012.076 Y:  So he began (the search) with their baggage, before (he came to) the baggage of his brother:  at length he brought it out of his brother’s baggage.  Thus did We plan for Joseph.  He could not take his brother by the law of the king except that Allah willed it (so).  We raise to degrees (of wisdom) whom We please:  but over all endued with knowledge is one, the All-Knowing.

P:  Then he (Joseph) began the search with their bags before his brother’s bag, then he produced it from his brother’s bag.  Thus did We contrive for Joseph.  He could not have taken his brother according to the king’s law unless Allah willed.  We raise by grades (of mercy) whom We will, and over every lord of knowledge there is one more knowing.

S:  So he began with their sacks before the sack of his brother, then he brought it out from his brother’s sack.  Thus did We plan for the sake of Yusuf; it was not (lawful) that he should take his brother under the king’s law unless Allah pleased; We raise the degrees of whomsoever We please, and above every one possessed of knowledge is the All-knowing one.

012.077 Y:  They said:  “If he steals, there was a brother of his who did steal before (him).”  But these things did Joseph keep locked in his heart, revealing not the secrets to them.  He (simply) said (to himself):  “Ye are the worse situated; and Allah knoweth best the truth of what ye assert!”

P:  They said:  If he stealeth, a brother of his stole before.  But Joseph kept it secret in his soul and revealed it not unto them.  He said (within himself):  Ye are in worse case, and Allah knoweth best (the truth of) that which ye allege.

S:  They said:  If he steal, a brother of his did indeed steal before; but Yusuf kept it secret in his heart and did not disclose it to them.  He said:  You are in an evil condition and Allah knows best what you state.

012.078 Y:  They said:  “O exalted one!  Behold! he has a father, aged and venerable, (who will grieve for him); so take one of us in his place; for we see that thou art (gracious) in doing good.”

P:  They said:  O ruler of the land!  Lo! he hath a very aged father, so take one of us instead of him.  Lo! we behold thee of those who do kindness.

S:  They said:  O chief! he has a father, a very old man, therefore retain one of us in his stead; surely we see you to be of the doers of good.

012.079 Y:  He said:  “Allah forbid that we take other than him with whom we found our property:  indeed (if we did so), we should be acting wrongfully.”

P:  He said:  Allah forbid that we should seize save him with whom we found our property; then truly we should be wrong-doers.

S:  He said:  Allah protect us that we should seize other than him with whom we found our property, for then most surely we would be unjust.

012.080 Y:  Now when they saw no hope of his (yielding), they held a conference in private.  The leader among them said:  “Know ye not that your father did take an oath from you in Allah’s name, and how, before this, ye did fail in your duty with Joseph?  Therefore will I not leave this land until my father permits me, or Allah commands me; and He is the best to command.”