M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
37 Next Bezalel made the Ark. This was constructed of acacia wood and was 3-3/4 feet long, 2-1/4 feet wide, and 2-1/4 feet high. 2 It was plated with pure gold inside and out, and had a molding of gold all the way around the sides. 3 There were four gold rings fastened into its four feet, two rings at each end. 4 Then he made poles from acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, 5 and put the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark, to carry it.
6 Then, from pure gold, he made a lid called “the place of mercy”; it was 3-3/4 feet long and 2-1/4 feet wide. 7 He made two statues of Guardian Angels of beaten gold and placed them at the two ends of the gold lid. 8 They were molded so that they were actually a part of the gold lid—it was all one piece. 9 The Guardian Angels faced each other, with outstretched wings that overshadowed the place of mercy, looking down upon it.
10 Then he made a table, using acacia wood, 3 feet long, 1-1/2 feet wide, and 2-1/4 feet high. 11 It was overlaid with pure gold, with a gold molding all around the edge. 12 A rim 4 inches high was constructed around the edges of the table, with a gold molding along the rim. 13 Then he cast four rings of gold and placed them into the four table legs, 14 close to the molding, to hold the carrying poles in place. 15 He made the carrying poles of acacia wood covered with gold. 16 Next, using pure gold, he made the bowls, flagons, dishes, and spoons to be placed upon this table.
17 Then he made the lampstand, again using pure, beaten gold. Its base, shaft, lamp-holders, and decorations of almond flowers were all of one piece. 18 The lampstand had six branches, three from each side. 19 Each of the branches was decorated with identical carvings of blossoms. 20-21 The main stem of the lampstand was similarly decorated with almond blossoms, a flower on the stem beneath each pair of branches; also a flower below the bottom pair and above the top pair, four in all. 22 The decorations and branches were all one piece of pure, beaten gold. 23-24 Then he made the seven lamps at the ends of the branches, the snuffers, and the ashtrays, all of pure gold. The entire lampstand weighed 107 pounds, all pure gold.
25 The incense altar was made of acacia wood. It was 18 inches square and 3 feet high, with its corner-horns made as part of the altar so that it was all one piece. 26 He overlaid it all with pure gold and ran a gold molding around the edge. 27 Two gold rings were placed on each side, beneath this molding, to hold the carrying poles. 28 The carrying poles were gold-plated acacia wood.
29 Then, from sweet spices, he made the sacred oil for anointing the priests, and the pure incense, using the techniques of the most skilled perfumers.
16 “I have told you these things so that you won’t be staggered by all that lies ahead.[a] 2 For you will be excommunicated from the synagogues, and indeed the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing God a service. 3 This is because they have never known the Father or me. 4 Yes, I’m telling you these things now so that when they happen you will remember I warned you. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.
5 “But now I am going away to the one who sent me; and none of you seems interested in the purpose of my going; none wonders why.[b] 6 Instead you are only filled with sorrow. 7 But the fact of the matter is that it is best for you that I go away, for if I don’t, the Comforter won’t come. If I do, he will—for I will send him to you.
8 “And when he has come he will convince the world of its sin, and of the availability of God’s goodness, and of deliverance from judgment.[c] 9 The world’s sin is unbelief in me; 10 there is righteousness available because I go to the Father and you shall see me no more; 11 there is deliverance from judgment because the prince of this world has already been judged.
12 “Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t understand it now. 13 When the Holy Spirit, who is truth, comes, he shall guide you into all truth, for he will not be presenting his own ideas, but will be passing on to you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He shall praise me and bring me great honor by showing you my glory. 15 All the Father’s glory is mine; this is what I mean when I say that he will show you my glory.
16 “In just a little while I will be gone, and you will see me no more; but just a little while after that, and you will see me again!”
17-18 “Whatever is he saying?” some of his disciples asked. “What is this about ‘going to the Father’? We don’t know what he means.”
19 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I mean? 20 The world will greatly rejoice over what is going to happen to me, and you will weep. But your weeping shall suddenly be turned to wonderful joy when you see me again.[d] 21 It will be the same joy as that of a woman in labor when her child is born—her anguish gives place to rapturous joy and the pain is forgotten. 22 You have sorrow now, but I will see you again and then you will rejoice; and no one can rob you of that joy. 23 At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything, for you can go directly to the Father and ask him, and he will give you what you ask for because you use my name. 24 You haven’t tried this before, but begin now.[e] Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and your cup of joy will overflow.
25 “I have spoken of these matters very guardedly, but the time will come when this will not be necessary and I will tell you plainly all about the Father. 26 Then you will present your petitions over my signature![f] And I won’t need to ask the Father to grant you these requests, 27 for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from the Father. 28 Yes, I came from the Father into the world and will leave the world and return to the Father.”
29 “At last you are speaking plainly,” his disciples said, “and not in riddles. 30 Now we understand that you know everything and don’t need anyone to tell you anything.[g] From this we believe that you came from God.”
31 “Do you finally believe this?” Jesus asked. 32 “But the time is coming—in fact, it is here—when you will be scattered, each one returning to his own home, leaving me alone. Yet I will not be alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.”
13 A wise youth accepts his father’s rebuke; a young mocker doesn’t.
2 The good man wins his case by careful argument; the evil-minded only wants to fight.
3 Self-control means controlling the tongue! A quick retort can ruin everything.
4 Lazy people want much but get little, while the diligent are prospering.
5 A good man hates lies; wicked men lie constantly[a] and come to shame.
6 A man’s goodness helps him all through life, while evil men are being destroyed by their wickedness.
7 Some rich people are poor, and some poor people have great wealth!
8 Being kidnapped and held for ransom never worries the poor man!
9 The good man’s life is full of light. The sinner’s road is dark and gloomy.
10 Pride leads to arguments; be humble, take advice, and become wise.
11 Wealth from gambling quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but when dreams come true at last, there is life and joy.[b]
13 Despise God’s Word and find yourself in trouble. Obey it and succeed.
14 The advice of a wise man refreshes like water from a mountain spring. Those accepting it become aware of the pitfalls on ahead.
15 A man with good sense is appreciated. A treacherous man must walk a rocky road.
16 A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t and even brags about it!
17 An unreliable messenger can cause a lot of trouble. Reliable communication permits progress.
18 If you refuse criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept criticism, you are on the road to fame.
19 It is pleasant to see plans develop. That is why fools refuse to give them up even when they are wrong.
20 Be with wise men and become wise. Be with evil men and become evil.
21 Curses chase sinners, while blessings chase the righteous!
22 When a good man dies, he leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren; but when a sinner dies, his wealth is stored up for the godly.
23 A poor man’s farm may have good soil, but injustice robs him of its riches.
24 If you refuse to discipline your son, it proves you don’t love him; for if you love him, you will be prompt to punish him.
25 The good man eats to live, while the evil man lives to eat.[c]
6 Children, obey your parents; this is the right thing to do because God has placed them in authority over you. 2 Honor your father and mother. This is the first of God’s Ten Commandments that ends with a promise. 3 And this is the promise: that if you honor your father and mother, yours will be a long life, full of blessing.
4 And now a word to you parents. Don’t keep on scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful. Rather, bring them up with the loving discipline the Lord himself approves, with suggestions and godly advice.
5 Slaves, obey your masters; be eager to give them your very best. Serve them as you would Christ. 6-7 Don’t work hard only when your master is watching and then shirk when he isn’t looking; work hard and with gladness all the time, as though working for Christ, doing the will of God with all your hearts. 8 Remember, the Lord will pay you for each good thing you do, whether you are slave or free.
9 And you slave owners must treat your slaves right, just as I have told them to treat you. Don’t keep threatening them; remember, you yourselves are slaves to Christ; you have the same Master they do, and he has no favorites.
10 Last of all I want to remind you that your strength must come from the Lord’s mighty power within you. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand safe against all strategies and tricks of Satan. 12 For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.
13 So use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will still be standing up.
14 But to do this, you will need the strong belt of truth and the breastplate of God’s approval. 15 Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the Good News of peace with God. 16 In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. 17 And you will need the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God.
18 Pray all the time. Ask God for anything in line with the Holy Spirit’s wishes. Plead with him, reminding him of your needs, and keep praying earnestly for all Christians everywhere. 19 Pray for me, too, and ask God to give me the right words as I boldly tell others about the Lord and as I explain to them that his salvation is for the Gentiles too. 20 I am in chains now for preaching this message from God. But pray that I will keep on speaking out boldly for him even here in prison, as I should.
21 Tychicus, who is a much-loved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work, will tell you all about how I am getting along. 22 I am sending him to you for just this purpose: to let you know how we are and be encouraged by his report.
23 May God give peace to you, my Christian brothers, and love, with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 May God’s grace and blessing be upon all who sincerely love our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sincerely, Paul
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.