NLT One Year Bible - Flipbook - Page 81
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Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. 16When Joseph saw Benjamin
with them, he said to the manager of his
household, “These men will eat with me
this noon. Take them inside the palace.
Then go slaughter an animal, and prepare a big feast.” 17So the man did as Joseph told him and took them into
Joseph’s palace.
18The brothers were terrified when
they saw that they were being taken into
Joseph’s house. “It’s because of the
money someone put in our sacks last
time we were here,” they said. “He plans
to pretend that we stole it. Then he will
seize us, make us slaves, and take our
donkeys.”
19 The brothers approached the manager of Joseph’s household and spoke
to him at the entrance to the palace.
20“Sir,” they said, “we came to Egypt
once before to buy food. 21But as we
were returning home, we stopped for
the night and opened our sacks. Then
we discovered that each man’s money—
the exact amount paid—was in the top
of his sack! Here it is; we have brought it
back with us. 22 We also have additional
money to buy more food. We have no
idea who put our money in our sacks.”
23“Relax. Don’t be afraid,” the household manager told them. “Your God, the
God of your father, must have put this
treasure into your sacks. I know I received your payment.” Then he released
Simeon and brought him out to them.
24The manager then led the men into
Joseph’s palace. He gave them water to
wash their feet and provided food for
their donkeys. 25 They were told they
would be eating there, so they prepared
their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon.
26 When Joseph came home, they
gave him the gifts they had brought him,
then bowed low to the ground before
him. 27After greeting them, he asked,
“How is your father, the old man you
spoke about? Is he still alive?”
28 “Yes,” they replied. “Our father,
your servant, is alive and well.” And they
bowed low again.
29 Then Joseph looked at his brother
J A N U A R Y
2 1
Benjamin, the son of his own mother. “Is
this your youngest brother, the one you
told me about?” Joseph asked. “May God
be gracious to you, my son.” 30Then Joseph hurried from the room because he
was overcome with emotion for his
brother. He went into his private room,
where he broke down and wept. 31After
washing his face, he came back out,
keeping himself under control. Then he
ordered, “Bring out the food!”
32 The waiters served Joseph at his
own table, and his brothers were served
at a separate table. The Egyptians who
ate with Joseph sat at their own table,
because Egyptians despise Hebrews
and refuse to eat with them. 33 Joseph
told each of his brothers where to sit,
and to their amazement, he seated them
according to age, from oldest to youngest. 34And Joseph filled their plates
with food from his own table, giving
Benjamin five times as much as he gave
the others. So they feasted and drank
freely with him.
42:38 Hebrew to Sheol. 43:6 Hebrew Israel; also in 43:11.
See note on 35:21. 43:14 Hebrew El-Shaddai.
MATTHEW 13:47–14:12
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a
fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind.
48When the net was full, they dragged it
up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted
the good fish into crates, but threw the
bad ones away. 49 That is the way it will
be at the end of the world. The angels
will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, 50 throwing the
wicked into the fiery furnace, where
there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth. 51Do you understand all these
things?”
“Yes,” they said, “we do.”
52 Then he added, “Every teacher of
religious law who becomes a disciple in
the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom
new gems of truth as well as old.”
53 When Jesus had finished telling
these stories and illustrations, he left
that part of the country. 54He returned
