M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Amaziah Son of Joash, King of Judah
14 In the second year of Joash[a] son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah became king. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddin[b] from Jerusalem. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not like his father David. He did everything his father Joash had done, 4 but the high places were still not removed. The people were still offering sacrifices and burning incense at the high places.
5 When the royal power was firmly in his hand, he killed his officials who had killed his father the king. 6 But he did not put the sons of the assassins to death, in obedience to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, in which the Lord commanded, “Fathers are not to be put to death on account of their sons, and sons are not to be put to death on account of their fathers, but each person will die for his own sin.”[c]
7 He struck down ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He seized Sela in the war and named it Jokthe’el, the name it has to this day.
8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let’s confront each other face-to-face.”
9 Then Jehoash king of Israel sent a message to Amaziah king of Judah:
A thornbush in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, “Give your daughter to my son as his wife.” But a wild animal in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thornbush.
10 You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Accept that honor and remain in your palace. Why stir up disaster so that you fall, and Judah falls with you?
11 But Amaziah did not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah confronted each other face-to-face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 12 Judah was defeated by Israel, and each man fled to his tent. 13 Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah son of Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, at Beth Shemesh. Then they went to Jerusalem. Jehoash broke down six hundred feet[d] of the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 14 Then he took all the gold and silver, all the articles found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king’s palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria.
15 As for the rest of Jehoash’s acts, the things he did and his mighty deeds, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the annals of the kings of Israel? 16 Jehoash rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then his son Jeroboam became king in his place. 17 But Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel.
18 As for the rest of Amaziah’s acts, are they not written in the annals of the kings of Judah? 19 A conspiracy was raised against him in Jerusalem, so he fled to Lachish. But they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. 20 Then they brought him back on horses and buried him in Jerusalem with his fathers in the City of David. 21 Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,[e] who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 22 It was he who built Elat and restored it to Judah after King Amaziah rested with his fathers.
Jeroboam II, Son of Jehoash, King of Israel
23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, became king in Samaria for forty-one years. 24 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn from all the sins which Jeroboam son of Nebat caused Israel to commit. 25 It was he who restored the boundary of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea[f] according to the word which the Lord, the God of Israel, had spoken through his servant, the prophet Jonah son of Amittai, who was from Gath Hepher.
26 The Lord saw the misery of Israel, which was extremely bitter for both bound and free.[g] There was no one to help Israel. 27 Since the Lord had not said that he would wipe the name of Israel from under the heavens, he rescued them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Joash.
28 As for the rest of Jeroboam’s acts and everything he did and his mighty deeds, the wars he fought, and how he recovered Damascus and Hamath (which had belonged to Judah) for Israel, are they not written in the annals of the kings of Israel? 29 Jeroboam rested with his fathers, the kings of Israel. Then his son Zechariah became king in his place.
Proclaim the Gospel
4 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom: 2 Preach the word. Be ready whether it is convenient or not.[a] Correct, rebuke, and encourage, with all patience and teaching.[b] 3 For there will come a time when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, because they have itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in line with their own desires. 4 They will also turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
5 As for you, keep a clear head in every situation. Bear hardship. Do the work of an evangelist. Fulfill your ministry.
Paul’s Farewell
6 You see, I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. 8 From now on, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will give it to me on that day, and not only to me but also to everyone who loved his appearing.
9 Make every effort to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this present world, has forsaken me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me for ministry. 12 I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, and the scrolls, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will pay him back for what he did. 15 You be on your guard against him also, because he vehemently opposed our message.
16 At my first hearing, no one came to my defense, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles would hear it, and I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
19 Greet Prisca[c] and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained in Corinth, and I left Trophimus in Miletus because he was sick. 21 Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.[d]
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.[e] Amen.[f]
Israel’s Corruption
7 Whenever I want to heal Israel,
the guilt of Ephraim is uncovered,
and the evil deeds of Samaria are exposed,
because they deal dishonestly.
Thieves come inside,
and bandits raid outside.
2 In their hearts Ephraim does not realize that I remember all their wickedness.
Now their deeds are all around them.
They are in front of my face.
3 The people of Ephraim make the king glad with their wickedness.
They make their officials happy with their lies.
4 They are all adulterers,
burning like an oven.
The baker does not need to stoke the fire
from the time the dough is kneaded until it is leavened.
5 On the day[a] of our[b] king, the officials became sick from the intoxicating wine.
He reaches out his hand to the blasphemers.
6 Indeed, their hearts are like an oven.
They approach him, while plotting against him.
Their anger sleeps all night,
but in the morning it burns like a blazing fire.
7 They are all hot as an oven.
They devour their rulers.
All their kings have fallen.
Not one of them calls on me.
8 Ephraim mixes itself with the nations.
Ephraim is a flatbread not turned over.
9 Strangers have devoured his strength,
but he does not realize it.
There are gray hairs on his head,
but he does not realize it.
10 The arrogance of Israel testifies against him,
yet they have not returned to the Lord their God,
and they have not sought him, despite all this.
Israel’s Instability
11 Ephraim is like a gullible dove, without sense.
They call to Egypt.
Then they appeal to Assyria.
12 When they go out, I will spread my net over them.
I will bring them down like birds from the sky.
I will discipline them, on the basis of the report about their assembly.[c]
13 Woe to them,
because they have strayed from me!
Destruction comes upon them,
because they have rebelled against me!
I want to redeem them,
but they speak lies against me.
14 They do not cry out to me with their hearts,
but they howl on their beds.
They gather together[d] for grain and new wine.
They turn away from me.
15 Though I trained and strengthened their arms,
they plot evil against me.
16 They return, but not upward.[e]
They are like an unreliable bow.
Their officials will fall by the sword because of their angry tongues.
Because of this, they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.
Psalm 120
A Man of Peace
Heading
A song of the ascents.[a]
A Man of Peace
1 In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
2 Lord, save my life from lying lips.
Save me from deceitful tongues.
3 What will he give to you?
What more will he add to you, you deceitful tongue?
4 A warrior’s sharpened arrows with hot coals of the broom tree.
5 Woe to me that I am an alien in Meshek,
that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6 For too long my soul[b] has dwelt with those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.
Psalm 121
Help From the Lord
Heading
A song for the ascents.
Help From the Lord, Israel’s Watchman
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains.
Where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot stumble.
He who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Yes, he who watches over Israel will not slumber.
He will not sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you.
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun will not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will watch to keep you from all harm.[c]
He will watch over your life.[d]
8 The Lord will watch over your going and your coming
from now to eternity.
Psalm 122
The Peace of Jerusalem
Heading
A song of the ascents. By David.
The Peace of Jerusalem
1 I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
2 Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is a well-built city that is firmly joined together,[e]
4 a city to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord,[f]
as a testimony to Israel,
to give praise to the name of the Lord.
5 That is where the thrones for judgment sit,
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you prosper.
7 May there be peace within your fortifications,
prosperity within your citadels.”
8 For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
now I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek good for you.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.