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.

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good^(A) of those who love him, who^[a] have been called^(B) according to his purpose.^(C)

Praise to the God of All Comfort

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us^(B) in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.