M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Making the Ark
37 Bezalel(A) made the ark of acacia wood, 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high.[a] 2 He overlaid it with pure gold inside and out and made a gold molding all around it. 3 He cast four gold rings for it, for its four feet, two rings on one side and two rings on the other side. 4 He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5 He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark for carrying the ark.
6 He made a mercy seat of pure gold, 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.[b] 7 He made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat, 8 one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end. At each end, he made a cherub of one piece with the mercy seat. 9 They had wings spread out. They faced each other and covered the mercy seat with their wings. The faces of the cherubim were looking toward the mercy seat.
Making the Table
10 He(B) constructed the table of acacia wood, 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high.[c] 11 He overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding all around it. 12 He made a three-inch[d] frame all around it and made a gold molding all around its frame. 13 He cast four gold rings for it and attached the rings to the four corners at its four legs. 14 The rings were next to the frame as holders for the poles to carry the table. 15 He made the poles for carrying the table from acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 16 He also made the utensils that would be on the table out of pure gold: its plates and cups, as well as its bowls and pitchers for pouring drink offerings.
Making the Lampstand
17 Then(C) he made the lampstand out of pure hammered gold. He made it all of one piece: its base and shaft, its ornamental cups, and its calyxes[e] and petals. 18 Six branches extended from its sides, three branches of the lampstand from one side and three branches of the lampstand from the other side. 19 There were three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a calyx and petals, on the first branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a calyx and petals, on the next branch. It was this way for the six branches that extended from the lampstand. 20 On the lampstand shaft there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms with its calyxes and petals. 21 For the six branches that extended from it, a calyx was under the first pair of branches from it, a calyx under the second pair of branches from it, and a calyx under the third pair of branches from it. 22 Their calyxes and branches were of one piece.[f] All of it was a single hammered piece of pure gold. 23 He also made its seven lamps, snuffers, and firepans of pure gold. 24 He made it and all its utensils of 75 pounds[g] of pure gold.
Making the Altar of Incense
25 He(D) made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, 18 inches long and 18 inches wide; it was 36 inches high.[h] Its horns were of one piece.[i] 26 He overlaid it, its top, all around its sides, and its horns with pure gold. Then he made a gold molding all around it. 27 He made two gold rings for it under the molding on two of its sides; he put these on opposite sides of it to be holders for the poles to carry it with. 28 He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
29 He also made the holy anointing oil and the pure, fragrant, and expertly blended incense.(E)
16 “I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. 2 They will ban you from the synagogues.(A) In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service(B) to God. 3 They will do these things because they haven’t known(C) the Father or Me. 4 But I have told you these things so that when their time[a] comes you may remember(D) I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
The Counselor’s Ministry
5 “But now I am going away(E) to Him who sent Me, and not one of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’(F) 6 Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth.(G) It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you.(H) 8 When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: 9 About sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father(I) and you will no longer see Me; 11 and about judgment,(J) because the ruler of this world(K) has been judged.(L)
12 “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.(M) 13 When the Spirit of truth(N) comes, He will guide you into all the truth.(O) For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 Everything the Father(P) has is Mine.(Q) This is why I told you that He takes from what is Mine and will declare it to you.(R)
Sorrow Turned to Joy
16 “A little while(S) and you will no longer see Me;(T) again a little while and you will see Me.”[b]
17 Therefore some of His disciples said to one another, “What is this He tells us: ‘A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’(U)?” 18 They said, “What is this He is saying,[c] ‘A little while’? We don’t know what He’s talking about!”
19 Jesus knew they wanted to question Him, so He said to them, “Are you asking one another about what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me’?
20 “I assure you: You will weep and wail,(V) but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful,(W) but your sorrow will turn to joy. 21 When a woman is in labor she has pain(X) because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child,(Y) she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. 22 So you also have sorrow[d] now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice,(Z) and no one will rob you of your joy.(AA) 23 In that day you will not ask Me anything.
“I assure you: Anything you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.(AB) 24 Until now you have asked for nothing in My name.(AC) Ask and you will receive,(AD) so that your joy may be complete.(AE)
Jesus the Victor
25 “I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask(AF) in My name.(AG) I am not telling you that I will make requests to the Father on your behalf. 27 For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved(AH) Me and have believed that I came from God.[e](AI) 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”(AJ)
29 “Ah!” His disciples said. “Now You’re speaking plainly and not using any figurative language. 30 Now we know that You know everything(AK) and don’t need anyone to question You. By this we believe that You came from God.”(AL)
31 Jesus responded to them, “Do you now believe? 32 Look: An hour is coming, and has come,(AM) when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.(AN) 33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
13 A wise son responds to his father’s discipline,
but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.
2 From the words of his mouth,
a man will enjoy good things,(A)
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.(B)
3 The one who guards his mouth protects his life;(C)
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.(D)
4 The slacker craves, yet has nothing,
but the diligent is fully satisfied.(E)
5 The righteous hate lying,
but the wicked act disgustingly and disgracefully.
7 One man pretends to be rich but has nothing;(G)
another pretends to be poor but has great wealth.(H)
8 Riches are a ransom for a man’s life,(I)
but a poor man hears no threat.
10 Arrogance leads to nothing but strife,(L)
but wisdom is gained by those who take advice.
11 Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle,(M)
but whoever earns it through labor[b] will multiply it.(N)
12 Delayed hope makes the heart sick,
but fulfilled desire is a tree of life.(O)
13 The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty,(P)
but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.(Q)
14 A wise man’s instruction is a fountain of life,(R)
turning people away from the snares of death.(S)
16 Every sensible person acts knowledgeably,
but a fool displays his stupidity.(U)
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a trustworthy courier brings healing.(V)
18 Poverty and disgrace come to those
who ignore discipline,
but the one who accepts correction will be honored.(W)
19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the taste,
but to turn from evil(X)
is an abomination to fools.
20 The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 Disaster pursues sinners,
but good rewards the righteous.(Y)
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his[d] grandchildren,
but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(Z)
23 The uncultivated field of the poor yields abundant food,
but without justice, it is swept away.
24 The one who will not use the rod hates his son,(AA)
but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.(AB)
25 A righteous man eats until he is satisfied,
but the stomach of the wicked is empty.(AC)
Children and Parents
6 Children, obey(A) your parents as you would the Lord,[a] because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment[b] with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.[c](B)[d] 4 Fathers, don’t stir up anger(C) in your children, but bring them up in the training(D) and instruction of the Lord.
Slaves and Masters
5 Slaves, obey your human[e] masters(E) with fear and trembling,(F) in the sincerity(G) of your heart, as to Christ. 6 Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will(H) from your heart.[f] 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,(I) 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. 9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening(J) them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism(K) with Him.(L)
Christian Warfare
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.(M) 11 Put on(N) the full armor(O) of God so that you can stand against the tactics[g] of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh(P) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,(Q) against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil(R) in the heavens.(S) 13 This is why you must take up the full armor(T) of God, so that you may be able to resist(U) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand,(V) therefore,
with truth(W) like a belt around your waist,
righteousness(X) like armor on your chest,(Y)
15 and your feet sandaled with readiness
for the gospel of peace.[h]
16 In every situation take the shield(Z) of faith,(AA)
and with it you will be able to extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one.(AB)
17 Take the helmet(AC) of salvation,
and the sword(AD) of the Spirit,(AE)
which is God’s word.
18 Pray(AF) at all times in the Spirit(AG) with every prayer and request, and stay alert(AH) in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness(AI) the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador(AJ) in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.
Paul’s Farewell
21 Tychicus,(AK) our dearly loved brother and faithful servant[i] in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage(AL) your hearts.(AM)
23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father(AN) and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.[j][k]
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