Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A prayer for help, and praise for its answer.

A Psalm of David.

39 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites, that had brought him down thither. ² And Jehovah was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. ³ And his master saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand. ⁴ And Joseph found favor in his sight, and he ministered unto him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. ⁵ And it came to pass from the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that Jehovah blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of Jehovah was upon all that he had, in the house and in the field. ⁶ And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and ^[a]he knew not aught that was with him, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was comely, and well-favored. ⁷ And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. ⁸ But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master ^[b]knoweth not what is with me in the house, and he hath put all that he hath into my hand: ⁹ he is not greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? ¹⁰ And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. ¹¹ And it came to pass about this time, that he went into the house to do his work; and there was none of the men of the house there within. ¹² And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. ¹³ And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, ¹⁴ that she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us: he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: ¹⁵ and it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled, and got him out. ¹⁶ And she laid up his garment by her, until his master came home. ¹⁷ And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me: ¹⁸ and it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled out.

¹⁹ And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. ²⁰ And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. ²¹ But Jehovah was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ²² And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. ²³ The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand, because Jehovah was with him; and that which he did, Jehovah made it to prosper.

¹⁴ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. ¹⁵ For he saith to Moses, ^[a]I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. ¹⁶ So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy. ¹⁷ For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, ^[b]For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show in thee my power, and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth. ¹⁸ So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth.

¹⁹ Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will? ²⁰ Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus? ²¹ Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? ²² What if God, ^[c]willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction: ^23 [d]and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory, ²⁴ even us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles? ²⁵ As he saith also in Hosea,

²⁷ And Isaiah crieth concerning Israel, ^[g]If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved: ²⁸ for the Lord will execute his word upon the earth, finishing it and cutting it short. ²⁹ And, as Isaiah hath said before,