۞ (In Joseph and his brethren were signs for those who ask questions.) 7 They said [to each other], "Surely Joseph and his brother [Benjamin] are dearer to our father than ourselves, although we are a band. Truly, our father is clearly mistaken. 8 So either kill Joseph or cast him into some distant land so that your father's attention may become exclusively yours. And after so doing become righteous." 9 A speaker among them said, “Do not kill Yusuf – and drop him into a dark well so that some traveller may come and take him away, if you have to.” 10 Then they asked their father, "Why do you not trust us with Joseph? We are his well-wishers. 11 “Send him with us tomorrow so that he may eat some fruits and play, and indeed we are his protectors.” 12 He [Ya'qub (Jacob)] said: "Truly, it saddens me that you should take him away. I fear lest a wolf should devour him, while you are careless of him." 13 They said, "If a wolf should eat him while we are a [strong] clan, indeed, we would then be losers." 14 So when they took him away, and resolved to place him in the bottom of the well, We revealed unto him: surely thou wilt declare unto them this their affair, while they shall perceive not. 15 At nightfall, they returned weeping to their father. 16 They said: "O our father! We went racing with one another, and left Joseph with our things; and the wolf devoured him.... But thou wilt never believe us even though we tell 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 AND THERE CAME a caravan; and they sent forth their drawer of water, and he let down his bucket into the well - [and when he saw Joseph] he exclaimed: "Oh, what a lucky find, this boy!" And they hid him with a view to selling him: but God had full knowledge of all that they were doing. 19 Then, they sold him for a trifling price, a number of dirhams, because they considered him to be of little value. 20