M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Tola
10 After the death of Abimelek, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, arose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. 2 He judged Israel for twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried in Shamir.
Jair
3 After him Jair the Gileadite arose and judged Israel for twenty-two years. 4 He had thirty sons who rode thirty donkeys and owned thirty cities that are in the land of Gilead. They are called Havvoth Jair to this day. 5 Jair died and was buried in Kamon.
Jephthah
6 Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. They worshipped the Baals, the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines. They abandoned the Lord and did not serve Him. 7 The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites. 8 They brutally oppressed the children of Israel that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the children of Israel beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites in Gilead. 9 The Ammonites also crossed over the Jordan to wage war against Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed. 10 Then the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, “We have sinned against You, for we have abandoned our God and worshipped the Baals.”
11 The Lord said to the children of Israel, “Did I not deliver you from Egypt, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, 12 the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites when they oppressed you? You cried out to Me, and I saved you from their hands. 13 Yet you have abandoned Me and worshipped other gods. Therefore I will not save you again. 14 Go and cry out to the gods that you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of distress.”
15 Then the children of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do to us whatever seems good in Your sight. Please, just deliver us today.” 16 They removed the foreign gods from among them and worshipped the Lord, and He could no longer endure the suffering of Israel.
17 The Ammonites had been called out and set up camp in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled and set up camp in Mizpah. 18 The commanders of Gilead said to each other, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the Ammonites? He will be the ruler of all the inhabitants of Gilead.”
11 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah. 2 Gilead’s wife also bore him sons. His wife’s sons grew up and drove Jephthah away. They said to him, “You will not inherit anything from our father’s house because you are the son of another woman.” 3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Men of ill repute gathered around Jephthah and went out with him.
4 Some time passed, then the Ammonites waged war with Israel. 5 When the Ammonites waged war with Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah back from the land of Tob. 6 They said to Jephthah, “Come and be our leader so that we may fight the Ammonites.”
7 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father’s house? Why have you come to me now that you are in trouble?”
8 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Even so, we have turned to you. Come with us and fight the Ammonites. You will be ruler over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”
9 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me back to wage war against the Ammonites, and the Lord gives them to me, then I will be your ruler.”
10 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “May the Lord be a witness between us if we do not act according to your word.” 11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead. The people set him over them as ruler and leader. And Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord in Mizpah.
Paul and Barnabas in Iconium
14 At Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together and so spoke that a great crowd of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and embittered their minds against the brothers. 3 So they continued there a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to His gracious word, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles. 5 When an assault was planned by both Gentiles and Jews, with their leaders, to attack them and to stone them, 6 they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7 And there they preached the gospel.
Paul and Barnabas in Lystra
8 In Lystra there sat a man, crippled in his feet, who had never walked and was lame from birth. 9 He heard Paul speaking, who looked intently at him and perceived that he had faith to be healed 10 and said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he jumped up and walked.
11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the main speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, who was in front of the city, brought bulls and garlands to the gates to offer sacrifices with the crowds.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 “Men, why are you doing this? We also are men, of like nature with you, preaching to you to turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, 16 who in times past allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet He did not leave Himself without witness, for He did good and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying our hearts with food and gladness.” 18 With these words they scarcely restrained the crowds from sacrificing to them.
19 Then some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there and persuaded the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead. 20 But as the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. The next day he departed with Barnabas for Derbe.
The Return to Antioch in Syria
21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the minds of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith, to go through many afflictions and thus enter the kingdom of God. 23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they believed. 24 Then they passed throughout Pisidia and came to Pamphylia, 25 and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia.
26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. 27 When they arrived and had assembled the church, they reported what God had done through them and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And there they stayed a long time with the disciples.
The Righteous Branch
23 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! says the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds that feed My people: You have scattered My flock and driven them away and have not visited them. I am about to punish you for the evil of your deeds, says the Lord. 3 I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries wherever I have driven them and bring them again to their folds, and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 I will also set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they will fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor will they be missing, says the Lord.
5 The days are coming, says the Lord,
that I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,
and he shall reign as king and deal wisely,
and shall execute justice and righteousness in the earth.
6 In his days Judah will be saved,
and Israel will dwell safely.
And this is the name by which he will be called:
THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
7 Therefore, surely the days are coming, says the Lord, when they will no more say, “As the Lord lives who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,” 8 but, “As the Lord lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel out of the north country and from all countries where I had driven them.” Then they will dwell in their own land.
Lying Prophets
9 My heart is broken within me,
because of the prophets;
all my bones shake;
I am like a drunken man,
like a man overcome by wine,
because of the Lord,
and because of His holy words.
10 For the land is full of adulterers;
for the land mourns because of the curse.
The pleasant places of the wilderness have dried up.
And their course is evil
and their might is not right.
11 For both prophet and priest are profane;
indeed, in My house I have found their wickedness,
says the Lord.
12 Therefore their way will be as slippery ways to them;
they shall be driven into the darkness
and fall in it;
for I will bring disaster upon them,
even the year of their punishment,
says the Lord.
13 In addition, I have seen folly
in the prophets of Samaria.
They prophesied by Baal
and caused My people Israel to err.
14 I have seen also among the prophets of Jerusalem
a horrible thing.
They commit adultery and walk in lies.
They also strengthen the hands of evildoers,
so that no one repents from his wickedness.
All of them are as Sodom to Me
and her inhabitants as Gomorrah.
15 Therefore thus says the Lord of Hosts concerning the prophets:
“I will feed them with wormwood
and make them drink the water of gall,
for from the prophets of Jerusalem
profaneness has gone out into all the land.”
16 Thus says the Lord of Hosts:
Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you.
They lead you into vanity;
they speak a vision of their own heart
and not out of the mouth of the Lord.
17 They still say to those who despise Me,
“The Lord has said, ‘You will have peace’ ”;
and they say to everyone who walks after the imagination of his own heart,
“No evil will come upon you.”
18 For who has stood in the counsel of the Lord
and has perceived and heard His word?
Who has given heed to His word and listened to it?
19 Look, a whirlwind of the Lord
has gone forth in fury,
a tempestuous whirlwind.
It will fall tempestuously upon the head of the wicked.
20 The anger of the Lord will not turn back
until He has executed and performed
the thoughts of His heart.
In the latter days
you will understand it perfectly.
21 I have not sent these prophets,
yet they ran.
I have not spoken to them,
yet they prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in My counsel
and had caused My people to hear My words,
then they would have turned them from their evil way
and from the evil of their deeds.
23 Am I a God who is near,
says the Lord,
and not a God far off?
24 Can a man hide himself in secret places
so that I do not see him?
says the Lord.
Do I not fill heaven and earth?
says the Lord.
25 I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, “I had a dream, I had a dream!” 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, 27 who plan to cause My people to forget My name by their dreams, which they tell to their neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten My name for Baal. 28 The prophet who has a dream, let him tell his dream. And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? says the Lord. 29 Is not My word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
30 See, therefore I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who steal My words, each from his neighbor. 31 See, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who use their tongues and say, “The Lord says.” 32 See, I am against those who prophesy false dreams, says the Lord, and recount them and cause My people to err by their lies and reckless boasting. Yet I sent them not nor commanded them. Therefore they shall not profit this people at all, says the Lord.
False Prophecy
33 When this people or the prophet or a priest asks you, saying, “What is the oracle of the Lord?” you shall then say to them, “What oracle? I will forsake you, says the Lord.” 34 As for the prophet and the priest and the people who say, “The oracle of the Lord,” I will punish that man and his house. 35 Thus each of you will say to his neighbor and to his brother, “What has the Lord answered?” and, “What has the Lord spoken?” 36 And the oracle of the Lord you shall mention no more, for every man’s word will be his oracle. For you have perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of Hosts our God. 37 Thus you will say to that prophet, “What has the Lord answered you?” and, “What has the Lord spoken?” 38 But if you say, “The oracle of the Lord”; therefore thus says the Lord: Because you say this word, “The oracle of the Lord,” I have also sent to you, saying, You shall not say, “The oracle of the Lord.” 39 Therefore, surely, I, even I, will utterly forget you and cast you and the city that I gave you and your fathers out of My presence. 40 And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you and perpetual shame which shall not be forgotten.
9 And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
The Transfiguration(A)
2 After six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain, alone by themselves. And He was transfigured before them. 3 His garments became shiny, extremely white as snow, such as no launderer on earth could whiten them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses. And they were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three sanctuaries: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, because they were very afraid.
7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him.”
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus only.
9 As they came down the mountain, He warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept that statement to themselves, questioning each other what the rising from the dead meant.
11 And they asked Him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must first come?”
12 He answered, “Elijah indeed comes first to restore all things. Yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”
The Healing of a Boy With an Unclean Spirit(B)
14 When He came to His other disciples, He saw a great crowd around them, and the scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately when all the people saw Him, they were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.
16 He asked the scribes, “What are you debating with them?”
17 One in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 Wherever it takes hold on him, it dashes him to the ground. And he foams at the mouth and gnashes with his teeth and becomes rigid. And I told Your disciples so that they would cast it out, but they could not.”
19 He answered, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”
20 So they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit dashed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
21 He asked his father, “How long has it been since it came to him?”
He said, “From childhood. 22 Often it has thrown him into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter him no more.”
26 The spirit cried out and convulsed him greatly. But it came out of him, and he was as dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 When He had entered the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 He said to them, “This kind cannot come out except by prayer and fasting.”
Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection(C)
30 They departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. 31 For He was teaching His disciples, saying, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. After He is killed, He will rise the third day.” 32 But they did not understand the teaching and were afraid to ask Him.
Who Is the Greatest?(D)
33 He came to Capernaum. And being in the house, He asked them, “What was it that you disputed among yourselves on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had disputed among themselves who was the greatest.
35 He sat down and called the twelve. And He said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
36 He took a child and set him in their midst. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one of these children in My name receives Me. And whoever receives Me receives not Me, but Him who sent Me.”
He Who Is Not Against Us Is for Us(E)
38 John answered Him, “Teacher, we saw one who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he was not following us.”
39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who does a miracle in My name can quickly speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, will not lose his reward.
Temptations to Sin(F)
42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched, 44 where
‘their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.’[a]
45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched, 46 where
‘their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.’[b]
47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the fire of hell, 48 where
‘their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.’[c]
49 Everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt.
50 “Salt is good. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.