Wednesday, 31 January

1.   Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. 2.   The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3.   And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4.   So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. 5.   So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. 6.   Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7.   And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." 8.   But he refused and said to his master’s wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9.   " There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" 10.   So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. 11.   But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, 12.   that she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. 13.   And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, 14.   that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, "See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15.   "And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside." 16.   So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. 17.   Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, "The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; 18.   "so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside." 19.   So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, "Your servant did to me after this manner," that his anger was aroused. 20.   Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. 21.   But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He 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 who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 23.   The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.

1.   "My soul loathes my life; I will give free course to my complaint, I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. 2.   I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; Show me why You contend with me. 3.   Does it seem good to You that You should oppress, That You should despise the work of Your hands, And smile on the counsel of the wicked? 4.   Do You have eyes of flesh? Or do You see as man sees? 5.   Are Your days like the days of a mortal man? Are Your years like the days of a mighty man, 6.   That You should seek for my iniquity And search out my sin, 7.   Although You know that I am not wicked, And there is no one who can deliver from Your hand? 8.   ‘Your hands have made me and fashioned me, An intricate unity; Yet You would destroy me. 9.   Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay. And will You turn me into dust again? 10.   Did you not pour me out like milk, And curdle me like cheese, 11.   Clothe me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews? 12.   You have granted me life and favor, And Your care has preserved my spirit. 13.   ‘And these things You have hidden in Your heart; I know that this was with You: 14.   If I sin, then You mark me, And will not acquit me of my iniquity. 15.   If I am wicked, woe to me; Even if I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head. I am full of disgrace; See my misery! 16.   If my head is exalted, You hunt me like a fierce lion, And again You show Yourself awesome against me. 17.   You renew Your witnesses against me, And increase Your indignation toward me; Changes and war are ever with me. 18.   ‘Why then have You brought me out of the womb? Oh, that I had perished and no eye had seen me! 19.   I would have been as though I had not been. I would have been carried from the womb to the grave. 20.   Are not my days few? Cease! Leave me alone, that I may take a little comfort, 21.   Before I go to the place from which I shall not return, To the land of darkness and the shadow of death, 22.   A land as dark as darkness itself , As the shadow of death, without any order, Where even the light is like darkness.’"

1.   Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: 2.   "Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated? 3.   Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you? 4.   For you have said, ‘My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in your eyes.’ 5.   But oh, that God would speak, And open His lips against you, 6.   That He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For they would double your prudence. Know therefore that God exacts from you Less than your iniquity deserves . 7.   "Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? 8.   They are higher than heaven––what can you do? Deeper than Sheol––what can you know? 9.   Their measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea. 10.   "If He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment , Then who can hinder Him? 11.   For He knows deceitful men; He sees wickedness also. Will He not then consider it ? 12.   For an empty–headed man will be wise, When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man. 13.   "If you would prepare your heart, And stretch out your hands toward Him; 14.   If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents; 15.   Then surely you could lift up your face without spot; Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear; 16.   Because you would forget your misery, And remember it as waters that have passed away, 17.   And your life would be brighter than noonday. Though you were dark, you would be like the morning. 18.   And you would be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety. 19.   You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid; Yes , many would court your favor. 20.   But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And they shall not escape, And their hope––loss of life!"

17.   Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18.   "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19.   "and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again." 20.   Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21.   And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom." 22.   But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." 23.   So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father." 24.   And when the ten heard it , they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25.   But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26.   "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27.   "And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave–– 28.   "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." 29.   Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30.   And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" 31.   Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" 32.   So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" 33.   They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." 34.   So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.