M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Fifth Plague—Death of Livestock
9 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what Yahweh Elohim of the Hebrews says: Let my people go to worship me. 2 If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them in slavery, 3 Yahweh will bring a terrible plague on your livestock, including your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats. 4 But Yahweh will distinguish between Israel’s livestock and the livestock of the Egyptians. No animals belonging to the Israelites will die.’” 5 Yahweh set a definite time. He said, “Tomorrow Yahweh will do this.”
6 The next day Yahweh did as he said. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but none of the Israelites’ animals died. 7 Pharaoh found out that not one of the Israelites’ animals had died. Yet, Pharaoh continued to be stubborn and would not let the people go.
The Sixth Plague—Boils
8 Then Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, “Take a handful of ashes from a kiln, and have Moses throw them up in the air as Pharaoh watches. 9 They will become a fine dust throughout Egypt. The dust will cause boils to break into open sores on people and animals throughout Egypt.”
10 They took ashes from a kiln and stood in front of Pharaoh. Moses threw the ashes up in the air, and they caused boils to break into open sores on people and animals. 11 The magicians couldn’t compete with Moses because they had boils like all the other Egyptians.
12 But Yahweh made Pharaoh stubborn, so he wouldn’t listen to Moses and Aaron, as Yahweh had predicted to Moses.
The Seventh Plague—Hail
13 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Early in the morning, go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what Yahweh Elohim of the Hebrews says: Let my people go to worship me. 14 Now I will send plagues that will affect you personally as well as your officials and people. This is how you will know that there is no one like me anywhere on earth. 15 By now I could have used my power to kill you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. 16 But I have spared you for this reason. I want to show you my power and make my name famous throughout the earth. 17 You are still blocking my people from leaving. 18 So, at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm that has ever happened in Egypt since the beginning of its history. 19 Now, send servants to bring your livestock and everything else you have indoors. All people and animals still outside and not brought in will die when the hail falls on them.’”
20 Those members of Pharaoh’s court who listened to Yahweh’s warning brought their servants and cattle indoors quickly. 21 But those who didn’t take Yahweh’s warning seriously left their servants and animals out in the open.
22 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward the sky, and hail will fall on people, animals, and every plant in the fields of Egypt.”
23 When Moses lifted his staff toward the sky, Yahweh sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So Yahweh made it hail on Egypt. 24 It hailed, and lightning flashed while it hailed. This was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. 25 All over Egypt the hail knocked down everything that was out in the open. It struck down people, animals, and every plant in the fields and destroyed every tree in the fields. 26 The only place it didn’t hail was the region of Goshen, where the Israelites lived.
27 Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he told them. “Yahweh is right, and my people and I are wrong. 28 Pray to Yahweh. We’ve had enough of Elohim’s thunder and hail. I’ll let you go; you don’t have to stay here any longer.”
29 Moses replied, “As soon as I’m out of the city, I’ll spread out my hands to Yahweh in prayer. The thunder will stop, and there will be no more hail. This is how you will know that the earth belongs to Yahweh. 30 But I know that you and your officials still don’t fear Yahweh Elohim.”
31 (The flax and the barley were ruined, because the barley had formed heads and the flax was in bloom. 32 Neither the wheat nor the wild grain was damaged, because they ripen later.)
33 As soon as he left Pharaoh and went out of the city, Moses spread out his hands to Yahweh in prayer. The thunder and the hail stopped, and no more rain came pouring down on the ground.
34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had stopped, he sinned again. He and his officials continued to be stubborn. 35 Pharaoh was stubborn and would not let the Israelites go, as Yahweh had predicted through Moses.
Jesus Speaks to His Disciples
12 Meanwhile, thousands of people had gathered. They were so crowded that they stepped on each other. Yeshua spoke to his disciples and said, “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. I’m talking about their hypocrisy. 2 Nothing has been covered that will not be exposed. Whatever is secret will be made known. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight. Whatever you have whispered in private rooms will be shouted from the housetops.
4 “My friends, I can guarantee that you don’t need to be afraid of those who kill the body. After that they can’t do anything more. 5 I’ll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the power to throw you into hell after killing you. I’m warning you to be afraid of him.
6 “Aren’t five sparrows sold for two cents? God doesn’t forget any of them. 7 Even every hair on your head has been counted. Don’t be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows. 8 I can guarantee that the Son of Man will acknowledge in front of God’s angels every person who acknowledges him in front of others. 9 But God’s angels will be told that I don’t know those people who tell others that they don’t know me. 10 Everyone who says something against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But the person who dishonors the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 “When you are put on trial in synagogues or in front of rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say. 12 At that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.”
A Story about Material Possessions
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of the inheritance that our father left us.”
14 Yeshua said to him, “Who appointed me to be your judge or to divide your inheritance?”
15 He told the people, “Be careful to guard yourselves from every kind of greed. Life is not about having a lot of material possessions.”
16 Then he used this illustration. He said, “A rich man had land that produced good crops. 17 He thought, ‘What should I do? I don’t have enough room to store my crops.’ 18 He said, ‘I know what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones so that I can store all my grain and goods in them. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You’ve stored up a lot of good things for years to come. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you’ve accumulated?’ 21 That’s how it is when a person has material riches but is not rich in his relationship with God.”
Stop Worrying(A)
22 Then Yeshua said to his disciples, “So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat or wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. 24 Consider the crows. They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even have a storeroom or a barn. Yet, God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds.
25 “Can any of you add an hour to your life by worrying? 26 If you can’t do a small thing like that, why worry about other things? 27 Consider how the flowers grow. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. 28 That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith?
29 “Don’t concern yourself about what you will eat or drink, and quit worrying about these things. 30 Everyone in the world is concerned about these things, but your Father knows you need them. 31 Rather, be concerned about his kingdom. Then these things will be provided for you. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock. Your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
33 “Sell your material possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don’t wear out! Make a treasure for yourselves in heaven that never loses its value! In heaven thieves and moths can’t get close enough to destroy your treasure. 34 Your heart will be where your treasure is.
The Son of Man Will Return When You Least Expect Him
35 “Be ready for action, and have your lamps burning. 36 Be like servants waiting to open the door at their master’s knock when he returns from a wedding. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I can guarantee this truth: He will change his clothes, make them sit down at the table, and serve them. 38 They will be blessed if he comes in the middle of the night or toward morning and finds them awake.
39 “Of course, you realize that if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let him break into his house. 40 Be ready, because the Son of Man will return when you least expect him.”
41 Peter asked, “Lord, did you use this illustration just for us or for everyone?”
42 The Lord asked, “Who, then, is the faithful, skilled manager that the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their share of food at the right time? 43 That servant will be blessed if his master finds him doing this job when he comes. 44 I can guarantee this truth: He will put that servant in charge of all his property. 45 On the other hand, that servant may think that his master is taking a long time to come home. The servant may begin to beat the other servants and to eat, drink, and get drunk. 46 His master will return at an unexpected time. Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with unfaithful people.
47 “The servant who knew what his master wanted but didn’t get ready to do it will receive a hard beating. 48 But the servant who didn’t know what his master wanted and did things for which he deserved punishment will receive a light beating. A lot will be expected from everyone who has been given a lot. More will be demanded from everyone who has been entrusted with a lot.
Jesus Will Cause Conflict
49 “I have come to throw fire on the earth. I wish that it had already started! 50 I have a baptism to go through, and I will suffer until it is over.
51 “Do you think I came to bring peace to earth? No! I can guarantee that I came to bring nothing but division. 52 From now on a family of five will be divided. Three will be divided against two and two against three. 53 A father will be against his son and a son against his father. A mother will be against her daughter and a daughter against her mother. A mother-in-law will be against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
Use Good Judgment
54 Yeshua said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud coming up in the west, you immediately say, ‘There’s going to be a rainstorm,’ and it happens. 55 When you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and that’s what happens. 56 You hypocrites! You can forecast the weather by judging the appearance of earth and sky. But for some reason you don’t know how to judge the time in which you’re living. 57 So why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 For instance, when an opponent brings you to court in front of a ruler, do your best to settle with him before you get there. Otherwise, he will drag you in front of a judge. The judge will hand you over to an officer who will throw you into prison. 59 I can guarantee that you won’t get out until you pay every penny of your fine.”
Job Continues: I Insist I Am Innocent
27 Job continued his poems and said,
2 “I swear an oath
by El, the one who has taken away my rights,
by Shadday, who has made my life bitter:
3 ‘As long as there is one breath left in me
and Eloah’s breath fills my nostrils,
4 my lips will not say anything wrong,
and my tongue will not mumble anything deceitful.’
5 It’s unthinkable for me to admit that you are right.
Until I breathe my last breath, I will never give up my claim of integrity.
6 I cling to my righteousness and won’t let go.
My conscience won’t accuse me as long as I live.
7 “Let my enemy be treated like wicked people.
Let anyone who attacks me be treated like unrighteous people.
8 After all, what hope does the godless person have when he is cut off,
when Eloah takes away his life?
9 Will El hear his cry when trouble comes upon him?
10 Can he be happy with Shadday?
Can he call on Eloah at all times?
What God Has in Store for Wicked People
11 “I will teach you about El’s power.
I will not hide what Shadday has done.
12 Certainly, you have all seen it.
Why then do you chatter on about such nonsense?
13 This is what El has waiting for the wicked person,
the inheritance that tyrants receive from Shadday:
14 If he has many children, swords will kill them,
and his descendants won’t have enough food.
15 Those who survive him will be buried by a plague,
and their widows won’t cry for them.
16 Though he collects silver like dust
and piles up clothing like dirt,
17 righteous people will wear what he piles up,
and the innocent will divide the silver
among themselves.
18 He builds his house like a moth,
like a shack that a watchman makes.
19 He may go to bed rich, but he’ll never be rich again.
When he opens his eyes, nothing will be left.
20 Terrors overtake him like a flood.
A windstorm snatches him away at night.
21 The east wind carries him away, and he’s gone.
It sweeps him from his place.
22 It hurls itself at him without mercy.
He flees from its power.
23 It claps its hands over him.
It whistles at him from his own place.
Love
13 I may speak in the languages of humans and of angels. But if I don’t have love, I am a loud gong or a clashing cymbal. 2 I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don’t have love, I am nothing. 3 I may even give away all that I have and give up my body to be burned.[a] But if I don’t have love, none of these things will help me.
4 Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn’t jealous. It doesn’t sing its own praises. It isn’t arrogant. 5 It isn’t rude. It doesn’t think about itself. It isn’t irritable. It doesn’t keep track of wrongs. 6 It isn’t happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth. 7 Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.
8 Love never comes to an end. There is the gift of speaking what God has revealed, but it will no longer be used. There is the gift of speaking in other languages, but it will stop by itself. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will no longer be used. 9 Our knowledge is incomplete and our ability to speak what God has revealed is incomplete. 10 But when what is complete comes, then what is incomplete will no longer be used. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I no longer used childish ways. 12 Now we see a blurred image in a mirror. Then we will see very clearly. Now my knowledge is incomplete. Then I will have complete knowledge as God has complete knowledge of me.
13 So these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the best one of these is love.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.