² This is the account^(A) of Jacob’s family line.

Joseph,^(B) a young man of seventeen,^(C) was tending the flocks^(D) with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah^(E) and the sons of Zilpah,^(F) his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report^(G) about them.

³ Now Israel^(H) loved Joseph more than any of his other sons,^(I) because he had been born to him in his old age;^(J) and he made an ornate^[a] robe^(K) for him.^{(L) 4} When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him^(M) and could not speak a kind word to him.

⁵ Joseph had a dream,^(N) and when he told it to his brothers,^(O) they hated him all the more.^{(P) 6} He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: ⁷ We were binding sheaves^(Q) of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”^(R)

⁸ His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?”^(S) And they hated him all the more^(T) because of his dream and what he had said.

⁹ Then he had another dream,^(U) and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars^(V) were bowing down to me.”^(W)

¹⁰ When he told his father as well as his brothers,^(X) his father rebuked^(Y) him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?”^{(Z) 11} His brothers were jealous of him,^(AA) but his father kept the matter in mind.^(AB)

³⁷ The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.^{(A) 38} So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God^[a]?”^(B)

³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,^(C) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.^{(D) 40} You shall be in charge of my palace,^(E) and all my people are to submit to your orders.^(F) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.^(G)”

Joseph in Charge of Egypt

⁴¹ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”^(H)

¹⁴ After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father.^(A)

Joseph Reassures His Brothers

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

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

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