Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
When Brothers Dwell in Unity
A Song of (A)Ascents. Of David.
133 Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when (B)brothers dwell in unity![a]
2 It is like the precious (C)oil on (D)the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on (E)the collar of his robes!
3 It is like (F)the dew of (G)Hermon,
which falls on (H)the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord (I)has commanded the blessing,
life for evermore.
8 When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, (A)“They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that (B)I may bless them.” 10 Now (C)the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, (D)and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, (E)“I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand towards Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand towards Israel's right hand, and brought them near him. 14 (F)And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, (G)crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he blessed Joseph and said,
“The God (H)before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
16 (I)the angel who has (J)redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;
and in them let (K)my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
and let them (L)grow into a multitude[a] in the midst of the earth.”
17 When Joseph saw that his father (M)laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, (N)“I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, (O)his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude[b] of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying,
“By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying,
(P)‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’”
Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but (Q)God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover, I have given to (R)you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope[c] that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”
23 By faith (A)Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of (B)the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, (C)refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 (D)choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy (E)the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 (F)He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to (G)the reward. 27 By faith he (H)left Egypt, (I)not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured (J)as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith (K)he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
29 By faith (L)the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.