Saturday in Epiphany

1Verse 1. About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. 2Verse 2. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” 3Verse 3. Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” 4Verse 4. Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5Verse 5. We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.” 6Verse 6. When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry, 7Verse 7. and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them 8Verse 8. and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say. 9Verse 9. So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies? 10Verse 10. I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury. 11Verse 11. Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been assessing them.” 12Verse 12. “We will restore it,” they replied, “and will require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and required of the nobles and officials an oath that they would do what they had promised. 13Verse 13. I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

39Verse 39. When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40Verse 40. And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him. 41Verse 41. Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. 42Verse 42. And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast. 43Verse 43. When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed. 44Verse 44. Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends. 45Verse 45. When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. 46Verse 46. Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Verse 47. And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers. 48Verse 48. When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” 49Verse 49. “Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house ?” 50Verse 50. But they did not understand the statement He was making to them. 51Verse 51. Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52Verse 52. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.