M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Moses Argues with God
4 Then Moses answered, “Look, they won’t believe me and they won’t listen to me.[a] Instead, they’ll say, ‘The Lord didn’t appear to you.’”
2 “What’s that in your hand?” the Lord asked him.
Moses[b] answered, “A staff.”[c]
3 Then God[d] said, “Throw it to the ground.” He threw it to the ground and it became a snake. Moses ran away from it.
4 Then God told Moses, “Reach out[e] and grab its tail.” So he reached out, grabbed it, and it became a staff[f] in his hand. 5 God said, “I’ve done this[g] so that they may believe that the Lord God of their ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”
6 Again the Lord told him, “Put your hand into your bosom.”[h] He put his hand into his bosom and as soon as he brought it out it was leprous, like snow.[i] 7 Then God[j] said, “Put your hand back into your bosom.” He returned it[k] to his bosom and as soon as he brought it out,[l] it was restored like the rest of[m] his skin.[n]
8 “Then if they don’t believe you and respond to the first sign, they may respond to the second[o] sign. 9 But if they don’t believe even these two signs, and won’t listen to you, then take some water out of the Nile River[p] and pour it on the dry ground. The water you took from the Nile River[q] will turn into blood on the dry ground.”
10 Then Moses told the Lord, “Please, Lord, I’m not eloquent.[r] I never was in the past[s] nor am I now since you spoke to your servant. In fact, I talk too slowly[t] and I have a speech impediment.”[u]
11 Then God asked him, “Who gives a person a mouth? Who makes him unable to speak, or deaf, or able to see, or blind, or lame? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now, go! I myself will help you with your speech,[v] and I’ll teach you what you are to say.”
13 Moses said, “Please, Lord, send somebody else.”[w]
14 Then the Lord was angry with Moses and said, “There’s your brother Aaron, a descendant of Levi, isn’t there? I know that he certainly is eloquent.[x] Right now he’s coming to meet you and he will be pleased to see you. 15 You’re to speak to him and tell him what to say.[y] I’ll help both you and him with your speech,[z] and I’ll teach both of you what you are to do. 16 He is to speak to the people for you as your spokesman[aa] and you are to act in the role of[ab] God for him. 17 Now pick up that staff with your hand. You’ll use it to perform the signs.”
Moses Decides to Return to Egypt
18 Moses left and returned to his father-in-law Jethro. Moses[ac] told him, “Please let me go and return to my own people[ad] in Egypt so I can see whether they’re still alive.”
Jethro told Moses, “Go in peace.”
19 The Lord told Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, because all the men who wanted to kill you are dead.” 20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on donkeys, and headed back to the land of Egypt. Moses took the staff of God in his hand.
21 Then the Lord told Moses, “When you set out to return to Egypt, keep in mind[ae] all the wonders that I’ve put in your power,[af] so that you may do them before Pharaoh. But I’ll harden his heart so that he won’t let the people go. 22 You are to say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Israel is my firstborn son. 23 And I say to you, ‘Let my son go so he may serve me. If you refuse to let him go, then I will kill your firstborn son.’”’”
Zipporah Circumcises Moses’ Son
24 But later on, at the lodging place along the way, the Lord met Moses[ag] and was about to kill him. 25 Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched Moses’[ah] feet with it, saying while doing so,[ai] “…because you are a bridegroom of blood to me.” 26 Then the Lord[aj] withdrew from him, and she said, “…a bridegroom of blood because of circumcision.”
Moses and Aaron Meet and Return to Egypt
27 The Lord told Aaron, “Go meet Moses in the desert.” So Aaron[ak] went, found[al] him at the mountain of God, and embraced[am] him. 28 Moses told Aaron all of the Lord’s messages that he had sent with Moses, and all of the signs that he commanded him to do.[an] 29 Later, Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of Israel. 30 Aaron spoke everything that the Lord had spoken to Moses, and Moses[ao] performed the miracles[ap] before the very eyes of the people. 31 The people believed and understood[aq] that the Lord had paid attention to the Israelis and had seen their affliction. They bowed their heads and prostrated themselves in worship.
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant(A)
7 After Jesus[a] had finished saying all these things[b] to the people who were there listening, he went to Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom he valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 When the centurion[c] heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him to ask him to come and save his servant’s life. 4 So they went to Jesus and begged him repeatedly, “He deserves to have this done for him, 5 because he loves our people and built our synagogue for us.”
6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to tell Jesus,[d] “Sir,[e] stop troubling yourself, because I’m not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 That’s why I didn’t presume to come to you. But just say the word, and let my servant be healed, 8 because I, too, am a man under authority and have soldiers under me. I say to one ‘Go’ and he goes, to another ‘Come’ and he comes, and to my servant ‘Do this’ and he does it.”
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found this kind of faith!” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant in perfect health.
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
11 Soon afterwards, Jesus[f] went to a city called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were going along with him. 12 As he approached the entrance to the city, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only living[g] son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her.
13 When the Lord saw her, he felt compassion for her. He told her, “You can stop crying.” 14 Then he went up and touched the bier, and the men who were carrying it stopped. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The man who had been dead sat up and began to speak, and Jesus[h] gave him back to his mother.
16 Fear gripped everyone, and they began to praise God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said, and “God has helped his people.” 17 This news about Jesus[i] spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding countryside.
John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus(B)
18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. So John called two of his disciples 19 and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?”
20 When the men had come to Jesus,[j] they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?’”
21 At that time Jesus[k] had healed many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. 22 So he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have observed and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear again, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news. 23 How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!”
24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus[l] began to ask the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look! Those who wear fine clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! 27 This is the man about whom it is written,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’[m]
28 I tell you, no one has ever been born who is[n] greater than John. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 By having been baptized with John’s baptism, all the people who listened, including the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice.[o] 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the Law rejected God’s plan for themselves[p] by refusing to be baptized by John.[q]
31 Jesus continued,[r] “To what may I compare the people living today?[s] 32 They’re like little children who sit in the marketplace and shout to each other,
‘A wedding song we played for you,
the dance you all did scorn.
A woeful dirge we chanted, too,
but then you would not mourn.’
33 Because John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, yet you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look! He’s[t] a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Wisdom is vindicated by all[u] her children.”
Jesus Forgives a Sinful Woman
36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus[v] to eat with him. So he went to the Pharisee’s home and took his place at the table. 37 There was a woman who was a notorious[w] sinner in that city. When she learned that Jesus[x] was eating at the Pharisee’s home, she took an alabaster jar of perfume 38 and knelt at his feet behind him. She was crying and began to wash his feet with her tears and dry them with her hair.[y] Then she kissed his feet over and over again, anointing them constantly with the perfume.
39 Now the Pharisee who had invited Jesus[z] saw this and told himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what kind of woman she is. She’s a sinner!”
40 Jesus told him, “Simon, I have something to ask you.”
“Teacher,” he replied, “ask it.”
41 “Two men were in debt to a moneylender. One owed him 500 denarii,[aa] and the other 50. 42 When they couldn’t pay it back, he generously canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the larger debt canceled.”
Jesus[ab] told him, “You have answered correctly.”
44 Then, turning to the woman, he told Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You didn’t give me any water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You didn’t give me a kiss,[ac] but this woman, from the moment I came in, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with perfume. 47 So I’m telling you that her sins, as many as they are, have been forgiven, and that’s why she has shown such great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.”
48 Then Jesus[ad] told her, “Your sins are forgiven!”
49 Those who were at the table with them began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”
50 But Jesus[ae] told the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Job Reasons with Zophar
21 In response, Job said:
2 “Listen carefully to my words;
let this encourage all of you.
3 Bear with me and let me speak!
Then, after I’ve spoken, you’ll be free to mock me.
4 After all, isn’t my complaint against a human being?
If so, why shouldn’t I be impatient?
5 Look at me, be appalled,
and then shut up!
6 When I think about this,[a] I’m petrified with terror
and my body shudders uncontrollably.”
The Wicked Prospers
7 “Why do the wicked live to reach old age
and increase in power and wealth, too?
8 Their children grow up while they’re alive,
and they live to see their grandchildren.
9 Their houses are safe from fear,
and God’s chastisement[b] never visits them.
10 Their bull breeds without fail,
and their cows calve without miscarriages.
11 They release their children to play like sheep;
their young ones[c] dance about,
12 singing[d] with tambourines and lyres
as they rejoice to the sound of flutes.
13 They grow old[e] in prosperity,
as they descend peacefully into the afterlife.[f]
14 “They say to God, ‘Turn away from us!
We have no desire to know your ways.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
Where’s the profit in talking to him?’
16 Behold! Their prosperity isn’t in their control!
The counsel of the wicked will remain far from me.”
God will Punish the Wicked
17 “How often do the wicked have their lights put out?
Does calamity ever fall on them?
Will God[g] in his anger ever apportion their destruction?
18 May they become like a straw,
blown away before the wind;
like a chaff that’s swept off by a storm.
19 God stores up their iniquity to repay their children;
making them[h] repay so that they may be aware.
20 Their own eyes will see their destruction;
and they’ll drink the wrath of the Almighty.
21 What will they care for their household after them,
when the number of his months comes to an end?”
Death Levels Everyone
22 “Can God learn anything?
After all, he will judge even the exalted ones.
23 Such persons will die in their full vigor,
completely prosperous and secure.
24 His buckets are filled with milk,
his bone marrow is healthy.[i]
25 Others die with a bitter soul,
never having tasted the good life.[j]
26 They both lie down in the dust;
and worms[k] cover them.”
Job Suspects His Friends of Treachery
27 “Look! I know your thoughts,
your plans[l] are going to harm me.
28 You ask, ‘Where is the noble person’s house?’
and ‘Where are the tents where the wicked live?’
29 Haven’t you asked travelers on the highway?
Don’t you accept their word
30 that the wicked person is spared from times of calamity,
that he is rescued on the day of wrath?
31 Who will expose his conduct to his face?
Who will repay him for what he has done
32 when he is carried away to the cemetery
and guardians are placed to watch his tomb?
33 The runoff from the streams will seem sweet to him;
everyone will follow after him;
countless crows march ahead of him.
34 How then, can you console me so worthlessly?
What is left of your answers is treachery.”
Concerning Food Offered to Idols
8 Now concerning food offered to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone thinks he really[a] knows something, he has not yet learned it as he ought to know it. 3 But anyone who loves God is known by him.[b]
4 Now concerning eating food offered to idols: We know that no idol is real in this world and that there is only one God. 5 For even if there are “gods” in heaven and on earth (as indeed there are many so-called “gods” and “lords”), 6 yet for us
there is only one God, the Father,
from whom everything came into being
and for whom we live.
And there is only one Lord, Jesus the Messiah,[c]
through whom everything came into being
and through whom we live.
7 But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are so accustomed to idolatry that when they eat food that has been offered to an idol, their conscience becomes contaminated because it is weak. 8 However, food will not bring us closer to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat food that has been offered to an idol,[d] and no better off if we do.
9 But you must see to it that this right of yours does not become a stumbling block for those who are weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you, who know better, eating in an idol’s temple, he will be encouraged to eat what has been offered to idols, won’t he? 11 In that case, the weak brother for whom the Messiah[e] died is ruined by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak consciences, you are sinning against the Messiah.[f] 13 Therefore, if food that I eat[g] causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, in order to keep my brother from stumbling.
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