M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
30 When Rachel saw that she had not given birth to any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I am going to die!” 2 Then Jacob became angry with Rachel. He said, “Am I taking God’s place, Who has kept you from giving birth?” 3 Then she said, “Here is Bilhah, the woman who serves me. Go in to her, and let her give birth for me. Even I may have children through her.” 4 So she gave Bilhah to him for a wife, the woman who served her. And Jacob went in to her. 5 Bilhah was going to have a child and she gave birth to a son. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has done the right thing for me. He has heard my voice and has given me a son.” So she gave him the name Dan. 7 Bilhah, the woman who served Rachel, was going to have another child. And she gave birth to another son for Jacob. 8 So Rachel said, “I have fought a hard fight with my sister, and I have won.” She gave him the name Naphtali.
9 Leah saw that she had stopped giving birth. So she took Zilpah, the woman who served her, and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 And a son was born to Jacob through Zilpah, the woman who served Leah. 11 Then Leah said, “Good things have happened to me!” So she gave him the name Gad. 12 A second son was born to Jacob through Zilpah, the woman who served Leah. 13 Then Leah said, “I am happy! For women will say that I am happy.” So she gave him the name Asher.
14 During the time of gathering grain, Reuben went out in the field and found some fruit. He brought it to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Give me some of your son’s fruit.” 15 But Leah said, “Is it not enough to take my husband? Would you take my son’s fruit also?” So Rachel said, “Jacob may lie with you tonight if you give me your son’s fruit.”
16 When Jacob came in from the field in the evening, Leah went to meet him. She said, “You must sleep with me tonight. For I have paid for you with my son’s fruit.” So he lay with her that night. 17 And God heard Leah and she gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob. 18 Leah said, “God has given me my pay because I gave my husband the woman who serves me.” So she gave him the name Issachar. 19 Leah was going to have another child and she gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob. 20 Then Leah said, “God has given me a good gift. Now my husband will live with me, because I have given birth to six sons.” So she gave him the name of Zebulun. 21 Later she gave birth to a daughter, and gave her the name Dinah.
22 Then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her, and made her able to have a child, 23 and she gave birth to a son. Then she said, “God has taken away my shame.” 24 She gave him the name Joseph, saying, “May the Lord give me another son.”
25 When Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, so I may go to my own place and my own country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served. Let me leave, for you know how much I have served you.”
27 But Laban said to him, “If now it pleases you, stay with me. I have learned that the Lord has brought good to me because of you.” 28 Then he said, “Tell me what you want to be paid, and I will pay it.”
29 Jacob said to him, “You know how much I have served you and how I have cared for your cattle. 30 For you had little before I came. But now it has become very much. The Lord has brought good to you everywhere I turned. But when will I be able to give much to those of my own house also?”
31 Laban said, “What should I pay you?” Jacob said, “Do not pay me anything. If you will do this one thing for me, I will again feed and take care of your flock. 32 Let me go through your whole flock today. Let me take out of it every sheep and every goat that has spots, and every black lamb. These will be my pay. 33 So my fair actions will answer for me later, when you come to look at what I have been paid. If you find any sheep or goat without spots or any lamb that is not black, you may think of them as stolen.” 34 And Laban said, “Good! Let it be done as you say.” 35 That day Laban took out all the male goats with spots and all the female goats with spots, every one with white on it, and every black sheep. And he put them into the care of his sons. 36 Then he traveled three days away from Jacob. And Jacob was left to care for the rest of Laban’s flocks.
37 Then Jacob took green sticks of three kinds of trees. And he cut white marks in them, showing the white which was in the sticks. 38 He took these sticks which he had cut and set them in front of the flocks, in the place where the flocks came to drink. And the animals mated when they came to drink. 39 So the flocks mated in front of the sticks. And the young that were born had spots. 40 Then Jacob divided the lambs. He made the flocks look toward Laban’s flock of the animals which were black or with spots. And he put his own flocks by themselves. He did not put them with Laban’s flock. 41 When the stronger animals of the flock were mating, Jacob would put the sticks in the water in front of the flock so they would mate by the sticks. 42 But when the flock was weak, Jacob did not put the sticks in. So the weaker animals went to Laban and the stronger ones went to Jacob. 43 Jacob became very rich. He had large flocks and camels and donkeys, and men and women servants.
John the Baptist Makes the Way Ready for the Coming of Jesus (A)
1 The Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, 2 begins with the words of the early preachers: “Listen! I will send My helper to carry the news ahead of you. He will make the way ready. 3 His voice calls out in the desert, ‘Make the way ready for the Lord. Make the road straight for Him!’” (B)
4 John the Baptist preached in the desert. He preached that people should be baptized because they were sorry for their sins and had turned from them. And they would be forgiven. 5 People from over all the country of Judea and from Jerusalem came to him. They told of their sins and were baptized by John in the Jordan River.
6 John wore clothes made of hair from camels. He had a leather belt around him. His food was locusts and wild honey. 7 He preached, saying, “One is coming after me Who is greater than I. I am not good enough to get down and help Him take off His shoes. 8 I have baptized you with water. But He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism of Jesus (C)
9 Jesus came to the Jordan River from the town of Nazareth in the country of Galilee. He was baptized by John. 10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw heaven open up. The Holy Spirit came down on Him like a dove. 11 A voice came from heaven and said, “You are My much-loved Son. I am very happy with You.”
Jesus Was Tempted (D)
12 At once the Holy Spirit sent Jesus to a desert. 13 He was tempted by Satan for forty days there. He was with wild animals but angels took care of Him.
Jesus Preaches in Galilee (E)
14 After John the Baptist was put in prison, Jesus came to the country of Galilee. He preached the Good News of God. 15 He said, “The time has come. The holy nation of God is near. Be sorry for your sins, turn from them, and believe the Good News.”
Jesus Calls Simon and Andrew (F)
16 Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee. He saw Simon and his brother Andrew putting a net into the sea. They were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them, “Follow Me. I will make you fish for men!” 18 At once they left their nets and followed Him.
Jesus Calls James and John
19 Jesus went on a little farther. He saw James and his brother John who were sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat mending their nets. 20 Jesus called them and they left their father Zebedee. He was in the boat with men who were working for him.
Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon (G)
21 Jesus and His followers went to the city of Capernaum on the Day of Rest. They went to the Jewish place of worship where Jesus taught the people. 22 The people were surprised and wondered about His teaching. He taught them as One Who had the right and the power to teach and not as the teachers of the Law.
23 There was a man in the Jewish place of worship who had a demon. The demon cried out, 24 “What do You want of us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know Who You are. You are the Holy One of God.” 25 Jesus spoke sharp words to the demon and said, “Do not talk! Come out of the man!” 26 The demon threw the man down and gave a loud cry. Then he came out of him. 27 The people were all surprised and wondered. They asked each other, “What is this? Is this a new teaching? He speaks with power even to the demons and they obey Him!” 28 At once the news about Jesus went through all the country around Galilee.
Peter’s Mother-In-law Healed (H)
29 Jesus and His followers came out of the Jewish place of worship. Then they went to the house of Simon and Andrew. James and John went with them. 30 They told Jesus about Simon’s mother-in-law who was in bed, very sick. 31 He went and took her by the hand and raised her up. At once her sickness was gone. She got up and cared for them.
Jesus Heals in Galilee (I)
32 In the evening as the sun went down, the people took all who were sick to Jesus. They took those who had demons to Him. 33 All the town gathered at the door. 34 Jesus healed those who were sick of many kinds of diseases. He put out many demons. Jesus would not allow the demons to speak because they knew Who He was.
Jesus Keeps On Preaching in Galilee (J)
35 In the morning before the sun was up, Jesus went to a place where He could be alone. He prayed there. 36 Simon and the others looked for Jesus. 37 They found Him and said, “All the people are looking for You.” 38 Jesus said to the followers, “Let us go to the towns near here so I can preach there also. That is why I came.” 39 He went through Galilee. He preached in their places of worship and put out demons.
Jesus Heals a Man with a Bad Skin Disease (K)
40 A man came to Jesus with a bad skin disease. This man got down on his knees and begged Jesus, saying, “If You want to, You can heal me.” 41 Jesus put His hand on him with loving-pity. He said, “I want to. Be healed.” 42 At once the disease was gone and the man was healed. 43 Jesus spoke strong words to the man before He sent him away. 44 He said to him, “Tell no one about this. Go and let the religious leader of the Jews see you. Give the gifts Moses has told you to give when a man is healed of a disease. Let the leaders know you have been healed.” 45 But the man went out and talked about it everywhere. After this Jesus could not go to any town if people knew He was there. He had to stay in the desert. People came to Him from everywhere.
The King Honors Mordecai
6 During that night the king could not sleep. So he had the Book of the Chronicles brought to him, and they were read to the king. 2 And it was found written what Mordecai had told him about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s servants who were door-keepers, who had planned to kill King Ahasuerus. 3 The king said, “What honor or reward has been given to Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who served him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” 4 So the king said, “Who is outside?” Now Haman had just come into the garden outside the king’s special house. He wanted to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the tower he had made ready for him. 5 The king’s servants said to him, “See, Haman is standing in the garden.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in and the king said to him, “What is to be done for the man whom the king wants to honor?” Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king want to honor more than me?” 7 Then Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king wants to honor, 8 let them bring clothing which the king wears, and the horse on which the king rides, and on whose head a crown has been placed. 9 Let the clothing and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most honored princes. Let them dress the man whom the king wants to honor and lead him on the horse through the center of the city. Have them make it known before him, ‘This is being done to the man whom the king wants to honor.’”
10 Then the king said to Haman, “Be quick to take the clothing and the horse as you have said. Do this for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate. Do not do any less than all that you have said.” 11 So Haman took the clothing and the horse. He dressed Mordecai and led him on the horse through the center of the city. And he made known before him, “This is being done to the man whom the king wants to honor.” 12 Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman went home in a hurry with his head covered and very sad. 13 Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you cannot stand against him. For sure you will fall before him.” 14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s servants came and brought Haman in a hurry to the special supper that Esther had made ready.
1 This letter is from Paul. I am a servant owned by Jesus Christ and a missionary chosen by God to preach His Good News. 2 The Good News was promised long ago by God’s early preachers in His Holy Writings. 3 It tells of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who was born as a person in the flesh through the family of King David. 4 The Holy Spirit proved by a powerful act that Jesus our Lord is the Son of God because He was raised from the dead. 5 Jesus has given us His loving-favor and has made us His missionaries. We are to preach to the people of all nations that they should obey Him and put their trust in Him. 6 You have been chosen to belong to Jesus Christ also. 7 So I write to all of you in the city of Rome. God loves you and has chosen you to be set apart for Himself. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you His loving-favor and peace.
8 First of all, I keep thanking my God, through Jesus Christ, for all of you. This is because the whole world knows of your faith in Christ. 9 God knows how I work for Him. He knows how I preach with all my heart the Good News about His Son. He knows how I always pray for you. 10 I pray that I might be able to visit you, if God wants me to. 11 I want to see you so I can share some special gift of the Holy Spirit with you. It will make you strong. 12 Both of us need help. I can help make your faith strong and you can do the same for me. We need each other.
13 Christian brothers, many times I have wanted to visit you. Something has kept me from going until now. I have wanted to lead some of you to Christ also, as I have done in other places where they did not know God. 14 I must help the people who have had a chance to hear the Good News and those who have not. I must help those with much learning and those who have never learned from books. 15 So I want to preach the Good News to you who live in Rome also.
16 I am not ashamed of the Good News. It is the power of God. It is the way He saves men from the punishment of their sins if they put their trust in Him. It is for the Jew first and for all other people also. 17 The Good News tells us we are made right with God by faith in Him. Then, by faith we live that new life through Him. The Holy Writings say, “A man right with God lives by faith.” (A)
18 We see the anger of God coming down from heaven against all the sins of men. These sinful men keep the truth from being known. 19 Men know about God. He has made it plain to them. 20 Men cannot say they do not know about God. From the beginning of the world, men could see what God is like through the things He has made. This shows His power that lasts forever. It shows that He is God. 21 They did know God, but they did not honor Him as God. They were not thankful to Him and thought only of foolish things. Their foolish minds became dark. 22 They said that they were wise, but they showed how foolish they were. 23 They gave honor to false gods that looked like people who can die and to birds and animals and snakes. This honor belongs to God Who can never die.
24 So God let them follow the desires of their sinful hearts. They did sinful things among themselves with their bodies. 25 They traded the truth of God for a lie. They worshiped and cared for what God made instead of worshiping the God Who made it. He is the One Who is to receive honor and thanks forever. Let it be so.
26 Because of this, God let them follow their sinful desires which lead to shame. Women used their bodies in ways God had not planned. 27 In the same way, men left the right use of women’s bodies. They did sex sins with other men. They received for themselves the punishment that was coming to them for their sin.
28 Because they would not keep God in their thoughts anymore, He gave them up. Their minds were sinful and they wanted only to do things they should not do. 29 They are full of everything that is sinful and want things that belong to others. They hate people and are jealous. They kill other people. They fight and lie. They do not like other people and talk against them. 30 They talk about people, and they hate God. They are filled with pride and tell of all the good they do. They think of new ways to sin. They do not obey their parents. 31 They are not able to understand. They do not do what they say they will do. They have no love and no loving-pity. 32 They know God has said that all who do such things should die. But they keep on doing these things and are happy when others do them also.
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