Book of Common Prayer

God the Judge

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A song of Asaph.

The God Who Always Wins

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A song of Asaph.

The Lord the Shepherd

A song of David.

A Song of Trust in God

Of David.

¹⁶ In Egypt Joseph saw Benjamin with them. Joseph said to the servant in charge of his house, “Bring those men into my house. Kill an animal and prepare a meal. Those men will eat with me today at noon.” ¹⁷ The servant did as Joseph told him. He brought the men to Joseph’s house.

¹⁸ The brothers were afraid when they were brought to Joseph’s house. They thought, “We were brought here because of the money that was put in our sacks on the first trip. He wants to attack us, make us slaves and take our donkeys.” ¹⁹ So the brothers went to the servant in charge of Joseph’s house. They spoke to him at the door of the house. ²⁰ They said, “Sir, we came here once before to buy food. ²¹ While we were going home, we stopped for the night and opened our sacks. Each of us found all his money in his sack. We brought that money with us to give it back to you. ²² And we have brought more money. It is to pay for the food we want to buy this time. We don’t know who put that money in our sacks.”

²³ But the servant answered, “It’s all right. Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, must have put the money in your sacks. I got the money you paid me for the grain last time.” Then the servant brought Simeon out to them.

²⁴ The servant led the men into Joseph’s house. He gave them water, and they washed their feet. Then he gave their donkeys food to eat. ²⁵ The men prepared their gift to give to Joseph when he arrived at noon. They had heard they were going to eat with him there.

²⁶ When Joseph came home, the brothers gave him the gift they had brought into the house. Then they bowed down to the ground to him. ²⁷ Joseph asked them how they were doing. He said, “How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still alive?”

²⁸ The brothers answered, “Your servant, our father, is well. He is still alive.” And they bowed low before Joseph to show him respect.

²⁹ Then Joseph saw his brother Benjamin, who had the same mother as he. Joseph asked, “Is this your youngest brother you told me about?” Then Joseph said to Benjamin, “God be good to you, my son!” ³⁰ Then Joseph hurried off. He had to hold back the tears when he saw his brother Benjamin. So Joseph went into his room and cried there. ³¹ Then he washed his face and came out. He controlled himself and said, “Serve the meal.”

³² So they served Joseph at one table. They served his brothers at another table. And they served the Egyptians who ate with him at another table. This was because Egyptians did not like Hebrews and never ate with them. ³³ Joseph’s brothers were seated in front of him. They were in order of their ages, from oldest to youngest. And they looked at each other because they were so amazed. ³⁴ Food from Joseph’s table was taken to them. But Benjamin was given five times more food than the others. Joseph’s brothers drank with him until they were very drunk.

¹⁰ Now I give this command for the married people. (The command is not from me; it is from the Lord.) A wife should not leave her husband. ¹¹ But if she does leave, she must not marry again. Or she should go back to her husband. Also the husband should not divorce his wife.

¹² For all the others I say this (I am saying this, not the Lord): A brother in Christ might have a wife who is not a believer. If she will live with him, he must not divorce her. ¹³ And a woman might have a husband who is not a believer. If he will live with her, she must not divorce him. ¹⁴ The husband who is not a believer is made holy through his believing wife. And the wife who is not a believer is made holy through her believing husband. If this were not true, then your children would not be clean. But now your children are holy.

¹⁵ But if the person who is not a believer decides to leave, let him leave. When this happens, the brother or sister in Christ is free. God called us^[a] to a life of peace. ¹⁶ Wives, maybe you will save your husband; and husbands, maybe you will save your wife. You do not know now what will happen later.

Live As God Called You

¹⁷ But each one should continue to live the way God has given him to live—the way he was when God called him. This is a rule I make in all the churches. ¹⁸ If a man was already circumcised when he was called, he should not change his circumcision. If a man was without circumcision when he was called, he should not be circumcised. ¹⁹ It is not important if a man is circumcised or not circumcised. The important thing is obeying God’s commands. ²⁰ Each one should stay the way he was when God called him. ²¹ If you were a slave when God called you, do not let that bother you. But if you can be free, then become free. ²² The person who was a slave when the Lord called him is free in the Lord. He belongs to the Lord. In the same way, the one who was free when he was called is now Christ’s slave. ²³ You all were bought for a price. So do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Brothers, in your new life with God each one of you should continue the way you were when you were called.

A Man with Demons Inside Him

5 Jesus and his followers went across the lake to the region of the Gerasene^[a] people. ² When Jesus got out of the boat, a man came to him from the caves where dead people were buried. This man, who lived in the caves, had an evil spirit living in him. ³ No one could tie him up, not even with a chain. ⁴ Many times people had used chains to tie the man’s hands and feet. But he always broke the chains off. No one was strong enough to control him. ⁵ Day and night he would wander around the burial caves and on the hills, screaming and cutting himself with stones. ⁶ While Jesus was still far away, the man saw him. He ran to Jesus and knelt down before him. ^7-8 Jesus said to the man, “You evil spirit, come out of that man.”

But the man shouted in a loud voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, promise God that you will not punish me!”

⁹ Then Jesus asked the man, “What is your name?”

The man answered, “My name is Legion,^[b] because I have many spirits in me.” ¹⁰ The man begged Jesus again and again not to send the spirits out of that area.

¹¹ A large herd of pigs was eating on a hill near there. ¹² The evil spirits begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs. Let us go into them.” ¹³ So Jesus allowed them to do this. The evil spirits left the man and went into the pigs. Then the herd of pigs rushed down the hill into the lake and were drowned. There were about 2,000 pigs in that herd.

¹⁴ The men who took care of the pigs ran away. They went to the town and to the countryside, telling everyone about this. So people went out to see what had happened. ¹⁵ They came to Jesus and saw the man who had had the many evil spirits. The man was sitting there, clothed and in his right mind. The people were frightened. ¹⁶ Some people were there who saw what Jesus had done. They told the others what had happened to the man who had the demons living in him. And they also told about the pigs. ¹⁷ Then the people began to beg Jesus to leave their area.

¹⁸ Jesus was getting ready to leave in the boat. The man who was freed from the demons begged to go with him.

¹⁹ But Jesus would not allow the man to go. Jesus said, “Go home to your family and friends. Tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ So the man left and told the people in the Ten Towns^[c] about the great things Jesus had done for him. All the people were amazed.