Genesis 44:16-18 New English Translation

¹⁶Judah replied, “What can we say^[a] to my lord? What can we speak? How can we clear ourselves?^[b] God has exposed the sin of your servants!^[c] We are now my lord’s slaves, we and the one in whose possession the cup was found.”

¹⁷But Joseph said, “Far be it from me to do this! The man in whose hand the cup was found will become my slave, but the rest of^[d] you may go back^[e] to your father in peace.”

¹⁸Then Judah approached him and said, “My lord, please allow your servant to speak a word with you.^[f] Please do not get angry with your servant,^[g] for you are just like Pharaoh.^[h]

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Footnotes

Genesis 44:16 tn The imperfect verbal form here indicates the subject’s potential.
Genesis 44:16 tn The Hitpael form of the verb צָדֵק (tsadeq) here means “to prove ourselves just, to declare ourselves righteous, to prove our innocence.”
Genesis 44:16 sn God has exposed the sin of your servants. The first three questions are rhetorical; Judah is stating that there is nothing they can say to clear themselves. He therefore must conclude that they have been found guilty.
Genesis 44:17 tn The words “the rest of” have been supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
Genesis 44:17 tn Heb “up” (reflecting directions from their point of view—“up” to Canaan; “down” to Egypt).
Genesis 44:18 tn Heb “Please my lord, let your servant speak a word into the ears of my lord.”
Genesis 44:18 tn Heb “and let not your anger burn against your servant.”
Genesis 44:18 sn You are just like Pharaoh. Judah’s speech begins with the fear and trembling of one who stands condemned. Joseph has as much power as Pharaoh, either to condemn or to pardon. Judah will make his appeal, wording his speech in such a way as to appeal to Joseph’s compassion for the father, whom he mentions no less than fourteen times in the speech.

New English Translation (NET)