When his brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than he loved them, they hated their brother so much that they would not speak to him in a friendly manner.

They saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted against him and decided to kill him.

Come on now, let's kill him and throw his body into one of the dry wells. We can say that a wild animal killed him. Then we will see what becomes of his dreams."

My enemies make trouble for me all day long; they are always thinking up some way to hurt me!

Now do not be upset or blame yourselves because you sold me here. It was really God who sent me ahead of you to save people's lives.

God sent me ahead of you to rescue you in this amazing way and to make sure that you and your descendants survive.

Human anger only results in more praise for you; those who survive the wars will keep your festivals.

The LORD sent famine to their country and took away all their food.

But he sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who had been sold as a slave.

My punishment was good for me, because it made me learn your commands.

But the Assyrian emperor has his own violent plans in mind. He is determined to destroy many nations.

In accordance with his own plan God had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed him by letting sinful men crucify him.

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has given divine glory to his Servant Jesus. But you handed him over to the authorities, and you rejected him in Pilate's presence, even after Pilate had decided to set him free.

You killed the one who leads to life, but God raised him from death---and we are witnesses to this.

We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose.