Hebrews 2; Genesis 46:28-34; Genesis 47; Psalms 37

Hebrews 2

1 We must therefore pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away.

2 For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding, and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment,

3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.

4 At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions [of gifts] from the Holy Spirit according to His will.

5 For He has not subjected to angels the world to come that we are talking about.

6 But one has somewhere testified: What is man, that You remember him, or the son of man, that You care for him?

7 You made him lower than the angels for a short time; You crowned him with glory and honor

8 and subjected everything under his feet. For in subjecting everything to him, He left nothing not subject to him. As it is, we do not yet see everything subjected to him.

9 But we do see Jesus- made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God's grace He might taste death for everyone-crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death.

10 For it was fitting, in bringing many sons to glory, that He, for whom and through whom all things exist, should make the source of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11 For the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why He is not ashamed to call them brothers,

12 saying: I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing hymns to You in the congregation.

13 Again, I will trust in Him. And again, Here I am with the children God gave Me.

14 Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, He also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death-that is, the Devil-

15 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.

16 For it is clear that He does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham's offspring.

17 Therefore He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

18 For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested.

Genesis 46:28-34

28 Now Jacob had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to prepare for his arrival at Goshen. When they came to the land of Goshen,

29 Joseph hitched [the horses to] his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel. Joseph presented himself to him, threw his arms around him, and wept for a long time.

30 Then Israel said to Joseph, "At last I can die, now that I have seen your face [and know] you are still alive!"

31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "I will go up and inform Pharaoh, telling him: My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.

32 The men are shepherds; indeed they raise livestock. They have brought their sheep and cattle and all that they have.

33 When Pharaoh addresses you and asks, 'What is your occupation?'

34 you are to say, 'Your servants, both we and our fathers, have raised livestock from our youth until now.' Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, since all shepherds are abhorrent to Egyptians."

Genesis 47

1 So Joseph went and informed Pharaoh: "My father and my brothers, with their sheep and cattle and all that they have, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in the land of Goshen."

2 He took five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh.

3 Then Pharaoh asked his brothers, "What is your occupation?" And they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants, both we and our fathers, are shepherds."

4 Then they said to Pharaoh, "We have come to live in the land for a while because there is no grazing land for your servants' sheep, since the famine in the land of Canaan has been severe. So now, please let your servants settle in the land of Goshen."

5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "[Now that] your father and brothers have come to you,

6 the land of Egypt is open before you; settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land. They can live in the land of Goshen. If you know of any capable men among them, put them in charge of my livestock."

7 Joseph then brought his father Jacob and presented him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

8 Then Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How many years have you lived?"

9 Jacob said to Pharaoh, "My pilgrimage has lasted 130 years. My years have been few and hard, and they have not surpassed the years of my fathers during their pilgrimages."

10 So Jacob blessed Pharaoh and departed from Pharaoh's presence.

11 Then Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.

12 And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food for their dependents.

13 But there was no food in that entire region, for the famine was very severe. The land of Egypt and the land of Canaan were exhausted by the famine.

14 Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan in exchange for the grain they were purchasing, and he brought the money to Pharaoh's house.

15 When the money from the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan was gone, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, "Give us food. Why should we die here in front of you? The money is gone!"

16 But Joseph said, "Give me your livestock. Since the money is gone, I will give you food in exchange for your livestock."

17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for the horses, the herds of sheep, the herds of cattle, and the donkeys. That year he provided them with food in exchange for all their livestock.

18 When that year was over, they came the next year and said to him, "We cannot hide from our lord that the money is gone and that all our livestock belongs to our lord. There is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land.

19 Why should we perish here in front of you-both us and our land? Buy us and our land in exchange for food. Then we with our land will become Pharaoh's slaves. Give us seed so that we can live and not die, and so that the land won't become desolate."

20 In this way, Joseph acquired all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh, because every Egyptian sold his field since the famine was so severe for them. The land became Pharaoh's,

21 and Joseph moved the people to the cities from one end of Egypt to the other.

22 The only land he didn't acquire was that of the priests, for it was their allotment from Pharaoh. They lived off the allotment Pharaoh had given them; therefore they did not sell their land.

23 Then Joseph said to the people, "Understand today that I have acquired you and your land for Pharaoh. Here is seed for you. Sow it in the land.

24 At harvest, you are to give a fifth of it to Pharaoh, and four-fifths will be yours as seed for the field and as food for yourselves, your households, and your dependents."

25 And they said, "You have saved our lives. We have found favor in our lord's eyes and will be Pharaoh's slaves."

26 So Joseph made it a law, still in effect today in the land of Egypt, that a fifth [of the produce] belongs to Pharaoh. Only the priests' land does not belong to Pharaoh.

27 Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. They acquired property in it and became fruitful and very numerous.

28 Now Jacob lived in the land of Egypt 17 years, and his life span was 147 years.

29 When the time drew near for him to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh [and promise me] that you will deal with me in faithful love. Do not bury me in Egypt.

30 When I lie down with my fathers, carry me away from Egypt and bury me in their burial place." Joseph answered, "I will do what you have asked."

31 And Jacob said, "Swear to me." So Joseph swore to him. Then Israel bowed [in thanks] at the head of his bed.

Psalms 37

1 Do not be agitated by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.

2 For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender green plants.

3 Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely.

4 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires.

5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act,

6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday.

7 Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the man who carries out evil plans.

8 Refrain from anger and give up [your] rage; do not be agitated-it can only bring harm.

9 For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for him, he will not be there.

11 But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity.

12 The wicked schemes against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him.

13 The Lord laughs at him because He sees that his day is coming.

14 The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the bow to bring down the afflicted and needy and to slaughter those whose way is upright.

15 Their swords will enter their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

16 Better the little that the righteous man has than the abundance of many wicked people.

17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord supports the righteous.

18 The Lord watches over the blameless all their days, and their inheritance will last forever.

19 They will not be disgraced in times of adversity; they will be satisfied in days of hunger.

20 But the wicked will perish; the Lord's enemies, like the glory of the pastures, will fade away- they will fade away like smoke.

21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous is gracious and giving.

22 Those who are blessed by Him will inherit the land, but those cursed by Him will be destroyed.

23 A man's steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way.

24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the Lord holds his hand.

25 I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging bread.

26 He is always generous, always lending, and his children are a blessing.

27 Turn away from evil and do what is good, and dwell there forever.

28 For the Lord loves justice and will not abandon His faithful ones. They are kept safe forever, but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.

29 The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it permanently.

30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom; his tongue speaks what is just.

31 The instruction of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.

32 The wicked lies in wait for the righteous and seeks to kill him;

33 the Lord will not leave him in his hand or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.

34 Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land. You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.

35 I have seen a wicked, violent man well-rooted like a flourishing native tree.

36 Then I passed by and noticed he was gone; I searched for him, but he could not be found.

37 Watch the blameless and observe the upright, for the man of peace will have a future.

38 But transgressors will all be eliminated; the future of the wicked will be destroyed.

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord, their refuge in a time of distress.

40 The Lord helps and delivers them; He will deliver them from the wicked and will save them because they take refuge in Him.