Acts 1:12-26

Acts 1

¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. ^[1]

Matthias Is Chosen

¹³ When they entered the city, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter and John were there, also James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. ¹⁴ All of them kept praying together with one mind, along with the women, with Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

¹⁵ In those days, when the group there numbered about 120 people, Peter stood up among the brothers ^[2] and said, ¹⁶ “Gentlemen, ^[3] brothers, the Scripture ^[4] had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David about Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷ Judas was counted as one of us and was given a share in this ministry.

¹⁸ “Now this man acquired a field with what he was paid for his wicked act. When he fell headfirst, his middle burst open, and all his intestines spilled out. ¹⁹ This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, and so in their own language that field was called Akeldema, which means Field of Blood. ²⁰ Indeed, it is written in the book of Psalms:

And,

²¹ “Therefore it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us during the entire time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²² beginning from his baptism by John until the day Jesus was taken up from us, become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

²³ They proposed two: Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴ Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” ^[7]

²⁶ Then they assigned lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was counted with the eleven apostles. ^[8]

Psalm 11 – 12

Psalm 11

Faith, Not Flight

Heading

For the choir director. By David.

The Fear of the Fainthearted

David’s Answer

Psalm 12

Proud Words vs. Pure Words

Heading

For the choir director. According to sheminith. ^[5] A psalm by David.

The Proud Words of the Ungodly

The Pure Words of the Lord

Psalm 7 – 8

Psalm 7

The Slandered Saint

Heading

A shiggaion ^[1] by David, which he sang to the Lord
because of the words of Cush, from the tribe of Benjamin.

David’s Innocence

David’s Appeal for Justice

God’s Judgment Against the Wicked

You Reap What You Sow

Closing Praise

Psalm 8

Your Name Is Majestic

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For the choir director. According to gittith. ^[7] A psalm by David.

The Glory of God Declared by the Heavens
The Glory of God Declared by Children

The Glory of the Son of Man

Psalm 5

Psalm 5

With You the Wicked Cannot Dwell

Heading

For the choir director. For flutes. A psalm by David.

Access in Prayer

No Access

Access in Prayer

Lying Tongues

Praising Tongues

Psalm 1 – 2

Book I
Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

Two Responses to God’s Word

The Way of the Godly Leads to Blessing

The Way of the Ungodly Leads to Destruction

Conclusion

Psalm 2

The Nations Conspire, But God’s King Rules Securely

The Futile Rebellion of the Nations

The Reaction of the Lord

The Powerful Rule of God’s King

The Lesson to Be Learned

Luke 24:13-35

Luke 24

On the Way to Emmaus

¹³ Now, on that same day, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles ^[1] from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about all of these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing this, Jesus himself approached and began to walk along with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk along?” Saddened, they stopped.

¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

¹⁹ “What things?” he asked them.

They replied, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be condemned to death. And they crucified him. ²¹ But we were hoping that he was going to redeem Israel. Not only that, but besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. ²² Also some women of our group amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning. ²³ When they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb. They found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.”

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter his glory?” ²⁷ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

²⁸ As they approached the village where they were going, he acted as if he were going to travel farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, since it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.”

So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When he reclined at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and began giving it to them. ³¹ Suddenly their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. Then he vanished from their sight. ³² They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was speaking to us along the road and while he was explaining the Scriptures to us?” ³³ They got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those who were with them assembled together. ³⁴ They were saying, “The Lord really has been raised! He has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ They themselves described what had happened along the road, and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.

Luke 23:44-56

Luke 23

Jesus’ Death

⁴⁴ It was now about the sixth hour, ^[1] and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, ^{[2] 45} while the sun was darkened. Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” ^[3] When he had said this, he breathed his last.

⁴⁷ When the centurion saw what had happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous.” ⁴⁸ When all the groups of people who had gathered to see this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their chests. ⁴⁹ All those who knew Jesus, and the women who followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Jesus’ Burial

⁵⁰ Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man. ⁵¹ He had not agreed with their plan and action. He was looking forward to the kingdom of God. ⁵² This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. ⁵³ He took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb that was cut out of rock, where no one had yet been laid. ⁵⁴ It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning. ⁵⁵ The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed after Joseph, and they observed the tomb and how his body was laid there. ⁵⁶ Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Luke 23:13-25

Luke 23

¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who is misleading the people. Look, I have examined him in your presence. I have found in this man no basis for the charges you are bringing against him. ¹⁵ Herod did not either, for he sent him back to us. ^[1] See, he has done nothing worthy of death. ¹⁶ So I will have him flogged and release him.”

Barabbas or Jesus?

¹⁷ Pilate needed to release one prisoner to them at the Festival. ^{[2] 18} But they all shouted together with one voice: “Take him away! Release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹ Barabbas had been thrown in prison for a rebellion in the city and for murder.

²⁰ Pilate addressed them again, because he wanted to release Jesus. ²¹ But they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”

²² He said to them the third time, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found no grounds for sentencing him to death. So I will whip him and release him.” ²³ But they kept pressuring him with loud voices, demanding that he be crucified. And their voices ^[3] were overwhelming. ²⁴ So Pilate decided that what they demanded would be done. ²⁵ He released the one they had asked for, who had been thrown in prison for rebellion and murder, but he handed Jesus over to their will.

Luke 22:47-62

Luke 22

Jesus’ Arrest

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd appeared, and the man called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him. ⁴⁸ But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

⁴⁹ When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, should we strike with a sword?” ⁵⁰ Then one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

⁵¹ But Jesus responded, “Stop! No more of this!” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. ⁵² Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as you would against a robber, with swords and clubs? ⁵³ Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour—when darkness rules.”

⁵⁴ Then they seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house.

Peter Denies Jesus

Peter followed at a distance. ⁵⁵ When they had lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. ⁵⁶ A servant girl saw him sitting near the light. She looked closely at him and said, “This man also was with him.”

⁵⁷ But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.”

⁵⁸ After a little while someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them!”

But Peter answered, “Man, I am not!”

⁵⁹ After about one hour had passed, someone else was firmly insisting, “Truly this man was with him too, because he is a Galilean!”

⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” At that very moment, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today you will deny me three times.” ⁶² He went outside and wept bitterly.

Luke 22:14-30

Luke 22

¹⁴ When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with the twelve apostles. ¹⁵ He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, ¹⁶ for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁷ He took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves, ¹⁸ for I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

The Lord’s Supper

¹⁹ He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁰ In the same way, he took the cup after the supper, saying, “This cup is the new testament ^[1] in my blood, which is being poured out for you.

One Will Betray Jesus

²¹ “But look, the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. ²² The Son of Man is going to go as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”

²³ They began to discuss with one another which of them it was who was going to do this.

Who Is Greatest?

²⁴ A dispute arose among the disciples about which of them was considered to be greatest. ²⁵ But he told them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called Benefactors. ²⁶ But it is not to be that way with you. Instead, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, one who reclines at the table or one who serves? Isn’t it the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. ²⁸ You are those who have remained with me in my trials. ²⁹ I am going to grant a kingdom to you, just as my Father granted to me, ³⁰ so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Luke 21:25-38

Luke 21

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And on the earth nations will be in anguish, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the surging waves, ²⁶ people fainting from fear and expectation of the things coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ^{[1] 28} But when these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”

²⁹ He told them a parable. “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. ³⁰ As soon as they are sprouting leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is actually near. ³¹ So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. ³² Amen I tell you: This generation ^[2] will not pass away until all these things happen. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Be Ready!

³⁴ “Watch yourselves or else your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the worries of this life, and that day may come on you suddenly. ^{[3] 35} For it will come like a trap on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Stay alert all the time, praying that you may be able to escape all these things that are going to happen and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

³⁷ During the days, Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, and each night he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives. ³⁸ And all the people came early in the morning to listen to him in the temple courts.

Luke 19:47 – 20:47

Luke 19

⁴⁷ Every day he was teaching in the temple courts, but the chief priests, the experts in the law, and the leaders of the people continued to look for a way to put him to death. ⁴⁸ They could not find any way to do it, because all the people were clinging to him and listening.

Jesus’ Authority Is Questioned

Luke 20

¹ One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the good news, the chief priests and experts in the law came to him with the elders. ² They asked him, “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things. Or who is the one who gave you this authority?”

³ He answered them, “I will also ask you one question. Tell me: ⁴ the baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”

⁵ They discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ ⁶ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” ⁷ So they answered that they did not know where it was from.

⁸ Jesus said to them, “Neither am I going to tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

⁹ He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to some tenant farmers, and went away on a journey for a long time. ¹⁰ When it was the right time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenant farmers beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed. ¹¹ The man went ahead and sent yet another servant, but they also beat him, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. ¹² He then sent yet a third. They also wounded him and threw him out. ¹³ The owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my son, whom I love. Perhaps they will respect him.’

¹⁴ “But when the tenant farmers saw him, they talked it over with one another. They said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours.’ ¹⁵ They threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. So what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? ¹⁶ He will come and destroy those tenant farmers and give the vineyard to others.”

When they heard this, they said, “May it never be!”

¹⁷ But he looked at them and said, “Then what about this that is written:

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone? ^[1]

¹⁸ “Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush the one on whom it falls.”

¹⁹ That very hour the chief priests and the experts in the law began looking for a way to lay hands on him, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

²⁰ They watched him carefully and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, so that they could trap Jesus in something he said, and then deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. ²¹ They questioned him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right and show no partiality to anyone, but you teach the way of God on the basis of the truth. ²² Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

²³ But he was aware of their deceit and said to them, ²⁴ “Show me a denarius. ^[2] Whose image and inscription are on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they answered.

²⁵ He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

²⁶ They were not able to trap him in what he said in the presence of the people. They were amazed at his answer and became silent.

The God of the Living

²⁷ Some of the Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to him. ²⁸ They asked him a question, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies leaving a wife but no children, his brother should take the wife and raise up children for his brother. ^{[3] 29} So there were seven brothers. The first took a wife and died childless. ³⁰ The second took her as a wife, ^{[4] 31} and so did the third, and in the same way the seven died and left no children. ³² Finally the woman died too. ³³ So in the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as a wife.”

³⁴ Jesus said to them, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. ³⁵ But those who are considered worthy to experience that age and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. ³⁶ In fact, they cannot die any more, for they are like the angels. They are sons of God, because they are sons of the resurrection.

³⁷ “Even Moses showed in the account about the burning bush that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord: ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ ^{[5] 38} He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him.”

³⁹ Some of the experts in the law answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” ⁴⁰ Then they no longer dared to ask him anything.

David’s Son and David’s Lord

⁴¹ Jesus said to them, “How is it that they say that the Christ is David’s son? ⁴² David himself says in the book of Psalms:

⁴⁴ “So David calls him ‘Lord.’ Then how is he his son?”

Beware

⁴⁵ While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, ⁴⁶ “Beware of the experts in the law, who like to walk around in long robes and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. ⁴⁷ They devour widows’ houses and offer long prayers to look good. They will receive greater condemnation.”

Genesis 50

¹ Joseph put his face against his father’s face, wept over him, and kissed him. ² Joseph commanded the physicians who served him to embalm his father, so the physicians embalmed Israel. ³ Forty days were set aside for him, for that is how many days it takes to embalm. The Egyptians mourned for him for seventy days.

⁴ When the days of mourning for Jacob were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh. He said, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak directly to Pharaoh for me and say ⁵ that my father made me take an oath. He said to me, ‘Look, I am dying. Bury me in my tomb that I have dug for myself in the land of Canaan.’ Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will return here again.”

⁶ Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, just as he made you swear to do.”

⁷ Joseph went up to bury his father, and all the officials of Pharaoh went up with him: the senior officials of Pharaoh’s household, all the elders of the land of Egypt, ⁸ all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. ⁹ Both chariots and horsemen went up with him. It was a very great entourage.

¹⁰ They came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is on the other side of the Jordan, and there they mourned with a very loud and bitter lament. Joseph mourned for his father seven days. ¹¹ When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, witnessed the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a very solemn mourning by the Egyptians.” That is why they named the place Abel Mizraim. ^[1] It is beyond the Jordan. ¹² His sons did for him just what he commanded them to do: ¹³ They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field at Machpelah, which Abraham had purchased along with the field. He purchased it from Ephron the Hittite, as a piece of property for a burial site near Mamre. ¹⁴ After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt—he and his brothers, and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.

Joseph and His Brothers

¹⁵ When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and will pay us back in full for all of the evil that we did to him.”

¹⁶ They sent the following message to Joseph: “Before he died your father commanded us, ¹⁷ ‘You are to tell Joseph, “Please forgive the offense of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ Now, please forgive the offense of the servants of the God of your father.”

Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

¹⁸ His brothers also came and fell down in front of him, and they said, “See now, we are your servants.”

¹⁹ Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring this to pass and to keep many people alive, as it is this day. ²¹ Now therefore, do not be afraid. I will nourish you and your little ones.” He comforted them and spoke to them in a kind way.

The Death of Joseph

²² Joseph lived in Egypt, he and his father’s household. Joseph lived one hundred ten years. ²³ He saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children also of Makir, the son of Manasseh, were placed on Joseph’s knees when they were born. ²⁴ Joseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” ²⁵ Joseph made the descendants of Israel swear an oath. He said, “God will surely visit you. Then you shall carry my bones up from here.” ²⁶ So Joseph died when he was one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Genesis 47:13 – 48:22

Genesis 47

The Famine

¹³ There was no food in all the land because the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan grew weak because of the famine. ¹⁴ Joseph collected all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan as payment for the grain that they purchased, and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s palace. ¹⁵ When all the money in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan had been spent, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die right in front of your eyes? Look, our money is running out.”

¹⁶ So Joseph said, “Give me your livestock, and I will give you food for your livestock if your money is gone.”

¹⁷ They brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the donkeys. He supplied them with food for that year in exchange for all their livestock. ¹⁸ When that year was ended, they came to him during the second year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord the fact that our money is all spent, and the herds of livestock belong to my lord. My lord can see that we have nothing left but our bodies and our lands. ¹⁹ Why should we die right in front of your eyes, both we and our land? Purchase us and our land in exchange for bread, and we along with our land will serve Pharaoh. Give us seed, so that we may live and not die, so that the land will not be desolate.”

²⁰ So Joseph purchased all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh, because every man among the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine had them in its grip, and the land became Pharaoh’s. ²¹ As for the people, he made them all servants from one end of the territory of Egypt all the way to the other end of it. ^{[1] 22} The land that belonged to the priests was the only land that he did not purchase, because the priests had a regular allotment from Pharaoh and ate from the allotment that Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land. ²³ Then Joseph said to the people, “Since I have purchased you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you to sow the land. ²⁴ This is what you shall do at the harvests: Give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths will be your own share, which you can use as seed to sow the field and as food for yourselves, for everyone in your household, and for your little ones.”

²⁵ They said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.”

²⁶ Joseph made it a regulation concerning the farmland in Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should receive a fifth of the produce. Only the land of the priests did not become Pharaoh’s.

²⁷ Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen, and they acquired possessions for themselves there. They were fruitful and multiplied greatly. ²⁸ Jacob lived in the land of Egypt for seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were one hundred forty-seven years. ²⁹ The time drew near that Israel must die, so he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh and deal kindly and truthfully with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, ³⁰ but when I rest with my fathers, you are to carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.”

He said, “I will do as you have said.”

³¹ He said, “Swear to me,” and he swore to him. Israel bowed himself on the head post of the bed. ^[2]

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

Genesis 48

¹ Sometime after these things Joseph was told, “Come right away. Your father is sick.” So he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him. ² Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you,” so Israel gathered his strength and sat up on the bed.

³ Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. ⁴ He said to me, ‘I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make you into a community of peoples, and I will give this land to your descendants after you as a permanent possession.’ ⁵ Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, will be counted as mine. Ephraim and Manasseh will count as my sons the same as Reuben and Simeon. ⁶ Your sons that you father after them will count as your own. For receiving their inheritance they will be registered under the name of their brothers. ⁷ As for me, when I came back from Paddan, to my loss ^[3] Rachel died on the journey in the land of Canaan when we were still some distance from Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

⁸ Israel saw Joseph’s sons and asked, “Who are these boys?”

⁹ Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.”

Israel said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.”

¹⁰ Now the eyes of Israel were failing because of his age, and he could not see. Joseph brought the boys close to Jacob, and he kissed them and embraced them. ¹¹ Israel said to Joseph, “I did not think I would see your face, but now God has let me see your offspring also.” ¹² Joseph moved them from Jacob’s lap, and he bowed down with his face to the ground. ¹³ Joseph led them both. He led Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him. ¹⁴ But Israel, crossing his hands, stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, though Manasseh was the firstborn. ¹⁵ He blessed Joseph and said,

¹⁷ When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, he was displeased. He held up his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. ¹⁸ Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”

¹⁹ His father refused and said, “I know, my son. I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great. However, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a multitude of nations.” ²⁰ He blessed them that day with these words: “Israel will pronounce a blessing using your name, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh.’” So he placed Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

²¹ Israel said to Joseph, “You see that I am dying, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. ²² In addition, I have given to you one share more than your brothers: the ridge of Shechem ^[4] that I took out of the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”

Genesis 45

¹ Joseph was unable to control himself in front of all his attendants, so he called out, “Send everyone out from my presence!” When no one else was left with him, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. ² He wept out loud. The Egyptians heard him, and the house of Pharaoh heard about it. ³ Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?”

His brothers could not answer him, because they were terrified by his presence. ⁴ Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me, please.”

They came closer. He said, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. ⁵ Now do not be upset or angry with yourselves for selling me to this place, since God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. ⁶ For two years now the famine has been in the land, and there are still five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. ⁷ God sent me ahead of you to preserve you as survivors on the earth, and to keep you alive by a great act of deliverance. ⁸ So it was not you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord over his entire household, and ruler over the whole land of Egypt. ⁹ Hurry, go up to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me. Do not delay. ¹⁰ You shall live in the land of Goshen, where you will be close to me—you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. ¹¹ I will take care of you here, for there are still five years of famine. Otherwise you will come to ruin, you, and your household, and all that you have.”’ ¹² Pay attention. Your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. ¹³ You shall tell my father all about my position of honor in Egypt and about everything that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.”

¹⁴ He threw his arms around his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his shoulder. ¹⁵ He kissed all his brothers and wept over them. After that his brothers talked with him.

¹⁶ This report was heard in Pharaoh’s house: “Joseph’s brothers have come.” This pleased Pharaoh and his officials.

¹⁷ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Load your animals. Travel quickly to the land of Canaan. ¹⁸ Get your father and your households, and return to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the rich food of the land. ¹⁹ Now I command you to do this: Take carts ^[1] from the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives, and bring your father here. ²⁰ Also, do not worry about your belongings, for the best of the whole land of Egypt is yours.’”

²¹ So that is what the sons of Israel did. Joseph gave them carts as Pharaoh had commanded, and he gave them supplies for the journey. ²² He gave each one of them a change of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing. ²³ He sent the following to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and supplies for his father on the journey. ²⁴ So he dismissed his brothers, and they departed. He said to them, “See to it that you do not quarrel on the way.”

²⁵ They went up from Egypt and came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan. ²⁶ They told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” He was stunned ^[2] because he did not believe them. ²⁷ They told Jacob every word that Joseph had said to them. When he saw the carts that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.

²⁸ Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”