M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Adonijah Tries to Become King
1 At this time King David was ·very old [L old and advanced in years], and although his servants covered him with ·blankets [bedclothes], he could not keep warm. 2 They said to him, “·We will look for [Let us find] a young woman to ·care for you [L serve/wait on my lord the king]. She will lie ·close to you [L in your bosom] and keep you warm.” 3 After searching everywhere in Israel for a beautiful young woman, they found a girl named Abishag from Shunam and brought her to the king. 4 The girl was very beautiful, and she cared for the king and served him. But the king did not have sexual relations with her.
5 Adonijah was the son of King David and Haggith, and he ·was very proud [began boasting; L exalted himself]. “I will be the king,” he said. So he got chariots and ·horses [or horsemen; charioteers] for himself and fifty men ·for his personal bodyguard [L to run ahead of him]. 6 Now David had never ·interfered with [disciplined; crossed; rebuked] Adonijah by ·questioning what he did [L asking, “Why are you doing that?”]. Born next after Absalom, Adonijah was a very handsome man.
7 Adonijah ·spoke [conferred] with Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest, and they agreed to ·help [support] him. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and King David’s ·special guard [L mighty men] did not join Adonijah.
9 Then Adonijah killed some sheep, ·cows [oxen], and fat calves for sacrifices at the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring of Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the other sons of King David, to come, as well as all the men of Judah. 10 But Adonijah did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, ·his father’s special guard [L the mighty men], or his brother Solomon.
11 When Nathan heard about this, he went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. “Have you heard that Adonijah, Haggith’s son, has ·made himself [become] king?” Nathan asked. “Our ·real king, [lord] David, does not know it. 12 Now I will give you advice on how to save yourself and your son Solomon. 13 Go to King David and tell him, ‘My master and king, ·you promised [L didn’t you promise/vow/swear…?] that my son Solomon would be king and would rule on your throne after you. Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14 While you are still talking to the king, I will come in and ·tell him that what you have said about Adonijah is true [confirm your words].”
15 So Bathsheba went in to see the aged king in his bedroom, where Abishag, the girl from Shunam, was caring for him. 16 Bathsheba bowed and knelt before the king. He asked, “What do you ·want [wish]?”
17 She answered, “My master, you ·made a promise [vowed; swore] to me in the name of the Lord your God. You said, ‘Your son Solomon will surely become king after me, and he will ·rule [sit] on my throne.’ 18 But now, unknown to you, Adonijah ·has become [is] king. 19 He has killed many ·cows [oxen], fat calves, and sheep for sacrifices. And he has invited all your sons, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he did not invite Solomon, who serves you. 20 My master and king, ·all the Israelites are watching you [L the eyes of Israel are on you], waiting for you to decide who will ·be [L sit on the throne of my lord the] king after you. 21 Otherwise, as soon as ·you die [L my lord the king sleeps with his fathers/ancestors], Solomon and I will be treated as ·criminals [offenders].”
22 While Bathsheba was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23 The servants told the king, “Nathan the prophet is here.” So Nathan went to the king and ·bowed facedown [prostrated himself] on the ground before him.
24 Nathan said, “My ·master and [lord the] king, have you ·said [decreed] that Adonijah will be the king after you and that he will ·rule [sit] on your throne? 25 Today he has sacrificed many ·cows [oxen], fat calves, and sheep, and he has invited all ·your other [the king’s] sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him. They are saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 But he did not invite me, your own servant, or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your ·son [L servant] Solomon. 27 Did ·you [the lord my king] do this? Since we are your servants, why didn’t you tell us who should ·be [L sit on the throne of the lord my] king after you?”
David Makes Solomon King
28 Then the king said, “Tell Bathsheba to come in!” So she came in and stood before the king.
29 Then the king ·made this promise [vowed; swore this oath], “The Lord has ·saved [rescued; delivered] me from all ·trouble [adversity; danger; distress]. As surely as he lives, 30 I will do today what I have ·promised [vowed/sworn to] you ·in the name of [by] the Lord, the God of Israel. I ·promised [vowed/swore to] that your son Solomon would be king after me and ·rule [sit] on my throne in my place.”
31 Then Bathsheba ·bowed facedown [prostrated herself] on the ground and knelt before the king and said, “·Long live [Live forever] my ·master [lord] King David!”
32 Then King David said, “Tell Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada to come in.” When they came before the king, 33 he said to them, “Take my servants with you and put my son Solomon on my own mule. Take him down to ·the spring called Gihon [Gihon]. 34 There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet should ·pour olive oil on [L anoint] him and make him king over Israel. Blow the ·trumpet [ram’s horn] and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then come back up here with him. He will sit on my throne and ·rule [be king] in my place, because he is the one I have ·chosen [appointed] to be the ruler over Israel and Judah.”
36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “·Amen [So be it]! This is what the Lord, the God of my ·master [lord], has ·declared [decreed; ordained]! 37 The Lord has always ·helped [been with] you, our king. May he also ·help [be with] Solomon and make King Solomon’s throne an even greater throne than ·yours [L the throne of my lord King David].”
38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada left with the Kerethites and Pelethites [C king’s bodyguard]. They put Solomon on King David’s mule and took him to the spring called Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest took the ·container [flask; horn] of olive oil from the ·Holy Tent [sacred tent; L tent] and ·poured the oil on Solomon’s head to show he was the king [L anointed Solomon]. Then they blew the ·trumpet [ram’s horn], and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 All the people followed Solomon into the city. Playing flutes and ·shouting for joy [L rejoicing with great joy], they made so much noise the ·ground [earth] shook.
41 At this time Adonijah and all the guests with him ·were [heard it while] finishing their meal. When he heard the sound from the ·trumpet [ram’s horn], Joab asked, “·What does all that noise from the city mean [Why is the city in such an uproar]?”
42 While Joab was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in! You are an ·important [worthy; honest; valiant] man, so you must be bringing good news.”
43 But Jonathan answered, “No! Our master King David has made Solomon the new king. 44 King David sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and all the Kerethites and Pelethites [C king’s bodyguard] with him, and they have put Solomon on the king’s own mule. 45 Then Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet ·poured olive oil on [L anointed] Solomon at Gihon to make him king. After that they went into the city, shouting with joy. Now the whole city is ·excited [celebrating; in an uproar], and that is the noise you hear. 46 Solomon has now ·become the king [L taken his seat on the royal throne]. 47 All the ·king’s officers [royal officials/servants] have come to ·tell King David that he has done a good thing [congratulate/bless our lord King David]. They are saying, ‘May your God make ·Solomon [L Solomon’s name] even more famous than ·you [L your name] and ·an even greater king than you [L his throne/reign greater than your throne/reign].’” Jonathan continued, “And King David bowed down on his ·bed to worship God [bed], 48 saying, ‘Bless the Lord, the God of Israel. Today he has ·made one of my sons the king [L granted one to sit on my throne] and allowed me to see it.’”
49 Then all of Adonijah’s guests were ·afraid [terrified; panicked], and they left quickly and scattered. 50 Adonijah was also afraid of Solomon, so he went and took hold of the ·corners [L horns; Ex. 27:2] of the altar [C in hopes that he would not be killed in a sacred place]. 51 Then someone told Solomon, “Adonijah is afraid of you, so he is at the altar, holding on to its ·corners [L horns]. He says, ‘Tell King Solomon to promise me today that he will not ·kill me [L put his servant to death with the sword].’”
52 So Solomon answered, “·Adonijah must show that he is a man of honor. If he does that, I promise [If he is loyal/honorable/worthy,] he will not lose even a single hair from his head. But if ·he does anything wrong [he makes trouble; L evil is found in him], he will die.” 53 Then King Solomon sent some men to get Adonijah. When he was brought from the altar, he came before King Solomon and ·bowed down [prostrated himself]. Solomon told him, “Go home.”
Keep Your Freedom
5 Christ set us free ·so that we could live in freedom [to a place of freedom; or by means of freedom; 4:31]. So stand strong. Do not ·change and go back into the slavery of the law [L submit/be fastened to a yoke of slavery]. 2 Listen, I Paul tell you that if you ·go back to the law by being [L let yourself be] circumcised, Christ does you no good. 3 Again, I warn every man: If you allow yourselves to be circumcised, you ·must follow [are obligated to obey] all the law. 4 If you try to be ·made right with God [justified] through the law, ·your life with Christ is over [L you are alienated/separated/severed from Christ]—you have ·left [fallen away from] God’s grace. 5 For by the Spirit and through faith we wait eagerly for ·a right relationship with God [L righteousness]—the object of our hope. 6 ·When we are [L For] in Christ Jesus, ·it is not important if we are circumcised or not [L neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything]. The important thing is faith—the kind of faith that works through love.
7 You were running a good race. Who ·stopped [hindered] you from ·following [or obeying; or your conviction about] the ·true way [truth]? 8 This ·change [persuasion; enticement] did not come from the One who ·chose [called] you. 9 Be careful! “Just a little ·yeast [leaven; 1 Cor. 5:6–7] makes the whole batch of dough rise [C a little error will spread through the whole community].” 10 But I ·trust [L have confidence/am persuaded about you] in the Lord that you will ·not believe those different ideas [take no different view]. Whoever is ·confusing [troubling] you with such ideas will ·be punished [pay the penalty; L bear the condemnation], ·no matter who he is [L whoever he may be].
11 My brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching ·that a man must be circumcised [L circumcision; C some were evidently accusing Paul of this], why am I still being ·attacked [persecuted]? If I still taught circumcision, ·my preaching about the cross would not be a problem [the scandal/offense of the cross has been removed/abolished]. 12 I wish the people who are bothering you would ·castrate themselves [make themselves eunuchs; L cut it off]! [C Paul sarcastically says that if circumcision is so helpful, why not go even further?]
13 My brothers and sisters, God called you to ·be free [L freedom], but do not use your freedom as an ·excuse to do what pleases [opportunity/occasion for] your ·sinful self [sinful nature; flesh]. [L But; Rather] Serve each other with love. 14 [L For] The whole law is ·made complete [summed up; fulfilled] in this one command: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself [Lev. 19:18].” 15 [L But] If you go on ·hurting each other and tearing each other apart [L biting and devouring one another], be careful, or you will completely ·destroy [or consume] each other.
The Spirit and Human Nature
16 So I tell you: ·Live [Walk] ·by following [guided by; in the power of; L by] the Spirit. Then you will not do what your ·sinful self [sinful nature; T flesh] ·wants [desires; craves]. 17 Our ·sinful self [sinful nature; T flesh] ·wants [desires] what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit ·wants [desires] what is against our ·sinful self [sinful nature; T flesh]. [L For] The two are ·against [opposed to; or hostile toward] each other, so you cannot do just what you ·please [want]. 18 But if the Spirit is leading you, you are not under the law.
19 The ·wrong things the sinful self does [works of the flesh/sinful nature] are ·clear [evident; obvious]: ·being sexually unfaithful [sexual immorality], ·not being pure [impurity], ·taking part in sexual sins [depravity; promiscuity], 20 ·worshiping gods [idolatry], ·doing witchcraft [sorcery], ·hating [hostility; antagonism], ·making trouble [discord; strife], being jealous, ·being angry [rage], ·being selfish [rivalries], ·making people angry with each other [dissensions], ·causing divisions among people [factions], 21 feeling envy, being drunk, ·having wild and wasteful parties [carousings; orgies], and doing other things like these. I warn you now as I warned you before: Those who do these things will not inherit God’s kingdom. 22 But the ·Spirit produces the fruit of [L fruit of the Spirit is] love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, ·faithfulness [or faith], 23 gentleness, self-control. ·There is no law that says these things are wrong [or No law can oppose such things]. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified ·their own sinful selves [the sinful nature; the flesh]. They have given up ·their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do [L its passions and desires]. 25 ·We [L If/Since we…] ·get our new life from the Spirit [live by the Spirit], so we should ·follow [be guided by; walk in step with] the Spirit. 26 We must not be ·proud [conceited] or ·make trouble with [provoke] each other or be ·jealous [envious] of each other.
A Funeral Song
32 It was in the twelfth year [C since King Jehoiachin’s exile (1:2)], in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month [C March 3, 585 bc]. The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 2 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], sing a ·funeral song [lament; dirge] about Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Say to him:
‘You are like a young lion [19:1–9] among the nations.
You are like a ·crocodile [or monster; or dragon; 29:4] in the seas.
You ·splash [thrash] around in your streams
and stir up the water with your feet,
making the rivers muddy.
3 “‘This is what the Lord God says:
I will spread my net over you,
and I will use a ·large group of [assembly of many] people
to ·pull [haul] you up in my net.
4 Then I will ·throw [cast; or abandon] you on the land
·dropping [hurling] you onto the ·ground [open field].
I will let the birds of the ·sky [heavens] ·rest [settle] on you
and all the animals of the earth ·eat you until they are full [gorge themselves on you; Rev. 19:21].
5 I will scatter your flesh on the mountains
and fill the valleys with ·what is left of you [your remains; L your height].
6 I will drench the land with your flowing blood
as far as the mountains,
and the ravines will be full of your flesh.
7 When I ·make you disappear [snuff/blot you out],
I will cover the ·sky [heavens] and make the stars dark.
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
and the moon will not shine.
8 I will make all the shining lights in the ·sky [heavens]
become dark over you;
I will bring darkness over your land,
says the Lord God.
9 I will ·cause many people to be afraid [L trouble the hearts of many peoples]
when I bring ·you as a captive into other [or about your destruction among the] nations,
to lands you have not known.
10 I will cause many people to be shocked about you.
Their kings will tremble with ·fear [horror] because of you
when I ·swing [brandish] my sword in front of them.
They will ·shake [tremble] every moment
on the day ·you fall [of your downfall];
each ·king [one] will ·be afraid [tremble] for his own life.
11 “‘So this is what the Lord God says:
The sword of the king of Babylon
will attack you.
12 I will cause your people to fall
by the swords of mighty soldiers,
the most ·terrible [ruthless] ·in the world [of nations].
They will ·destroy [shatter] the pride of Egypt
and all its ·people [L hordes/armies will be destroyed].
13 I will also destroy all Egypt’s cattle
that live alongside much water.
The foot of a human will not ·stir [disturb] the water,
and the hoofs of cattle will not muddy it anymore.
14 So I will let ·the Egyptians’ [L their] water ·become clear [or calm; L sink; settle].
I will cause their rivers to run ·as smoothly as [L like] olive oil,
says the Lord God.
15 When I make the land of Egypt ·empty [a desolation]
and ·take [strip out; empty] everything that is in the land,
when I ·destroy [strike down] all those who live in Egypt,
then they will know that I am the Lord.’
16 “This is the ·funeral song [lament; dirge] people will sing for Egypt. The ·women [L daughters] of the nations will ·sing [chant] it; they will ·sing [chant] it for Egypt and all ·its people [her hordes/armies], says the Lord God.”
Egypt to Be Destroyed
17 It was in the twelfth year [C since King Jehoiachin’s exile (1:2)], on the fifteenth day of the month [C March 17, 585 bc]. The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 18 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], ·cry [wail] for the people of Egypt. Bring down Egypt, together with the ·women [L daughters] of the powerful nations; bring them down to the ·place of the dead below the earth [underworld; world below] to join those who go to the ·place of the dead [L pit]. 19 Say to them: ‘Are you more ·beautiful [or favored] than others? Go lie down [C in death] with ·those who are unclean [L the uncircumcised].’ 20 ·The Egyptians [L They] will fall among those killed ·in war [L by the sword]. The sword is ·ready [drawn; or appointed]; ·the enemy [L they] will drag Egypt and all her ·people [hordes; armies] away. 21 From the ·place of the dead [L midst of Sheol] the ·leaders of the mighty ones [or mighty leaders; warrior chiefs] will speak ·about [or to] ·the king of Egypt and the nations which help him [L him and his allies]: ‘The ·unclean [L uncircumcised], those killed ·in war [L by the sword], have come down here and ·lie dead [L lie].’
22 “Assyria and all its ·army [assembly; company] lie dead there. ·The graves of their soldiers [L Its graves] are all around. All were ·killed in war [L struck down by the sword], 23 and their graves were put in the deepest parts of the ·place of the dead [L pit]. ·Assyria’s army [L Her assembly/company] lies around its grave. When they ·lived on earth [L were in the land of the living], they ·frightened people [spread terror], but now all of them have been ·killed in war [L struck down by the sword].
24 “The nation of Elam [C a country east of Assyria; present-day Iran] is there with all its ·army [hordes] around its grave. All of them were ·killed in war [L struck down by the sword]. They had ·frightened people [L spread terror] ·on earth [L in the land of the living] and so went down ·unclean [L uncircumcised] to the ·lowest parts of the place of the dead [underworld; world below]. They must carry their shame with those who have gone down to the ·place of the dead [L pit]. 25 A ·bed [resting place] has been made for Elam [v. 24] ·with all those killed in war [among the slain]. The graves of her ·soldiers [hordes] are all around her. All Elam’s people are ·unclean [L uncircumcised], killed ·in war [L by the sword]. They ·frightened people [spread terror] ·when they lived on earth [L in the land of the living], but now they must carry their shame with those who have gone down to the ·place of the dead [L pit]. ·Their graves are [or They are assigned a place; L They are set] with the rest who were killed.
26 “·Meshech and Tubal [or Meshech-tubal; C people from Asia Minor, southeast of the Black Sea; 27:13] are there with the graves of all their ·soldiers [hordes] around them. All of them are ·unclean [uncircumcised] and have been killed ·in war [L by the sword]. They also ·frightened people [spread terror] ·when they lived on earth [L in the land of the living]. 27 But they ·are not buried [L do not lie] with the ·other soldiers who were killed in battle [fallen warriors of] long ago,[a] those who went with their weapons of war to ·the place of the dead [L Sheol]. These soldiers had their swords laid under their heads and their ·shields [or iniquities; guilt] resting on their ·bodies [L bones]. These mighty soldiers used to ·frighten [terrorize] people ·when they lived on earth [L in the land of the living].
28 “You [C addressing Pharaoh, king of Egypt] will be broken and lie among ·those who are unclean [L the uncircumcised], who were killed ·in war [L by the sword].
29 “Edom is there also, with its kings and all its ·leaders [princes]. They were mighty, but now they lie [C in death] with those killed ·in war [L by the sword], with those who are ·unclean [L uncircumcised], with those who have gone down to the ·place of the dead [L pit].
30 “All the ·rulers [princes] of the north and all the Sidonians are there. Their strength frightened people, but they have gone down in shame with those who were killed. They are ·unclean [L uncircumcised], lying with those killed ·in war [L by the sword]. They carry their shame with those who have gone down to the ·place of the dead [L pit].
31 “·The king of Egypt [L Pharaoh] and his army will see ·these who have been killed in war [L them]. Then he will be comforted for all his ·soldiers [hordes] killed ·in war [L by the sword], says the Lord God. 32 I ·made people afraid of the king of Egypt [or terrified him] ·while he lived on earth [L in the land of the living]. But he and all his ·people [hordes; armies] will lie among those who are ·unclean [L uncircumcised], who were killed ·in war [L by the sword], says the Lord God.”
A Prayer to Bring Israel Back
For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies of the Agreement.” A psalm of Asaph [C a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; 1 Chr. 6:39; 15:17; 2 Chr. 5:12].
80 Shepherd of Israel, ·listen to us [give ear].
You ·lead [guide] the people of Joseph [C the northern empire of Israel] like a flock.
You sit on your throne between the ·gold creatures with wings [L cherubim; Ex. 25:18–22; 1 Kin. 8:7].
·Show your greatness [L Shine forth] 2 to the people of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.
·Use [Arouse] your strength,
and come to ·save us [give us victory].
3 God, ·take us back [restore us].
·Show us your kindness [L Make your face shine on us; 31:16; 67:1; Num. 6:24–26] so we can ·be saved [have victory].
4 Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts],
how long will you ·be angry [L smoke/fume at us]
at the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed your people ·with tears [L the bread/food of tears];
you have made them drink ·many tears [tears by measure/L the third].
6 You made ·those around us fight over us [L us the strife of our neighbors],
and our enemies ·make fun of [ridicule] us.
7 God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], ·take us back [restore us].
·Show us your kindness [L Make your face shine on us; 31:16; 67:1; Num. 6:24–26] so we can ·be saved [have victory].
8 You brought ·us out of Egypt as if we were a vine [L a vine out of Egypt; Gen. 49:22; Is. 5:1–7; 27:2–6; Jer. 2:21; 12:10; Ezek. 15:1–8; 19:10–14; Hos. 10:1].
You ·forced out [dispossessed] other nations and planted us in the land.
9 You cleared the ground for us.
We took root and filled the land.
10 We covered the mountains with our shade.
We had branches like the mighty cedar tree.
11 Our branches reached the Mediterranean Sea,
and our shoots went to the Euphrates River.
12 So why did you ·pull [break] down our walls?
Now everyone who passes by ·steals from us [picks our fruit].
13 Like ·wild pigs [L boars of the forest] they ·walk over us [ravage us; gobble us up];
like ·wild animals [L creatures of the field] they feed on us.
14 God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], ·come back [restore us].
Look down from heaven and see.
Take care of us, your vine.
15 You planted this ·shoot [root] with your own hands
and strengthened this child [C the king].
16 Now it is cut down and burned with fire;
you destroyed us by ·your angry looks [L the rebuke of your face].
17 ·With your hand,
strengthen the one you have chosen for yourself [L Let your hand be on the man of your right hand; C the king].
18 Then we will not ·turn away from [deviate from; be disloyal to] you.
Give us life again, and we will call ·to you for help [L on your name].
19 Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], ·take us back [restore us].
·Show us your kindness [L Make your face shine on us; 31:16; 67:1; Num. 6:24–26] so we can ·be saved [have victory].
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