Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
The Excellency of Brotherly Unity.
A Song of Ascents, of David.
133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For (A)brothers to live together in unity!
2 It is like the precious (B)oil on the head,
Running down upon the beard,
As on Aaron’s beard,
The oil which ran down upon the (C)edge of his robes.
3 It is like the (D)dew of (E)Hermon
Coming down upon the (F)mountains of Zion;
For the Lord (G)commanded the blessing there—(H)life forever.
8 When Israel (A)saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 And Joseph said to his father, “(B)They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” So he said, “Bring them to me, please, so that (C)I may bless them.” 10 Now (D)the eyes of Israel were so [a]dim from age that he could not see. And [b]Joseph brought them close to him, and he (E)kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I never [c]expected to see your face, and behold, God has let me see your [d]children as well!” 12 Then Joseph [e]took them from his knees, and (F)bowed with his face to the ground. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right, and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel reached out his right hand and placed it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands, although (G)Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said,
“(H)The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
(I)The God who has been my shepherd [f]all my life to this day,
16 (J)The angel who has redeemed me from all evil,
(K)Bless the boys;
And may my name [g]live on in them,
And the [h]names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
And (L)may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
17 When Joseph saw that his father (M)placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, it displeased him; and he grasped his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and (N)his [i]descendants shall become [j]a multitude of nations.” 20 So (O)he blessed them that day, saying,
“By you Israel will pronounce blessing, saying,
‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’”
And so he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but (P)God will be with you, and (Q)bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22 And I give you one [k]portion more than your brothers, (R)which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”
23 By faith (A)Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the (B)king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, (C)when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to (D)endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, 26 (E)considering the [a]reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the (F)reward. 27 By faith he (G)left Egypt, not (H)fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though (I)seeing Him who is unseen. 28 By faith he [b](J)kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that (K)the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they (L)passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were [c]drowned.
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