Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The Psalmist’s Profession of Uprightness.

A Psalm of David.

Solomon’s Palace

7 Now Solomon built his own house (palace) ^[a]in thirteen years, and he finished all of his house [in that time]. ² He also built the House of the Forest of Lebanon; its length was a hundred ^[b]cubits (150 ft.), its width fifty cubits (75 ft.), and its height thirty cubits (45 ft.), upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars. ³ And it was covered with cedar [as a roof] on the supporting beams that were upon the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row. ⁴ There were artistic window frames in three rows, and window was opposite window in three tiers. ⁵ All the doorways and doorposts [and windows] had squared [artistic] frames, and window was opposite window in three tiers.

⁶ He also made the Hall of Pillars; its length was fifty cubits (75 ft.) and its width thirty cubits (45 ft.). There was a porch in front, and pillars and a threshold in front of them.

⁷ He made the hall for the throne where he was to judge, the Hall of Judgment; it was paneled with cedar from [one] floor to [another] floor.

⁸ His house where he was to live, the other courtyard behind the hall, was of similar workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had married.

⁹ All these were of expensive stones, of stone cut according to measure, sawed with saws, inside and outside; even from the foundation to the coping, and from the outside to the great courtyard.

¹⁰ The foundation was of expensive stones, large stones, stones of ten cubits and stones of eight cubits. ¹¹ And above [the foundation] were expensive stones, stones cut according to measure, and cedar. ¹² So the great courtyard all around had three rows of cut stone and a row of cedar beams like the inner courtyard of the house of the Lord, and the porch of the house.

⁹ “The [ten elder] patriarchs, overwhelmed with jealousy, sold [their younger brother] Joseph into [slavery in] Egypt; but God was with him,^{(A) 10} and He rescued him from all his suffering, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made Joseph governor over Egypt and over his entire household.^(B)

¹¹ “Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great distress and our fathers could not find food [for their households and livestock].^{(C) 12} But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time.^{(D) 13} And on the second visit Joseph identified himself to his brothers, and Joseph’s family and background were revealed to Pharaoh.^{(E) 14} Then Joseph sent and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all.^{(F) 15} And Jacob (Israel) went down into Egypt, and ^[a]there he died, as did our fathers;^{(G) 16} and [from Egypt] ^[b]their bodies were taken back to Shechem and placed in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.^(H)