M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Hannah’s Thanksgiving Psalm
2 Then Hannah prayed:
“My heart exults in the Lord;
my strength[a] is increased by the Lord.
I will open my mouth to speak[b] against my enemies,
because I rejoice in your deliverance.
2 Indeed,[c] there is no one holy like the Lord,
indeed, there is no one besides you,
there is no rock like our God.
3 Don’t continue to talk proudly,
and don’t speak arrogantly,
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of warriors are shattered,[d]
but those who stumble are equipped with[e] strength.
5 Those who had an abundance of bread
now hire themselves out,
and those who were hungry
hunger no more.[f]
While the barren woman gives birth to seven children,[g]
she who had many children languishes.
6 The Lord kills and gives life,
he brings people down to where the dead are[h]
and he raises them up.
7 The Lord makes people poor
and he makes people rich,
he brings them low,
and he also exalts them.
8 He raises the poor up from the dust,
he lifts up the needy from the trash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
Indeed the pillars of the earth belong to the Lord,
and he has set the world on them.
9 He guards the steps[i] of his faithful ones,
while the wicked are made silent[j] in darkness.
He grants the request of the one who prays.[k]
He blesses the year of the righteous.[l]
Indeed it’s not by strength that a person prevails.
10 The Lord will shatter his enemies[m]
—those who contend against him.
Who is holy?[n]
The one who will thunder[o] against them in the heavens.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth,
he will give strength to his king,
and he will increase the strength of His anointed one.”
11 Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah, while the boy was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.
Eli’s Wicked Sons
12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men who did not know the Lord. 13 The custom of the priests with the people was that whenever a person offered a sacrifice, a servant[p] of the priest would come with a three pronged fork in his hand while the meat was boiling, and[q] 14 he would stick it into the boiler or pot,[r] and take everything[s] the fork brought up—that is, the priest would take it for himself. This is what they were supposed to do with all the Israelis who came there to Shiloh. 15 But even before they burned the fat, the servant of the priest would come and say to the person offering the sacrifice, “Give me meat to roast for the priest. He won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.”
16 If the man told him[t], “They must surely[u] burn up the fat first, and then take for yourself whatever[v] you desire,” the servant would say, “No,[w] give it now, and if you don’t,[x] I’ll take it by force!”[y] 17 By doing this, the sin of the young men was very serious in the Lord’s sight because the men[z] despised the Lord’s offering.
Samuel at Shiloh
18 Now Samuel was ministering in the Lord’s presence, as a boy wearing a linen ephod.[aa] 19 His mother would make a small robe for him, and she would bring it each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say,[ab] “May the Lord give[ac] you descendants[ad] from this woman in place of the one she dedicated[ae] to the Lord.” Then they would return to their[af] home.[ag]
21 The Lord took note of Hannah,[ah] and she became pregnant and gave birth to[ai] three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel continued to grow,[aj] and the Lord was constantly[ak] with him.
Judgment against Eli’s Sons
22 Now Eli was very[al] old, and he had heard everything that[am] his sons were doing[an] to the Israelis,[ao] and how they lay with the women who were serving regularly[ap] at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 23 “Why are you doing these things that I’m hearing about?” he asked his sons,[aq] “These reports about your evil deeds are coming from all these[ar] people! 24 No, my sons, I’m not hearing good news being circulated by the Lord’s people. 25 If a person sins[as] against another, God[at] will mediate for him,[au] but if a person sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?”
But they would not follow the advice of[av] their father; for the Lord wanted to put them to death. 26 But the boy Samuel continued to grow both physically and in favor with the Lord and the people.
27 A man of God came to Eli, saying to him,[aw] “This is what the Lord says: ‘When they were in Egypt and slaves[ax] to the house of Pharaoh, did I not reveal[ay] to the family of your ancestor Aaron[az] 28 that I had chosen him[ba] out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer up burnt offerings on my altar, burn incense, and carry[bb] the ephod in my presence? And did I not give to your ancestors’ family all the Israeli fire-offerings? 29 Why, then, do all of you show contempt for[bc] my sacrifice and offering that I’ve commanded for my[bd] dwelling? And you honor your sons more than me in order to fatten yourselves[be] from the best of all the offerings of my people Israel.’[bf]
30 “Therefore, the Lord God of Israel has declared, ‘I did, in fact, say[bg] that your family and your ancestor’s family would walk before me forever,’ but now the Lord declares, ‘Far be it from me! The one who honors me I’ll honor, and the one who despises me is to be treated with contempt. 31 The time is coming when I’ll cut away[bh] at your family[bi] and your ancestor’s family[bj] until there are no old men left in your family. 32 Distress will settle down to live in your household, and despite all the good that I do for Israel,[bk] there will never be an old man in your family forever, and you will never again have an old man in my house.[bl] 33 Any of you whom I don’t eliminate from serving at my altar will grow tired from weeping,[bm] and their[bn] souls will grieve. All the increase of your family will die by violence.[bo] 34 Here’s a sign for you—your two sons Hophni and Phineas will both die on the same day! 35 And I’ll raise up for myself a faithful[bp] priest who will do according to what is in my heart and according to my desire. I’ll build for him an enduring[bq] house and he will walk before my anointed one forever. 36 Anyone who remains in your family will come and prostrate themselves before him for a small wage[br] or a loaf of bread and will say,[bs] “Please put me in one of the priest’s offices so I can eat a piece of bread.”’”
God will Judge Everyone
2 Therefore, you have no excuse—every one of you who judges. For when you pass judgment on another person, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who act like this is based on[a] truth. 3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on those who practice these things and then do them yourself, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or are you unaware of his rich kindness, forbearance, and patience, that it is God’s kindness that is leading you to repent?
5 But because of your stubborn and unrepentant heart you are reserving wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 For he will repay everyone according to what that person has done: 7 eternal life to those who strive for glory, honor, and immortality by patiently doing good; 8 but wrath and fury for those who in their selfish pride refuse to believe the truth and practice wickedness instead. 9 There will be suffering and anguish for every human being who practices doing evil, for Jews first and for Greeks as well. 10 But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who practices doing good, initially for Jews but also for Greeks as well, 11 because God does not show partiality.
12 For all who have sinned apart from the Law will also perish apart from the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law. 13 For it is not merely those who hear the Law who are righteous in God’s sight. No, it is those who follow the Law, who will be justified. 14 For whenever gentiles, who do not possess the Law, do instinctively what the Law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the Law. 15 They show that what the Law requires is written in their hearts, a fact to which their own consciences testify, and their thoughts will either accuse or excuse them 16 on that day when God, through Jesus the Messiah,[b] will judge people’s secrets according to my gospel.
Who is a Jew?
17 Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the Law, and boast about God, 18 and know his will, and approve of what is best because you have been instructed in the Law; 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 an instructor of ignorant people, and a teacher of infants because you have the full content of knowledge and truth in the Law— 21 as you teach others, do you fail to teach yourself? As you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 As you forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? As you abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 As you boast about the Law, do you dishonor God by breaking the Law? 24 As it is written, “God’s name is being blasphemed among the gentiles because of you.”[c]
25 For circumcision is valuable if you observe the Law, but if you break the Law, your having been circumcised has no more value than if you were uncircumcised. 26 So if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the requirements of the Law, his uncircumcision will be regarded as circumcision, won’t it? 27 The man who is uncircumcised physically but who keeps the Law will condemn you who break the Law, even though you have the written Law[d] and circumcision. 28 For a person is not a Jew because of his appearance, nor is circumcision something just external and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, brought about by the Spirit, not by a written law.[e] That person’s praise will come from God, not from people.
Jeremiah Chooses to Remain in Judah
40 This is[a] the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had released him from Ramah, when he was bound in chains, along with all the exiles from Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken into exile in Babylon.
2 The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and told him, “The Lord your God has predicted this disaster on this place. 3 And now the Lord has brought it about and has done just as he said. Because you people sinned against the Lord and didn’t obey him, this has happened to you. 4 Now, look, I’ve freed you today from the chains that were on your hands. If you want[b] to come with me to Babylon, come, and I’ll look after you. But if you don’t want[c] to come with me to Babylon, don’t.[d] Look, the whole land lies before you, so go wherever it seems good and right for you to go.”
5 When he still did not respond, Nebuzaradan said,[e] “Return to Ahikam’s son Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and remain with him among the people—or go wherever it seems right for you to go.” Then the captain of the guard gave him an allowance of food and a gift and sent him off. 6 Jeremiah came to Ahikam’s son Gedaliah at Mizpah, and he remained with him among the people who were left in the land.
Gedaliah and the Community in Judah
7 All the leaders of the forces who were in the field along with their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Ahikam’s son Gedaliah over the men, women, children, and the poor of the land who had not been taken into exile in Babylon. 8 Those who came to Gedaliah at Mizpah included Nethaniah’s son Ishmael, Jonathan, Kareah’s son Jonathan, Tanhumeth’s son Seraiah, Ephai’s sons from Netophah; and Jezaniah, the son of a man from Maacah. They came along with[f] their men.
9 Ahikam’s son Gedaliah, the grandson of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men: “Don’t be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Remain in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and things will go well for you. 10 As for me, I’ll remain at Mizpah to represent you before[g] the Chaldeans who come to us. As for you, gather wine, summer fruit, and oil. Put it in your containers and live in your cities that you have taken over.”
11 All the Judeans who were in Moab, those with the people in Ammon, those in Edom, and those in all the other[h] countries also heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant for Judah and that he had appointed Ahikam’s son Gedaliah, the grandson of Shaphan, over them. 12 So all the Judeans returned from all the countries where they had been scattered. They came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and they gathered wine and summer fruit in great abundance.
A Plot against Gedaliah
13 Kareah’s son Jonathan and all leaders of the forces who were in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. 14 They told him, “Are you aware that Baalis, the king of the people of Ammon, has sent Nethaniah’s son Ishmael to take your life?” But Ahikam’s son Gedaliah did not believe them.
15 Then Kareah’s son Jonathan spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah: “Let me go kill Nethaniah’s son Ishmael, and no one will know. Why should he take your life? Otherwise[i] all the Judeans who have gathered around you will be scattered, and the remnant of Judah will perish.”
16 Ahikam’s son Gedaliah replied to Kareah’s son Jonathan, “Don’t do this! You’re lying about Ishmael!”
A Davidic Psalm.
Welcomed into God’s Presence
15 Lord, who may stay in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy mountain?
2 The one who lives with integrity,
who does righteous deeds,
and who speaks truth to himself.
3 The one who does not slander with his tongue,
who does no evil to his neighbor,
and who does not destroy his friend’s reputation.
4 The one who despises those who are utterly wicked,
but who honors the one who fears the Lord,
who keeps his word even when it hurts and does not change,
5 who does not loan his money with interest,
and who does not take a bribe against those who are innocent.
The one who does these things will stand firm[a] forever.
A special Davidic Psalm.[b]
Trust in the Face of Death
16 Keep me safe, God,
for I take refuge in you.
2 I told the Lord,
“You are my master,[c]
I have nothing good apart from you.”
3 As for the saints that are in the land,
they are noble, and all my delight is in them.
4 Those who hurry after another god[d] will have many sorrows;
I will not present[e] their drink offerings of blood,
nor will my lips speak[f] their names.
5 The Lord is my inheritance and my cup;
you support my lot.
6 The boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places for me;
truly, I have a beautiful heritage.
7 I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;
indeed, my conscience instructs[g] me during the night.
8 I have set the Lord before me continuously;
because he stands at my right hand, I will stand firm.[h]
9 Therefore, my heart is glad,
my whole being[i] rejoices,
and my body will dwell securely.
10 For you will not leave my soul in Sheol,[j]
you will not allow your holy one to experience corruption.[k]
11 You cause me to know the path of life;
in your presence is joyful abundance,
at your right hand there are pleasures forever.
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