Revised Standard Version RSV
New International Version NIV
18 They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him.
18
But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.
19 They said to one another, "Here comes this dreamer.
19
“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other.
20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild beast has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams."
20
“Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”
21 But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, "Let us not take his life."
21
When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said.
22 And Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood; cast him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him" --that he might rescue him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.
22
“Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.
23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore;
23
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing—
24 and they took him and cast him into a pit. The pit was empty, there was no water in it.
24
and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.
25 Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ish'maelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt.
25
As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.
26 Then Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?
26
Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?
27 Come, let us sell him to the Ish'maelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh." And his brothers heeded him.
27
Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.
28 Then Mid'ianite traders passed by; and they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ish'maelites for twenty shekels of silver; and they took Joseph to Egypt.
28
So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.
29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he rent his clothes
29
When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.
30 and returned to his brothers, and said, "The lad is gone; and I, where shall I go?"
30
He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?”
31 Then they took Joseph's robe, and killed a goat, and dipped the robe in the blood;
31
Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.
32 and they sent the long robe with sleeves and brought it to their father, and said, "This we have found; see now whether it is your son's robe or not."
32
They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”
33 And he recognized it, and said, "It is my son's robe; a wild beast has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces."
33
He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”
34 Then Jacob rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
34
Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days.
35 All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and said, "No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning." Thus his father wept for him.
35
All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him.
36 Meanwhile the Mid'ianites had sold him in Egypt to Pot'i-phar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.
36
Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.