M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Jethro’s Counsel
18 Now (A)Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife (B)Zipporah, after he had sent her away, 3 and her (C)two sons, of whom [a]one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been (D)a [b]sojourner in a foreign land.” 4 [c]And the other was named [d](E)Eliezer, for he said, “(F)The God of my father was my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses [e]in the wilderness where he was camped, at (G)the mount of God. 6 And he [f]sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” 7 Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and (H)he bowed down and (I)kissed him; and they (J)asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 And Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians (K)for Israel’s sake, all the (L)hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how (M)Yahweh had delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced over all (N)the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, that He had delivered [g]them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “(O)Blessed be Yahweh who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that (P)Yahweh is greater than all the gods; [h]for (Q)in this matter they acted presumptuously against [i]the people.” 12 (R)Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat [j]a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
13 Now it happened the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. 14 And Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, so he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me (S)to inquire of God. 16 When they have a (T)matter, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17 And Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 (U)You will surely wear out, both yourself and [k]these people who are with you, for the [l]task is too heavy for you; (V)you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to my voice: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. [m]You be the people’s representative before God, and you (W)bring the matters to God; 20 (X)then warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them (Y)the way in which they shall go and the work they shall do. 21 But you shall [n]select (Z)excellent men out of all the people, (AA)those who fear God, men of truth, those who (AB)hate greedy gain; and you shall place these men over them as leaders of thousands, [o]of hundreds, [p]of fifties, and [q]of tens. 22 And they will judge the people at all times. And it will be (AC)that every major matter they will bring to you, but every minor matter they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and (AD)they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to [r]endure, and all [s]these people also will go to [t]their place in peace.”
24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 And Moses chose (AE)excellent men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, [u]of hundreds, [v]of fifties, and [w]of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all times; (AF)the difficult matter they would bring to Moses, but every minor matter they themselves would judge. 27 Then Moses [x](AG)let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.
The Widow’s Offering
21 (A)And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And He saw a poor widow putting [a]in (B)two [b]lepta. 3 And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them. 4 For they all put in their gifts out of their abundance; but she, out of what she lacked, put in all [c]that she had (C)for living.”
5 (D)And while some were talking about the temple, that it had been adorned with beautiful stones and dedicated gifts, He said, 6 “As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which (E)there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down.”
7 So they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the [d]sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And He said, “See to it that you are not deceived; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘(F)I am He,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ (G)Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.”
Signs of Christ’s Return
10 Then He continued saying to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, 11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be terrors and great [e]signs from heaven.
12 “But before all these things, (H)they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, [f]bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. 13 (I)It will result in [g]an opportunity for your testimony. 14 (J)So set in your hearts not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; 15 for (K)I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. 16 But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 17 and you will be hated by all because of My name. 18 Yet (L)not a hair of your head will perish. 19 (M)By your perseverance you will gain your [h]lives.
20 “But when you see Jerusalem (N)surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. 21 Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of [i]the city must leave, and (O)those who are in the countryside must not enter [j]the city; 22 because these are (P)days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for (Q)there will be great distress upon the [k]land and wrath against this people, 24 and they will fall by (R)the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations, and (S)Jerusalem will be (T)trampled under foot by the Gentiles until (U)the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
When Christ Returns
25 “And there will be [l]signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the [m]world; for the powers of [n]the heavens will be shaken. 27 (V)And then they will see (W)the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because (X)your redemption is drawing near.”
The Parable of the Fig Tree
29 Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they put forth leaves and you see it for yourselves, (Y)know that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that (Z)the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I say to you, this [o]generation will not pass away until all things take place. 33 (AA)Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
34 “(AB)But be on guard, so that your hearts will not be overcome with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; 35 for it will come upon all those who inhabit the face of all the earth. 36 But (AC)keep on the alert at all times, praying earnestly that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to (AD)stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Now [p]during the day He was (AE)teaching in the temple, but [q](AF)during the night He would go out and spend it on [r](AG)the mount called “of [s]Olives.” 38 And all the people would get up (AH)early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.
Elihu Says God Gives the Afflicted Justice
36 Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Wait for me a little, and I will show you
That there [a]is yet more to be said in God’s behalf.
3 I will take up my knowledge from afar,
And I will ascribe (A)righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly (B)my words are not a lie;
One who is [b](C)perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Behold, God is mighty but does not (D)reject;
He is (E)mighty in the power of His heart.
6 He does not (F)keep the wicked alive,
But gives justice to (G)the afflicted.
7 He does not (H)withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But (I)with kings on the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
8 And if they are bound in fetters,
And are caught in the cords of (J)affliction,
9 Then He declares to them their work
And their transgressions, that they have (K)magnified themselves.
10 (L)He opens their ear to discipline,
And (M)says that they return from wickedness.
11 If they hear and serve Him,
They will (N)end their days in prosperity
And their years in (O)pleasures.
12 But if they do not hear, they shall pass away (P)by a weapon
And they will (Q)breathe their last without knowledge.
13 But the godless in heart lay up anger;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 [c]They die in youth,
And their life perishes among the (R)cult prostitutes.
15 He delivers the afflicted in [d]their (S)affliction,
And (T)opens their ear in [e]time of oppression.
16 Then indeed, He (U)enticed you from the mouth of distress,
Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
And the comfort of your table full of [f]fatness.
17 “But you were full of (V)judgment on the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Beware lest (W)wrath entice you to scoffing;
And do not let the greatness of the (X)atonement turn you aside.
19 Will your [g]cries keep you from distress,
Or all the forces of your power?
20 Do not long for (Y)the night,
When people [h]vanish in their place.
21 Be careful, do (Z)not turn to wickedness,
For you have chosen this to (AA)affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a (AB)teacher like Him?
23 Who has appointed Him His way,
And who has said, ‘(AC)You have worked out [i]unrighteousness’?
24 “Remember that you should (AD)exalt His work,
Of which men have (AE)sung.
25 All men have beheld it;
Man looks from afar.
26 Behold, God is (AF)exalted, and (AG)we do not know Him;
The (AH)number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For (AI)He draws up the drops of water,
They distill rain for His [j]stream,
28 Which the clouds pour down,
They drip upon man abundantly.
29 Can anyone discern the (AJ)spreading of the clouds,
The (AK)thundering of His [k]pavilion?
30 Behold, He spreads His [l]lightning about Him,
And He covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by these He (AL)judges peoples;
He (AM)gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with the [m]lightning,
And (AN)commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its (AO)thundering declares about Him;
The cattle also, concerning what is coming up.
Commendable Ministers of God
6 And (A)working together with Him, (B)we also plead with you not to receive (C)the grace of God in vain— 2 for He says,
“(D)At the acceptable time I listened to you,
And on the day of salvation I helped you.”
Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— 3 (E)giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, 4 but in everything (F)commending ourselves as (G)ministers of God, (H)in much perseverance, in afflictions, in distresses, in hardships, 5 in (I)beatings, in imprisonments, in (J)disturbances, in labors, in sleeplessness, in (K)hunger, 6 in purity, in (L)knowledge, in (M)patience, in kindness, in the (N)Holy Spirit, in (O)unhypocritical love, 7 in (P)the word of truth, in (Q)the power of God; by (R)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8 by glory and (S)dishonor, by (T)evil report and good report; regarded as (U)deceivers and yet (V)true; 9 as unknown and yet well-known, as (W)dying and yet behold, (X)we live; as [a]punished and yet not put to death, 10 as (Y)sorrowful but always (Z)rejoicing, as (AA)poor but making many rich, as (AB)having nothing and yet possessing (AC)all things.
11 (AD)Our mouth [b]has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our (AE)heart is opened wide. 12 You are not restrained [c]by us, but (AF)you are restrained in your own [d]affections. 13 Now in a like (AG)exchange—I speak as to (AH)children—open wide to us also.
14 (AI)Do not be unequally yoked with (AJ)unbelievers; for what (AK)partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what (AL)harmony has Christ with [e]Belial, or [f]what has a (AM)believer in common with an (AN)unbeliever? 16 Or (AO)what agreement has a [g]sanctuary of God with idols? For we are (AP)a sanctuary of (AQ)the living God; just as God said,
“(AR)I will (AS)dwell in them and (AT)walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17 (AU)Therefore, (AV)come out from their midst and be separate,” says the [h]Lord.
“And do not touch what is unclean,
And I will welcome you.
18 (AW)And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be (AX)sons and daughters to Me,”
says the [i]Lord Almighty.
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