⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”^(A) When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!^{(B) 5} And now, do not be distressed^(C) and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here,^(D) because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.^{(E) 6} For two years now there has been famine^(F) in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant^(G) on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.^[a](H)

⁸ “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.^(I) He made me father^(J) to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.^(K)

Joseph Reassures His Brothers

¹⁵ When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge^(A) against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”^{(B) 16} So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions^(C) before he died: ¹⁷ ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins^(D) and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’^(E) Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.^(F)” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.^(G)

¹⁸ His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him.^(H) “We are your slaves,”^(I) they said.

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?^{(J) 20} You intended to harm me,^(K) but God intended^(L) it for good^(M) to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.^{(N) 21} So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.^(O)” And he reassured them and spoke kindly^(P) to them.