M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Solomon Builds the Temple for Yahweh
6 It happened in the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites[a] went out from the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s rule[b] over Israel, the month of Ziv (that is the second month), that he began to build the house for Yahweh. 2 Now the house that King Solomon built for Yahweh was sixty cubits in its length and twenty cubits in its width and thirty cubits in its height. 3 The vestibule on the face of the main hall of the temple[c] was twenty cubits in its length, and the width of the temple[d] was ten cubits wide on the face of the temple.[e] 4 And he made for the temple[f] specially designed framed windows, 5 and he built a structure against the wall of the temple[g] running all along the walls of the house, for the outer sanctuary and for the inner sanctuary, and made side rooms all around. 6 The lower structure was five cubits in its width and the middle was six cubits in its width and the third was seven cubits in its width, for he made niches for the temple[h] all around to the outside, so that beams would not attach to the walls of the temple.[i] 7 Now while the temple[j] was being built, it was built with stones finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or stone shaping tool or any instrument of iron was heard in the temple[k] as it was being built. 8 The doorway of the side room in the middle of the side of the temple[l] was on the south; they went up with a stairway to the middle and from the middle to the third floor. 9 So he built the house and finished it. He covered the temple[m] with rafters and wood planks and with the cedars. 10 He also built the structure against all of the temple[n] five cubits in height and fastened it to the temple[o] with beams of cedar.
11 Then the word of Yahweh came to Solomon, saying, 12 “Regarding this temple[p] that you are building: if you walk in my ordinances and if you do my judgments and you keep all my commandments to walk in them, then I will establish my promise with you which I made to David your father. 13 And I will dwell among[q] the Israelites,[r] and I will not forsake my people Israel.”
14 So Solomon built the temple[s] and finished it. 15 He lined the walls of the inside of the house[t] with boards of cedar; from the floor of the temple[u] up to the rafters of the ceiling he covered them with wood on the inside.[v] He also covered the floor of the temple[w] with cypress boards. 16 He built twenty cubits from the rear of the house with boards of cedar from the floor up to the ceiling, and he built for it an inner sanctuary on the inside, as the most holy place.[x] 17 The main hall of the temple[y] was forty cubits in front of the inner sanctuary,[z] 18 with the cedar within the inner house having carvings of gourds and buds of flowers. It was entirely of cedar; there was not a stone visible. 19 Now in the inner sanctuary in the middle of the temple[aa] he prepared the inside to place the ark of the covenant of Yahweh there. 20 In front, the inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide and twenty cubits high, and he overlaid it with pure gold and covered the altar with cedar. 21 Solomon overlaid the temple[ab] on the inside with pure gold, and he drew across it with golden chains in front of the inner sanctuary, which he overlaid with gold.
22 All of the temple[ac] he overlaid with gold until all of the temple[ad] was finished; all of the altar which belonged to the inner sanctuary he overlaid with gold. 23 He made two cherubim of olive wood for the inner sanctuary, ten cubits high. 24 Five cubits was the first wing of the cherub, and five cubits the second wing of the cherub, from the tip of his one wing up to the tip of his other wing. 25 The second cherub was ten cubits according to the same[ae] measurement, and there was one shape for the two cherubim. 26 The height of the first cherub was ten cubits and so was the second cherub.
27 He placed the cherubim in the middle of the inner house, and they spread out the wings of the cherubim; the wing of the first cherub touched against the wall and the wing of the second cherub was touching against the second wall; their wings spread to the middle of the house and were touching wing to wing. 28 He also overlaid the cherubim with gold.
29 On all of the walls around the house, he carved engravings of cherubim and palm tree images and budding flowers both inside and out. 30 He overlaid the floor of the house with gold both inside and out. 31 He made doors of olive wood for the doorway of the inner sanctuary, as well as for the doorpost of the fifth doorframe. 32 On the two doors of olive wood he made carvings of cherubim and palm tree images and budding flowers, and he overlaid them with gold by beating[af] out the gold on the cherubim and the palm tree images. 33 Thus he made doorframes of olive wood on four sides for the doorway of the main hall 34 and two doors of cypress wood; one door with two folding panels and the second door with two folding panels. 35 He carved cherubim and palm tree images and budding flowers and overlaid them with gold evenly applied on the carved work. 36 Then he built the inner courtyard with three rows of dressed stone and a row of cedar beams. 37 In the fourth year,[ag] the house of Yahweh was founded in the month of Ziv. 38 In the eleventh year in the month of Bul, that is, the eighth month, the house was finished according to all his specifications and according to all his plans. He had built it in seven years.
The Mystery of Christ Revealed
3 On account of this I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles 2 —if indeed you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace given to me for you. 3 According to[a] revelation the mystery was made known to me, just as I wrote beforehand in brief, 4 so that you may be able when you read[b] to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ 5 (which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit): 6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow sharers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I became a servant, according to the gift of God’s grace given to me, according to the working of his power.
8 To me, the least of all the saints, was given this grace: to proclaim the good news of the fathomless riches of Christ to the Gentiles, 9 and to enlighten everyone as to what is the administration of the mystery hidden from the ages by God, who created all things, 10 in order that the many-sided wisdom of God might be made known now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places through the church, 11 according to the purpose of the ages which he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through faith in him.[c] 13 Therefore I ask you[d] not to be discouraged at my afflictions on behalf of you, which are your glory.
Prayer for Spiritual Strength
14 On account of this, I bend my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every[e] family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that he may grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (you having been firmly rooted and established in love), 18 in order that you may be strong enough to grasp together with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
20 Now to the one who is able to do beyond all measure more than all that we ask or think, according to the power that is at work in us, 21 to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel and of Israel’s Restoration
36 “And you, son of man,[a] prophesy to the mountains of Israel; and so you must say, ‘Mountains of Israel, hear the word of Yahweh; 2 thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Because the enemy said concerning you, ‘Ah, and[b] the ancient high places will be to us as a possession!’”’ 3 Therefore prophesy, and you must say, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Because indeed[c] when you were desolate,[d] then they crushed you from all around, so that you became a possession to the remainder[e] of the nations, and you became a byword and object of slander for the people.”[f] 4 Therefore, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Yahweh; thus says the Lord Yahweh to the mountains and to the hills, to the river channels and to the valleys and to the ruins that are desolate and to the cities that are abandoned and that have become as plunder and as scorn for the remainder[g] of the nations that are from all around. 5 Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Certainly[h] in the fire of my passion I spoke against the rest of the nations and against all[i] Edom, who made my land as a possession, because of[j] its pastureland for plunder, for themselves in all of the joy of their whole heart and in their inner disdain.”[k] 6 Therefore prophesy against the land of Israel, and you must say to the mountains and to the hills, to the river channels and to the valleys, thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Look! I spoke in my passion and in my anger the insult of the peoples you have endured.” 7 Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: “I swear[l] certainly[m] that the nations that are all around you,[n] they indeed will endure their disgrace.
8 “‘“But you, mountains of Israel, your branch you will shoot, and your fruit you will carry[o] for my people Israel, for they are soon to come. 9 For look! I am for you, and I will turn you, and you will be tilled, and you will be planted. 10 And I will cause your population[p] to increase for you, all of the house of Israel, all of it, and the towns will be inhabited, and the ruins will be built. 11 And I will cause your population[q] to increase for you, and domestic animals, even they will be numerous, and they will be fruitful, and I will cause you to be inhabited like your ancient times,[r] and I will do good things more than in your former times, and you will know that I am Yahweh. 12 And I will send over you my people Israel, and they will take possession of you, and you will be for them as an inheritance, and you will no longer bereave them of their children.”[s]
13 “‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh, because they are saying to you, “You are an eater of humans,[t] and you are one who makes childless[u] your people.”[v] 14 Therefore humans[w] you will not eat any longer, and your nation you will not make childless[x] any longer,” declares[y] the Lord Yahweh. 15 “And I will not let you hear any longer the insult of the nations, and the disgrace of the peoples you will not bear any longer; you yourself will not cause your nation to stumble,” declares[z] the Lord Yahweh.’”
16 And the word of Yahweh came[aa] to me, saying,[ab] 17 “Son of man,[ac] the house of Israel, they were dwelling on their soil, and they defiled it with their way and with their deeds; like the uncleanness of menstruation was their way before me.[ad] 18 And I poured out my rage on them for the blood that they poured on the land and for their idols with which they defiled it. 19 And I scattered them among the nations, and I dispersed them in the countries according to their way, and according to their deeds I judged them. 20 And they came[ae] into the nations to which they went,[af] and they profaned my holy name[ag] when they said to them, ‘These are the people of Yahweh, and from his land they went out.’ 21 And I was concerned for my holy name,[ah] which, the house of Israel defiled among the nations to which they went.[ai]
22 “Therefore thus say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Not for your sake [aj] am I about to act, house of Israel, but[ak] for my holy name,[al] which you defiled among the nations to which you went.[am] 23 And I will consecrate my great name, which was profaned among the nations and which you have profaned in the midst of them, and the nations will know that I am Yahweh!”’ a declaration of the Lord Yahweh, when I show myself holy[an] before[ao] their eyes.
24 “‘And I will take you from the nations, and I will gather you from all of the lands, and I will bring you to your land. 25 And I will sprinkle on you pure water, and you will be clean from all of your uncleanness, and I will cleanse you from all of your idols. 26 And I will give a new heart to you, and a new spirit I will give[ap] into your inner parts, and I will remove the[aq] heart of stone from your flesh, and I will give to you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will give[ar] my spirit into your inner parts, and I will make it so that you will go[as] in my rules, and my regulations you will remember, and you will do them. 28 And you will dwell in the land that I gave to your ancestors,[at] and you will be to me as a people, and I will be to you as[au] God. 29 And I will save you from all of your uncleanness, and I will call to the grain, and I will cause it to increase, and I will not bring famine upon you. 30 And I will cause the fruit of the tree and the crop of the field to increase, so that you will not suffer again the disgrace of famine among the nations. 31 And you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourself[av] over[aw] your iniquities and over your detestable things. 32 But not for your sake am I acting,” declares[ax] the Lord Yahweh. “Let it be known to you, be ashamed, and be put to shame because of your ways, house of Israel.
33 “Thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘On the day when I cleanse you from all of your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34 And the land that was desolate will be cultivated in the very place that[ay] it was desolate before the eyes of all of the persons crossing over. 35 And they will say, “This desolate land[az] has become like the garden of Eden, and the wasted and desolate and destroyed cities, now being refortified, are inhabited.” 36 And the nations who are left all around, you will know that I, Yahweh, I built that which was destroyed;[ba] I planted the desolate land; I, Yahweh, I have spoken, and I will act.’
37 “Thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘Again this time I will let myself be inquired of[bb] by the house of Israel, to do something for them; I will cause them to increase their population like a flock.[bc] 38 Like the flock of the sanctuary, like the flock of Jerusalem at its festival, so the desolate cities will be filled with flocks[bd] of people; and they will know that I am Yahweh.’”
A Prayer for Help against Ruthless Men
A prayer of David.[a]
86 Incline, O Yahweh, your ear and answer me,
because I am poor and needy.
2 Watch over my life because I am faithful.
You are my God; save your servant.
I am the one who trusts you.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord,
because I call to you all day long.[b]
4 Make glad the soul of your servant,
because I desire you,[c] O Lord.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
and abundant in loyal love[d] for all who call to you.
6 Heed, O Yahweh, my prayer,
and attend to the voice of my supplications.
7 In the day of my trouble I call to you,
because you answer me.
8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
and there are no works like yours.
9 All the nations that you have made will come
and bow down[e] before you, O Lord,
and glorify your name.
10 For you are great and doing wondrous things;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me, O Yahweh, your way,
that I may walk in your truth.
Unite my heart[f] to fear your name.
12 I will give you thanks, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
and glorify your name forever,
13 because your loyal love is great toward me,
and you will have delivered my life from Sheol[g] below.
14 O God, arrogant men have risen up against me,
even a gang of ruthless men seek my life,
but they do not set you before them.[h]
15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger[i] and abundant in loyal love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me.
Give your strength to your servant,
and grant victory to the son[j] of your maidservant.
17 Do a sign that benefits me,
that those who hate me may see and be put to shame,
because you, O Yahweh, have helped me and comforted me.
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