Genesis 42

All 38 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1When Jacob learned that grain was available in Egypt, he asked his sons, "Why are you just standing around looking at each other?"
2. 2He continued, "I've heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and purchase some for us so that we can survive and not starve."
3. 3So Joseph's ten brothers traveled down to Egypt to purchase grain.
4. 4However, Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, along with them, because he was afraid that something terrible might happen to him.
5. 5The sons of Israel arrived to purchase grain along with many others, because the famine had struck the land of Canaan as well.
6. 6Now Joseph was the ruler over the land, and he was the one who sold grain to everyone. When his brothers arrived, they bowed low before him with their faces to the ground.
7. 7Joseph recognized his brothers the moment he saw them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. "Where have you traveled from?" he demanded. They replied, "From the land of Canaan, to purchase food."
8. 8Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.
9. 9Then Joseph recalled the dreams he had dreamed about them. He said to them, "You are spies! You have come to scout out the vulnerable areas of this land."
10. 10"No, my lord!" they answered. "Your servants have come only to purchase food."
11. 11"We are all sons of the same father. We are honest men. Your servants are not spies."
12. 12But he insisted, "No! You have come to examine the weak points of this land."
13. 13They responded, "Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is currently at home with our father, and one is no longer alive."
14. 14Joseph told them, "This confirms exactly what I said — you are spies!"
15. 15"Here is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here."
16. 16"Send one of you to go get your brother while the rest of you remain locked up. This will prove whether your claims are truthful. Otherwise, as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are certainly spies."
17. 17Then he placed all of them in custody for three days.
18. 18On the third day, Joseph told them, "Do what I say and you will live, for I fear God."
19. 19"If you are truly honest men, let one of your brothers stay here, confined in prison. The rest of you may go and carry grain back to your hungry families."
20. 20"But you must bring your youngest brother to me. This will confirm your story, and you will not be put to death." They agreed to this.
21. 21They said to one another, "We are truly paying the price for what we did to our brother. We watched the anguish of his soul as he pleaded with us for mercy, and we refused to listen. That is why this trouble has fallen on us."
22. 22Reuben responded, "Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn't listen! Now we are being held accountable for his blood."
23. 23They had no idea that Joseph could understand them, since he had been using a translator to communicate with them.
24. 24Joseph turned away from them and wept. Then he came back and spoke with them again. He selected Simeon from among them and had him tied up right in front of them.
25. 25Joseph then ordered that their bags be filled with grain, that each man's payment be secretly placed back in his bag, and that they be given supplies for their journey. All of this was done for them.
26. 26They loaded the grain onto their donkeys and left.
27. 27When they stopped for the night, one of them opened his bag to feed his donkey and discovered his money right there at the top of the bag.
28. 28He told his brothers, "My payment has been put back — look, it's right here in my bag!" Their hearts sank and they trembled with fear, saying to each other, "What is this that God has done to us?"
29. 29When they returned to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him everything that had happened to them.
30. 30"The man who governs the land spoke harshly to us and accused us of being spies sent to scout out the country."
31. 31"We told him, 'We are honest men; we are not spies.'"
32. 32"'We are twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no longer alive, and the youngest is with our father right now in the land of Canaan.'"
33. 33"Then the man who governs the land told us, 'This is how I will determine whether you are honest: Leave one of your brothers with me, take grain for your starving households, and go.'"
34. 34"'Bring your youngest brother back to me. Then I will know that you are not spies but honest men. I will release your brother to you, and you will be free to trade in the land.'"
35. 35As they were emptying their bags, each man found his pouch of money inside his own bag. When they and their father saw the pouches of money, they were terrified.
36. 36Their father Jacob cried out, "You have robbed me of my children! Joseph is gone, Simeon is gone, and now you want to take Benjamin too. Everything is working against me!"
37. 37Reuben said to his father, "You may put my own two sons to death if I fail to bring him back to you. Place him in my care, and I will return him to you safely."
38. 38But Jacob replied, "My son will not go down there with you. His brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will send this gray-haired old man to the grave in sorrow."