17. to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept.
18. Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said.
19. But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you?
20. You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
21. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.
22. So Joseph and his brothers and their families continued to live in Egypt. Joseph lived to the age of 110.
23. He lived to see three generations of descendants of his son Ephraim, and he lived to see the birth of the children of Manasseh’s son Makir, whom he claimed as his own.