Study Desk

When Joseph's brothers had seen that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!"

And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.

So they sent instructions to Joseph, saying, "Your father commanded us before he died, saying,

And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,

'This is what you shall say to Joseph: "Please forgive, I beg you, the offense of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong."' And now, please forgive the offense of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants."

And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.

But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place?

And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to keep many people alive.

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

"So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.