16. So they sent this message to Joseph:Before our father died,
17. he told us, “You did some cruel and terrible things to Joseph, but you must ask him to forgive you.”Now we ask you to forgive the terrible things we did. After all, we serve the same God that your father worshipped.When Joseph heard this, he started crying.
18. At once, Joseph's brothers came and bowed down to the ground in front of him and said, “We are your slaves.”
19. But Joseph told them, “Don't be afraid! I have no right to change what God has decided.
20. You tried to harm me, but God made it turn out for the best, so that he could save all these people, as he is now doing.