Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Destiny of the Wicked and of the Good^[a]

The Missing Cup

44 Joseph commanded the servant in charge of his house, “Fill the men's sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man's money in the top of his sack. ² Put my silver cup in the top of the youngest brother's sack, together with the money for his grain.” He did as he was told. ³ Early in the morning the brothers were sent on their way with their donkeys. ⁴ When they had gone only a short distance from the city, Joseph said to the servant in charge of his house, “Hurry after those men. When you catch up with them, ask them, ‘Why have you paid back evil for good? ⁵ Why did you steal my master's silver cup?^[a] It is the one he drinks from, the one he uses for divination. You have committed a serious crime!’”

⁶ When the servant caught up with them, he repeated these words. ⁷ They answered him, “What do you mean, sir, by talking like this? We swear that we have done no such thing. ⁸ You know that we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money we found in the top of our sacks. Why then should we steal silver or gold from your master's house? ⁹ Sir, if any one of us is found to have it, he will be put to death, and the rest of us will become your slaves.”

¹⁰ He said, “I agree; but only the one who has taken the cup will become my slave, and the rest of you can go free.” ¹¹ So they quickly lowered their sacks to the ground, and each man opened his sack. ¹² Joseph's servant searched carefully, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. ¹³ The brothers tore their clothes in sorrow, loaded their donkeys, and returned to the city.

¹⁴ When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, he was still there. They bowed down before him, ¹⁵ and Joseph said, “What have you done? Didn't you know that a man in my position could find you out by practicing divination?”

¹⁶ “What can we say to you, sir?” Judah answered. “How can we argue? How can we clear ourselves? God has uncovered our guilt. All of us are now your slaves and not just the one with whom the cup was found.”

¹⁷ Joseph said, “Oh, no! I would never do that! Only the one who had the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may go back safe and sound to your father.”

¹² I write to you, my children, because your sins are forgiven for the sake of Christ. ¹³ I write to you, fathers, because you know him who has existed from the beginning. I write to you, young people, because you have defeated the Evil One.

¹⁴ I write to you, my children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who has existed from the beginning. I write to you, young people, because you are strong; the word of God lives in you, and you have defeated the Evil One.

¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you do not love the Father. ¹⁶ Everything that belongs to the world—what the sinful self desires, what people see and want, and everything in this world that people are so proud of—none of this comes from the Father; it all comes from the world. ¹⁷ The world and everything in it that people desire is passing away; but those who do the will of God live forever.