Genesis 43
Joseph’s Brothers Return to Egypt with Benjamin
1 Now the famine was severe in the land.
2 So it came to pass, when they had eaten the grain they brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back, and buy us a little food.”
3 But Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’
4 If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.
5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ ”
6 Then Israel said, “Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had yet another brother?”
7 But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ Thus we replied to him according to these words. Could we possibly have known he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”
8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and all we have.
9 I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame all my days.
10 For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time.”
11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.
12 Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight.
13 Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man.
14 May God give you grace before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved.Ӡ
15 So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph.
16 When Joseph saw Benjamin, his brother by the same mother, with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.”
17 Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.
18 Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money returned to our sacks the first time, that we are brought here to make a case against us and fall upon us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.”†
19 When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the house,
20 saying, “We entreat you, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food;
21 but it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there to our surprise, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand.
22 And we have brought down other money in our hands to buy food. We do not know who put the money in our sacks.”
23 But he said, “Mercy be on you; do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; and I am receiving your genuine money as full payment.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.†
24 So the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed.
25 Then they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard he would eat bread there.
26 Thus when Joseph came home, they brought the present in their hand to him in the house, and bowed down before him to the earth.
27 Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”
28 So they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.” Then he said, “Blessed be that man in God”; and they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves.†
29 Then Joseph lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother you said you would bring to me?” So he said, “May God grant you mercy, my son.”
30 Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. Then he went into his inner chamber and wept there.
31 He then washed his face and came out; and he composed himself, and said, “Serve the bread.”
32 So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
33 Now they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another.
34 Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.†
Psalms 38
1 For the End, for Jeduthun; an ode by David. †
2 I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I set a guard on my mouth When the sinner stood against me.”
3 I was deadened and humbled; and I kept silent, even from good; And my grief was stirred anew.
4 My heart was hot within me, And in my meditation, fire will be kindled. I spoke with my tongue,
5 “O Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, So as to know what I lack.
6 Behold, You made my days as a handbreadth, And my existence is as nothing before You; But all things are vanity, and every man living. (Pause)
7 “Nevertheless man walks about like a phantom; Surely in vain they stir themselves up; He stores up treasure, but does not know for whom he will gather it.
8 And now what is my patience? Is it not the Lord? And my support is from You.
9 Deliver me from all my transgressions; You made me a reproach to the undiscerning.
10 I was dumb and opened not my mouth; For You are He who made me.
11 Take away Your scourges from me; Because of the strength of Your hand I fainted.
12 With rebukes You chasten a man for his transgression, And You cause his soul to waste away like a spider web; But every man stirs himself up in vain. (Pause)
13 “Hear my prayer, O Lord, And give ear to my supplication; Do not be silent at my tears, For I am a sojourner before You, And a stranger, as were all my fathers.
14 Do not forsake me, that I may revive Before I depart and am no longer here.”
Proverbs of Solomon 8
11 For wisdom is better than precious stones, And every costly thing is not worthy of her.
12 I, wisdom, dwell with counsel, And I call upon knowledge and understanding.
13 The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, And both rudeness and arrogance, and the ways of wicked men; And I hate the perverted ways of evil men.
14 Counsel and safety are mine; Discernment is mine, and strength is mine;
15 By me, kings reign, And princes write of righteousness;
16 By me, noblemen become great, And by me, monarchs have power in the land.
Matthew 26
Institution of the Eucharist
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”†
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”†
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Prediction of Peter’s Denial
31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
34 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.
Gethsemane: Jesus’ Prayers
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.”
37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will. ”†
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.Ӡ
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”