Luke 24:1-12; Genesis 43; Psalms 34

Luke 24:1-12

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.

2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

3 They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes.

5 So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. "Why are you looking for the living among the dead?" asked the men.

6 "He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,

7 saying, 'The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day' ?"

8 And they remembered His words.

9 Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest.

10 Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things.

11 But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.

12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Genesis 43

1 Now the famine in the land was severe.

2 When they had used up the grain they had brought back from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go back and buy us some food."

3 But Judah said to him, "The man specifically warned us: 'You will not see me again unless your brother is with you.'

4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you.

5 But if you will not send him, we will not go, for the man said to us, 'You will not see me again unless your brother is with you.' "

6 "Why did you cause me so much trouble?" Israel asked. "Why did you tell the man that you had another brother?"

7 They answered, "The man kept asking about us and our family: 'Is your father still alive? Do you have [another] brother?' And we answered him accordingly. How could we know that he would say, 'Bring your brother here'?"

8 Then Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me. We will be on our way so that we may live, and not die-neither we, nor you, nor our children.

9 I will be responsible for him. You can hold me personally accountable! If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, I will be guilty before you forever.

10 If we had not wasted time, we could have come back twice by now."

11 Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and take them down to the man as a gift-some balsam and some honey, aromatic gum and resin, pistachios and almonds.

12 Take twice as much money with you. Return the money that was returned [to you] in the top of your bags. Perhaps it was a mistake.

13 Take your brother also, and go back at once to the man.

14 May God Almighty cause the man to be merciful to you so that he will release your other brother and Benjamin to you. As for me, if I am deprived of my sons, then I am deprived."

15 The men took this gift, double the amount of money, and Benjamin. They made their way down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his steward, "Take the men to [my] house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for they will eat with me at noon."

17 The man did as Joseph had said and brought them to Joseph's house.

18 But the men were afraid because they were taken to Joseph's house. They said, "We have been brought here because of the money that was returned in our bags the first time. They intend to overpower us, seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys."

19 So they approached Joseph's steward and spoke to him at the doorway of the house.

20 They said, "Sir, we really did come down here the first time only to buy food.

21 When we came to the place where we lodged for the night and opened our bags of grain, each one's money was at the top of his bag! It was the full amount of our money, and we have brought it back with us.

22 We have brought additional money with us to buy food. We don't know who put our money in the bags."

23 Then the steward said, "May you be well. Don't be afraid. Your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your bags. I received your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.

24 The man brought the men into Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet, and got feed for their donkeys.

25 Since the men had heard that they were going to eat a meal there, they prepared their gift for Joseph's arrival at noon.

26 When Joseph came home, they brought him the gift they had carried into the house, and they bowed to the ground before him.

27 He asked if they were well, and he said, "How is your elderly father that you told me about? Is he still alive?"

28 They answered, "Your servant our father is well. He is still alive." And they bowed down to honor him.

29 When he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, he asked, "Is this your youngest brother that you told me about?" Then he said, "May God be gracious to you, my son."

30 Joseph hurried out because he was overcome with emotion for his brother, and he was about to weep. He went into an inner room to weep.

31 Then he washed his face and came out. Regaining his composure, he said, "Serve the meal."

32 They served him by himself, his brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who were eating with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, since that is abhorrent to them.

33 They were seated before him in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest. The men looked at each other in astonishment.

34 Portions were served to them from Joseph's table, and Benjamin's portion was five times larger than any of theirs. They drank, and they got drunk with Joseph.

Psalms 34

1 I will praise the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.

2 I will boast in the Lord; the humble will hear and be glad.

3 Proclaim with me the Lord's greatness; let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard [him] and saved him from all his troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!

9 Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.

10 Young lions lack food and go hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.

11 Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 Who is the man who delights in life, loving a long life to enjoy what is good?

13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.

14 Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry for help.

16 The face of the Lord is set against those who do what is evil, to erase all memory of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them from all their troubles.

18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit.

19 Many adversities come to the one who is righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all.

20 He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.

21 Evil brings death to the sinner, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.

22 The Lord redeems the life of His servants, and all who take refuge in Him will not be punished.