⁵ And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, ^(A)for God sent me before you to preserve life.

²⁰ As for you, you meant evil against me, but ^(A)God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people^[a] should be kept alive, as they are today.

²³ this Jesus,^{[a] (A)}delivered up according to ^(B)the definite plan and ^(C)foreknowledge of God, ^(D)you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. ^24 (E)God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because ^(F)it was not possible for him to be held by it.

²¹ And he said, ^(A)“Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I ^(B)return. The Lord ^(C)gave, and the Lord has taken away; ^(D)blessed be the name of the Lord.”

⁷ And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. ⁸ So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ^(A)ruler over all the land of Egypt.

⁹ “And the patriarchs, ^(A)jealous of Joseph, ^(B)sold him into Egypt; but ^(C)God was with him ¹⁰ and rescued him out of all his afflictions and ^(D)gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ^(E)who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. ¹¹ Now ^(F)there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. ^12 (G)But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. ¹³ And ^(H)on the second visit ^(I)Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and ^(J)Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh. ¹⁴ And ^(K)Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, ^(L)seventy-five persons in all. ¹⁵ And ^(M)Jacob went down into Egypt, and ^(N)he died, he ^(O)and our fathers,

³⁴ And Jesus said, “Father, ^(A)forgive them, ^(B)for they know not what they do.”^[a] And they cast lots ^(C)to divide his garments.

Comfort for God's People