When they despaired of (persuading) him, they went aside to confer. The oldest of them said: "You know that your father has pledged you in the name of God, and you have been guilty of iniquity in the case of Joseph before. I will not leave this place unless my father permits or God decides for me, for He is the best of all judges. 80 Return unto your father and say: O our father! Lo! thy son hath stolen. We testify only to that which we know; we are not guardians of the Unseen. 81 And inquire those of the city where we have been and of the caravan with whom we have travelled hither; and verily we are truth-tellers. 82 Jacob said: "Nay, but ye have yourselves contrived a story (good enough) for you. So patience is most fitting (for me). Maybe Allah will bring them (back) all to me (in the end). For He is indeed full of knowledge and wisdom." 83 And he turned away from them and said: Alas, my grief for Joseph! And his eyes were whitened with the sorrow that he was suppressing. 84 'By God,' they said, 'thou wilt never cease mentioning Joseph till thou art consumed, or among the perishing.' 85 He said: I expose my distress and anguish only unto Allah, and I know from Allah that which ye know not. 86 "O my sons! Go you and enquire about Yusuf (Joseph) and his brother, and never give up hope of Allah's Mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allah's Mercy, except the people who disbelieve." 87 And when they presented themselves before him they said: 'O mighty prince, we and our people are afflicted with distress. We have brought but little merchandise. Fill up the measure, and be charitable to us; Allah rewards the charitable' 88 He said, 'Are you aware of what you did with Joseph and his brother, when you were ignorant?' 89 They exclaimed, "Are you indeed Joseph?" He replied, "I am Joseph and this is my brother. God has indeed been gracious to us. The truth is that God does not waste the reward of those who do good, who are righteous and steadfast." 90 They said: "We swear by Allah! Indeed Allah has chosen you in preference to us and we were truly guilty." 91 He said: (There shall be) no reproof against you this day; Allah may forgive you, and He is the most Merciful of the merciful. 92 Go, take this shirt of mine and cast it over my father's face, he will recover his sight. Then return to me with all your family' 93