First ReadingGenesis 28:10-22a
From the Book of Genesis
10Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.11He came to a certain place,and stayed there all night,because the sun had set.He took one of the stones of the place,and put it under his head,and lay down in that place to sleep.12He dreamed and saw a stairway set upon the earth,and its top reached to heaven.Behold, the angels of God were ascendingand descending on it.13Behold, the Lord stood above it,and said, “I am the Lord,the God of Abraham your father,and the God of Isaac.I will give the land you lie on to youand to your offspring.14Your offspring will be as the dust of the earth,and you will spread abroad to the west,and to the east, and to the north, and to the south.In you and in your offspring,all the families of the earth will be blessed.15Behold, I am with you,and will keep you,wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land.For I will not leave you until I have donethat which I have spoken of to you.”
16Jacob awakened out of his sleep,and he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place,and I didn’t know it.”17He was afraid, and said, “How awesome this place is!This is none other than God’s house,and this is the gate of heaven.”
18Jacob rose up early in the morning,and took the stone that he had put under his head,and set it up for a pillar,and poured oil on its top.19He called the name of that place Bethel,but the name of the city was Luz at the first.20Jacob 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 clothing to put on,21so that I come again to my father’s house in peace,and the Lord will be my God,22then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar,will be God’s house.Of all that you will give me I will surely give a tenth to you.”