M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Joseph Detains Benjamin
44 Then he commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in the mouth of his sack. 2 Put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, along with his grain money.” And he did according to what Joseph had spoken.
3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. 4 When they were gone out of the city, but not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow after the men. When you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you rewarded evil for good? 5 Is this not the one from which my lord drinks and uses as he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’ ”
6 So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words. 7 They said to him, “Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from your servants that they should do such a thing. 8 Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money that we found in the top of our sacks. Why then would we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9 Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves.”
10 He said, “Now let it also be according to your words. He with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you will be blameless.”
11 Then every man hurriedly took down his sack to the ground, and every man opened his sack. 12 He searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.
14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there; and they fell to the ground before him. 15 Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?”
16 And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants. Here we are, my lord’s servants, both we and he also in whose possession the cup was found.”
17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so. The man in whose possession the cup was found shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.”
Judah’s Plea for Benjamin
18 Then Judah approached him and said, “O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and do not be angry with your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ 20 And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.’
21 “You said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, so that I may set my eyes on him.’ 22 We said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ 23 You said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’ 24 When we went back to your servant, my father, we told him the words of my lord.
25 “Our father said, ‘Go again and buy us a little food.’ 26 We said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down, for we may not see the man’s face, unless our youngest brother is with us.’
27 “Your servant, my father, said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. 28 And the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he was torn in pieces,” and I have not seen him since. 29 And if you take this one also from me and he is harmed, you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.’
30 “Now therefore when I come to your servant, my father, and the boy is not with us, as his life is bound up in the boy’s life, 31 when he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant, our father, with sorrow to the grave. 32 For your servant became surety for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I fail to bring him to you, then I shall bear the blame to my father forever.’
33 “Now therefore, please let your servant stay as a slave to my lord instead of the boy, and let the boy go up with his brothers. 34 For how can I go up to my father if the boy is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would find my father?”
The Plot to Kill Jesus(A)
14 Now the feasts of the Passover and of Unleavened Bread were two days away. And the chief priests and the scribes looked for a way to seize Him secretly and kill Him. 2 But they said “Not on the feast day, lest there will be an uproar among the people.”
The Anointing at Bethany(B)
3 While He was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at supper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of ointment, a very costly spikenard. She broke the jar and poured the ointment on His head.
4 There were some with indignation within themselves, saying, “Why was this ointment wasted? 5 It might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii[a] and given to the poor.” And they grumbled against her.
6 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 You always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish, you may do good to them. But you will not always have Me. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel will be preached throughout the whole world, what she has done will also be spoken of as a memorial to her.”
Judas’ Agreement to Betray Jesus(C)
10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. 11 When they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him silver. So he looked for how he might conveniently betray Him.
The Passover With the Disciples(D)
12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”
13 So He sent two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you there. Follow him. 14 Wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
16 His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it as He had told them. And they prepared the Passover.
17 In the evening He came with the twelve. 18 As they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me.”
19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to Him one by one, “Is it I?” and another, “Is it I?”
20 He answered them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread in the dish with Me. 21 The Son of Man indeed goes as it is written concerning Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.”
The Lord’s Supper(E)
22 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “Take and eat it. This is My body.”
23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them. And they all drank from it.
24 He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 Truly I say to you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Peter’s Denial Foretold(F)
27 Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away on account of Me this night, for it is written:
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’[b]
28 But after I have risen, I will go before you to Galilee.”
29 Peter said to Him, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
30 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you that this day, during the night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”
31 But he said more vehemently, “If I must die with You, I will not deny You.” They all said the same thing.
The Prayer in Gethsemane(G)
32 They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. And He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter and James and John with Him and began to be greatly distressed and very troubled. 34 And He said to them, “My soul is deeply sorrowful unto death. Remain here and keep watch.”
35 He went a little farther and fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 36 He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.”
37 Then He came and found them sleeping and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not keep watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
39 Again He went away and prayed the same words. 40 When He returned, He again found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And they did not know what to answer Him.
41 When He returned a third time, He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise up, let us go. Look! He who betrays Me is at hand.”
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus(H)
43 Immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
44 Now he who betrayed Him had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One. Seize Him and lead Him away safely.” 45 So as soon as he came, he went to Him immediately and said, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 46 They laid hands on Him and seized Him. 47 Then one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
48 Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would a thief? 49 Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then they all deserted Him and fled.
The Young Man Who Fled
51 A young man followed Him, wearing a linen cloth around himself. And the young men laid hold of him, 52 so he left the linen cloth, and fled from them unclothed.
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin(I)
53 They led Jesus away to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes were assembled with him. 54 Peter followed Him at a distance into the courtyard of the high priest. He sat with the guards and warmed himself by the fire.
55 Now the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin requested testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. 56 Many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.
57 Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another not made with hands.’ ” 59 But still their testimony did not agree.
60 Then the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Do You answer nothing? What is it which these men testify against You?” 61 But He kept silent and answered nothing.
Again the high priest asked Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
63 The high priest tore his robes, saying, “What need do we have of any further witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned Him as guilty unto death. 65 Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to strike Him, saying to Him, “Prophesy!” And the guards struck Him with the palms of their hands.
Peter’s Denial of Jesus(J)
66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”
68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” Then he went out to the porch, and a rooster crowed.
69 The servant girl saw him again and began to say to those who stood by, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again, he denied it.
A little while later, those who stood by said again to Peter, “Surely, you are one of them. For you are a Galilean, and your speech confirms it.”
71 Peter began to invoke a curse on himself, and to swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak.”
72 And the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought on this, he wept.
Job: I Abhor My Life
10 “My soul loathes my life;
I will freely give my complaint,
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say to God, Do not condemn me;
show me why You contend with me.
3 Is it good for You that You should oppress,
that You should despise the work of Your hands
and smile on the counsel of the wicked?
4 Do You have eyes of flesh?
Or do You see as man sees?
5 Are Your days as the days of man?
Are Your years as the days of a mortal,
6 that You inquire after my iniquity
and search after my sin?
7 You know that I am not wicked,
and there is none who can deliver out of Your hand.
8 “Your hands have shaped me and made me completely,
yet You destroy me.
9 Remember, I pray,
that You have made me as the clay.
And would You return me to dust?
10 Have You not poured me out as milk
and curdled me like cheese?
11 You have clothed me with skin and flesh,
and have knit me together with bones and sinews.
12 You have granted me life and loyal love,
and Your care has preserved my spirit.
13 “These things You have hid in Your heart.
I know that this is with You.
14 If I have sinned, then You would watch me,
and You would not acquit me from my iniquity.
15 If I am wicked, woe unto me;
and if I am righteous, yet will I not lift up my head.
I am full of shame;
look at my affliction!
16 For if my head is lifted up, You would hunt me like a lion,
and again You show Yourself marvelous to me.
17 You renew Your witnesses against me
and increase Your indignation upon me.
Your troops come against me.
18 “Why then did You bring me forth out of the womb?
Oh, that I had died, and no eye had seen me!
19 I should have been as though I had not been;
I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not my days few? Stop then,
and leave me alone that I may cheer up a little,
21 before I go and do not return,
even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death,
22 a land of darkness, as darkness itself;
and of the shadow of death, without any order,
and where the light is as thick darkness.”
Do Not Judge Your Brother
14 Welcome him who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of arguing over opinions. 2 For one has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Do not let him who eats despise him who does not eat, and do not let him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to judge another man’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for God is able to make him stand.
5 One man judges one day above another; another judges every day alike. Let each one be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day observes it for the Lord, and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who does not eat, in honor of the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. 8 For if we live, we live for the Lord. And if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, so that He might be Lord of both the dead and living.
10 So why do you judge your brother? Or why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written:
“As I live, says the Lord,
every knee shall bow to Me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”[a]
12 So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.
Do Not Make Your Brother Stumble
13 Therefore let us no longer pass judgment on one another, but rather determine not to put a stumbling block or an obstacle in a brother’s way. 14 I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 If your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what is good to you be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God does not mean eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which produce peace and the things that build up one another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but it is evil for the man who causes someone to fall by what he eats. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine, nor do anything whereby your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
22 The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it is not from faith, for whatever is not from faith is sin.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.