15 However, now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became worried, saying, "Maybe Joseph is holding a grudge against us, and he’ll pay us back for all the bad things we did to him."
17 ‘This is what you are to tell Joseph: Forgive your brothers their sins, the bad things they did to you, treating you in such a nasty way.’ Now please forgive us our sins, we who are servants of the God of your father." When Joseph received their message, he cried.
19 "You don’t need to be afraid!" he told them. "I don’t stand in the place of God, do I? 20 While you planned bad things for me, God planned it for good so that in the end many lives could be saved.50:20. See 45:5, 45:7. 21 So don’t worry. I’ll go on taking care of you and your children." Speaking kindly like this he calmed them down.