Daily Readings

¹ And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.² And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.³ And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.⁴ And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.⁵ And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.⁶ And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.⁷ And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.⁸ And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.⁹ Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:¹⁰ Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker:¹¹ And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.¹² And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.¹³ And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.¹⁴ Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.¹⁵ And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.¹⁶ And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.¹⁷ And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:¹⁸ And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:¹⁹ And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:²⁰ And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:²¹ And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.²² And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:²³ And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:²⁴ And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.²⁵ And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.²⁶ The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.²⁷ And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.²⁸ This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.²⁹ Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:³⁰ And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;³¹ And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.³² And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.³³ Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.³⁴ Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.³⁵ And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.³⁶ And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.³⁷ And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.³⁸ And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?³⁹ And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:⁴⁰ Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.⁴¹ And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.⁴² And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;⁴³ And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.⁴⁴ And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.⁴⁵ And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.⁴⁶ And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.⁴⁷ And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.⁴⁸ And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.⁴⁹ And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.⁵⁰ And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.⁵¹ And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.⁵² And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.⁵³ And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.⁵⁴ And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.⁵⁵ And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.⁵⁶ And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.⁵⁷ And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

¹ My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.² Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.³ Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.⁴ And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.⁵ Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.⁶ Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.⁷ Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.⁸ All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.⁹ Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.¹⁰ Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;¹¹ So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.¹² And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.¹³ The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.¹⁴ She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.¹⁵ With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.¹⁶ Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.¹⁷ I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

¹ When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:² And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.³ Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,⁴ Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.⁵ And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.⁶ And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.⁷ And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.⁸ Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.⁹ Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;¹⁰ And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.¹¹ And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.¹² And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.¹³ Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?¹⁴ And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.¹⁵ Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.¹⁶ And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.¹⁷ Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?¹⁸ For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.¹⁹ When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.²⁰ But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.²¹ The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.²² Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.²³ And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.²⁴ When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.²⁵ Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.²⁶ Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.²⁷ Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.²⁸ And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.²⁹ And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!³⁰ And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.³¹ And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.³² And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.³³ And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,³⁴ They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.³⁵ And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.³⁶ And sitting down they watched him there;³⁷ And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.³⁸ Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.³⁹ And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,⁴⁰ And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.⁴¹ Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,⁴² He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.⁴³ He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.⁴⁴ The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.⁴⁵ Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?⁴⁷ Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.⁴⁸ And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.⁴⁹ The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.⁵⁰ Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.⁵¹ And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;⁵² And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,⁵³ And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.⁵⁴ Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.⁵⁵ And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:⁵⁶ Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children.⁵⁷ When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:⁵⁸ He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.⁵⁹ And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,⁶⁰ And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.⁶¹ And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.⁶² Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,⁶³ Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.⁶⁴ Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.⁶⁵ Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.⁶⁶ So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.