”
