M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
David Counts the People(A)
21 Satan attempted to attack Israel by provoking David to count the Israelites. 2 David said to Joab and the leaders of the people, “Go, count Israel from Beersheba to Dan. Bring me the results so that I may know how many people there are.”
3 Joab responded, “May Yahweh multiply his people a hundred times over. But, Your Majesty, aren’t they all your servants? Why are you trying to do this? Why do you wish to make Israel guilty of this sin?”
4 However, the king overruled Joab. So Joab left, went throughout Israel, and returned to Jerusalem. 5 Joab reported the census figures to David: In Israel there were 1,100,000 men who could serve in the army, and in Judah there were 470,000 who could serve in the army. 6 Joab didn’t include Levi and Benjamin in the number because he was disgusted with the king’s order.
7 Elohim considered the census to be sinful, so he struck Israel with a plague.
8 David said to Elohim, “I have committed a terrible sin by doing this thing. Forgive me because I have acted very foolishly.”
9 Yahweh spoke to Gad, David’s seer.[a] 10 “Go and tell David, ‘This is what Yahweh says: I’m offering you three choices. Choose the one you want me to do to you.’”
11 When Gad came to David, he said, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘Take your pick: 12 either three years of famine, or three months during which your enemies will chase you away when their swords catch up to you, or three days of Yahweh’s sword—a plague in the land with the Messenger of Yahweh destroying the whole country of Israel.’ Decide what answer I should give the one who sent me.”
13 “I’m in a desperate situation,” David told Gad. “Please let me fall into Yahweh’s hands because he is extremely merciful. But don’t let me fall into human hands.”
14 So Yahweh sent a plague on Israel, and 70,000 Israelites died. 15 Elohim also sent a Messenger to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was destroying it, Yahweh reconsidered and changed his mind about the disaster. “Enough!” he said to the destroying Messenger. “Put down your weapon.” The Messenger of Yahweh was standing by the threshing floor[b] of Ornan the Jebusite.
16 When David looked up, he saw the Messenger of Yahweh standing between heaven and earth. The Messenger had a sword in his hand and stretched it over Jerusalem. David and the leaders were dressed in sackcloth. They bowed down with their faces touching the ground. 17 David said to Elohim, “I’m the one who ordered the people to be counted. I am the one who sinned and did wrong. What have these sheep done? Yahweh my Elohim, let your punishment be against me and my father’s family, but don’t punish your people with a plague.”
18 Yahweh’s Messenger told Gad to tell David to go and set up an altar for Yahweh at Ornan the Jebusite’s threshing floor. 19 David went as Gad had told him in Yahweh’s name.
20 Now, Ornan had turned around and seen the Messenger. Ornan’s four sons who were with him hid, but Ornan kept on threshing the wheat.
21 When David arrived, Ornan looked up and saw him. So he left the threshing floor and bowed down with his face touching the ground in front of David. 22 David said to Ornan, “Let me have the land this threshing floor is on. I’ll build an altar for Yahweh on it. Sell it to me for the full price. Then the plague on the people will stop.”
23 Ornan said to David, “Take it, Your Majesty, and do whatever you think is right. I’ll give you oxen for the burnt offering, threshers[c] for firewood, and wheat for the grain offering. I’ll give you everything.”
24 “No,” King David told Ornan, “I insist on buying it for the full price. I won’t take what is yours for Yahweh and offer burnt sacrifices that cost me nothing.” 25 So David gave Ornan 15 pounds of gold for that place.
26 David built an altar for Yahweh there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on Yahweh, and Yahweh answered him by sending fire from heaven on the altar for burnt offerings. 27 So Yahweh spoke to the Messenger, and he put his sword back in its scabbard.
28 At that time, when David saw Yahweh had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he offered sacrifices there. 29 Yahweh’s tent that Moses made in the desert and the altar for burnt offerings were at the worship site at Gibeon. 30 However, David couldn’t go there to consult Elohim because he was frightened by the sword of Yahweh’s Messenger.
Live as God’s Chosen People
2 So get rid of every kind of evil, every kind of deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander. 2 Desire God’s pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation. 3 Certainly you have tasted that the Lord is good!
4 You are coming to Christ, the living stone who was rejected by humans but was chosen as precious by God. 5 You come to him as living stones, a spiritual house that is being built into a holy priesthood. So offer spiritual sacrifices that God accepts through Yeshua Christ. 6 That is why Scripture says,
“I am laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion,
and the person who believes in him
will never be ashamed.”
7 This honor belongs to those who believe. But to those who don’t believe:
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,
8 a stone that people trip over,
a large rock that people find offensive.”
The people tripped over the word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up.
9 However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not God’s people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.
11 Dear friends, since you are foreigners and temporary residents in the world, I’m encouraging you to keep away from the desires of your corrupt nature. These desires constantly attack you. 12 Live decent lives among unbelievers. Then, although they ridicule you as if you were doing wrong while they are watching you do good things, they will praise God on the day he comes to help you.
Respect the Authority of Others
13 Place yourselves under the authority of human governments to please the Lord. Obey the emperor. He holds the highest position of authority. 14 Also obey governors. They are people the emperor has sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15 God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right. 16 Live as free people, but don’t hide behind your freedom when you do evil. Instead, use your freedom to serve God. 17 Honor everyone. Love your brothers and sisters in the faith. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
18 Slaves, place yourselves under the authority of your owners and show them complete respect. Obey not only those owners who are good and kind, but also those who are unfair. 19 God is pleased if a person is aware of him while enduring the pains of unjust suffering. 20 What credit do you deserve if you endure a beating for doing something wrong? But if you endure suffering for doing something good, God is pleased with you.
21 God called you to endure suffering because Christ suffered for you. He left you an example so that you could follow in his footsteps. 22 Christ never committed any sin. He never spoke deceitfully. 23 Christ never verbally abused those who verbally abused him. When he suffered, he didn’t make any threats but left everything to the one who judges fairly. 24 Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so that freed from our sins, we could live a life that has God’s approval. His wounds have healed you. 25 You were like lost sheep. Now you have come back to the shepherd and bishop[a] of your lives.
The Lord Has to Remind Jonah about His Mercy
4 Jonah was very upset about this, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to Yahweh, “Yahweh, isn’t this what I said would happen when I was still in my own country? That’s why I tried to run to Tarshish in the first place. I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate El, patient, and always ready to forgive and to reconsider your threats of destruction. 3 So now, Yahweh, take my life. I’d rather be dead than alive.”
4 Yahweh asked, “What right do you have to be angry?”
5 Jonah left the city and sat down east of it. He made himself a shelter there. He sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Yahweh Elohim made a plant grow up beside Jonah to give him shade and make him more comfortable. Jonah was very happy with the plant.
7 At dawn the next day, Elohim sent a worm to attack the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, Elohim made a hot east wind blow. The sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he was about to faint. He wanted to die. So he said, “I’d rather be dead than alive.”
9 Then Elohim asked Jonah, “What right do you have to be angry over this plant?”
Jonah answered, “I have every right to be angry—so angry that I want to die.”
10 Yahweh replied, “This plant grew up overnight and died overnight. You didn’t plant it or make it grow. Yet, you feel sorry for this plant. 11 Shouldn’t I feel sorry for this important city, Nineveh? It has more than 120,000 people in it as well as many animals. These people couldn’t tell their right hand from their left.”
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve(A)
9 Yeshua called the twelve apostles together and gave them power and authority over every demon and power and authority to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to spread the message about the kingdom of God and to cure the sick.
3 He told them, “Don’t take anything along on the trip. Don’t take a walking stick, traveling bag, any food, money, or a change of clothes. 4 When you go into a home, stay there until you’re ready to leave. 5 If people don’t welcome you, leave that city, and shake its dust off your feet as a warning to them.”
6 The apostles went from village to village, told the Good News, and cured the sick everywhere.
Rumors about Jesus(B)
7 Herod the ruler heard about everything that was happening. He didn’t know what to make of it. Some people were saying that John had come back to life. 8 Others said that Elijah had appeared, and still others said that one of the prophets from long ago had come back to life.
9 Herod said, “I had John’s head cut off. Who is this person I’m hearing so much about?” So Herod wanted to see Yeshua.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand(C)
10 The apostles came back and told Yeshua everything they had done. He took them with him to a city called Bethsaida so that they could be alone. 11 But the crowds found out about this and followed him. He welcomed them, talked to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who were sick.
12 Toward the end of the day, the twelve apostles came to him. They said to him, “Send the crowd to the closest villages and farms so that they can find some food and a place to stay. No one lives around here.”
13 Yeshua replied, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish. Unless we go to buy food for all these people, that’s all we have.” 14 (There were about five thousand men.)
Then he told his disciples, “Have them sit in groups of about fifty.” 15 So they did this.
16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart and kept giving them to the disciples to give to the crowd. 17 All of them ate as much as they wanted. When they picked up the leftover pieces, they filled twelve baskets.
Peter Declares His Belief about Jesus(D)
18 Once when Yeshua was praying privately and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
19 They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, and still others say that one of the prophets from long ago has come back to life.”
20 He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, whom God has sent.”
21 He ordered them not to tell this to anyone.
Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life(E)
22 Yeshua said that the Son of Man would have to suffer a lot. He would be rejected by the leaders, the chief priests, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. He would be killed, but on the third day he would come back to life.
What It Means to Follow Jesus(F)
23 He said to all of them, “Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses every day, and follow me. 24 Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will save them. 25 What good does it do for people to win the whole world but lose their lives by destroying them? 26 If people are ashamed of me and what I say, the Son of Man will be ashamed of those people when he comes in the glory that he shares with the Father and the holy angels.
27 “I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see the kingdom of God.”
Moses and Elijah Appear with Jesus(G)
28 About eight days after he had said this, Yeshua took Peter, John, and James with him and went up a mountain to pray. 29 While Yeshua was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly, both Moses and Elijah were talking with him. 31 They appeared in heavenly glory and were discussing Yeshua’s approaching death and what he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem.
32 Peter and the men with him were sleeping soundly. When they woke up, they saw Yeshua’s glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As Moses and Elijah were leaving him, Peter said to Yeshua, “Teacher, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s put up three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Peter didn’t know what he was saying.
34 While he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them. They were frightened as they went into the cloud. 35 A voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to him!”
36 After the voice had spoken, they saw that Yeshua was alone. The disciples said nothing, and for some time they told no one about what they had seen.
Jesus Cures a Demon-Possessed Boy(H)
37 The next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met Yeshua. 38 A man in the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son. He’s my only child. 39 Whenever a spirit takes control of him, he shrieks, goes into convulsions, and foams at the mouth. After a struggle, the spirit goes away, leaving the child worn out. 40 I begged your disciples to force the spirit out of him, but they couldn’t do it.”
41 Yeshua answered, “You unbelieving and corrupt generation! How long must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here!”
42 While he was coming to Yeshua, the demon knocked the boy to the ground and threw him into convulsions.
Yeshua ordered the evil spirit to leave. He cured the boy and gave him back to his father. 43 Everyone was amazed to see God’s wonderful power.
The Son of Man Again Foretells His Betrayal(I)
Everyone was amazed at all the things that Yeshua was doing. So he said to his disciples, 44 “Listen carefully to what I say. The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people.”
45 They didn’t know what he meant. The meaning was hidden from them so that they didn’t understand it. Besides, they were afraid to ask him about what he had said.
Greatness in the Kingdom(J)
46 A discussion started among them about who would be the greatest. 47 Yeshua knew what they were thinking. So he took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. The one who is least among all of you is the one who is greatest.”
Using the Name of Jesus(K)
49 John replied, “Master, we saw someone forcing demons out of a person by using the power and authority of your name. We tried to stop him because he was not one of us.”
50 Yeshua said to him, “Don’t stop him! Whoever isn’t against you is for you.”
People from a Samaritan Village Reject Jesus
51 The time was coming closer for Yeshua to be taken to heaven. So he was determined to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead of him. They went into a Samaritan village to arrange a place for him to stay. 53 But the people didn’t welcome him, because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54 James and John, his disciples, saw this. They asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?”
55 But he turned and corrected them.[a] 56 So they went to another village.
What It Takes to Be a Disciple(L)
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to Yeshua, “I’ll follow you wherever you go.”
58 Yeshua told him, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to sleep.”
59 He told another man, “Follow me!”
But the man said, “Sir, first let me go to bury my father.”
60 But Yeshua told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You must go everywhere and tell about the kingdom of God.”
61 Another said, “I’ll follow you, sir, but first let me tell my family goodbye.”
62 Yeshua said to him, “Whoever starts to plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God.”
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.