Deception, Dreams, and Divine Persistence

1. When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I will die.” 2. Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in God’s place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” 3. She said, “Behold, my maid Bilhah. Go in to her, that she may bear on my knees, and I also may obtain children by her.” 4. She gave him Bilhah her servant as wife, and Jacob went in to her. 5. Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son. 6. Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son.” Therefore called she his name Dan. 7. Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, conceived again, and bore Jacob a second son. 8. Rachel said, “I have wrestled with my sister with mighty wrestlings, and have prevailed.” She named him Naphtali. 9. When Leah saw that she had finished bearing, she took Zilpah, her servant, and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10. Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore Jacob a son. 11. Leah said, “How fortunate!” She named him Gad. 12. Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore Jacob a second son. 13. Leah said, “Happy am I, for the daughters will call me happy.” She named him Asher. 14. Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother, Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” 15. She said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes, also?” Rachel said, “Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.” 16. Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, “You must come in to me; for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” He lay with her that night. 17. God listened to Leah, and she conceived, and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18. Leah said, “God has given me my hire, because I gave my servant to my husband.” She named him Issachar. 19. Leah conceived again, and bore a sixth son to Jacob. 20. Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good dowry. Now my husband will live with me, because I have borne him six sons.” She named him Zebulun. 21. Afterwards, she bore a daughter, and named her Dinah. 22. God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her, and opened her womb. 23. She conceived, bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” 24. She named him Joseph, saying, “May Yahweh add another son to me.” 25. When Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place, and to my country. 26. Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service with which I have served you.” 27. Laban said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, stay here, for I have divined that Yahweh has blessed me for your sake.” 28. He said, “Appoint me your wages, and I will give it.” 29. He said to him, “You know how I have served you, and how your livestock have fared with me. 30. For it was little which you had before I came, and it has increased to a multitude. Yahweh has blessed you wherever I turned. Now when will I provide for my own house also?” 31. He said, “What shall I give you?” Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed your flock and keep it. 32. I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted one, and every black one among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats. This will be my hire. 33. So my righteousness will answer for me hereafter, when you come concerning my hire that is before you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and black among the sheep, that might be with me, will be considered stolen.” 34. Laban said, “Behold, let it be according to your word.” 35. That day, he removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons. 36. He set three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks. 37. Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, plane tree, peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. 38. He set the rods which he had peeled opposite the flocks in the gutters in the watering-troughs where the flocks came to drink. They conceived when they came to drink. 39. The flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks produced streaked, speckled, and spotted. 40. Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the streaked and all the black in the flock of Laban: and he put his own droves apart, and didn’t put them into Laban’s flock. 41. Whenever the stronger of the flock conceived, Jacob laid the rods in front of the eyes of the flock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods; 42. but when the flock were feeble, he didn’t put them in. So the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s. 43. The man increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys. 1. He heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s. He has obtained all this wealth from that which was our father’s.” 2. Jacob saw the expression on Laban’s face, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. 3. Yahweh said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers, and to your relatives, and I will be with you.” 4. Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock, 5. and said to them, “I see the expression on your father’s face, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. 6. You know that I have served your father with all of my strength. 7. Your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God didn’t allow him to hurt me. 8. If he said this, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore speckled. If he said this, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore streaked. 9. Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock, and given them to me. 10. During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled. 11. The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’ 12. He said, ‘Now lift up your eyes, and behold, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and grizzled, for I have seen all that Laban does to you. 13. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me. Now arise, get out from this land, and return to the land of your birth.’” 14. Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? 15. Aren’t we considered as foreigners by him? For he has sold us, and has also used up our money. 16. For all the riches which God has taken away from our father, that is ours and our children’s. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.” 17. Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives on the camels, 18. and he took away all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had gathered, including the livestock which he had gained in Paddan Aram, to go to Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan. 19. Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep: and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father’s. 20. Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian, in that he didn’t tell him that he was running away. 21. So he fled with all that he had. He rose up, passed over the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead. 22. Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. 23. He took his relatives with him, and pursued him seven days’ journey. He overtook him in the mountain of Gilead. 24. God came to Laban, the Syrian, in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.” 25. Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain, and Laban with his relatives encamped in the mountain of Gilead. 26. Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27. Why did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn’t tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp; 28. and didn’t allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now have you done foolishly. 29. It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.’ 30. Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father’s house, but why have you stolen my gods?” 31. Jacob answered Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Lest you should take your daughters from me by force.’ 32. Anyone you find your gods with shall not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it.” For Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had stolen them. 33. Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two female servants; but he didn’t find them. He went out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent. 34. Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt around all the tent, but didn’t find them. 35. She said to her father, “Don’t let my lord be angry that I can’t rise up before you; for I’m having my period.” He searched, but didn’t find the teraphim. 36. Jacob was angry, and argued with Laban. Jacob answered Laban, “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me? 37. Now that you have felt around in all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? Set it here before my relatives and your relatives, that they may judge between us two. 38. “These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not cast their young, and I haven’t eaten the rams of your flocks. 39. That which was torn of animals, I didn’t bring to you. I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40. This was my situation: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from my eyes. 41. These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. 42. Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.” 43. Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine: and what can I do today to these my daughters, or to their children whom they have borne? 44. Now come, let us make a covenant, you and I; and let it be for a witness between me and you.” 45. Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. 46. Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” They took stones, and made a heap. They ate there by the heap. 47. Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. 48. Laban said, “This heap is witness between me and you today.” Therefore it was named Galeed 49. and Mizpah, for he said, “Yahweh watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another. 50. If you afflict my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, no man is with us; behold, God is witness between me and you.” 51. Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap, and see the pillar, which I have set between me and you. 52. May this heap be a witness, and the pillar be a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. 53. The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the fear of his father, Isaac. 54. Jacob offered a sacrifice in the mountain, and called his relatives to eat bread. They ate bread, and stayed all night in the mountain. 55. Early in the morning, Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. Laban departed and returned to his place. 1. Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2. When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s army.” He called the name of that place Mahanaim. 3. Jacob sent messengers in front of him to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom. 4. He commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall tell my lord, Esau: ‘This is what your servant, Jacob, says. I have lived as a foreigner with Laban, and stayed until now. 5. I have cattle, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.’” 6. The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau. Not only that, but he comes to meet you, and four hundred men with him.” 7. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two companies; 8. and he said, “If Esau comes to the one company, and strikes it, then the company which is left will escape.” 9. Jacob said, “God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, Yahweh, who said to me, ‘Return to your country, and to your relatives, and I will do you good,’ 10. I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I crossed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies. 11. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he come and strike me, and the mothers with the children. 12. You said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which can’t be counted because there are so many.’” 13. He stayed there that night, and took from that which he had with him, a present for Esau, his brother: 14. two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15. thirty milk camels and their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. 16. He delivered them into the hands of his servants, every herd by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put a space between herd and herd.” 17. He commanded the foremost, saying, “When Esau, my brother, meets you, and asks you, saying, ‘Whose are you? Where are you going? Whose are these before you?’ 18. Then you shall say, ‘They are your servant, Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord, Esau. Behold, he also is behind us.’” 19. He commanded also the second, and the third, and all that followed the herds, saying, “This is how you shall speak to Esau, when you find him. 20. You shall say, ‘Not only that, but behold, your servant, Jacob, is behind us.’” For, he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.” 21. So the present passed over before him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp. 22. He rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of the Jabbok. 23. He took them, and sent them over the stream, and sent over that which he had. 24. Jacob was left alone, and wrestled with a man there until the breaking of the day. 25. When he saw that he didn’t prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was strained, as he wrestled. 26. The man said, “Let me go, for the day breaks.” Jacob said, “I won’t let you go, unless you bless me.” 27. He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob”. 28. He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29. Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” He said, “Why is it that you ask what my name is?” He blessed him there. 30. Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for, he said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” 31. The sun rose on him as he passed over Peniel, and he limped because of his thigh. 32. Therefore the children of Israel don’t eat the sinew of the hip, which is on the hollow of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip.

1. When Jesus had finished all these words, he said to his disciples, 2. “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” 3. Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas. 4. They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him. 5. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people.” 6. Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7. a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. 8. But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9. For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.” 10. However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has done a good work for me. 11. For you always have the poor with you; but you don’t always have me. 12. For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13. Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her.” 14. Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15. and said, “What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?” They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16. From that time he sought opportunity to betray him. 17. Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18. He said, “Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’” 19. The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover. 20. Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21. As they were eating, he said, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.” 22. They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?” 23. He answered, “He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me. 24. The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.” 25. Judas, who betrayed him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You said it.” 26. As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27. He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, “All of you drink it, 28. for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins. 29. But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” 30. When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31. Then 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 of the flock will be scattered.’ 32. But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.” 33. But Peter answered him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.” 34. Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35. Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” All of the disciples also said likewise. 36. Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and pray.” 37. He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled. 38. Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me.” 39. He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.” 40. He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour? 41. Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42. Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.” 43. He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44. He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words. 45. Then he came to his disciples, and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46. Arise, let’s be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.” 47. While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48. Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.” 49. Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50. Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. 51. Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear. 52. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword. 53. Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54. How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?” 55. In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. 56. But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him, and fled. 57. Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58. But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end. 59. Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death; 60. and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward, 61. and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’” 62. The high priest stood up, and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?” 63. But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64. Jesus said to him, “You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.” 65. Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy. 66. What do you think?” They answered, “He is worthy of death!” 67. Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him, 68. saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?” 69. Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, “You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!” 70. But he denied it before them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” 71. When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him, and said to those who were there, “This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72. Again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man.” 73. After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known.” 74. Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed. 75. Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and wept bitterly. 1. Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2. and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor. 3. Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4. saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.” 5. He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary, and departed. He went away and hanged himself. 6. The chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, “It’s not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.” 7. They took counsel, and bought the potter’s field with them, to bury strangers in. 8. Therefore that field was called “The Field of Blood” to this day. 9. Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him upon whom a price had been set, whom some of the children of Israel priced, 10. and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.” 11. Now Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “So you say.” 12. When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13. Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many things they testify against you?” 14. He gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. 15. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner, whom they desired. 16. They had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17. When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?” 18. For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up. 19. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.” 20. Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21. But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” 22. Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!” 23. But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!” 24. So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it.” 25. All the people answered, “May his blood be on us, and on our children!” 26. Then he released to them Barabbas, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified. 27. Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him. 28. They stripped him, and put a scarlet robe on him. 29. They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30. They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31. When they had mocked him, they took the robe off him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32. As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross. 33. When they came to a place called “Golgotha”, that is to say, “The place of a skull,” 34. they gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink. 35. When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots, 36. and they sat and watched him there. 37. They set up over his head the accusation against him written, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 38. Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left. 39. Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, 40. and saying, “You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” 41. Likewise the chief priests also mocking, with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders, said, 42. “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43. He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44. The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach. 45. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46. About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47. Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48. Immediately one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him a drink. 49. The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.” 50. Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. 51. Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. 52. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53. and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many. 54. Now the centurion, and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God.” 55. Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him. 56. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. 57. When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple came. 58. This man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up. 59. Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60. and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock, and he rolled a great stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. 61. Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb. 62. Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate, 63. saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64. Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead;’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65. Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66. So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.

1. I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart. I will tell of all your marvelous works. 2. I will be glad and rejoice in you. I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. 3. When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish in your presence. 4. For you have maintained my just cause. You sit on the throne judging righteously. 5. You have rebuked the nations. You have destroyed the wicked. You have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6. The enemy is overtaken by endless ruin. The very memory of the cities which you have overthrown has perished. 7. But Yahweh reigns forever. He has prepared his throne for judgment. 8. He will judge the world in righteousness. He will administer judgment to the peoples in uprightness. 9. Yahweh will also be a high tower for the oppressed; a high tower in times of trouble. 10. Those who know your name will put their trust in you, for you, Yahweh, have not forsaken those who seek you. 11. Sing praises to Yahweh, who dwells in Zion, and declare among the people what he has done. 12. For he who avenges blood remembers them. He doesn’t forget the cry of the afflicted. 13. Have mercy on me, Yahweh. See my affliction by those who hate me, and lift me up from the gates of death; 14. that I may show all of your praise. In the gates of the daughter of Zion, I will rejoice in your salvation. 15. The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made. In the net which they hid, their own foot is taken. 16. Yahweh has made himself known. He has executed judgment. The wicked is snared by the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah. 17. The wicked shall be turned back to Sheol, even all the nations that forget God. 18. For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever. 19. Arise, Yahweh! Don’t let man prevail. Let the nations be judged in your sight. 20. Put them in fear, Yahweh. Let the nations know that they are only men. Selah.