Joseph Reassures His Brothers

¹⁵ When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge^(A) against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”^{(B) 16} So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions^(C) before he died: ¹⁷ ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins^(D) and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’^(E) Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.^(F)” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.^(G)

¹⁸ His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him.^(H) “We are your slaves,”^(I) they said.

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?^{(J) 20} You intended to harm me,^(K) but God intended^(L) it for good^(M) to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.^{(N) 21} So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.^(O)” And he reassured them and spoke kindly^(P) to them.

The Death of Joseph

²² Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years^{(Q) 23} and saw the third generation^(R) of Ephraim’s^(S) children.^(T) Also the children of Makir^(U) son of Manasseh^(V) were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.^[a](W)

²⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die.^(X) But God will surely come to your aid^(Y) and take you up out of this land to the land^(Z) he promised on oath to Abraham,^(AA) Isaac^(AB) and Jacob.”^{(AC) 25} And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath^(AD) and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones^(AE) up from this place.”^(AF)

²⁶ So Joseph died^(AG) at the age of a hundred and ten.^(AH) And after they embalmed him,^(AI) he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

Saul’s Growing Fear of David

18 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan^(A) became one in spirit with David, and he loved^(B) him as himself.^{(C) 2} From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. ³ And Jonathan made a covenant^(D) with David because he loved him as himself. ⁴ Jonathan took off the robe^(E) he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.^(F)

⁵ Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful^(G) that Saul gave him a high rank in the army.^(H) This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

⁶ When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing,^(I) with joyful songs and with timbrels^(J) and lyres. ⁷ As they danced, they sang:^(K)

⁸ Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?^(M)” ⁹ And from that time on Saul kept a close^(N) eye on David.

¹⁰ The next day an evil^[a] spirit^(O) from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre,^(P) as he usually^(Q) did. Saul had a spear^(R) in his hand ¹¹ and he hurled it, saying to himself,^(S) “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded^(T) him twice.^(U)

¹² Saul was afraid^(V) of David, because the Lord^(W) was with^(X) David but had departed from^(Y) Saul. ¹³ So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led^(Z) the troops in their campaigns.^{(AA) 14} In everything he did he had great success,^(AB) because the Lord was with^(AC) him. ¹⁵ When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.^(AD)

Jerusalem Under Siege

⁶ This is what the Lord Almighty says:

⁹ This is what the Lord Almighty says:

Peter Disowns Jesus^(A)

⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

⁷¹ Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁷² He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

⁷³ After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

⁷⁴ Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”^(B) And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Judas Hangs Himself

27 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed.^{(C) 2} So they bound him, led him away and handed him over^(D) to Pilate the governor.^(E)

Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³ Now listen,^(A) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”^{(B) 14} Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.^{(C) 15} Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,^(D) we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.^{(E) 17} If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.^(F)

Warning to Rich Oppressors

5 Now listen,^(G) you rich people,^(H) weep and wail^(I) because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.^{(J) 3} Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.^{(K) 4} Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers^(L) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries^(M) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.^{(N) 5} You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves^(O) in the day of slaughter.^{[a](P) 6} You have condemned and murdered^(Q) the innocent one,^(R) who was not opposing you.