³ Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?”^(A) But his brothers were not able to answer him,^(B) because they were terrified at his presence.^(C)

⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”^(D) When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!^{(E) 5} And now, do not be distressed^(F) and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here,^(G) because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.^{(H) 6} For two years now there has been famine^(I) 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^(J) on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.^[a](K)

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

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

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?^{(C) 20} You intended to harm me,^(D) but God intended^(E) it for good^(F) to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.^(G)