14. After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.
15. When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.”
16. So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died:
17. ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
18. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
19. But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?