¹⁸ But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.^(A)

¹⁹ “Here comes that dreamer!^(B)” they said to each other. ²⁰ “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns^(C) and say that a ferocious animal^(D) devoured him.^(E) Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”^(F)

²¹ When Reuben^(G) heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said.^{(H) 22} “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern^(I) here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.^(J)

²³ So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe^(K) he was wearing— ²⁴ and they took him and threw him into the cistern.^(L) The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

²⁵ As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites^(M) coming from Gilead.^(N) Their camels were loaded with spices, balm^(O) and myrrh,^(P) and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.^(Q)

²⁶ Judah^(R) said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?^{(S) 27} Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother,^(T) our own flesh and blood.^(U)” His brothers agreed.

²⁸ So when the Midianite^(V) merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern^(W) and sold^(X) him for twenty shekels^[a] of silver^(Y) to the Ishmaelites,^(Z) who took him to Egypt.^(AA)

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