M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Altar for Burnt Offerings
38 The workers built the altar for burnt offerings out of acacia wood. It was four feet six inches high and seven feet six inches square. 2 They made a horn stick out from each of its four upper corners. They covered the altar with bronze. 3 They made all its tools out of bronze. They made its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and pans for carrying ashes. 4 They made a bronze grate for the altar. They put the grate halfway up the altar on the inside. 5 They made a bronze ring for each of the four corners of the grate. 6 They made poles out of acacia wood. They covered them with bronze. 7 They put the poles through the rings. The poles were on two sides of the altar for carrying it. The workers made the altar out of boards. They left it hollow.
The Large Bowl for Washing
8 The workers made the large bronze bowl and its bronze stand. They made them out of bronze mirrors. The mirrors belonged to the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
The Courtyard
9 Next, the workers made the courtyard. The south side was 150 feet long. It had curtains made out of finely twisted linen. 10 The curtains had 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The posts had silver hooks and bands on them. 11 The north side was also 150 feet long. Its curtains had 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The posts had silver hooks and bands on them.
12 The west end was 75 feet wide. It had curtains with ten posts and ten bases. The posts had silver hooks and bands on them. 13 The east end, toward the sunrise, was also 75 feet wide. 14 Curtains 22 feet six inches long were on one side of the entrance to the courtyard. They were hung on three posts. Each post had a base. 15 Curtains 22 feet six inches long were also on the other side of the entrance. They were hung on three posts. Each post had a base. 16 All the curtains around the courtyard were made out of finely twisted linen. 17 The bases for the posts were made out of bronze. The hooks and bands on the posts were made out of silver. Their tops were covered with silver. So all the posts of the courtyard had silver bands.
18 The curtain for the courtyard entrance was made out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. A person who sewed skillfully made it. It was 30 feet long. Like the curtains of the courtyard, it was seven feet six inches high. 19 It had four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks and bands were made out of silver. Their tops were covered with silver. 20 All the tent stakes of the holy tent were made out of bronze. So were all the stakes of the courtyard around it.
The Amounts of the Metals Used
21 Here are the amounts of the metals used for the holy tent, where the tablets of the covenant law were kept. Moses commanded the Levites to record the amounts. The Levites did the work under the direction of Ithamar. Ithamar was the son of Aaron the priest. 22 Bezalel, the son of Uri, made everything the Lord had commanded Moses. Uri was the son of Hur. Bezalel was from the tribe of Judah. 23 Oholiab, the son of Ahisamak, helped Bezalel. Oholiab was from the tribe of Dan. He could carve things and make patterns. And he could sew skillfully with blue, purple and bright red yarn and on fine linen. 24 The total weight of the gold from the wave offering was more than a ton. It was weighed out in keeping with the standard weights used in the sacred tent. The gold was used for all the work done in connection with the sacred tent.
25 The silver received from the men in the community who were listed and counted weighed almost four tons. It was weighed out in keeping with the weights used in the sacred tent. 26 It amounted to a fifth of an ounce for each person. It was weighed out in keeping with the weights used in the sacred tent. The silver was received from the men who had been listed and counted. All of them were 20 years old or more. Their total number was 603,550. 27 The four tons of silver were used to make the bases for the holy tent and for the curtain. The 100 bases were made from the four tons. Each base used more than 75 pounds of silver. 28 The workers used 45 pounds to make the hooks for the posts, to cover the tops of the posts, and to make their bands.
29 The bronze from the wave offering weighed two and a half tons. 30 The workers used some of it to make the bases for the entrance to the tent of meeting. They used some for the bronze altar for burnt offerings and its bronze grate and all its tools. 31 They used some for the bases for the courtyard around the holy tent. They used some for the bases for the courtyard entrance. And they used the rest to make all the tent stakes for the holy tent and the courtyard around it.
Jesus Prays for Himself
17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed. He said,
“Father, the time has come. Bring glory to your Son. Then your Son will bring glory to you. 2 You gave him authority over all people. He gives eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 And what is eternal life? It is knowing you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth. I have finished the work you gave me to do. 5 So now, Father, give glory to me in heaven where your throne is. Give me the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 “I have shown you to the disciples you gave me out of the world. They were yours. You gave them to me. And they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 I gave them the words you gave me. And they accepted them. They knew for certain that I came from you. They believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world. I am praying for those you have given me, because they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. Glory has come to me because of my disciples. 11 I will not remain in the world any longer. But they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of your name. It is the name you gave me. Keep them safe so they can be one, just as you and I are one. 12 While I was with them, I guarded them. I kept them safe through the name you gave me. None of them has been lost, except the one who was headed for ruin. It happened so that Scripture would come true.
13 “I am coming to you now. But I say these things while I am still in the world. I say them so that those you gave me can have the same joy that I have. 14 I have given them your word. The world has hated them. That’s because they are not part of the world any more than I am. 15 I do not pray that you will take them out of the world. I pray that you will keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to it. 17 Use the truth to make them holy. Your word is truth. 18 You sent me into the world. In the same way, I have sent them into the world. 19 I make myself holy for them so that they too can be made holy by the truth.
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 “I do not pray only for them. I pray also for everyone who will believe in me because of their message. 21 Father, I pray they will be one, just as you are in me and I am in you. I want them also to be in us. Then the world will believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory you gave me. I did this so they would be one, just as we are one. 23 I will be in them, just as you are in me. This is so that they may be brought together perfectly as one. Then the world will know that you sent me. It will also show the world that you have loved those you gave me, just as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am. I want them to see my glory, the glory you have given me. You gave it to me because you loved me before the world was created.
25 “Father, you are holy. The world does not know you, but I know you. Those you have given me know you have sent me. 26 I have shown you to them. And I will continue to show you to them. Then the love you have for me will be in them. I myself will be in them.”
14 A wise woman builds her house.
But a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands.
2 Whoever has respect for the Lord lives a good life.
But those who hate him walk down an evil path.
3 The proud words of a foolish person sting like a whip.
But the things wise people say keep them safe.
4 Where there are no oxen, the feed box is empty.
But a strong ox brings in huge harvests.
5 An honest witness does not lie.
But a dishonest witness pours out lies.
6 Those who make fun of others look for wisdom and don’t find it.
But knowledge comes easily to those who understand what is right.
7 Stay away from a foolish person.
You won’t find knowledge in what they say.
8 People are wise and understanding when they think about the way they live.
But people are foolish when their foolish ways trick them.
9 Foolish people laugh at making things right when they sin.
But honest people try to do the right thing.
10 Each heart knows its own sadness.
And no one else can share its joy.
11 The houses of sinners will be destroyed.
But the tents of honest people will stand firm.
12 There is a way that appears to be right.
But in the end it leads to death.
13 Even when you laugh, your heart can be hurting.
And your joy can end in sadness.
14 Those who aren’t faithful will be paid back
for what they’ve done.
And good people will receive rewards
for how they’ve lived.
15 A childish person believes anything.
But a wise person thinks about how they live.
16 A wise person has respect for the Lord and avoids evil.
But a foolish person has a bad temper and yet feels secure.
17 Anyone who gets angry quickly does foolish things.
And a person who is tricky is hated.
18 Childish people act in keeping with their foolish ways.
But knowledge makes wise people feel like kings.
19 Evil people will bow down in front of good people.
And those who do wrong will bow down at the gates of those who do right.
20 Poor people are avoided even by their neighbors.
But rich people have many friends.
21 It is a sin to hate your neighbor.
But blessed is the person who is kind to those in need.
22 Those who plan evil go down the wrong path.
But those who plan good find love and truth.
23 All hard work pays off.
But if all you do is talk, you will be poor.
24 The wealth of wise people is their crown.
But the foolish ways of foolish people lead to what is foolish.
25 An honest witness saves lives.
But a dishonest witness tells lies.
26 Anyone who shows respect for the Lord has a strong tower.
It will be a safe place for their children.
27 Respect for the Lord is like a fountain that gives life.
It turns you away from the jaws of death.
28 A large population is a king’s glory.
But a prince without followers is destroyed.
29 Anyone who is patient has great understanding.
But anyone who gets angry quickly shows how foolish they are.
30 A peaceful heart gives life to the body.
But jealousy rots the bones.
31 Anyone who crushes poor people makes fun of their Maker.
But anyone who is kind to those in need honors God.
32 When trouble comes, sinners are brought down.
But godly people seek safety in God even as they die.
33 Wisdom rests in the hearts of those who understand what is right.
And even among foolish people she makes herself known.
34 Doing what is right lifts people up.
But sin brings judgment to any nation.
35 A king is pleased with a wise servant.
But a servant who is full of shame stirs up the king’s anger.
1 We, Paul and Timothy, are writing this letter. We serve Christ Jesus.
We are sending this letter to you, all God’s holy people in Philippi. You belong to Christ Jesus. We are also sending this letter to your leaders and deacons.
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Paul Prays and Gives Thanks
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy. 5 I am happy because you have joined me in spreading the good news. You have done so from the first day until now. 6 God began a good work in you. And I am sure that he will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you. I love you with all my heart. I may be held by chains, or I may be standing up for the truth of the good news. Either way, all of you share in God’s grace together with me. 8 God is my witness that I long for all of you. I love you with the love that Christ Jesus gives.
9 I pray that your love will grow more and more. And let it be based on knowledge and understanding. 10 Then you will be able to know what is best. Then you will be pure and without blame for the day that Christ returns. 11 You will be filled with the fruit of right living produced by Jesus Christ. All these things bring glory and praise to God.
Paul Spreads the Good News While in Prison
12 Brothers and sisters, here is what I want you to know. What has happened to me has actually helped to spread the good news. 13 One thing has become clear. I am being held by chains because I am a witness for Christ. All the palace guards and everyone else know it. 14 And because I am a prisoner, most of the believers have become bolder in the Lord. They now dare even more to preach the good news without fear.
15 It’s true that some preach about Christ because they are jealous. But others preach about Christ to help me in my work. 16 The last group acts out of love. They know I have been put here to be a witness for the good news. 17 But the others preach about Christ only to get ahead. They preach Christ for the wrong reasons. They think they can stir up trouble for me while I am being held by chains. 18 But what does it matter? Here is the important thing. Whether for right or wrong reasons, Christ is being preached about. That makes me very glad.
And I will continue to be glad. 19 I know that you are praying for me. I also know that God will give me the Spirit of Jesus Christ to help me. So no matter what happens, I’m sure I will still be set free. 20 I completely expect and hope that I won’t be ashamed in any way. I’m sure I will be brave enough. Now as always Christ will receive glory because of what happens to me. He will receive glory whether I live or die. 21 For me, life finds all its meaning in Christ. Death also has its benefits. 22 Suppose I go on living in my body. Then I will be able to carry on my work. It will bear a lot of fruit. But what should I choose? I don’t know! 23 I can’t decide between the two. I long to leave this world and be with Christ. That is better by far. 24 But it is more important for you that I stay alive. 25 I’m sure of this. So I know I will remain with you. And I will continue with all of you to help you grow in your faith. I will also continue to help you be joyful in what you have been taught. 26 I’m sure I will be with you again. Then you will be able to boast in Christ Jesus even more because of me.
Living to Honor the Good News
27 No matter what happens, live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. Then I will know that you remain strong together in the one Spirit. I will know this if I come and see you or only hear about you. I will know that you work together as one person. I will know that you work to spread the teachings about the good news. 28 So don’t be afraid in any way of those who oppose you. This will show them that they will be destroyed and that you will be saved. That’s what God will do. 29 Here is what he has given you to do for Christ. You must not only believe in him. You must also suffer for him. 30 You are going through the same struggle you saw me go through. As you have heard, I am still struggling.
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