M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Ziba Meets David
16 Now David had passed (A)a little beyond the summit, and behold, (B)Ziba the young man of Mephibosheth met him (C)with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” And Ziba said, “(D)The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine, (E)for whoever is faint in the wilderness to drink.” 3 Then the king said, “And where is (F)your master’s son?” And (G)Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will return the kingdom of my father to me.’” 4 So the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself; let me find favor in your sight, O my lord, the king!”
Shimei Curses David
5 And King David came to (H)Bahurim, and behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul (I)whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out (J)cursing continually as he came. 6 He also threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left. 7 And thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Get out, get out, (K)you man of bloodshed, and vile fellow! 8 (L)Yahweh has returned upon you all (M)the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and Yahweh has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”
9 Then (N)Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should (O)this dead dog (P)curse my lord the king? Let me pass over now and remove his head.” 10 But the king said, “(Q)What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? (R)If he curses, and if Yahweh has told him, ‘Curse David,’ (S)then who shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, (T)my son who came forth from my body seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, (U)for Yahweh has told him. 12 Perhaps Yahweh will look on my affliction and [a](V)return good to me instead of his cursing this day.” 13 So David and his men went on the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside parallel with him and as he went he cursed and cast stones and threw dust at him. 14 Then the king and all the people who were with him arrived weary and he refreshed himself there.
Absalom Enters Jerusalem
15 (W)Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, had entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 And it happened that when (X)Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that (Y)Hushai said to Absalom, “(Z)Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your lovingkindness to your friend? (AA)Why did you not go with your friend?” 18 Then Hushai said to Absalom, “No! For whom Yahweh, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 Besides, (AB)whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I will be in your presence.”
20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What shall we do?” 21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “(AC)Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, (AD)and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines (AE)in the sight of all Israel. 23 (AF)Now the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counseled in those days, was as if one asked of the word of God; (AG)so was all the counsel of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.
God Loves a Cheerful Giver
9 For (A)it is superfluous for me to write to you about this (B)ministry to the [a]saints; 2 for I know your readiness, of which I (C)boast about you to the (D)Macedonians, that (E)Achaia has been prepared since (F)last year, and your zeal stirred up most of them. 3 But I have sent the brothers, in order that our (G)boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, (H)as I was saying, you may be prepared; 4 lest if any (I)Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you—be put to shame in this certainty of ours. 5 So I regarded it necessary to encourage the (J)brothers that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised (K)blessing, so that the same would be ready as a (L)blessing and not as a [b](M)begrudging obligation.
6 Now this I say, (N)he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows with blessing will also reap with blessing. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not (O)grudgingly or under compulsion, for (P)God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And (Q)God is able to make every grace abound to you, so that in everything at every time having every sufficiency, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written,
10 Now He who supplies (S)seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and (T)increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be (U)enriched in everything for all generosity, which through us is bringing about (V)thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying (W)the needs of the [d]saints, but is also abounding (X)through many thanksgivings to God. 13 Because of the proven character given by this (Y)ministry, they will (Z)glorify God for your obedience to your (AA)confession of the (AB)gospel of Christ and for the [e]generosity of your [f]fellowship toward them and toward all, 14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, long for you because of the surpassing grace of God on you. 15 [g](AC)Thanks be to God for His indescribable (AD)gift!
The Harlotries of Oholah and Oholibah
23 The word of Yahweh came to me again, saying, 2 “Son of man, there were (A)two women, the daughters of one mother; 3 and they played the harlot in Egypt. They (B)played the harlot in their youth; there their breasts were pressed, and there their virgin bosom was handled. 4 Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah and Jerusalem is Oholibah.
5 “Oholah played the harlot [a]while she was Mine; and she lusted after her lovers, after the (C)Assyrians, her neighbors, 6 who were clothed in purple, (D)governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. 7 She gave her harlotries to them, all of them the choicest [b]men of Assyria; and with all whom she lusted after, with all their idols she (E)defiled herself. 8 She did not forsake her harlotries (F)from the time in Egypt; for in her youth [c]men had lain with her, and they handled her virgin bosom and poured out their harlotry on her. 9 Therefore, I gave her into the hand of her (G)lovers, into the hand of the [d]Assyrians, after whom she lusted. 10 They (H)uncovered her nakedness; they took her sons and her daughters, but they killed her with the sword. Thus she became a despised name among women, and they executed judgments on her.
11 “Now her sister Oholibah saw this, yet she was (I)more corrupt in her lust than she, and her harlotries were more than the harlotries of her sister. 12 She lusted after the [e](J)Assyrians, governors and officials, the ones near, magnificently dressed, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable choice men. 13 And I saw that she had defiled herself; they both took [f]the same way. 14 So she increased her harlotries. And she saw men (K)portrayed on the wall, images of the (L)Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion, 15 girded with belts on their loins, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers, in the likeness of the [g]Babylonians in Chaldea, the land of their birth. 16 [h]And she saw them and (M)lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. 17 So the [i](N)Babylonians came to her to the bed of love and defiled her with their harlotry. Then she became defiled by them, and her soul became disgusted with them. 18 And she (O)uncovered her harlotries and uncovered her nakedness; then My soul became (P)disgusted with her, as My soul had become disgusted with her (Q)sister. 19 Yet she multiplied her harlotries, remembering the days of her youth, when she played the harlot in the land of Egypt. 20 She (R)lusted after their paramours, whose flesh is like the flesh of donkeys and whose issue is like the issue of horses. 21 Thus you [j]longed for the (S)lewdness of your youth, when [k]the Egyptians handled your bosom because of the breasts of your youth.
22 “Therefore, O Oholibah, thus says Lord Yahweh, ‘Behold, I will arouse your lovers against you, those with whom your soul was disgusted, and I will bring them against you from every side: 23 the [l](T)Babylonians and all the (U)Chaldeans, (V)Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the [m](W)Assyrians with them; desirable choice men, governors and officials, all of them, officers and [n]men of renown, all of them riding on horses. 24 They will come against you with weapons, (X)chariots and [o]wagons, and with an assembly of peoples. They will set themselves against you on every side with large shield and shield and helmet; and I will give the (Y)judgment to them, and they will judge you according to their judgments. 25 And I will set My (Z)jealousy against you, that they may deal with you in wrath. They will remove your nose and your ears; and your [p]survivors will fall by the sword. They will take your (AA)sons and your daughters; and your [q]survivors will be consumed by the fire. 26 They will also (AB)strip you of your clothes and take away your (AC)beautiful jewelry. 27 Thus (AD)I will make your lewdness and your harlotry brought from the land of Egypt to cease from you, so that you will not lift up your eyes to them or remember Egypt anymore.’ 28 For thus says Lord Yahweh, ‘Behold, I will give you into the hand of those whom you (AE)hate, into the hand of those with whom your soul was disgusted. 29 They will (AF)deal with you in hatred, take all the fruit of your labor, and leave you naked and bare. And the nakedness of your harlotries will be uncovered, both your lewdness and your harlotries. 30 These things will be done to you because you have (AG)played the harlot with the nations, because you have defiled yourself with their idols. 31 You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore I will give (AH)her cup into your hand.’ 32 Thus says Lord Yahweh,
‘You will (AI)drink your sister’s cup,
Which is deep and wide.
[r]You will be (AJ)laughed at and held in derision;
It contains much.
33 You will be filled with (AK)drunkenness and sorrow,
The cup of horror and desolation,
The cup of your sister Samaria.
34 You will (AL)drink it and drain it.
Then you will gnaw its fragments
And tear your breasts;
for I have spoken,’ declares Lord Yahweh. 35 Therefore, thus says Lord Yahweh, ‘Because you have (AM)forgotten Me and (AN)cast Me behind your back, bear now the punishment of your lewdness and your harlotries.’”
36 Moreover, Yahweh said to me, “Son of man, will you (AO)judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then (AP)declare to them their abominations. 37 For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. Thus they have committed adultery with their idols and even caused their sons, (AQ)whom they bore to Me, to pass through the fire to [s]them as food. 38 Again, they have done this to Me: they have (AR)defiled My sanctuary on the same day and have (AS)profaned My sabbaths. 39 For when they had slaughtered their children for their idols, they entered My (AT)sanctuary on the same day to profane it; and behold, thus they did within My house.
40 “Furthermore, [t]they have even sent for men who come from afar, to whom a messenger was sent; and behold, they came—for whom you bathed, (AU)painted your eyes, and (AV)decorated yourselves with ornaments; 41 and you sat on a splendid (AW)couch with a (AX)table arranged before it on which you had set My (AY)incense and My (AZ)oil. 42 The sound of a multitude (BA)at ease was with her; and (BB)drunkards were brought from the wilderness with men of the [u]common sort. And they put (BC)bracelets on [v]the hands of the women and beautiful crowns on their heads.
43 “Then I said concerning her who was (BD)worn out by adulteries, ‘[w]Will they now commit harlotry with her when she is thus?’ 44 [x]But they went in to her as they would go in to a harlot. Thus they went in to Oholah and to Oholibah, the lewd women. 45 But they, righteous men, will (BE)judge them with the judgment of adulteresses and with the judgment of women who shed blood, because they are adulteresses and blood is on their hands.
46 “For thus says Lord Yahweh, ‘Bring up an assembly against them and give them over to (BF)terror and plunder. 47 The assembly will (BG)stone them with stones and cut them down with their swords; they will kill their sons and their daughters and (BH)burn their houses with fire. 48 Thus I will make lewdness cease from the land, that all women may be chastised and not commit [y]lewdness as you have done. 49 Your lewdness [z]will be (BI)requited upon you, and you will bear the sin of worshiping your idols; thus you will know that I am Lord Yahweh.’”
O Yahweh, Do Not Delay
For the choir director. Of David. To bring to remembrance.
70 (A)O God, hasten to deliver me;
O Yahweh, hasten to my help!
2 (B)Let those be ashamed and humiliated
Who seek my [a]life;
Let those be turned back and dishonored
Who delight in [b]evil against me.
3 (C)Let those [c]turn back because of their shame
Who say, “Aha, aha!”
4 Let those be joyful and glad in You
All who seek You
And let them say continually,
“Let God be magnified,”
Those who love Your salvation.
5 But (D)I am afflicted and needy;
(E)Hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my protector;
O Yahweh, do not delay.
O God, Do Not Forsake Me
71 (F)In You, O Yahweh, I have taken refuge;
Let me never be ashamed.
2 (G)In Your righteousness deliver me and protect me;
(H)Incline Your ear to me and save me.
3 (I)Be to me a rock of (J)habitation to which I may continually come;
You have given the (K)command to save me,
For You are (L)my [d]rock and my fortress.
4 (M)Protect me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked,
Out of the [e]grasp of the unrighteous and ruthless man,
5 For You are my (N)hope;
O Lord Yahweh, You are my (O)trust from my youth.
6 [f]By You I have been (P)sustained from my birth;
You are He who (Q)took me from my mother’s womb;
My (R)praise is continually [g]of You.
7 I have become a (S)marvel to many,
For You are (T)my strong refuge.
8 My (U)mouth is filled with Your praise
And with (V)Your beauty all day long.
9 Do not cast me off in the (W)time of old age;
Do not forsake me when my strength fails.
10 For my enemies have spoken [h]against me;
And those who (X)watch my [i]life (Y)have counseled together,
11 Saying, “(Z)God has forsaken him;
Pursue and seize him, for there is (AA)no one to deliver.”
12 O God, (AB)do not be far from me;
O my God, (AC)hasten to my help!
13 Let those who accuse my soul be (AD)ashamed and consumed;
Let them be (AE)wrapped up with reproach and dishonor, who (AF)seek [j]to do me evil.
14 But as for me, I will (AG)wait continually,
And will [k](AH)praise You yet more and more.
15 My (AI)mouth shall recount Your righteousness
And (AJ)Your salvation all day long;
For I (AK)do not know the [l]sum of them.
16 I will come (AL)with the mighty deeds of Lord Yahweh;
I will (AM)bring to remembrance Your righteousness, Yours alone.
17 O God, You (AN)have taught me from my youth,
And I still (AO)declare Your wondrous deeds.
18 And even when I am (AP)old and gray, O God, do not forsake me,
Until I (AQ)declare Your [m]strength to this generation,
Your might to all who are to come.
19 [n]For Your (AR)righteousness, O God, reaches to the [o]heavens,
You who have (AS)done great things;
O God, (AT)who is like You?
20 You, who have (AU)shown [p]me many troubles and [q]evils,
Will (AV)revive [r]me again,
And will bring [s]me up again (AW)from the depths of the earth.
21 May You increase my (AX)greatness
And turn to (AY)comfort me.
22 I will also praise You with [t](AZ)a harp,
Even Your [u]truth, O my God;
To You I will sing praises with the (BA)lyre,
O (BB)Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will (BC)sing for joy when I sing praises to You;
And my (BD)soul, which You have redeemed.
24 My (BE)tongue also will utter Your righteousness all day long;
For they are (BF)ashamed, for they are humiliated who seek [v]to do me evil.
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