son, and weep with me over my misfortune, and observe the
heartlessness of my brethren. Awake, O mother, rouse thyself
from thy sleep, rise up and prepare for the conflict with
my brethren, who stripped me even of my shirt, and sold me
as a slave to merchantmen, who in turn sold me to others,
and without mercy they tore me away from my father.
Arise, accuse my brethren before God, and see whom He
will justify in the judgment, and whom He will find guilty.
Arise, O mother, awake from thy sleep, see how my father
is with me in his soul and in his spirit, and comfort him and
ease his heavy heart."

Joseph wept and cried upon the grave of his mother, until,
weary from grief, he lay immovable as a stone. Then
he heard a voice heavy with tears speak to him from
the depths, saying: "My son Joseph, my son, I heard thy
complaints and thy groans, I saw thy tears, and I knew thy
misery, my son. I am grieved for thy sake, and thy affliction
is added to the burden of my affliction. But, my son
Joseph, put thy trust in God, and wait upon Him. Fear not,
for the Lord is with thee, and He will deliver thee from all
evil. Go down into Egypt with thy masters, my son; fear
naught, for the Lord is with thee, O my son." This and
much more like unto it did the voice utter, and then it was
silent. Joseph listened in great amazement at first, and then
he broke out in renewed tears. Angered thereby, one of
the Ishmaelites drove him from his mother's grave with
kicks and curses. Then Joseph entreated his masters to take
him back to his father, who would give them great riches as
a reward. But they said, "Why, thou art a slave! How