M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Feast of Trumpets
29 “‘Have a ·holy meeting [sacred/solemn convocation] on the first day of the seventh month, and don’t work on that day. That is the day you blow the trumpets. 2 Bring these burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] as a smell pleasing to the Lord: one young bull, one ·male sheep [ram], and seven male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 3 With the bull give a ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [Lev. 2:1] of ·six quarts [L three-tenths of an ephah] of ·fine [choice] flour mixed with oil. With the ·male sheep [ram] offer ·four quarts [L two-tenths of an ephah], 4 and with each of the seven lambs offer ·two quarts [L one-tenth of an ephah]. 5 Offer one male goat for a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] to ·remove your sins so you will belong to God [make atonement for yourself]. 6 These offerings are in addition to the monthly [28:11–15] and daily burnt offerings [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17]. Their ·grain [L gift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings must be done as you have been told. These offerings are made by fire to the Lord, and their smell is pleasing to him.
The Day of Atonement
7 “‘Have a ·holy meeting [sacred/solemn convocation] on the tenth day of the seventh month [Lev. 16; 23:26–32]. On that day do not eat and do not work. 8 Bring these burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] as a smell pleasing to the Lord: one young bull, one ·male sheep [ram], and seven male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 9 With the bull give a ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [Lev. 2:1] of ·six quarts [L three-tenths of an ephah] of ·fine [choice] flour mixed with oil. With the ·male sheep [ram] it must be ·four quarts [L two-tenths of an ephah], 10 and with each of the seven lambs it must be ·two quarts [L one-tenth of an ephah]. 11 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3]. This will be in addition to the sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] which ·removes your sins [makes atonement for you], the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [Lev. 2:1], and the drink offerings.
The Feast of Shelters
12 “‘Have a ·holy meeting [sacred/solemn convocation] on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, and do not work on that day. Celebrate a festival to the Lord for seven days [Lev. 23:33–44]. 13 Bring these burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17], made by fire, as a smell pleasing to the Lord: thirteen young bulls, two ·male sheep [rams], and fourteen male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 14 With each of the thirteen bulls offer a ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [Lev. 2:1] of ·six quarts [L three-tenths of an ephah] of ·fine [choice] flour mixed with oil. With each of the two ·male sheep [rams] it must be ·four quarts [L two-tenths of an ephah], 15 and with each of the fourteen lambs it must be ·two quarts [L one-tenth of an ephah]. 16 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
17 “‘On the second day of this festival give an offering of twelve bulls, two ·male sheep [rams], and fourteen male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 18 Bring the ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings for the bulls, sheep, and lambs, according to the number required. 19 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3], in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
20 “‘On the third day offer eleven bulls, two ·male sheep [rams], and fourteen male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 21 Bring the ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings for the bulls, sheep, and lambs, according to the number required. 22 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3], in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
23 “‘On the fourth day offer ten bulls, two ·male sheep [rams], and fourteen male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 24 Bring the ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings for the bulls, sheep, and lambs, according to the number required. 25 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3], in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
26 “‘On the fifth day offer nine bulls, two ·male sheep [rams], and fourteen male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 27 Bring the ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings for the bulls, sheep, and lambs, according to the number required. 28 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3], in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
29 “‘On the sixth day offer eight bulls, two ·male sheep [rams], and fourteen male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 30 Bring the ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings for the bulls, sheep, and lambs, according to the number required. 31 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3], in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
32 “‘On the seventh day offer seven bulls, two ·male sheep [rams], and fourteen male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 33 Bring the ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings for the bulls, sheep, and lambs, according to the number required. 34 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3], in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
35 “‘On the eighth day have a ·closing meeting [closing/festive assembly], and do not work on that day. 36 Bring an offering made by fire, a burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17], as a smell pleasing to the Lord. Offer one bull, one ·male sheep [ram], and seven male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 37 Bring the ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings for the bull, the ·male sheep [ram], and the lambs, according to the number required. 38 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification; Lev. 4:3] offering, in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
39 “‘At your ·festivals [sacred/solemn convocations] you should bring these to the Lord: your burnt offerings [1:1–17], ·grain [L gift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:1], drink offerings and ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [Lev. 3:1]. These are in addition to other ·promised [votive] offerings and special gifts you want to give to the Lord.’”
40 Moses told the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] everything the Lord had commanded him.
Book 3: Psalms 73–89
Should the Wicked Be Rich?
A psalm of Asaph [C a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; 1 Chr. 6:39; 15:17; 2 Chr. 5:12].
73 ·God is truly [Surely God is] good to ·Israel [or those with integrity/virtue],
to those who have pure hearts.
2 But ·I had almost stopped believing [L as for me, my feet almost stumbled];
·I had almost lost my faith [my steps almost slipped]
3 because I was ·jealous [envious] of ·proud people [braggers; boasters].
I saw wicked people ·doing well [prospering].
4 They are not ·suffering [struggling; in pain];
·they [their bodies] are ·healthy [perfect] and strong.
5 They don’t have ·troubles [toils] like the rest of us;
they ·don’t have problems [are not plagued] like other people [Gen. 3:17–19].
6 They wear pride like a necklace
and ·put on violence as their clothing [L adorn themselves with garments of violence].
7 ·They are looking for profits [L Their eyes bulge with fat]
and ·do not control their selfish desires [cunning overflows from their hearts/minds].
8 They ·make fun of others [scoff] and speak ·evil [harm];
·proudly [from high] they speak of ·hurting [oppressing; exploiting] others.
9 They ·brag to the sky [L set their mouth against heaven].
·They say that they own [L Their tongue wanders] the earth.
10 So their people turn to them
and ·give them whatever they want [L they drink up water in abundance].
11 They say, “How can God know?
What does God Most High know?”
12 These people are wicked,
always ·at ease [carefree], and getting richer.
13 ·So why have I kept my heart pure [L In vain, I kept my heart pure…]?
·Why have I kept my hands from doing wrong [L …and washed my hands in innocence; Matt. 27:24]?
14 I ·have suffered [am plagued] all day long;
I have been ·punished [corrected] every morning.
15 God, if I had ·decided to talk like this [L said, “I will recount this,”],
I would have ·let your people down [L betrayed the generation/race of your children].
16 I ·tried [thought how] to understand all this,
but it was too ·hard [wearisome] ·for me to see [L in my eyes]
17 until I went to the ·Temple [sanctuary; Holy Place] of God.
Then I understood ·what will happen to them [L their fate/end].
18 You have put them in ·danger [L slippery places];
you cause them to ·be destroyed [L fall into disaster].
19 They are destroyed in a moment;
they are swept away by terrors.
20 It will be like waking from a dream.
Lord, when you ·rise up [awake; arouse yourself], ·they will disappear [L you despise their shadows].
21 When my heart was ·sad [bitter]
and ·I was angry [L my innards felt stabbed],
22 I was senseless and stupid.
I acted like an ·animal [brute beast] toward you.
23 But I am always with you [C in covenant relationship];
you have held my ·hand [L right hand; C guiding him].
24 You guide me with your advice,
and later you will receive me in ·honor [glory; C perhaps in the afterlife].
25 ·I have no one [L Whom do I have…?] in heaven but you;
I ·want [desire] nothing on earth besides you.
26 My body and my ·mind [heart] may become weak,
but God is ·my strength [L the rock of my heart].
He is ·mine [L my portion] forever.
27 Those who are far from ·God [L you] will ·die [perish];
you ·destroy [bring to an end] those who ·are unfaithful [prostitute themselves spiritually].
28 But I am close to God, and that is good.
The Lord God ·is [I have made] my ·protection [refuge].
I will ·tell [recount] all that you have done.
God’s Message to Babylon
21 This is a ·message [prophecy; oracle; burden] about the Desert by the Sea [C probably Babylon (v. 9), though an unusual description of it]:
·Disaster [or An invader; L It] is coming from the desert
like ·wind [whirlwinds] blowing in the ·south [or Negev].
It is coming from a terrible country.
2 I have seen a ·terrible [terrifying; dire; distressing] vision.
·I see traitors turning against you [L The betrayer betrays]
·and people taking your wealth [the destroyer destroys; or the looter loots].
Elam, ·attack the people [L go up; C Elam sounds like the Hebrew for “go up”]!
Media, ·surround the city and attack it [besiege]!
I will bring an end to ·the pain the city causes [L all the groaning].
3 ·I saw those terrible things, and now [L For this reason; At this] ·I am in pain [my loins/stomach are filled with pain];
my pains ·are [seize me] like the pains of giving birth.
What I hear ·makes me very afraid [distresses/staggers me];
what I see ·causes me to shake with fear [bewilders/horrifies me].
4 ·I am worried [My heart reels/falters/wanders],
and I am shaking with fear.
·My pleasant evening [L The twilight/evening I longed for]
has become a night of ·fear [trembling].
5 They ·set [prepared] the table;
they ·spread the rugs [or post a watchman];
they eat and drink.
Leaders, ·stand up [arise].
·Prepare the shields for battle [L Anoint/oil the shield; C preparation for battle]!
6 The Lord said to me,
“Go, place a ·lookout [guard; watchman] for the city
and have him report what he sees.
7 ·If [or When] he sees chariots and teams of horses,
riders on donkeys, or riders on camels,
he should ·pay very close attention [L be alert, very alert].”
8 Then the lookout[a] called out,
“My master, each day I stand in the watchtower watching;
every night I ·have been on guard [stand at my post].
9 Look, I see a man coming in a chariot
with a team of horses.”
The man gives back the answer,
“Babylon has fallen. It has fallen [Jer. 51:8; Rev. 14:8; 18:2]!
All the ·statues [idols; carved images] of her gods
lie ·broken [shattered] on the ground.”
10 My ·people are crushed like grain on the threshing floor [L trampled one, and son of the threshing floor].
My people, I tell you what I have heard
from the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts],
from the God of Israel.
God’s Message to Edom
11 This is a ·message [prophecy; oracle; burden] about Dumah [C another name for Edom, meaning “silence” or “stillness”]:
Someone calls to me from ·Edom [L Seir],
“Watchman, how much of the night is left?
Watchman, how much longer will it be night?”
12 The watchman answers,
“Morning is coming, but then night will come again.
If you ·have something to ask [wish to ask],
then come back and ask.”
God’s Message to Arabia
13 This is a ·message [prophecy; oracle; burden] about Arabia:
You ·traders [caravans] from Dedan
who spent the night ·near some trees in [in the thickets of] Arabia.
14 Bring water to thirsty travelers;
you people of Tema, give food
to ·those who were escaping [the fugitives].
15 They ·were running [flee] from swords,
from ·swords ready to kill [L the drawn sword],
from ·bows ready to shoot [the bent bow],
from ·a hard [the distress/terrors/hardship of] battle.
16 This is what the Lord said to me: “Within a year all the ·glory [splendor] of the country of Kedar will be gone. (This is a year as a hired helper counts time [C carefully calculated; 16:14].) 17 ·At that time [L In that day] only a few of the archers, the ·soldiers [warriors; mighty men] of [L the sons of] Kedar, will be left alive.” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.
False Teachers
2 There used to be false prophets among God’s people [Deut. 13:1–5; 18:14–22; Jer. 28] just as you will have some false teachers ·in your group [L among you; Jude 4]. They will secretly ·teach [bring in; introduce] ·things that are wrong—teachings that will cause people to be lost [L destructive heresies/opinions/factions]. They will even ·refuse to accept [L deny] the Master [C Jesus] who bought ·their freedom [L them; C as a master purchases a slave; 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:18]. So they will bring quick ·ruin [destruction] on themselves. 2 Many will follow their ·evil [depraved; debauched; licentious] ways and ·say evil things about [malign; slander] the way of truth. 3 ·Those false teachers only want your money, so [L In their greed] they will ·use [exploit] you ·by telling you lies [with deceptive/false words]. Their judgment spoken against them long ago is ·still coming [not idle], and their ruin ·is certain [does not sleep].
4 [L For if] When angels sinned, God did not ·let them go free without punishment [spare them]. [L But] He sent them to ·hell [L Tartarus; C a Greek term for the underworld] and put them in caves[a] of darkness where they are being held for judgment [Gen. 6:1–4; Jude 6]. 5 And God ·punished the world long ago [L did not spare the ancient world] when he brought a flood to the world that was full of ·people who were against him [the ungodly]. But God ·saved [protected; kept] Noah, ·who preached about being right with God [a preacher of righteousness; C Jewish tradition described Noah preaching repentance], and seven other people with him [C his wife plus his three sons and their wives; Gen. 6—9]. 6 And God also ·destroyed [condemned] the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them until they were ashes [Gen. 19; Jude 7]. He made those cities an example ·of what will happen to [or for future generations of] ·those who are against God [L the ungodly; Jude 7]. 7 But he saved Lot from those cities. Lot, a ·good [righteous] man, was ·troubled [distressed; or oppressed] because of the ·filthy lives [depraved behavior] of ·evil [lawless] people. 8 (Lot was a ·good [righteous] man, but because he lived with evil people ·every day [day after day], his ·good heart [righteous soul] was ·hurt [tormented] by the ·evil things [lawless deeds] he saw and heard.) 9 So the Lord knows how to save ·those who serve him [the godly] ·when troubles come [from trial/testing/temptation]. He will hold ·evil people [the wicked/unrighteous] ·and punish them, while waiting for the judgment day [or while they wait for their punishment on judgment day]. 10 That punishment is especially for those who ·live by doing the evil things their sinful selves want [L go after the flesh with defiling passion/lust] and who ·hate [despise] authority [Jude 8].
These false teachers are bold and ·do anything they want [arrogant; self-willed]. They ·are not afraid [L do not tremble] to ·speak against [slander; blaspheme] ·the angels [L the glorious ones; C probably angelic beings; unclear whether referring to good or evil angels; Jude 8]. 11 But even the angels, who are much stronger and more powerful ·than false teachers [or than the evil angels; C unclear whether referring to false teachers or to “the glorious ones” (seen as evil angels) of v. 10], do not ·accuse them with insults [L bring a slanderous charge against them] before[b] the Lord [see Jude 9]. 12 But these people ·speak against [slander; blaspheme] things they do not understand. They are like ·animals that act without thinking [irrational animals], animals [of simple instinct] born to be caught and killed. And, ·like animals, these false teachers will be destroyed [or like the evil angels, these false teachers will be destroyed; L in their destruction they will be destroyed; Jude 10]. 13 ·They have caused many people to suffer, so they themselves will suffer. That is their pay for what they have done [L …suffering harm as the wage of unrighteousness; C a wordplay based on the similarity of the Greek words translated “suffering harm” and “unrighteousness”]. They take pleasure in ·openly doing evil [doing evil/carousing in the daylight], so they are like dirty spots and ·stains [blemishes] among you. They delight in deceiving you while ·eating meals [or feasting] with you [C perhaps an allusion to the fellowship meal, or “love feast,” celebrated with the Lord’s Supper; Jude 12]. 14 ·Every time they look at a woman they want her [L They have eyes full of adultery], and ·their desire for sin is never satisfied [or they never stop sinning]. They ·lead weak people into the trap of sin [ensnare/entice/lure unstable people/souls], and they have ·taught [exercised; trained] their hearts to be greedy. ·God will punish them [L Accursed children; C under God’s curse]! 15 These false teachers ·left [abandoned] the ·right [or straight] road and ·lost their way [wandered away; went astray], following the way Balaam went. Balaam, the son of ·Beor [or Bosor], loved ·being paid for doing wrong [L the wages of unrighteousness; Num. 25; 31:16; Rev. 2:14]. 16 But a donkey, which cannot talk, ·told Balaam he was sinning [L rebuked his wrongdoing]. It spoke with a ·man’s [human] voice and stopped the prophet’s ·crazy thinking [madness; Num. 22:21–35; Jude 11].
17 Those false teachers are like ·springs [or wells] without water and ·clouds [or mists] blown by a ·storm [whirlwind; squall; Jude 12]. A place in the ·blackest [deepest; L gloomy] darkness has been kept for them [Jude 12—13]. 18 They ·brag with [speak with bombastic, boastful] words that ·mean nothing [are empty]. By their ·evil [fleshly] desires they ·lead people into the trap of sin—[entice] people who ·are just beginning to escape [or have barely escaped] from others who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom [C perhaps from the law or from fear of judgment], but they themselves are not free. They are slaves of ·things that will be destroyed [corruption; depravity]. For people are slaves of anything that ·controls [masters; overpowers; defeats] them [C this last sentence may be a common proverb]. 20 They ·were made free [escaped] from the ·evil [depravity; defilement] in the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But if they ·return to [L get entangled again with] evil things and those things ·control [master; overpower; defeat] them, then ·it is worse for them than it was before [their last/final state is worse than the first; Matt. 12:45; Luke 11:26]. 21 ·Yes, [L For] it would be better for them to have never known the ·right way [or the way of righteousness] than to know it and to turn away from the holy ·teaching [L commandment; law] that was ·given [passed on; handed down] to them. 22 What they did is like this true ·saying [proverb; parable]: “A dog ·goes back to what it has thrown up [T returns to its vomit; Prov. 26:11],” and, “After a pig is washed, it goes back and rolls in the mud.”
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