Book of Common Prayer

Psalm 87

A psalm of the Korahites. A song.

BOOK IV

(Psalms 90–106)

Psalm 90

A prayer of Moses, the man of God.

Psalm 136

Jacob meets Rachel

29 Jacob got to his feet and set out for the land of the easterners. ² He saw a well in the field in front of him, near which three flocks of sheep were lying down. That well was their source for water because the flocks drank from that well. A huge stone covered the well’s opening. ³ When all of the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the well’s opening, water the sheep, and return the stone to its place at the well’s opening. ⁴ Jacob said to them, “Where are you from, my brothers?”

They said, “We’re from Haran.”

⁵ Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”

They said, “We know him.”

⁶ He said to them, “Is he well?”

They said, “He’s fine. In fact, this is his daughter Rachel now, coming with the flock.”

⁷ He said to them, “It’s now only the middle of the day. It’s not time yet to gather the animals. Water the flock, and then go, put them out to pasture.”

⁸ They said to him, “We can’t until all the herds are gathered, and then we^[a] roll the stone away from the well’s opening and water the flock.”

⁹ While he was still talking to them, Rachel came with her father’s flock since she was its shepherd. ¹⁰ When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his uncle, and the flock of Laban, Jacob came up, rolled the stone from the well’s opening, and watered the flock of his uncle Laban. ¹¹ Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. ¹² Jacob told Rachel that he was related to her father and that he was Rebekah’s son. She then ran to tell her father. ¹³ When Laban heard about Jacob his sister’s son, he ran to meet him. Laban embraced him, kissed him, and invited him into his house, where Jacob recounted to Laban everything that had happened. ¹⁴ Laban said to him, “Yes, you are my flesh and blood.”

Jacob marries Leah and Rachel

After Jacob had stayed with Laban for a month, ¹⁵ Laban said to Jacob, “You shouldn’t have to work for free just because you are my relative. Tell me what you would like to be paid.”

¹⁶ Now Laban had two daughters: the older was named Leah and the younger Rachel. ¹⁷ Leah had delicate eyes,^[b] but Rachel had a beautiful figure and was good-looking. ¹⁸ Jacob loved Rachel and said, “I will work for you for seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”

¹⁹ Laban said, “I’d rather give her to you than to another man. Stay with me.”

²⁰ Jacob worked for Rachel for seven years, but it seemed like a few days because he loved her.

Welcoming each other like Christ

14 Welcome the person who is weak in faith—but not in order to argue about differences of opinion. ² One person believes in eating everything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. ³ Those who eat must not look down on the ones who don’t, and the ones who don’t eat must not judge the ones who do, because God has accepted them. ⁴ Who are you to judge someone else’s servants? They stand or fall before their own Lord (and they will stand, because the Lord has the power to make them stand). ⁵ One person considers some days to be more sacred than others, while another person considers all days to be the same. Each person must have their own convictions. ⁶ Someone who thinks that a day is sacred, thinks that way for the Lord. Those who eat, eat for the Lord, because they thank God. And those who don’t eat, don’t eat for the Lord, and they thank the Lord too. ⁷ We don’t live for ourselves and we don’t die for ourselves. ⁸ If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to God. ⁹ This is why Christ died and lived: so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. ¹⁰ But why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you look down on your brother or sister? We all will stand in front of the judgment seat of God. ¹¹ Because it is written,

¹² So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

¹³ So stop judging each other. Instead, this is what you should decide: never put a stumbling block or obstacle in the way of your brother or sister. ¹⁴ I know and I’m convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is wrong to eat in itself. But if someone thinks something is wrong to eat, it becomes wrong for that person. ¹⁵ If your brother or sister is upset by your food, you are no longer walking in love. Don’t let your food destroy someone for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ And don’t let something you consider to be good be criticized as wrong. ¹⁷ God’s kingdom isn’t about eating food and drinking but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Whoever serves Christ this way pleases God and gets human approval.

¹⁹ So let’s strive for the things that bring peace and the things that build each other up. ²⁰ Don’t destroy what God has done because of food. All food is acceptable, but it’s a bad thing if it trips someone else. ²¹ It’s a good thing not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything that trips your brother or sister. ²² Keep the belief that you have to yourself—it’s between you and God. People are blessed who don’t convict themselves by the things they approve. ²³ But those who have doubts are convicted if they go ahead and eat, because they aren’t acting on the basis of faith. Everything that isn’t based on faith is sin.

⁴⁷ God’s children listen to God’s words. You don’t listen to me because you aren’t God’s children.”

⁴⁸ The Jewish opposition answered, “We were right to say that you are a Samaritan and have a demon, weren’t we?”

⁴⁹ “I don’t have a demon,” Jesus replied. “But I honor my Father and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰ I’m not trying to bring glory to myself. There’s one who is seeking to glorify me, and he’s the judge. ⁵¹ I assure you that whoever keeps my word will never die.”

Abraham and Jesus

⁵² The Jewish opposition said to Jesus, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham and the prophets died, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never die.’ ⁵³ Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died and the prophets died, so who do you make yourself out to be?”

⁵⁴ Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is meaningless. My Father, who you say is your God, is the one who glorifies me. ⁵⁵ You don’t know him, but I do. If I said I didn’t know him, I would be like you, a liar. But I do know him, and I keep his word. ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see my day. He saw it and was happy.”

⁵⁷ “You aren’t even 50 years old!” the Jewish opposition replied. “How can you say that you have seen Abraham?”

⁵⁸ “I assure you,” Jesus replied, “before Abraham was, I Am.” ⁵⁹ So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and left the temple.