18-20 On the third day, Joseph spoke to them. “Do this and you’ll live. I’m a God-fearing man. If you’re as honest as you say you are, one of your brothers will stay here in jail while the rest of you take the food back to your hungry families. But you have to bring your youngest brother back to me, confirming the truth of your speech—and not one of you will die.” They agreed.

21 Then they started talking among themselves. “Now we’re paying for what we did to our brother—we saw how terrified he was when he was begging us for mercy. We wouldn’t listen to him and now we’re the ones in trouble.”

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19 If you are honest men,(A) let one of your brothers stay here in prison,(B) while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.(C) 20 But you must bring your youngest brother to me,(D) so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.

21 They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother.(E) We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress(F) has come on us.”

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