Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A Safe Place for Those Who Trust in the Lord

37 Do not trouble yourself because of sinful men. Do not want to be like those who do wrong. ² For they will soon dry up like the grass. Like the green plant they will soon die. ³ Trust in the Lord, and do good. So you will live in the land and will be fed. ⁴ Be happy in the Lord. And He will give you the desires of your heart. ⁵ Give your way over to the Lord. Trust in Him also. And He will do it. ⁶ He will make your being right and good show as the light, and your wise actions as the noon day.

⁷ Rest in the Lord and be willing to wait for Him. Do not trouble yourself when all goes well with the one who carries out his sinful plans. ⁸ Stop being angry. Turn away from fighting. Do not trouble yourself. It leads only to wrong-doing. ⁹ For those who do wrong will be cut off. But those who wait for the Lord will be given the earth. ¹⁰ A little while, and the sinful man will be no more. You will look for his place, and he will not be there. ¹¹ But those who have no pride will be given the earth. And they will be happy and have much more than they need.

³⁹ But the saving of those who are right with God is from the Lord. He is their strength in time of trouble. ⁴⁰ The Lord helps them and takes them out of trouble. He takes them away from the sinful, and saves them, because they go to Him for a safe place.

Joseph’s Cup

44 Then Joseph told the man who took care of his house, “Fill the men’s bags with as much food as they can carry. And put each man’s money in his bag. ² Put my silver cup in the bag of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did what Joseph had told him to do. ³ Early in the morning the men were sent away with their donkeys. ⁴ When they had left the city and were not far away, Joseph said to the man who took care of his house, “Get up and follow the men. When you come to them, say to them, ‘Why have you returned bad for good? Why have you stolen the silver cup? ⁵ Is this not my lord’s drinking cup that he uses for telling about the future? You have done wrong.’”

⁶ So he came to them and spoke these words to them. ⁷ And they said to him, “Why does my lord say these things? Your servants would never do such a thing. ⁸ Remember how we returned to you from the land of Canaan with the money we found in the top of our bags. Why then would we steal silver or gold from your owner’s house? ⁹ If the cup is found with any of your servants, let him be put to death. And the others of us will be your servants.”

¹⁰ He answered, “Let it be as you say. He who is found to have the cup will be my servant. But you others will be without blame.” ¹¹ Then each man put his bag down on the ground in a hurry and opened it. ¹² The man looked for it, beginning with the oldest and stopping with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s bag. ¹³ Then they tore their clothes. After each man loaded his donkey again, they returned to the city.

¹⁴ When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell to the ground in front of him. ¹⁵ Joseph said to them, “What is this that you have done? Did you not know that a man like me has power to know what is not known by others?” ¹⁶ Judah said, “We do not know what to say to my lord. How can we make ourselves right in your eyes? God has shown the guilt of your servants. See, we are your servants, both we and the one who was found with the cup.” ¹⁷ But Joseph said, “No. I will do no such thing. The person who was found with the cup will be my servant. But you others may go in peace to your father.”

Do Not Love the World

¹² I am writing to you, my children, for your sins have been forgiven because of Christ’s name. ¹³ I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him Who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have power over the devil. I have written to you, young boys and girls, because you have learned to know the Father. ¹⁴ I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him Who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong. You have kept God’s Word in your hearts. You have power over the devil.

¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love is not in him. ¹⁶ For everything that is in the world does not come from the Father. The desires of our flesh and the things our eyes see and want and the pride of this life come from the world. ¹⁷ The world and all its desires will pass away. But the man who obeys God and does what He wants done will live forever.