⁵ And now, do not be distressed^(A) and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here,^(B) because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.^{(C) 6} For two years now there has been famine^(D) 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^(E) on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.^[a](F)

⁸ “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.^(G) He made me father^(H) to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.^{(I) 9} Now hurry^(J) back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay.^{(K) 10} You shall live in the region of Goshen^(L) and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.^{(M) 11} I will provide for you there,^(N) because five years of famine^(O) are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’^(P)

¹² “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin,^(Q) that it is really I who am speaking to you.^{(R) 13} Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt^(S) and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.^(T)”

¹⁴ Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin^(U) embraced him,^(V) weeping. ¹⁵ And he kissed^(W) all his brothers and wept over them.^(X) Afterward his brothers talked with him.^(Y)

¹⁷ ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins^(A) and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’^(B) Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.^(C)” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.^(D)

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

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

²⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die.^(A) But God will surely come to your aid^(B) and take you up out of this land to the land^(C) he promised on oath to Abraham,^(D) Isaac^(E) and Jacob.”^(F)