Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Joseph’s Dreams
37 But Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed,[a] in the land of Canaan.[b]
2 This is the account of Jacob.
Joseph, his seventeen-year-old son,[c] was taking care of[d] the flocks with his brothers. Now he was a youngster[e] working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives.[f] Joseph brought back a bad report about them[g] to their father.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons[h] because he was a son born to him late in life,[i] and he made a special[j] tunic for him. 4 When Joseph’s[k] brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them,[l] they hated Joseph[m] and were not able to speak to him kindly.[n]
12 When his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem, 13 Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers[a] are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I will send you to them.” “I’m ready,”[b] Joseph replied.[c] 14 So Jacob[d] said to him, “Go now and check on[e] the welfare[f] of your brothers and of the flocks, and bring me word.” So Jacob[g] sent him from the valley of Hebron.
15 When Joseph reached Shechem,[h] a man found him wandering[i] in the field, so the man asked him, “What are you looking for?” 16 He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Please tell[j] me where they are grazing their flocks.” 17 The man said, “They left this area,[k] for I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
18 Now Joseph’s brothers[l] saw him from a distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this master of dreams![m] 20 Come now, let’s kill him, throw him into one of the cisterns, and then say that a wild[n] animal ate him. Then we’ll see how his dreams turn out!”[o]
21 When Reuben heard this, he rescued Joseph[p] from their hands,[q] saying,[r] “Let’s not take his life!”[s] 22 Reuben continued,[t] “Don’t shed blood! Throw him into this cistern that is here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.”[u] (Reuben said this[v] so he could rescue Joseph[w] from them[x] and take him back to his father.)
23 When Joseph reached his brothers, they stripped him[y] of his tunic, the special tunic that he wore. 24 Then they took him and threw him into the cistern. (Now the cistern was empty;[z] there was no water in it.)
25 When they sat down to eat their food, they looked up[aa] and saw[ab] a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh down to Egypt.[ac] 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let’s not lay a hand on him,[ad] for after all, he is our brother, our own flesh.” His brothers agreed.[ae] 28 So when the Midianite[af] merchants passed by, Joseph’s brothers pulled[ag] him[ah] out of the cistern and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. The Ishmaelites[ai] then took Joseph to Egypt.
Psalm 105[a]
105 Give thanks to the Lord.
Call on his name.
Make known his accomplishments among the nations.
2 Sing to him.
Make music to him.
Tell about all his miraculous deeds.
3 Boast about his holy name.
Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Seek the Lord and the strength he gives.
Seek his presence continually.
5 Recall the miraculous deeds he performed,
his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed,[b]
6 O children[c] of Abraham,[d] God’s[e] servant,
you descendants[f] of Jacob, God’s[g] chosen ones.
16 He called down a famine upon the earth;
he cut off all the food supply.[a]
17 He sent a man ahead of them[b]—
Joseph was sold as a servant.
18 The shackles hurt his feet;[c]
his neck was placed in an iron collar,[d]
19 until the time when his prediction[e] came true.
The Lord’s word[f] proved him right.[g]
20 The king authorized his release;[h]
the ruler of nations set him free.
21 He put him in charge of his palace,[i]
and made him manager of all his property,
22 giving him authority to imprison his officials[j]
and to teach his advisers.[k]
45 so that they might keep his commands
and obey[a] his laws.
Praise the Lord.
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.”[a] 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart,[b] ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”[c] (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 or “Who will descend into the abyss?”[d] (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”[e] (that is, the word of faith that we preach), 9 because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord[f] and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness[g] and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.[h] 11 For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”[i] 12 For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.[j]
14 How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them?[k] 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely[l] is the arrival[m] of those who proclaim the good news.”[n]
Walking on Water
22 Immediately Jesus[a] made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds. 23 And after he sent the crowds away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile the boat, already far from land,[b] was taking a beating from the waves because the wind was against it. 25 As the night was ending,[c] Jesus came to them walking on the sea.[d] 26 When[e] the disciples saw him walking on the water[f] they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” and cried out with fear. 27 But immediately Jesus[g] spoke to them:[h] “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 Peter[i] said to him,[j] “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.” 29 So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out,[k] “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they went up into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
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