²¹ They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother.^(A) We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress^(B) has come on us.”

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.^(A) “We are your slaves,”^(B) they said.