Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Here is the rewritten chapter in a unified, flowing modern English text:

As soon as Joseph's brothers had loaded their donkeys and were about to leave, he commanded his steward to fill their sacks with food and put each man's money back into his sack. He also instructed the steward to secretly place Joseph's silver cup in Benjamin's sack along with his grain money.

The next morning, as the brothers and their donkeys were departing, Joseph told his steward to follow after them. When he caught up to them, he asked, "Why have you repaid evil for good? Isn't this the cup from which my lord drinks and uses to divine the future?" He scolded them, saying they had done something terrible.

When the brothers heard these words, they replied, "No, my lord! We wouldn't dare do such a thing. We've already returned the money we found in our sacks' mouths when we were in Canaan. How could we possibly steal from your house?" They offered to let Joseph punish whoever was responsible and vowed to become his servants if that's what it took.

Joseph agreed, saying, "If anyone is found with this cup, he'll be my servant; you will be blameless." So they quickly emptied their sacks onto the ground and began searching each one from eldest to youngest. To their horror, they found the silver cup in Benjamin's sack.

The brothers were devastated. They tore their clothes in grief and loaded up their donkeys again to return to the city. When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph's house, they threw themselves before him on the ground, begging for mercy.

Joseph looked at them sternly and asked, "What have you done? Can't I see that this was no accident?" Judah spoke up, saying, "We're not worthy of your forgiveness. We've been caught red-handed. Please, my lord, take us as your servants instead – along with the one whose bag contained the cup."

But then Judah made a passionate plea to Joseph, saying, "Please listen to me, my lord. Don't let your anger consume you, for you are like Pharaoh himself. I want to explain our situation and hope you'll understand." He told Joseph about their father's age and infirmity, his lost son, and the bond of love between him and Benjamin.

Joseph had asked his servants if they had a father or brother still living. The brothers replied that they did have an aging father with one remaining son – young Benjamin. When Joseph instructed them to bring Benjamin down to Egypt, they explained that their father couldn't spare him because he would likely die if the boy left.

They recalled the conversation they had with Joseph earlier: "You said we'd never see your face again unless our youngest brother comes with us." So when they returned home and told their father what Joseph had requested, their father refused to let them go without Benjamin. He asked them to buy food for the family, but only if Benjamin was included.

The brothers explained that they couldn't leave without Benjamin; otherwise, their father would be heartbroken and might even die from sorrow. Judah spoke up, saying, "I'll take responsibility for this – become your servant instead of Benjamin, so he can return home with his brothers."