Then when they despaired of him they counselled together privately. The eldest of them said: know ye not that your father hath taken an assurance from you before Allah? and aforetime ye have been remiss in your duty in respect of Yusuf; I so will by no means go forth from the land until my father giveth me leave or Allah judgeth for me, and He is the Best of judges. 80 "Turn ye back to your father, and say, 'O our father! behold! thy son committed theft! we bear witness only to what we know, and we could not well guard against the unseen! 81 Ask the village where we were and the caravan in which we traveled, we speak the truth' 82 Jacob said, "No, but you have yourselves contrived a story. But it is best to be patient. God may well bring them all back to me [in the end]. For He is indeed full of knowledge and wisdom." 83 And he turned away from them, and said: "How great is my grief for Joseph!" And his eyes became white with sorrow, and he fell into silent melancholy. 84 They said, "By Allah, you will not cease remembering Joseph until you become fatally ill or become of those who perish." 85 He said, "I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you do not know. 86 [Hence,] O my sons, go forth and try to obtain some tidings of Joseph and his brother; and do not lose hope of God's life-giving mercy: verily, none but people who deny the truth can ever lose hope of God's life-giving mercy. 87 So when they came in to him, they said: O chief! distress has afflicted us and our family and we have brought scanty money, so give us full measure and be charitable to us; surely Allah rewards the charitable. 88 He said, "Do you know what you did with Joseph and his brother when you were ignorant?" 89 They said: 'Are you Joseph' 'I am Joseph' he answered, 'and this is my brother. Allah has been gracious to us. Those who keep from evil and are patient, indeed, Allah does not let the wage of the good doers go to waste' 90 They said: by Allah! assuredly Allah hath chosen thee above us, and we have been sinners indeed. 91 He said, "No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merciful." 92 "Go with this my shirt, and cast it over the face of my father: he will come to see (clearly). Then come ye (here) to me together with all your family." 93