The Covenant with Noah

9 God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.^{(A) 2} The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal of the earth and on every bird of the air, on everything that creeps on the ground and on all the fish of the sea; into your hand they are delivered. ³ Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you, and just as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.^{(B) 4} Only, you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.^{(C) 5} For your own lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning: from every animal I will require it and from human beings, each one for the blood of another, I will require a reckoning for human life.^(D)

⁷ “And you, be fruitful and multiply, abound on the earth and have dominion over^[a] it.”^(F)

⁸ Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, ⁹ “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you^{(G) 10} and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.^{[b](H) 11} I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”^{(I) 12} God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:^{(J) 13} I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.^{(K) 14} When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, ¹⁵ I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.^{(L) 16} When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”^{(M) 17} God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

The Tower of Babel

11 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. ² And as they migrated from the east,^[a] they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.^{(A) 3} And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and fire them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone and bitumen for mortar. ⁴ Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”^{(B) 5} The Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built.^{(C) 6} And the Lord said, “Look, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.^{(D) 7} Come, let us go down and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”^{(E) 8} So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.^{(F) 9} Therefore it was called Babel,^[b] because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth, and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.^(G)

The Brothers Come Again, Bringing Benjamin

43 Now the famine was severe in the land.^{(A) 2} And when they had eaten up the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again; buy us a little more food.” ³ But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’^{(B) 4} If you will 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 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” ⁷ They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”^{(C) 8} Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and let us be on our way, so that we may live and not die—you and we and also our little ones. ⁹ I myself will be surety for him; you can hold me accountable for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.^{(D) 10} If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.”

¹¹ Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry them down as a present to the man: a little balm and a little honey, gum, resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds.^{(E) 12} Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the top of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight.^{(F) 13} Take your brother also, and be on your way again to the man; ¹⁴ may God Almighty^[a] grant you mercy before the man, so that he may send back your other brother and Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”^{(G) 15} So the men took the present, and they took double the money with them, as well as Benjamin. Then they went on their way down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

¹⁶ When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.”^{(H) 17} The man did as Joseph said and brought the men to Joseph’s house. ¹⁸ Now the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, replaced in our sacks the first time, that we have been brought in, so that he may have an opportunity to fall upon us, to make slaves of us and take our donkeys.” ¹⁹ So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the entrance to the house. ²⁰ They said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food,^{(I) 21} and when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each one’s money in the top of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it back with us.^{(J) 22} Moreover, we have brought down with us additional money to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” ²³ He replied, “Rest assured; do not be afraid; your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your sacks for you; I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.^{(K) 24} When the steward^[b] had brought the men into Joseph’s house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder,^{(L) 25} they made the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they had heard that they would dine there.

²⁶ When Joseph came home, they brought him the present that they had carried into the house and bowed to the ground before him.^{(M) 27} He inquired about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”^{(N) 28} They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and did obeisance.^{(O) 29} Then he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!”^{(P) 30} With that, Joseph hurried out, because he was overcome with affection for his brother, and he was about to weep. So he went into a private room and wept there.^{(Q) 31} Then he washed his face and came out, and controlling himself he said, “Serve the meal.”^{(R) 32} They served him by himself and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.^{(S) 33} When they were seated before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth, the men looked at one another in amazement. ³⁴ Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.^(T)

²⁷ And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away,^[a] for it is written,

²⁸ “But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”^{(B) 29} Peter said to him, “Even though all fall away,^[b] I will not.”^{(C) 30} Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.”^{(D) 31} But he said vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of them said the same.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

³² They went to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ He took with him Peter and James and John and began to be distressed and agitated. ³⁴ And he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.”^{(E) 35} And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.^{(F) 36} He said, “Abba,^[c] Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me, yet not what I want but what you want.”^{(G) 37} He came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? ³⁸ Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial;^[d] the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”^{(H) 39} And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰ And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to say to him. ⁴¹ He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.^{(I) 42} Get up, let us be going. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

⁴³ Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived, and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. ⁴⁴ Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” ⁴⁵ So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.^{(J) 46} Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. ⁴⁷ But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. ⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a rebel? ⁴⁹ Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.”^{(K) 50} All of them deserted him and fled.^(L)

⁵¹ A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, ⁵² but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

³¹ “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded^[a] to sift all of you like wheat,^{(A) 32} but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail, and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”^{(B) 33} And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” ³⁴ Jesus^[b] said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day until you have denied three times that you know me.”

Purse, Bag, and Sword

³⁵ He said to them, “When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “No, not a thing.”^{(C) 36} He said to them, “But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. ³⁷ For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawless,’ and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.”^{(D) 38} They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He replied, “It is enough.”

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

³⁹ He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.^{(E) 40} When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”^{[c](F) 41} Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done.”^(G) [[⁴³ Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength.^{(H) 44} In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.]]^{[d](I) 45} When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, ⁴⁶ and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”^[e](J)

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, ⁴⁸ but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” ⁴⁹ When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?”^{(K) 50} Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. ⁵¹ But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. ⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as though I were a rebel?^{(L) 53} When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour and the power of darkness!”^(M)