M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
24 Now Abraham was old and stricken in years; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 Therefore Abraham said to his eldest servant of his house (who had the rule over all that he had), “Put now your hand under my thigh;
3 and I will make you swear by the LORD God of Heaven, and God of the Earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell.
4 “But you shall go to my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son, Isaac.”
5 And the servant said to him, “What if the woman will not come with me to this land? Shall I take your son back to the land from where you came?”
6 To whom Abraham answered, “Beware that you do not take my son there again.
7 “The LORD God of Heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land where I was born; and Who spoke to me, and Who swore to me, saying, ‘To your seed I will give this land’, He shall send His Angel before you; and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
8 “Nevertheless, if the woman will not follow you, then you shall be discharged of this, my oath. Only do not bring my son there again.”
9 Then the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his master, and swore to him over this matter.
10 So the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master, and departed (for he had all his master’s goods in his hand). So he arose and went to Aram Naharaim, to the city of Nahor.
11 And he made his camels lie down outside the city, by a well of water, in the evening, about the time that the women come out to draw water.
12 And he said, “O LORD God of my master Abraham, I beg You, send me good speed this day; and show mercy to my master, Abraham.
13 “Lo, I stand by the well of water while the men’s daughters of this city come out to draw water.
14 “Grant, therefore, that the maid to whom I say, ‘Please bow down your pitcher, so that I may drink’, if she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels drink’, may she be the one You have ordained for Your servant, Isaac. And thereby I shall know that You have shown mercy on my master.”
15 And now — before he had left speaking — behold, Rebekah came out (the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother) with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
16 And the maid was very fair to look upon, a virgin and unknown by man. And she went down to the well and filled her pitcher and came up.
17 Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.”
18 And she said, “Drink, sir.” And she hurried and let down her pitcher upon her hand and gave him drink.
19 And when she had given him drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have drunk enough.”
20 And she speedily poured out her pitcher into the trough and ran back to the well to draw water; and she drew for all his camels.
21 So the man wondered at her, and held his peace, to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 And when the camels had finished drinking, the man took a golden earring of half a shekel in weight, and two bracelets for her hands weighing ten shekels of gold.
23 And he said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge in?”
24 Then she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.”
25 Moreover, she said to him, “We have straw, also, and enough provision and room to lodge in.”
26 And the man bowed himself and worshipped the LORD,
27 and said, “Blessed be the LORD God of my master, Abraham; Who has not withdrawn His mercy and His truth from my master. When I was on the way, the LORD brought me to my master’s brother’s house.”
28 And the maid ran and told those of her mother’s house, according to these words.
29 Now Rebekah had a brother called Laban. And Laban ran to the man, to the well.
30 For when he had seen the earrings and bracelets in his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “Thus said the man to me…”, then he went to the man; and lo, he stood by the camels at the well.
31 And he said, “Come in you blessed of the LORD. Why do you stand outside, seeing I have prepared the house and room for the camels?”
32 Then the man came into the house; and he unsaddled the camels and brought straw and provision for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the men’s feet who were with him.
33 Afterward, the food was set before him. But he said, “I will not eat until I have said my message.” And he said, “Speak on.”
34 Then he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.
35 “And the LORD has blessed my master wonderfully, so that he has become great. For He has given him sheep, and cattle, and silver, and gold, and men servants, and maid servants, and camels, and donkeys.
36 “And Sarah, my master’s wife, has borne a son to my master when she was old. And to him he has given all that he has.
37 “Now my master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites (in whose land I dwell).
38 ‘But you shall go to my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son.’
39 “Then I said to my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’
40 “Who answered me, ‘The LORD, before Whom I walk, will send His Angel with you, and prosper your journey; and you shall take a wife for my son from my kindred and my father’s house.
41 ‘Thus shall you be discharged of my oath: If you come to my kindred and they do not give you one, you shall be free from my oath.’
42 “So I came this day to the well, and said, ‘O LORD, the God of my master, Abraham, if You now prosper my journey on which I go,
43 ‘behold, I stand by the well of water when a virgin comes forth to draw water. And I say to her, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink.”
44 “And she says to me, ‘Drink, and I will also draw for your camels’, let her be the wife which the LORD has prepared for your master’s son.’
45 “And before I had made an end of speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder. And she went down to the well, and drew water. Then I said to her, ‘Please give me drink.’
46 “And she quickly took down her pitcher from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels drink.’ So I drank, and she also gave the camels drink.
47 “Then I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she answered, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son (whom Milcah bore to him).’ Then I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.
48 “And I bowed down and worshipped the LORD and blessed the LORD God of my master, Abraham, Who had brought me the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son.
49 “Now, therefore, if you will deal mercifully and truly with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, so that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.”
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, and said, “This thing has proceeded from the LORD. Therefore, we cannot say to you evil or good.
51 “Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her and go, so that she may be your master’s son’s wife, even as the LORD has said.”
52 And when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself toward the Earth, to the LORD.
53 Then the servant took forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave to Rebekah. He also gave gifts to her brother and to her mother.
54 Afterward, they ate and drank — he, and the men who were with him — and remained all night. And when they rose up in the morning, he said, “Let me depart to my master.”
55 Then her brother and her mother answered, “Let the maid remain with us at least ten days; then she shall go.”
56 But he said to them, “Do not hinder me, seeing the LORD has prospered my journey. Send me away, so that I may go to my master.”
57 Then they said, “We will call the maid and ask her consent.”
58 And they called Rebekah, and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she answered, “I will go.”
59 So they let their sister Rebekah, and her nurse, go with Abraham’s servant and his men.
60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said to her, “You are our sister. Grow into thousand thousand’s; and your seed possess the gate of his enemies.”
61 Then Rebekah arose, and her maids, and rode upon the camels, and followed the man; and the servant took Rebekah and departed.
62 Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi (for he dwelt in the South country).
63 And Isaac went out to pray in the field, toward the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, the camels came.
64 Also, Rebekah lifted up her eyes. And when she saw Isaac, she dismounted the camel.
65 (For she had said to the servant, “Who is yonder man who comes in the field to meet us?” And the servant had said, “It is my master.”) So she took a veil and covered herself.
66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
67 Afterward, Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah, his mother. And he took Rebekah. And she was his wife. And he loved her. So, Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
23 Then Jesus spoke to the multitude, and to His disciples,
2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
3 “Therefore, all of whatever they ask you to observe, observe and do. But do not imitate their deeds, for they do not do as they say.
4 “For they bind heavy burdens, and hard to bear, and lay them on man’s shoulders. But they themselves will not lift a finger to move them.
5 “They do all their works to be seen by man. For they make their phylacteries broad, and the fringes of their garments long.
6 “And they love the chief place at feasts, and to have the chief seats in the assemblies;
7 “and greetings in the markets, and to be called by man, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’
8 “But do not be called, ‘Rabbi’. For One is your Master - Christ, and all of you are brothers.
9 “And call no man your father upon the Earth. For there is but One, your Father Who is in Heaven.
10 “Do not be called ‘Masters’. For One is your Master - Christ.
11 “But the one who is greatest among you, let him be your servant.
12 “For whoever will exalt himself shall be brought low. And whoever will humble himself shall be exalted.
13 “Therefore, woe to you, scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven before man. For you yourselves do not go in, nor do you allow those who wish entrance to come in.
14 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, even under a pretense of long prayers. Therefore, you shall receive the greater damnation.
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! For you traverse sea and land to make one proselyte. And when he is made, you make him twofold more a child of Hell than you yourselves!
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the Temple, it is nothing. But whoever swears by the gold of the Temple, he sins.’
17 “You fools, and blind! Which is greater, the gold or the Temple that sanctifies the gold?
18 “And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing. But whoever swears by the offering upon it, sins.’
19 “You fools, and blind! Which is greater, the offering or the altar which sanctifies the offering?
20 “Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things thereupon.
21 “And whoever swears by the Temple, swears by it and by Him Who dwells therein.
22 “And the one who swears by Heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him Who sits thereupon.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! For you tithe mint and anise and cumin, and leave the weightier matters of the law, judgment, and mercy and fidelity. These you ought to have done, and not to have left the other.
24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! For you make clean the outside of the cup and the platter. But inside they are full of bribery and excess.
26 “You blind Pharisee! First, cleanse the inside of the cup and platter, so that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs which appear beautiful outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all filthiness.
28 “So are you also. For outward you appear righteous to man, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the Prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous,
30 “and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in the blood of the Prophets.’
31 “So then you are witnesses to yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the Prophets.
32 “And you fill up the measure of your fathers.
33 “O serpents! The generation of vipers! How shall you escape the damnation of Hell!
34 “Therefore, behold, I send to you Prophets, and wise men, and scribes. And some of them you shall kill and crucify. And some of them you shall scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city.
35 “So that upon you may come all the righteous blood that was shed upon the Earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous to the blood of Zechariah the son of Berechiah, whom you killed between the Temple and the altar.
36 “Truly I say to you that all these things shall come upon this generation.
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem; who kills the Prophets and stones those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together - as the hen gathers her chickens under her wings - and you would not!
38 “Behold, your house shall be left to you desolate.
39 “For I say to you, you shall not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the One Who comes in the Name of the Lord’.”
13 And on that day, they read in the Book of Moses, in the audience of the people. And in it was found written that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not enter into the Congregation of God
2 because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them, so that he would curse them. And our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3 Now, when they had heard the Law, they separated from Israel all those who were mixed.
4 And prior to this, Eliashib the Priest had oversight of the chamber of the House of our God, being a kinsman to Tobiah:
5 And he had made himself a great chamber. And previously they had laid the offerings there: the incense, the vessels, the tithes of corn, of wine, and of oil (appointed for the Levites and the singers and the gatekeepers) and the offerings of the priests.
6 But I was not in Jerusalem during this time. For in the thirty-second year of Artachshashta, king of Babel, I came to the king. And after some days, I asked leave of the king.
7 And when I had come to Jerusalem, I understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in that he had made himself a chamber in the court of the House of God,
8 And it grieved me severely. Therefore, I cast forth all the vessels of the house of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9 And I commanded them to cleanse the chambers. And I brought back the vessels of the House of God with the Meat Offering and the incense.
10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given, and that everyone had fled to his land (the Levites and singers who executed the work).
11 Then I complained to the rulers and said, “Why is the House of God forsaken?” And I assembled them and set them in their place.
12 Then all Judah brought the tithes of grain and of wine and of oil to the treasures.
13 And I made treasurers over the treasures: Shelemiah the Priest and Zadok the scribe and Pedaiah of the Levites. And under their hand was Hanan, the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah. For they were counted faithful. And their duty was to distribute to their brethren.
14 Remember me, O my God, in this. And do not wipe out my kindness that I have shown on the House of my God, and on its duties.
15 In those days, I saw those who trod wine presses on the Sabbath in Judah, and who brought in sheaves, and who also loaded donkeys with wine, grapes, and figs, and all burdens, and brought them into Jerusalem on the Sabbath Day. And I protested to them on the day that they sold provisions.
16 Men of Tyre also dwelt there, who brought fish and all wares and sold to the children of Judah in Jerusalem on the Sabbath.
17 Then I reproved the rulers of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, and break the Sabbath Day?
18 “Did not your fathers do the same, and our God brought all this plague upon us and upon this city? Yet you increase the wrath upon Israel in breaking the Sabbath!”
19 And when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded to shut the gates, and charged that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I set some of my servants at the gates, so that there would be no burden brought in on the Sabbath Day.
20 So, the traders and merchants of all kinds of goods remained once or twice all night outside Jerusalem.
21 And I reproved them, and said to them, “Why do you stay all night around the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time, they no longer came on the Sabbath.
22 And I said to the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath Day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and pardon me according to Your great mercy.
23 Also in those days, I saw Jews who married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab.
24 And half their children spoke in the language of Ashdod and could not speak in the Jews’ language (and according to the language of the people), but of other people.
25 Then I reproved them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair and took an oath from them by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons. Nor shall you take of their daughters to your sons or for yourselves.
26 “Did not Solomon, the king of Israel, sin by these things? Yet, there was no king like him among many nations. For he was beloved by his God. And God had made him king over Israel. Yet, strange women caused him to sin.
27 “Shall we then obey you, to do all this great evil, and to transgress against our God, to marry strange wives?”
28 And of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the High Priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. But I chased him from me.
29 Remember them, O my God, who defile the Priesthood and the Covenant of the Priesthood, and of the Levites.
30 Then I cleansed them from all strangers and appointed the duties of the priests and of the Levites (each one in his service),
31 and for the offering of the wood at the times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, in goodness.
23 And Paul looked earnestly at the Council, and said, “Men! Brothers! I have in all good conscience served God until this day...”
2 Then the High Priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitened wall! For you sit to judge me according to the Law. And transgressing the Law, you command me to be struck?”
4 And those who stood by, said, “You revile God’s High Priest?!”
5 Then Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the High Priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.’”
6 But when Paul perceived that part of them were of the Sadducees, and another of the Pharisees, he cried in the Council, “Men! Brothers! I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I am accused of the hope and resurrection of the dead.”
7 And when he had said this, there was a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, so that the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit. But the Pharisees confess both.
9 Then there was a great outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ part rose up and contended fiercely with them, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”
10 And when there was a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing Paul might have been pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
11 Now the night following, the Lord stood by him, and said, “Be of good courage, Paul, for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so also must you bear witness in Rome.
12 And when the day had come, some of the Jews assembled and bound themselves with a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 And there were more than forty of them who hatched this plot.
14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn curse, that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.
15 “Now therefore, you and the Council send word to the chief captain as though you wanted to inquire further about him, so that he will bring him forth to you tomorrow. And we will be ready to kill him before he comes near.”
16 But when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered into the castle and told Paul.
17 And Paul called one of the Centurions to him, and said, “Take this young man to the chief captain. For he has something to tell him.”
18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, “Paul, the prisoner, called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”
19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went away with him alone, and asked him, “What have you to tell me?”
20 And he said, “The Jews have conspired to ask if you would bring forth Paul tomorrow into the Council, as though they would inquire further about him.
21 “But do not let them persuade you. For they have set an ambush for him, more than forty men, who have bound themselves with a curse that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. And now they are ready and await your promise.”
22 The chief captain then let the young man go, after he had instructed him to tell no one that he had told him these things.
23 And he called two certain Centurions to him, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night.
24 “And let them make horses ready. So that, being set upon, Paul he may be safely brought to Felix the Governor.”
25 And he wrote a letter in this manner:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most noble Governor Felix, sends greeting.
27 “As this man was taken by the Jews, and would have been killed by them, I came upon them with a garrison, and rescued him, perceiving that he was a Roman.
28 “And when I wanted to know the reason why they accused him, I brought him forth into their Council.
29 “I perceived that he was accused about questions of their Law, but had no crime worthy of death, or of bonds.
30 “And when it was told to me that the Jews had prepared an ambush for the man, I immediately sent him to you, and commanded his accusers to state before you the things which they had against him. Farewell.”
31 Then, as commanded, the soldiers took Paul by night and brought him to Antipatris.
32 And the next day, they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned into the Castle.
33 Now when they came to Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the Governor, and also presented Paul to him.
34 So, after the Governor had read it, he asked from what province he was. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia,
35 he said, “I will hear you once your accusers have also come.” And he commanded that he be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
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