From Oppression to Divine Calling

1. Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt (every man and his household came with Jacob): 2. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3. Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4. Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5. All the souls who came out of Jacob’s body were seventy souls, and Joseph was in Egypt already. 6. Joseph died, as did all his brothers, and all that generation. 7. The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. 8. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who didn’t know Joseph. 9. He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. 10. Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies, and fight against us, and escape out of the land.” 11. Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses. 12. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. They were grieved because of the children of Israel. 13. The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve, 14. and they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all kinds of service in the field, all their service, in which they ruthlessly made them serve. 15. The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah, 16. and he said, “When you perform the duty of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stool; if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” 17. But the midwives feared God, and didn’t do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive. 18. The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and have saved the boys alive?” 19. The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women aren’t like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous, and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20. God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty. 21. Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22. Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.” 1. A man of the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi as his wife. 2. The woman conceived, and bore a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. 3. When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. 4. His sister stood far off, to see what would be done to him. 5. Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe at the river. Her maidens walked along by the riverside. She saw the basket among the reeds, and sent her servant to get it. 6. She opened it, and saw the child, and behold, the baby cried. She had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Should I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?” 8. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” The young woman went and called the child’s mother. 9. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away, and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” The woman took the child, and nursed it. 10. The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.” 11. In those days, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers, and looked at their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers. 12. He looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no one, he killed the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 13. He went out the second day, and behold, two men of the Hebrews were fighting with each other. He said to him who did the wrong, “Why do you strike your fellow?” 14. He said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you plan to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?” Moses was afraid, and said, “Surely this thing is known.” 15. Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and lived in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well. 16. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17. The shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. 18. When they came to Reuel, their father, he said, “How is it that you have returned so early today?” 19. They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock.” 20. He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21. Moses was content to dwell with the man. He gave Moses Zipporah, his daughter. 22. She bore a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land.” 23. In the course of those many days, the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. 24. God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25. God saw the children of Israel, and God was concerned about them. 1. Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to God’s mountain, to Horeb. 2. Yahweh’s angel appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3. Moses said, “I will go now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4. When Yahweh saw that he came over to see, God called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Here I am.” 5. He said, “Don’t come close. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.” 6. Moreover he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look at God. 7. Yahweh said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8. I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 9. Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me. Moreover I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10. Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11. Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12. He said, “Certainly I will be with you. This will be the token to you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” 13. Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you;’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ What should I tell them?” 14. God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15. God said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations. 16. Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and tell them, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt; 17. and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ 18. They will listen to your voice, and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and you shall tell him, ‘Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to Yahweh, our God.’ 19. I know that the king of Egypt won’t give you permission to go, no, not by a mighty hand. 20. I will reach out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders which I will do among them, and after that he will let you go. 21. I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, and it will happen that when you go, you shall not go empty-handed. 22. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, and of her who visits her house, jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons, and on your daughters. You shall plunder the Egyptians.”

1. As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!” 2. Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone on another, which will not be thrown down.” 3. As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4. “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?” 5. Jesus, answering, began to tell them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 6. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and will lead many astray. 7. “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet. 8. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains. 9. But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them. 10. The Good News must first be preached to all the nations. 11. When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12. “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 13. You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. 14. But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, 15. and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house. 16. Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak. 17. But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days! 18. Pray that your flight won’t be in the winter. 19. For in those days there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be. 20. Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days. 21. Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ don’t believe it. 22. For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. 23. But you watch. “Behold, I have told you all things beforehand. 24. But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, 25. the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27. Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky. 28. “Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender, and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near; 29. even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors. 30. Most certainly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. 31. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32. But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33. Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is. 34. “It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. 35. Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the house is coming, whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning; 36. lest coming suddenly he might find you sleeping. 37. What I tell you, I tell all: Watch.” 1. It was now two days before the feast of the Passover and the unleavened bread, and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might seize him by deception, and kill him. 2. For they said, “Not during the feast, because there might be a riot among the people.” 3. While he was at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster jar of ointment of pure nard—very costly. She broke the jar, and poured it over his head. 4. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, saying, “Why has this ointment been wasted? 5. For this might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor.” They grumbled against her. 6. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me. 7. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good; but you will not always have me. 8. She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying. 9. Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News may be preached throughout the whole world, that which this woman has done will also be spoken of for a memorial of her.” 10. Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests, that he might deliver him to them. 11. They, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. He sought how he might conveniently deliver him. 12. On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare that you may eat the Passover?” 13. He sent two of his disciples, and said to them, “Go into the city, and there you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, 14. and wherever he enters in, tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 15. He will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Get ready for us there.” 16. His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found things as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. 17. When it was evening he came with the twelve. 18. As they sat and were eating, Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, one of you will betray me—he who eats with me.” 19. They began to be sorrowful, and to ask him one by one, “Surely not I?” And another said, “Surely not I?” 20. He answered them, “It is one of the twelve, he who dips with me in the dish. 21. For the Son of Man goes, even as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.” 22. As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had blessed, he broke it, and gave to them, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body.” 23. He took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them. They all drank of it. 24. He said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many. 25. Most certainly I tell you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew in God’s Kingdom.” 26. When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27. Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28. However, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.” 29. But Peter said to him, “Although all will be offended, yet I will not.” 30. Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you, that you today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31. But he spoke all the more, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” They all said the same thing. 32. They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I pray.” 33. He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed. 34. He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch.” 35. He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. 36. He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.” 37. He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you watch one hour? 38. Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39. Again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words. 40. Again he returned, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn’t know what to answer him. 41. He came the third time, and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42. Arise, let us be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.” 43. Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came—and with him a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44. Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely.” 45. When he had come, immediately he came to him, and said, “Rabbi! Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46. They laid their hands on him, and seized him. 47. But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48. Jesus answered them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me? 49. I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. But this is so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.” 50. They all left him, and fled. 51. A certain young man followed him, having a linen cloth thrown around himself over his naked body. The young men grabbed him, 52. but he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. 53. They led Jesus away to the high priest. All the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes came together with him. 54. Peter had followed him from a distance, until he came into the court of the high priest. He was sitting with the officers, and warming himself in the light of the fire. 55. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witnesses against Jesus to put him to death, and found none. 56. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony didn’t agree with each other. 57. Some stood up, and gave false testimony against him, saying, 58. “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” 59. Even so, their testimony did not agree. 60. The high priest stood up in the middle, and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it which these testify against you?” 61. But he stayed quiet, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62. Jesus said, “I am. You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of the sky.” 63. The high priest tore his clothes, and said, “What further need have we of witnesses? 64. You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” They all condemned him to be worthy of death. 65. Some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to beat him with fists, and to tell him, “Prophesy!” The officers struck him with the palms of their hands. 66. As Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the maids of the high priest came, 67. and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, “You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus!” 68. But he denied it, saying, “I neither know, nor understand what you are saying.” He went out on the porch, and the rooster crowed. 69. The maid saw him, and began again to tell those who stood by, “This is one of them.” 70. But he again denied it. After a little while again those who stood by said to Peter, “You truly are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.” 71. But he began to curse, and to swear, “I don’t know this man of whom you speak!” 72. The rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered the word, how that Jesus said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” When he thought about that, he wept.

1. Yahweh, who shall dwell in your sanctuary? Who shall live on your holy hill? 2. He who walks blamelessly does what is right, and speaks truth in his heart; 3. He who doesn’t slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor casts slurs against his fellow man; 4. In whose eyes a vile man is despised, but who honors those who fear Yahweh; he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change; 5. he who doesn’t lend out his money for usury, nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken.