M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
17 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and chase David tonight. 2 I’ll catch him while he is tired and ·weak [discouraged], and I’ll ·frighten [terrorize] him so all his ·people [troops] will run away. But I’ll ·kill [strike down] only King David. 3 Then I’ll bring everyone back to you [L as a bride returns to her husband].[a] ·If the man you are looking for is dead [Since you seek the life of only one man], everyone else will ·return safely [be at peace].” 4 This plan ·seemed good to [pleased] Absalom and to all the ·leaders [elders] of Israel.
5 But Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Arkite, so I can hear what he says.” 6 When Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “This is the plan Ahithophel gave. Should we follow it? If not, ·tell us [give us your view].”
7 Hushai said to Absalom, “Ahithophel’s advice is not good this time.” 8 Hushai added, “You know your father and his men are ·strong [L mighty fighters/warriors]. They are as ·angry [fierce] as a bear that is robbed of its cubs. Your father is a ·skilled [experienced; expert] ·fighter [in war]. He won’t stay all night with the ·army [troops]. 9 He is probably already hiding in a cave or ·some other place [L pit; hollow]. ·If the first attack fails [L When some of our men fall at the first attack], people will hear the news and think, ‘Absalom’s followers are ·losing [being slaughtered]!’ 10 Then even the men who are ·as brave as lions [L valiant, with the heart of a lion] will ·be frightened [L melt/be paralyzed with fear], because all the Israelites know your father is a ·fighter [L mighty warrior]. They know his men are brave!
11 “This is what I ·suggest [advise; counsel]: Gather all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba [C in the far north and south of Israel]. There will be as many people as grains of sand by the sea. Then you ·yourself must go [personally lead them] into the battle. 12 We will ·go to [attack; come at] David wherever he is hiding. We will fall on him as dew falls on the ground. ·We will kill him and all of his men so that no one [L Neither he nor any of his men] will be left alive. 13 If David ·escapes [withdraws] into a city, all the Israelites will bring ropes to that city and pull it into the valley. Not ·a stone will be left [a pebble will be found there]!”
14 Absalom and all the Israelites said, “The ·advice [counsel] of Hushai the Arkite is better than ·that [the counsel] of Ahithophel.” (The Lord had ·planned [determined; resolved; ordained] to ·destroy [thwart; defeat; frustrate] the good ·advice [counsel] of Ahithophel so the Lord could bring ·disaster [calamity; ruin] on Absalom.)
15 Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, what Ahithophel had ·suggested [advised; counseled] to Absalom and the elders of Israel. He also reported to them what he himself had ·suggested [advised; counseled]. Hushai said, 16 “Quickly! Send a message to David. Tell him not to stay tonight at the ·crossings into the desert [fords in the wilderness] but to cross over the Jordan River at once. ·If he crosses the river, he and all his people won’t be destroyed [L Otherwise the king and everyone with him will be swallowed up].”
17 Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En Rogel. They did not want to ·be [risk being] seen going into the city, so a servant girl would go out to them and give them messages. Then Jonathan and Ahimaaz would go and tell King David.
18 But a ·boy [lad; young man] saw Jonathan and Ahimaaz and told Absalom. So Jonathan and Ahimaaz left quickly and went to a man’s house in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. 19 The man’s wife spread a ·sheet [covering] over the opening of the well and ·covered [scattered] it with grain. ·No one could tell that anyone was hiding there [L Nothing was known].
20 Absalom’s ·servants [men] came to the woman at the house and asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”
She said to them, “They have already crossed the brook.”
Absalom’s ·servants [men] then went to ·look [search] for Jonathan and Ahimaaz, but they could not find them. So they went back to Jerusalem.
21 After ·Absalom’s servants [they] left, Jonathan and Ahimaaz climbed out of the well and went to tell King David. They said, “Hurry, cross over the ·river [water]! Ahithophel has ·said [advised; counseled] these things against you!” 22 So David and all his people crossed the Jordan River. By dawn, everyone had crossed the Jordan.
23 When Ahithophel saw that the Israelites did not ·accept his advice [follow his counsel], he saddled his donkey and went to his hometown. He ·left orders for his family and property [set his affairs/house in order], and then he hanged himself. He died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
War Between David and Absalom
24 David arrived at Mahanaim. And Absalom and all ·his Israelites [L the men/army of Israel] crossed over the Jordan River. 25 Absalom had made Amasa ·captain [commander; head] of the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named ·Jether [or Ithra] the Ishmaelite.[b] Amasa’s mother was Abigail daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 Absalom and the Israelites camped in the land of Gilead.
27 Shobi, Makir, and Barzillai were at Mahanaim when David arrived. Shobi son of Nahash was from the Ammonite town of Rabbah. Makir son of Ammiel was from Lo Debar, and Barzillai was from Rogelim in Gilead. 28 They brought beds, bowls, clay pots, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, ·small peas [lentils], 29 honey, milk curds, sheep, and cheese made from ·cows’ milk [L the herd] for David and his people. They said, “The people are hungry and tired and thirsty in the ·desert [wilderness].”
Paul Defends His Ministry
10 I, Paul, ·am begging [urge; appeal to] you with the gentleness and the kindness of Christ. ·Some people say that I am [L …—I who am; C Paul is answering an accusation; see v. 10] ·easy on you [lenient; or timid] when I am with you and bold when I am away [C Paul here confronts those still resisting his authority]. 2 I ·beg [ask] you that when I ·come [am present] I will not need to use that same boldness with you that I expect to use with those who ·think [or claim] we ·live [walk] ·in a worldly way [by the world’s standards; L according to the flesh]. 3 [L For] Although we ·live in the world [L walk in the flesh], we do not ·fight [wage war] ·in the same way the world fights [L according to the flesh]. 4 We fight with weapons that are ·different from those the world uses [not merely human weapons; L not of the flesh]. Our weapons have power from God that can destroy ·the enemy’s strong places [L strongholds; fortresses]. We destroy ·people’s arguments [human reasoning; sophistries] 5 and every ·proud thing [pretension; exalted opinion; L high thing] that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it obey Christ. 6 We are ready to ·punish [avenge] ·anyone there who does not obey [L every disobedience], ·but first we want you to obey fully [L once/after your obedience is fulfilled; C once the church as a whole repents, Paul will discipline those who refuse].
7 You ·must look at the facts before you [or are looking only at outward appearances]. If you ·feel sure [are confident] that you belong to Christ, you must ·remember [consider again] that we belong to Christ just as you do. 8 ·It is true that we brag freely [L If I boast too much…] about the authority the Lord gave us. But this authority is to build you up, not to tear you down. So I will not be ashamed. 9 I do not want you to think I am trying to scare you with my letters. 10 Some people say [v. 1], “Paul’s letters are ·powerful [forceful] and ·sound important [weighty; or demanding], but ·when he is with us, he [his physical presence] is weak. And his ·speaking is nothing [speaking skills are deplorable; or speeches are worthless; C Greek culture highly valued rhetorical skill].” 11 They should ·know [consider] this: ·The authority we show by letter [L What we are in word] while we are ·away [absent], we will ·demonstrate in our actions [L be in deed] when we ·come to you [L are present].
12 [L For] We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with those who ·think they are very important [commend/promote themselves; 3:1]. They use themselves to measure themselves, and they judge themselves by what they themselves are. ·This shows that they know nothing [or What ignorance!; or What fools!]. 13 But we will not ·brag [boast] ·about things outside the work that was given us to do [L beyond the limits]. We will limit our ·bragging [boasting] to the ·work [sphere of ministry] that God gave us, ·and this includes our work with you [L which reaches even to you]. 14 [L For] We are not ·bragging too much [or going beyond our commission; L overreaching/overextending ourselves], as we would be if we had not already come to you. But we have come to you with the Good News of Christ [C Paul’s opponents claimed the Corinthians were their sphere of ministry; Paul counters that he first brought the Gospel to Corinth (Acts 18)]. 15 We limit our ·bragging [boasting] to the work that is ours, not what others have done. We hope that as your faith continues to grow, ·the scope of our work among you will greatly increase [or our work among you will greatly increase within the sphere/limits God has given us]. 16 ·We want to [L …so that we may] ·tell the Good News [preach the Gospel] in the areas beyond ·your city [L you]. We do not want to ·brag [boast] about work that has already been done in another person’s area. 17 But, “·If people want to brag, they should brag only [L Let the one who boasts, boast] about the Lord [Jer. 9:24; 1 Cor. 1:31].” 18 [L For] It is not those who ·say they are good [L commend/promote themselves; v. 12] who are ·accepted [approved] but those the Lord ·thinks are good [commends].
The Pot and the Meat
24 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me in the ninth year [C since King Jehoiachin’s exile (1:2)], in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month [C January 15, 588 bc]. He said: 2 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], write down ·today’s date [L the name of this day], this very ·date [L day]. The king of Babylon has ·surrounded [laid siege to] Jerusalem this very day. 3 And tell a ·story [parable] to the ·people who refuse to obey me [L rebellious house]. Say to them: ‘This is what the Lord God says:
Put on the pot; put it on
and pour water in it.
4 Put in the pieces of meat,
the best pieces—the ·legs [thighs] and the shoulders.
Fill it with the best bones.
5 Take the best of the flock,
and pile ·wood [or bones] under the pot.
Boil the pieces of meat
until even the bones are cooked.
6 “‘This is what the Lord God says:
·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] the city of ·murderers [L blood]!
·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] the ·rusty [corroded; rotted] pot
whose ·rust [corrosion; rot] will not come off!
Take the meat out of it, piece by piece.
·Don’t choose any special piece [or Don’t cast lots for any of it].
7 “‘The blood ·from her killings [L she shed] is still in ·the city [her midst].
She poured the blood on the bare rock.
She did not pour it on the ground
where dust would cover it.
8 To stir up my ·anger [wrath] and ·revenge [vengeance],
I put ·the blood she spilled [L her blood] on the bare rock
so it will not be covered.
9 “‘So this is what the Lord God says:
·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] the city of ·murderers [L blood]!
I myself will pile the wood high [C for burning].
10 Pile up the wood
and ·light [kindle] the fire.
Cook the meat well.
·Mix in the spices [or Pour out all the broth],
and let the bones burn.
11 Then set the empty pot on the coals
so it may become hot and its copper sides glow.
·The dirty scum stuck inside it [So that its impurities/uncleanness] may then melt
and its ·rust [corrosion; rot] burn away.
12 ·But efforts to clean the pot have failed [L It has wearied itself with toil].
Its heavy ·rust [corrosion; rot] cannot be removed,
·even in the fire [or Into the fire with its rust/corrosion!].
13 “‘By your ·sinful action [lewdness; obscenity] you have become ·unclean [defiled; C ritually]]. I wanted to cleanse you, but you are still unclean. You will never be cleansed from your sin until my ·anger [wrath] against you is ·carried out [satisfied; exhausted].
14 “‘I, the Lord, have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not ·hold back punishment [relent] or feel pity or ·change my mind [or be sorry]. I will judge you by your ways and actions, says the Lord God.’”
The Death of Ezekiel’s Wife
15 Then the ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 16 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], I am going to take ·your wife from you, the woman you look at with love [L the delight of your eyes]. ·She will die suddenly […with a stroke/blow/jolt], but you must not ·be sad [lament] or ·cry loudly [weep] for her or shed any tears. 17 Groan silently; do not ·cry loudly [mourn] for the dead. ·Tie [Wrap; Bind] on your turban [C normally taken off for mourning], and put your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your ·face [lower face; or mustache], and do not eat the ·food people eat when they are sad about a death [or food brought by others; L bread of men].”
18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.
19 Then the people asked me, “·Tell [L Won’t you tell…?] us, what do the things you are doing mean for us?”
20 Then I said to them, “The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me. He said, 21 ‘Say to the ·people [L house] of Israel, This is what the Lord God says: I am going to ·dishonor [desecrate; profane; C ritually] my ·Temple [sanctuary]. ·You are proud of the strength it gives you [L …the pride of your power] and ·you look at it with love and tenderness [L …the delight of your eyes and the desire of your soul]. But your sons and daughters that you left behind in Jerusalem will fall dead by the sword. 22 When that happens, you will act as I have: you will not cover your ·face [lower face; or mustache], and you will not eat the ·food people eat when they are sad about a death [or food brought by others; L bread of men]. 23 Your turbans will stay on your heads, and your sandals on your feet. You will not ·cry loudly [mourn or weep], but you will rot away ·in your sins [or because of your sins/iniquities] and groan to each other. 24 So Ezekiel is to be an ·example [sign; object lesson] for you. You will do all the same things he did. When all this happens, you will know that I am the Lord God.’
25 “And as for you, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], this is how it will be. I will take away ·the Temple that gives them strength and joy, that makes them proud [L their stronghold, their joy, and glory]. ·They look at it with love, and it makes them happy [L …the delight of their eyes and the desire of their soul; v. 21]. And I will take away their sons and daughters also. 26 ·At that time [L On that day] a ·person who escapes [fugitive] will come to you with information for you to hear. 27 ·At that time [L On that day] your mouth will be opened. You will speak and be silent no more. So you will be a sign for them, and they will know that I am the Lord.”
A Prayer for the King
Of Solomon.
72 God, give the king your good judgment
and the king’s son your ·goodness [righteousness].
2 Help him judge your people ·fairly [rightly]
and decide what is ·right [just] for the poor.
3 Let there be ·peace [or prosperity] on the mountains
and ·goodness [righteousness] on the hills for the people.
4 Help him be ·fair [just] to the poor
and ·save [give victory to] the ·needy [or children of the needy]
and ·punish [crush] those who ·hurt [oppress; exploit] them.
5 May they ·respect [fear] you as long as the sun
and as long as the moon, throughout the generations.
6 Let him ·be [L come down] like rain on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth.
7 Let ·goodness [righteousness] ·be plentiful [bloom forth] while he lives.
Let ·peace [or prosperity] continue ·as long as there is a [L until there is no] moon.
8 ·Let his kingdom go [L May he have dominion/rule] from sea to sea,
and from the ·Euphrates River [L river] to the ends of the earth.
9 Let the people of the ·desert [wilderness] ·bow down to [cringe/cower before] him,
and make his enemies lick the dust.
10 Let the kings of Tarshish [48:7] and the ·faraway lands [L islands]
bring him ·gifts [tribute].
Let the kings of Sheba [C an unknown location, perhaps present-day Yemen, Eritrea, or Ethiopia; see 1 Kin. 10:1–13] and Seba [C either in southern Egypt or further south; Gen. 10:7; Is. 43:3; 45:14]
bring their ·presents [tribute] to him.
11 Let all kings ·bow down [bend the knee] to him
and all nations serve him [Ps. 2].
12 He will ·help [protect] the poor when they cry out
and the needy when no one else will help.
13 He will ·be kind to [take pity on] the poor and the needy,
and he will ·save their lives [give victory to the needy].
14 He will ·save [redeem] them from ·cruel people who try to hurt them [L violence and oppression],
because their ·lives [L blood] are precious to ·him [L his eyes].
15 Long live the king!
Let him receive gold from Sheba [v. 10].
Let people always pray for him
and ·bless [praise] him all day long.
16 Let ·the fields grow plenty of grain [L there be much grain in the land/earth]
and ·the hills be covered with crops [L let there be abundance on the top of the mountains; or let it wave on the top of the mountains].
·Let the land be as fertile as Lebanon [L May its fruit be like that of Lebanon],
and let the cities grow like the grass in a field.
17 Let ·the king be famous [L his name/fame be] forever;
let ·him be remembered as long as the sun shines [L his name/fame continue as long as the sun].
Let the nations be ·blessed [praised] because of him,
and may they all ·bless [praise] him [Gen. 12:3].
18 ·Praise [Blessed be] the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does such ·miracles [wonderful things].
19 Praise his glorious name forever.
Let his glory [C manifest presence] fill the whole world.
Amen and amen.
20 This ends the prayers of David son of Jesse [C at one time it did, but see other Davidic psalms at Ps. 101, 103, 108–110, and others].
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