Book of Common Prayer

מ Mem

נ Nun

ס Samekh

For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of Asaph.

A psalm of Asaph.

¹⁶ The news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come. Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. ¹⁷ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Here’s what I want you to tell your brothers. Say to them, ‘Load your animals. Return to the land of Canaan. ¹⁸ Bring your father and your families back to me. I’ll give you the best land in Egypt. You can enjoy all the good things in the land.’

¹⁹ “And here’s something else I want you to tell them. Say to them, ‘Take some carts from Egypt. Your children and your wives can use them. Get your father and come back. ²⁰ Don’t worry about the things you have back there. The best of everything in Egypt will belong to you.’ ”

²¹ Then the sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded. He also gave them supplies for their journey. ²² He gave new clothes to each of them. But he gave Benjamin more than seven pounds of silver. He also gave him five sets of clothes. ²³ He sent his father ten male donkeys loaded with the best things from Egypt. He also sent ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other supplies for his journey. ²⁴ Then Joseph sent his brothers away. As they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t argue on the way!”

²⁵ So they went up out of Egypt. They came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. ²⁶ They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of the whole land of Egypt.” Jacob was shocked. He didn’t believe them. ²⁷ So they told him everything Joseph had said to them. Jacob saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back. That gave new life to their father Jacob. ²⁸ Israel said, “I believe it now! My son Joseph is still alive. I’ll go and see him before I die.”

Food Sacrificed to Statues of Gods

8 Now I want to deal with food sacrificed to statues of gods. We know that “We all have knowledge.” But knowledge makes people proud, while love builds them up. ² Those who think they know something still don’t know as they should. ³ But whoever loves God is known by God.

⁴ So then, here is what I say about eating food sacrificed to statues of gods. We know that “a god made by human hands is really nothing at all in the world.” We know that “there is only one God.” ⁵ There may be so-called gods either in heaven or on earth. In fact, there are many “gods” and many “lords.” ⁶ But for us there is only one God. He is the Father. All things came from him, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord. He is Jesus Christ. All things came because of him, and we live because of him.

⁷ But not everyone knows this. Some people still think that statues of gods are real gods. They might eat food sacrificed to statues of gods. When they do, they think of it as food sacrificed to real gods. And because those people have a weak sense of what is right and wrong, they feel guilty. ⁸ But food doesn’t bring us close to God. We are no worse if we don’t eat. We are no better if we do eat.

⁹ But be careful how you use your rights. Be sure you don’t cause someone weaker than you to fall into sin. ¹⁰ Suppose you, with all your knowledge, are eating in a temple of one of those gods. And suppose someone who has a weak sense of what is right and wrong sees you. Won’t that person become bold and eat what is sacrificed to statues of gods? ¹¹ If so, then your knowledge destroys that weak brother or sister for whom Christ died. ¹² Suppose you sin against them in this way. Then you harm their weak sense of what is right and wrong. By doing this, you sin against Christ. ¹³ So suppose what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin. Then what should I do? I will never eat meat again. In that way, I will not cause them to fall.

¹³ They drove out many demons. They poured olive oil on many sick people and healed them.

John the Baptist’s Head Is Cut Off

¹⁴ King Herod heard about this. Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead! That is why he has the power to do miracles.”

¹⁵ Others said, “He is Elijah.”

Still others claimed, “He is a prophet. He is like one of the prophets of long ago.”

¹⁶ But when Herod heard this, he said, “I had John’s head cut off. And now he has been raised from the dead!”

¹⁷ In fact, it was Herod himself who had given orders to arrest John. He had him tied up and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias. She was the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. But now Herod was married to her. ¹⁸ John had been saying to Herod, “It is against the Law for you to be married to your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ Herodias couldn’t forgive John for saying that. She wanted to kill him. But she could not, ²⁰ because Herod was afraid of John. So he kept John safe. Herod knew John was a holy man who did what was right. When Herod heard him, he was very puzzled. But he liked to listen to John.

²¹ Finally the right time came. Herod gave a banquet on his birthday. He invited his high officials and military leaders. He also invited the most important men in Galilee. ²² Then the daughter of Herodias came in and danced. She pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want. I’ll give it to you.” ²³ And he gave her his promise. He said to her, “Anything you ask for I will give you. I’ll give you up to half my kingdom.”

²⁴ She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

²⁵ At once the girl hurried to ask the king. She said, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a big plate right now.”

²⁶ The king was very upset. But he thought about his promise and his dinner guests. So he did not want to say no to the girl. ²⁷ He sent a man right away to bring John’s head. The man went to the prison and cut off John’s head. ²⁸ He brought it back on a big plate. He gave it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. ²⁹ John’s disciples heard about this. So they came and took his body. Then they placed it in a tomb.