Today's Readings and Stuff -- 13 January 2012

Friday the 13th, and short shrift, sorry. Off to work in a bit.

The Old Testament reading is chapters 31 and 32 of the Genesis. Jacob heads back home, meets an Angel, gets a new name. Quite a lot of change in just few words.

Genesis 31

1	And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.
2	And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
3	And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
4	And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
5	And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
6	And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
7	And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
8	If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ring-streaked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ring-streaked.
9	Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
10	And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ring-streaked, speckled, and grizzled.
11	And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
12	And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ring-streaked, speckled, and grizzled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
13	I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.
14	And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?
15	Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
16	For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
17	Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
18	And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
19	And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.
20	And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
21	So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.
22	And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
23	And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
24	And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
25	Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
26	And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?
27	Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?
28	And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
29	It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
30	And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
31	And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
32	With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
33	And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.
34	Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
35	And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched but found not the images.
36	And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
37	Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.
38	This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
39	That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
40	Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
41	Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
42	Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
43	And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
44	Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
45	And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
46	And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
47	And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
48	And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
49	And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
50	If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.
51	And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee:
52	This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.
53	The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.
54	Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
55	And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.

Genesis 32

1	And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
2	And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
3	And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
4	And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:
5	And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.
6	And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
7	Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;
8	And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.
9	And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
10	I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
11	Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
12	And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
13	And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;
14	Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,
15	Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
16	And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.
17	And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?
18	Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.
19	And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.
20	And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.
21	So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.
22	And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.
23	And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.
24	And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25	And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
26	And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
27	And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28	And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
29	And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
30	And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
31	And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.
32	Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.

The New Testament reading is verses 24-42 of Matthew chapter 10.

Matthew 10:24-42

24	The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25	It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
26	Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
27	What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
28	And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29	Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30	But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31	Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32	Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33	But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
34	Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35	For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36	And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37	He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38	And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39	He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
40	He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
41	He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
42	And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- 12 January 2012

It's Thursday, so apparently we are making some progress going through the week. Doesn't feel all that much like an accomplishment, but the calendar says so, so we will take it. Had some conversations yesterday and earlier today with yet another executive recruiter, talking to me about something not too far from the New Madrid area. That is up on the Arkansas-Missouri-Tennessee-Kentucky area, a real seismic zone. They're talking a salary roughly twice my current one, and the chance to actually accomplish something, and the combination of the two is quite tempting. But we shall see. In the meantime, I've been summoned to a meeting at our company's head office for Tuesday, which always makes for worry and stress. This has been a bumpy ride over the last 7 years or so, and perhaps it will become more so. We shall see.

This morning's reading is chapters 29 and 30 of the Genesis, further in the life and times of Jacob. He has run off to his mother's family and there acquires quite a lot. Like two wives and two concubines as well. Gets a lot of kids out of it, but lays up future trouble as well.

Genesis 29

1	Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
2	And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.
3	And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.
4	And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
5	And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
6	And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
7	And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.
8	And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.
9	And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them.
10	And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
11	And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12	And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.
13	And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
14	And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
15	And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
16	And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17	Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.
18	And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19	And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
20	And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21	And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22	And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23	And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
24	And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
25	And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
26	And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27	Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
28	And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29	And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30	And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31	And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
32	And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
33	And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
34	And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
35	And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

Genesis 30

1	And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
2	And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
3	And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
4	And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.
5	And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
6	And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.
7	And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.
8	And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
9	When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.
10	And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.
11	And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.
12	And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.
13	And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.
14	And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.
15	And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.
16	And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
17	And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.
18	And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.
19	And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.
20	And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.
21	And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
22	And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.
23	And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:
24	And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.
25	And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.
26	Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.
27	And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.
28	And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.
29	And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.
30	For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?
31	And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock.
32	I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.
33	So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.
34	And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.
35	And he removed that day the he goats that were ring-streaked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.
36	And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.
37	And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut tree; and pilled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.
38	And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.
39	And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ring-streaked, speckled, and spotted.
40	And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ring-streaked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle.
41	And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.
42	But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.
43	And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

This evening, verses 1-23 of the 10th chapter of Matthew's gospel.

Matthew 10:1-23

1	And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
2	Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3	Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4	Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5	These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6	But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7	And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8	Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
9	Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10	Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
11	And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
12	And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13	And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14	And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15	Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
16	Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17	But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18	And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19	But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
20	For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
21	And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22	And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
23	But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Today's Readings and stuff -- 11 January 2012

VERY brief, I got up late and have to head to work in 45 minutes. Sorry, all of this deserves much better effort.

This morning, chapters 27 and 28 of the Genesis, This includes the story of what is sometimes called Jacob's ladder

Genesis 27

1	And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.
2	And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:
3	Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;
4	And make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.
5	And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
6	And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,
7	Bring me venison, and make me savory meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death.
8	Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.
9	Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savory meat for thy father, such as he loveth:
10	And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.
11	And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:
12	My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.
13	And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.
14	And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savory meat, such as his father loved.
15	And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:
16	And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:
17	And she gave the savory meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
18	And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?
19	And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
20	And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me.
21	And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.
22	And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
23	And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.
24	And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.
25	And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank.
26	And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
27	And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:
28	Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
29	Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
30	And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31	And he also had made savory meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.
32	And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.
33	And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
34	And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
35	And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.
36	And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
37	And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
38	And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
39	And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
40	And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
41	And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
42	And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.
43	Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;
44	And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;
45	Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?
46	And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

Genesis 28

1	And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
2	Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.
3	And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
4	And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.
5	And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.
6	When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;
7	And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram;
8	And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;
9	Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.
10	And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
11	And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
12	And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
13	And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
14	And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
15	And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
16	And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
17	And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
18	And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
19	And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
20	And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
21	So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
22	And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

This evening, verses 18-38 of Matthew chapter 9

Matthew 9:18-38

18	While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
19	And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
20	And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
21	For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
22	But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
23	And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
24	He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
25	But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
26	And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
27	And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.
28	And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
29	Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
30	And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
31	But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
32	As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
33	And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
34	But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
35	And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36	But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37	Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38	Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.