۞ (In Joseph and his brethren were signs for those who ask questions.) 7 NOW [Joseph's brothers] spoke [thus to one another:] "Truly, Joseph and his brother [Benjamin] are dearer to our father than we, even though we are so many. Behold, our father is surely suffering from an aberration!" 8 "Slay ye Joseph or cast him out to some (unknown) land, that so the favour of your father may be given to you alone: (there will be time enough) for you to be righteous after that!" 9 One of them said, "Do not kill Joseph, but if you must do something, cast him into the bottom of a well; some of the travellers will pick him up." 10 They said: our father! wherefore thou intrustest us not with Yusuf, whereas verily we are his well-wishers. 11 Send him with us tomorrow to play with us and enjoy himself. We shall carefully protect him". 12 Jacob replied, "I shall be grieved if you take him with you; I fear that some wild-beast will harm him in your absence." 13 They said, "Surely, if the wolf devoured him while we were a strong party, we should indeed be great losers." 14 So when they took him away – and all of them agreed that they should drop him in the dark well; and We sent the divine revelation to him, “You will surely tell them of their deed at a time when they will not know.” 15 Then they came to their father in the early part of the night, weeping. 16 They said: 'We went racing and left Joseph with our things. The wolf devoured him, but you will not believe us, though we speak the truth' 17 They presented him with a shirt stained with false blood. Jacob said, "Your souls have tempted you in this matter. Let us be patient and beg assistance from God if what you say is true." 18 A caravan happened to pass, and sent the water-carrier to bring water from the well. He let down his bucket (and pulled Joseph up with it). "What luck," said the man; "here is a boy;" and they hid him as an item of merchandise; but what they did was known to God. 19 And they sold him for a small price, a few pieces of silver, and they showed no desire for him. 20