When Joseph His Brethren Beheld

Lyrics

• Copyright: Public Domain

Lyrics from A Collection of Sacred Hymns for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Europe, 1840

Hymn 243
L.M.
1. When Joseph his brethren beheld,
Afflicted and trembling with fear,
His heart with compassion was filled,
From weeping he could not forbear.

2. Awhile his behaviour was rough,
To bring their past sins to their mind;
But when they were humbled enough
He hastened to show himself kind.

3. How little they thought it was he
Whom they had ill-treaded and sold!
How great their confusion must be,
As soon as his name he had told!

4. "I am Joseph, your brother," he said,
"And still to my heart you are dear;
You sold me, and thought I was dead,
But God, for your sakes, sent me here."

5. Though greatly distressed before,
When charged with purloining the cup,
They now were confounded much more,
Not one of them durst to look up.

6. "Can Joseph, whom we would have slain,
Forgive us the evil we did?
And will he our households maintain?
O, this is a brother indeed!"