Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 103

The Forgiving God

Davidic.

Joseph Reveals His Identity

45 Joseph could no longer keep his composure in front of all his attendants,^[a] so he called out, “Send everyone away from me!” No one was with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers.^{(A) 2} But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and also Pharaoh’s household heard it. ³ Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But they could not answer him because they were terrified in his presence.

⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please, come near me,” and they came near. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt.^{(B) 5} And now don’t be worried or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.^{(C) 6} For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. ⁷ God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.^{[b] 8} Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

⁹ “Return quickly to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay. ¹⁰ You can settle in the land of Goshen^(D) and be near me—you, your children, and grandchildren, your sheep, cattle, and all you have. ¹¹ There I will sustain you, for there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you, your household, and everything you have will become destitute.”’^{(E) 12} Look! Your eyes and my brother Benjamin’s eyes can see that it is I , Joseph, who am^[c] speaking to you. ¹³ Tell my father about all my glory in Egypt and about all you have seen. And bring my father here quickly.”^(F)

¹⁴ Then Joseph threw his arms around Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his shoulder. ¹⁵ Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept,^[d] and afterward his brothers talked with him.

The Return for Jacob

¹⁶ When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. ¹⁷ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and go on back to the land of Canaan. ¹⁸ Get your father and your families, and come back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you can eat from the richness of the land.’ ¹⁹ You are also commanded, ‘Do this: Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives and bring your father here.^{(G) 20} Do not be concerned about your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”^(H)

⁷ When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters,^[a] since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words.^{(A) 8} Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.^(B)

The Model Prayer

⁹ “Therefore, you should pray like this:^(C)

¹⁴ “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing,^[f] your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.^{(I) 15} But if you don’t forgive people,^[g] your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.^[h]