M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Woman of Tekoa
14 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that (A)the king’s heart was inclined toward Absalom. 2 So Joab sent to (B)Tekoa and [a]brought a wise woman from there and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning garments now, and do not (C)anoint yourself with oil, but be like a woman who has been mourning for the dead many days; 3 then you shall go to the king and speak to him in this manner.” So Joab put (D)the words in her mouth.
4 So the woman of Tekoa [b]spoke to the king, and she fell on her [c]face to the ground and (E)prostrated herself and said, “(F)Save, O king.” 5 And the king said to her, “What is your trouble?” And she [d]answered, “Truly I am a widow; my husband has died. 6 And your servant-woman had two sons, but the two of them struggled together in the field, and there was no one to deliver between them, so one struck the other and put him to death. 7 And behold, (G)the whole family has risen against your servant-woman, and they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed, (H)and destroy the heir also.’ Thus they will extinguish my coal which remains, so as to [e]leave my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”
8 Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give a command concerning you.” 9 And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “O my lord, the king, (I)the iniquity is on me and my father’s house, but (J)the king and his throne are guiltless.” 10 So the king said, “Whoever speaks to you, bring him to me, and he will not touch you anymore.” 11 Then she said, “Please let the king remember Yahweh your God, (K)so that the avenger of blood will not continue to bring about ruin, so that they would not destroy my son.” And he said, “(L)As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”
12 Then the woman said, “Please let your servant-woman speak a word to my lord the king.” And he said, “Speak.” 13 Then the woman said, “(M)Why then have you thought up such a thing against the people of God? For in speaking this word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring back (N)his banished one. 14 For (O)we will surely die and are (P)like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away life, but thinks up [f]ways so that (Q)the banished one will not be cast out from him. 15 So now, [g]the reason I have come to speak this word to my lord the king is that the people have made me afraid; so your servant-woman said, ‘Let me now speak to the king, perhaps the king will perform the word of his maidservant. 16 For the king will listen [h]and deliver his maidservant from the [i]hand of the man who would destroy [j]both me and my son from (R)the inheritance of God.’ 17 Then your servant-woman said, ‘Please let the word of my lord the king be a resting place, for as (S)the angel of God, so is my lord the king to listen with discernment through the good and evil. And may Yahweh your God be with you.’”
18 Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide anything from me that I am about to ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king please speak.” 19 So the king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” And the woman answered and said, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken. Indeed, it was (T)your servant Joab who commanded me, and it was he who put all these words in the mouth of your servant-woman; 20 in order to change the appearance of things your servant Joab has done this thing. But my lord is wise, (U)like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know all that is in the earth.”
David Brings Back Absalom
21 Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, (V)I have done this thing; go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.” 22 And Joab fell on his face to the ground, prostrated himself and blessed the king; then Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, O my lord, the king, in that the king has performed the word of his servant.” 23 So Joab arose and went to (W)Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24 However the king said, “Let him turn to (X)his own house, and let him not see my face.” So Absalom turned to his own house and did not see the king’s face.
25 Now in all Israel was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised; (Y)from the sole of his foot to the top of his head there was no defect in him. 26 When he (Z)shaved the hair of his head (and it was at the end of every year that he shaved it, for it was heavy on him so he shaved it), he weighed the hair of his head at [k]200 shekels by the king’s weight. 27 (AA)And to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was (AB)Tamar; she was a woman of beautiful appearance.
28 Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, (AC)and did not see the king’s face. 29 Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he was not willing to come to him. So he sent again a second time, but he was not willing to come. 30 Therefore he said to his servants, “See, (AD)Joab’s portion of land is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the portion of land on fire. 31 Then Joab arose, came to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my portion of land on fire?” 32 And Absalom [l]answered Joab, “Behold, I sent for you, saying, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me still to be there.”’ So now, let me see the king’s face, (AE)and if there is iniquity in me, let him put me to death.” 33 So Joab came to the king and told him, and he called for Absalom. Thus he came to the king and prostrated himself on his [m]face to the ground before the king, and (AF)the king kissed Absalom.
7 Therefore, having these promises, (A)beloved, (B)let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Godly Sorrow Produces Repentance
2 (C)Make room for us in your hearts. We wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one. 3 I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said (D)before that you are (E)in our hearts to die together and to live together. 4 Great is my (F)boldness toward you; great is my (G)boasting on your behalf. I have been filled with (H)comfort; I am overflowing with (I)joy in all our affliction.
5 For even when we came into (J)Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were (K)afflicted on every side—(L)conflicts without, fears within. 6 But (M)God, who comforts the humbled, (N)comforted us by the coming of (O)Titus; 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. 8 For though I (P)caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— 9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to repentance. For you were made to have [a]godly sorrow, so that you might not suffer loss in anything [b]through us. 10 For [c]godly sorrow produces a (Q)repentance [d]without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world brings about death. 11 For behold what earnestness this very thing—this [e]godly sorrow—has brought about in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what (R)longing, what zeal, what (S)avenging of wrong! In everything you (T)demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. 12 So although (U)I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of (V)the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness on our behalf might be manifested to you in the sight of God. 13 For this reason we have been (W)comforted.
And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of (X)Titus, because his (Y)spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have (Z)boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame, but as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before (AA)Titus proved to be the truth. 15 And his [f]affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the (AB)obedience of you all, how you received him with (AC)fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice that in everything (AD)I am encouraged about you.
The Prophecy of Yahweh’s Sword
21 [a]And the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, (A)set your face toward Jerusalem and (B)speak, dripping out words against the sanctuaries and prophesy against the land of Israel 3 and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Behold, (C)I am against you; and I will bring out My sword from its sheath and cut off from you the (D)righteous and the wicked. 4 Because I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, therefore My sword will go out from its sheath against (E)all flesh from south to north. 5 Thus all flesh will know that I, Yahweh, have brought out My sword from its sheath. It will (F)not return to its sheath again.”’ 6 Now as for you, son of man, groan with breaking [b]heart and bitter grief, groan in their sight. 7 And it will be that when they say to you, ‘Why do you groan?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the (G)report that is coming; and (H)every heart will melt, all hands will fall limp, every spirit will [c]faint, and all knees will [d]be weak as water. Behold, it is coming, and it will happen,’ declares Lord Yahweh.”
8 Again the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 9 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says [e]the Lord.’ Say,
‘(I)A sword, a sword sharpened
And also polished!
10 Sharpened to make a (J)slaughter,
Polished [f]to flash like lightning!’
Or shall we [g]rejoice in the [h]scepter of My son? The sword (K)despises every tree. 11 It is given to be polished, that it may be seized by the [i]hand; the sword is sharpened and polished, to give it into the hand of the one who kills. 12 (L)Cry out and wail, son of man; for it is against My people; it is against all the (M)princes of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with My people; therefore slap your thigh. 13 For there is a testing; and what if even the [j]scepter [k]which the sword despises will be no more?” declares Lord Yahweh.
14 “You therefore, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together; and let the sword be (N)doubled the third time, the sword for the slain. It is the sword for the great one slain, which surrounds them, 15 that their (O)hearts may melt, and many will be (P)stumbling blocks at all their (Q)gates. I have given the glittering sword. Ah! It is made for striking like lightning, it is wrapped up in readiness for slaughter. 16 [l]Show yourself sharp, go to the right; set yourself; go to the left, wherever your [m]edge is appointed. 17 And I will also strike My hands together, and I will [n](R)cause My wrath to be at rest; I, Yahweh, have spoken.”
A Sword for Slaughter
18 And the word of Yahweh came to me saying, 19 “Now as for you, son of man, [o](S)make two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come; both of them will go out of one land. And [p]make a signpost; [q]make it at the head of the way to the city. 20 You shall [r]mark a way for the sword to come to (T)Rabbah of the sons of Ammon and to Judah into (U)fortified Jerusalem. 21 For the king of Babylon stands at the [s]parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use (V)divination; he (W)shakes the arrows; he asks the [t](X)household idols; he looks at the liver. 22 Into his right hand came the divination, ‘Jerusalem,’ to (Y)set battering rams, to open the mouth [u]for killing, to lift up the voice with a shout of war, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up ramps, to build a siege wall. 23 And it will be to them like a worthless divination in their eyes; (Z)they have sworn solemn oaths. But he (AA)brings iniquity to remembrance, that they may be seized.
24 “Therefore, thus says Lord Yahweh, ‘Because you have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear—because you have come to remembrance, you will be seized with the hand. 25 And you, O slain, wicked one, the prince of Israel, whose (AB)day has come, in the time of the iniquity of the end,’ 26 thus says Lord Yahweh, ‘Remove the turban and take off the (AC)crown; this will [v]no longer be the same. (AD)Make high that which is low and make low that which is high. 27 (AE)A ruin, a ruin, a ruin, I will make it. This also will be no more until (AF)He comes to whom the legal judgment belongs, and I will give it to Him.’
28 “Now as for you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh concerning the sons of Ammon and concerning their (AG)reproach,’ and say: ‘A sword, a sword is drawn, polished for the slaughter, to cause it [w]to (AH)consume, that it may be like lightning— 29 while they behold for you (AI)worthless visions, while they divine lies for you—to place you on the necks of the wicked who are slain, whose day has come, in the (AJ)time of the iniquity of the end. 30 (AK)Return it to its sheath. In the (AL)place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you. 31 And I will (AM)pour out My indignation on you; I will (AN)blow on you with the fire of My fury, and I will give you into the hand of brutal men, (AO)craftsmen of destruction. 32 You will be [x](AP)fuel for the fire; your blood will be in the midst of the land. You will (AQ)not be remembered, for I, Yahweh, have spoken.’”
Let God’s Enemies Be Scattered
For the choir director. A Psalm of David. A Song.
68 [a]Let (A)God arise, [b]let His enemies be scattered,
And [c]let those who hate Him flee before Him.
2 As (B)smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
As (C)wax melts before the fire,
So let the (D)wicked perish before God.
3 But let the (E)righteous be glad; let them exult before God;
And let them rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing to God, (F)sing praises to His name;
[d](G)Lift up a song for Him who (H)rides through the deserts,
Whose (I)name is [e]Yah, and exult before Him.
5 A (J)father of the fatherless and a (K)judge [f]for the widows,
Is God in His (L)holy habitation.
6 God (M)causes the lonely to inhabit a home;
He (N)leads out the prisoners into prosperity,
Only (O)the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7 O God, when You (P)went forth before Your people,
When You (Q)marched through the wasteland, [g]Selah.
8 The (R)earth quaked;
The (S)heavens also dripped rain at the presence of God;
[h](T)Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 You (U)caused abundant rain to sprinkle down, O God;
You established Your inheritance when it was [i]parched.
10 Your creatures inhabited it;
You (V)established it in Your goodness for the poor, O God.
11 The Lord gives the word;
The (W)women who proclaim the good news are a great host:
12 “(X)Kings of armies retreat, they retreat,
And she who remains at home will (Y)divide the spoil!”
13 If you men lie down (Z)among the [j]sheepfolds,
You all would be like the wings of a dove covered with silver,
And its pinions with glistening gold.
14 When the Almighty (AA)dispersed the kings [k]there,
It was snowing in (AB)Zalmon.
15 A [l](AC)mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan;
A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan.
16 Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks,
At the mountain which God has (AD)prized for His habitation?
Surely (AE)Yahweh will dwell there forever.
17 The (AF)chariots of God are [m]myriads, (AG)thousands upon thousands;
[n]The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.
18 You have (AH)ascended on high, You have (AI)led captive Your captives;
You have received gifts among men,
Even among the rebellious also, that Yah—God—may dwell there.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily (AJ)bears our burden,
(AK)The God who is our salvation. Selah.
20 God is to us a (AL)God of [o]salvation;
And (AM)to Yahweh the Lord belong escapes [p]from death.
21 Surely God will (AN)crush the head of His enemies,
The hairy [q]skull of him who goes on in his guilty deeds.
22 The Lord [r]said, “(AO)I will bring them back from Bashan.
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;
23 That [s](AP)your foot may crush them in blood,
The tongue of your (AQ)dogs may have its portion from your enemies.”
24 They have seen (AR)Your [t]procession, O God,
The [u]procession of my God, my King, [v](AS)into the sanctuary.
25 The (AT)singers went on, the musicians after them,
[w]In the midst of the (AU)maidens beating tambourines.
26 (AV)Bless God in the congregations,
Yahweh, the (AW)fountain of Israel.
27 There is (AX)Benjamin, the [x]youngest, [y]having dominion over them,
The princes of Judah in their throng,
The princes of (AY)Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 [z]Your God has (AZ)commanded your strength;
Show Yourself strong, O God, (BA)who has worked [aa]on our behalf.
29 [ab]Because of Your temple at Jerusalem
(BB)Kings will bring gifts to You.
30 Rebuke the (BC)beast [ac]in the reeds,
The herd of (BD)bulls with the calves of the peoples,
Trampling under foot the pieces of silver;
He has (BE)cast out the peoples who delight in war.
31 Envoys will come out of (BF)Egypt;
[ad](BG)Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God.
32 Sing to God, O (BH)kingdoms of the earth,
(BI)Sing praises to the Lord, Selah.
33 To Him who (BJ)rides upon the [ae](BK)highest heavens, which are from ancient times;
Behold, (BL)He gives forth His voice, a (BM)voice that is strong.
34 (BN)Ascribe strength to God;
His majesty is over Israel
And (BO)His strength is in the [af]skies.
35 [ag]O God, You are (BP)awesome from Your [ah]sanctuary.
The God of Israel Himself (BQ)gives strength and might to the people.
(BR)Blessed be God!
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