Saturday in Season after Pentecost

15Verse 15. This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” 16Verse 16. This is what the LORD says: “Keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for the reward for your work will come, declares the LORD. Then your children will return from the land of the enemy. 17Verse 17. So there is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children will return to their own land. 18Verse 18. I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God. 19Verse 19. After I returned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’ 20Verse 20. Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” 21Verse 21. “Set up the road markers, put up the signposts. Keep the highway in mind, the road you have traveled. Return, O Virgin Israel, return to these cities of yours. 22Verse 22. How long will you wander, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the land— a woman will shelter a man.” 23Verse 23. This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “When I restore them from captivity, they will once again speak this word in the land of Judah and in its cities: ‘May the LORD bless you, O righteous dwelling place, O holy mountain.’ 24Verse 24. And Judah and all its cities will dwell together in the land, the farmers and those who move with the flocks, 25Verse 25. for I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.” 26Verse 26. At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been most pleasant to me.

3Verse 3. Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4Verse 4. He instructed them, “You are to say to my master Esau, ‘Your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban and have remained there until now. 5Verse 5. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, menservants, and maidservants. I have sent this message to inform my master, so that I may find favor in your sight.’” 6Verse 6. When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you— he and four hundred men with him.” 7Verse 7. In great fear and distress, Jacob divided his people into two camps, as well as the flocks and herds and camels. 8Verse 8. He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one camp, then the other camp can escape.” 9Verse 9. Then Jacob declared, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, the LORD who told me, ‘Go back to your country and to your kindred, and I will make you prosper,’ 10Verse 10. I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. Indeed, with only my staff I came across the Jordan, but now I have become two camps. 11Verse 11. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid that he may come and attack me and the mothers and children with me. 12Verse 12. But You have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too numerous to count.’” 13Verse 13. Jacob spent the night there, and from what he had brought with him, he selected a gift for his brother Esau: 14Verse 14. 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 15Verse 15. 30 milk camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys. 16Verse 16. He entrusted them to his servants in separate herds and told them, “Go on ahead of me, and keep some distance between the herds.” 17Verse 17. He instructed the one in the lead, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘To whom do you belong, where are you going, and whose animals are these before you?’ 18Verse 18. then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift, sent to my lord Esau. And behold, Jacob is behind us.’” 19Verse 19. He also instructed the second, the third, and all those following behind the herds: “When you meet Esau, you are to say the same thing to him. 20Verse 20. You are also to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’” For he thought, “I will appease Esau with the gift that is going before me. After that I can face him, and perhaps he will accept me. ” 21Verse 21. So Jacob’s gifts went on before him, while he spent the night in the camp.