Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 133[a]
A song of ascents;[b] by David.
133 Look! How good and how pleasant it is
when brothers truly live in unity.[c]
2 It is like fine oil poured on the head,
which flows down the beard[d]—
Aaron’s beard,
and then flows down his garments.[e]
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,[f]
which flows down upon the hills of Zion.[g]
Indeed,[h] that is where the Lord has decreed
a blessing will be available—eternal life.[i]
14 Then Pharaoh summoned[a] Joseph. So they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; he shaved himself, changed his clothes, and came before Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream,[b] and there is no one who can interpret[c] it. But I have heard about you, that[d] you can interpret dreams.”[e] 16 Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “It is not within my power,[f] but God will speak concerning[g] the welfare of Pharaoh.”[h]
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing[i] by the edge of the Nile. 18 Then seven fat and fine-looking cows were coming up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the reeds.[j] 19 Then[k] seven other cows came up after them; they were scrawny, very bad looking, and lean. I had never seen such bad-looking cows[l] as these in all the land of Egypt! 20 The lean, bad-looking cows ate up the seven[m] fat cows. 21 When they had eaten them,[n] no one would have known[o] that they had done so, for they were just as bad-looking as before. Then I woke up. 22 I also saw in my dream[p] seven heads of grain growing on one stalk, full and good. 23 Then[q] seven heads of grain, withered and thin and burned with the east wind, were sprouting up after them. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads of grain. So I told all this[r] to the diviner-priests, but no one could tell me its meaning.”[s]
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Both dreams of Pharaoh have the same meaning.[t] God has revealed[u] to Pharaoh what he is about to do.[v] 26 The seven good cows represent seven years, and the seven good heads of grain represent seven years. Both dreams have the same meaning.[w] 27 The seven lean, bad-looking cows that came up after them represent seven years, as do the seven empty heads of grain burned with the east wind. They represent[x] seven years of famine. 28 This is just what I told[y] Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the whole land of Egypt. 30 But seven years of famine will occur[z] after them, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will devastate[aa] the land. 31 The previous abundance of the land will not be remembered[ab] because of the famine that follows, for the famine will be very severe.[ac] 32 The dream was repeated to Pharaoh[ad] because the matter has been decreed[ae] by God, and God will make it happen soon.[af]
33 “So now Pharaoh should look[ag] for a wise and discerning man[ah] and give him authority[ai] over all the land of Egypt. 34 Pharaoh should do[aj] this—he should appoint[ak] officials[al] throughout the land to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt[am] during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should gather all the excess food[an] during these good years that are coming. By Pharaoh’s authority[ao] they should store up grain so the cities will have food,[ap] and they should preserve it.[aq] 36 This food should be held in storage for the land in preparation for the seven years of famine that will occur throughout the land of Egypt. In this way the land will survive the famine.”[ar]
The Final Plagues
15 Then[a] I saw another great and astounding sign in heaven: seven angels who have seven final plagues[b] (they are final because in them God’s anger is completed).
2 Then[c] I saw something like a sea of glass[d] mixed with fire, and those who had conquered[e] the beast and his image and the number of his name. They were standing[f] by[g] the sea of glass, holding harps given to them by God.[h] 3 They[i] sang the song of Moses the servant[j] of God and the song of the Lamb:[k]
“Great and astounding are your deeds,
Lord God, the All-Powerful![l]
Just[m] and true are your ways,
King over the nations![n]
4 Who will not fear you, O Lord,
and glorify[o] your name, because you alone are holy?[p]
All nations[q] will come and worship before you
for your righteous acts[r] have been revealed.”
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