BOOK II

Psalms 42–72

Psalm 42^[a][b]

For the director of music. A maskil^[c] of the Sons of Korah.

Psalm 43^[e]

Joseph in Charge of Egypt

⁴¹ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”^{(A) 42} Then Pharaoh took his signet ring^(B) from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes^(C) of fine linen^(D) and put a gold chain around his neck.^{(E) 43} He had him ride in a chariot^(F) as his second-in-command,^[a](G) and people shouted before him, “Make way^[b]!”^(H) Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.^(I)

⁴⁴ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”^{(J) 45} Pharaoh gave Joseph^(K) the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest^(L) of On,^[c](M) to be his wife.^(N) And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

⁴⁶ Joseph was thirty years old^(O) when he entered the service^(P) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. ⁴⁷ During the seven years of abundance^(Q) the land produced plentifully. ⁴⁸ Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities.^(R) In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. ⁴⁹ Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea;^(S) it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand^(A)(B)

¹³ When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them^(C) and healed their sick.^(D)

¹⁵ As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

¹⁶ Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

¹⁷ “We have here only five loaves^(E) of bread and two fish,” they answered.

¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” he said. ¹⁹ And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.^(F) Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ²¹ The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

⁴ For everything God created is good,^(A) and nothing is to be rejected^(B) if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God^(C) and prayer.