M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

12 These are the kings of the land whom the sons of Israel won the war against east of the Jordan. They took their land from the Arnon valley to Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah to the east. ² There was Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the side of the Arnon valley, and from the center of the valley and half of Gilead as far as the river Jabbok, beside the Ammonites. ³ And he ruled the Arabah as far as the Sea of Chinneroth in the east, and as far as the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, east toward Beth-jeshimoth and south to the bottom of the hills of Pisgah. ⁴ And they took the land of Og, king of Bashan, one of the Rephaim who were still living. Og lived at Ashtaroth and Edrei. ⁵ He ruled over Mount Hermon and Salecah and all Bashan. He ruled as far as the land of the Geshurites, the Maacathites, and half of Gilead, as far as the land of Sihon, king of Heshbon. ⁶ The Lord’s servant Moses and the people of Israel won the war against them. Moses the Lord’s servant gave their land to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-family group of Manasseh.

⁷ These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the sons of Israel won the war against west of the Jordan, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon as far as Mount Halak which goes up to Seir. (Joshua gave their land as a gift to the family groups of Israel, by each one’s share. ⁸ He gave them the hill country, the valleys, the Arabah, the hill-sides, the desert, and the Negev. It was the land of the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite.) ⁹ There was the king of Jericho, the king of Ai which is beside Bethel, ¹⁰ the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, ¹¹ the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, ¹² the king of Eglon, and the king of Gezer. ¹³ There was the king of Debir, the king of Geder, ¹⁴ the king of Horman, the king of Arad, ¹⁵ the king of Libnah, the king of Adullam, ¹⁶ the king of Makkedah, and the king of Bethel. ¹⁷ There was the king of Tappuah, the king of Hepher, ¹⁸ the king of Aphek, the king of Lasharon, ¹⁹ the king of Madon, the king of Hazor, ²⁰ the king of Shimron-meron, and the king of Achshaph. ²¹ There was the king of Taanach, the king of Megiddo, ²² the king of Kedesh, the king of Jokneam in Carmel, ²³ the king of Dor in the high-lands of Dor, the king of Goiim in Gilgal, ²⁴ and the king of Tirzah. There were thirty-one kings in all.

13 Now Joshua was old. He had lived many years. The Lord said to him, “You are old and have lived many years. And there is very much land yet to be taken. ² This is the land that is left. There is all the land of the Philistines and the Geshurites, ³ from the Shihor east of Egypt as far as the land of Ekron in the north (it is thought of as Canaanite). There are the five rulers of the Philistines, those of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, Ekron, and those of the Avvim. ⁴ In the south, there is all the land of the Canaanite, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, as far as Aphek, to the land of the Amorite, ⁵ and the land of the Gebalite. There is all of Lebanon east from Baal-gad at the base of Mount Hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. ⁶ I will drive out from in front of the people of Israel all those living in the hill country from Lebanon as far as Misrephoth-maim, all the Sidonians. Give the land as a gift to Israel, as I have told you. ⁷ Divide this land for a gift to the nine families and to the half-family group of Manasseh.”

⁸ The other half-family group, the Reubenites and the Gadites received their gift of land which Moses gave them east of the Jordan, just as the Lord’s servant Moses gave it to them. ⁹ It spread from Aroer, beside the Arnon valley, and the city in the center of the valley, and the plain of Medeba as far as Dibon, ¹⁰ and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon. And it went as far as the land of the Ammonites, ¹¹ and Gilead, and the land of the Geshurites and Maacathites. They received all Mount Hermon, all Bashan as far as Salecah, ¹² and all the nation of Og in Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth and Edrei. (He alone was left of the Rephaim still living.) For Moses had won the war against them and had driven them out. ¹³ But the people of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites. For Geshur and Maacath live among Israel to this day. ¹⁴ Moses did not give any land to the family of Levi. Gifts given on the altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their share, as He said to him.

¹⁵ Moses gave land to the family group of the Reubenites by their families. ¹⁶ Their land was from Aroer beside the Arnon valley, and the city in the center of the valley, and all the plain by Medeba, ¹⁷ with Heshbon and all its cities on the plain. There was Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Bethbaal-meon, ¹⁸ Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, ¹⁹ Kiriathaim, Sibmah. There was Zereth-shahar on the hill of the valley, ²⁰ Beth-peor, the hill-sides of Pishgah, and Beth-jeshimoth. ²¹ There were all the cities of the plain, and all the nation of Sihon king of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon. Moses won the war against Sihon and the leaders of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land. ²² The sons of Israel also killed with the sword Balaam, the son of Beor, the one who told what would happen in the future. ²³ The side of the land belonging to the people of Reuben was the Jordan. This is what was given to the people of Reuben for their families with their cities and towns.

²⁴ Moses gave land to the family group of the Gadites for their families. ²⁵ Their land was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead. And it was half the land of the Ammonites, as far as Aroer which is east of Rabbah. ²⁶ It went from Heshbon as far as Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim as far as the land of Debir. ²⁷ In the valley there was Bethharam, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon. They were given the rest of the nation of Sihon king of Heshbon, with the Jordan along its side. It went up to the south end of the Sea of Chinnereth east of the Jordan. ²⁸ This is what was given to the people of Gad for their families with their cities and towns.

²⁹ Moses gave land to the half-family group of Manasseh. It was divided among the families of the half-family group of the sons of Manasseh. ³⁰ Their land was from Mahanaim through all Bashan, all the nation of Og king of Bashan. It was all the towns of Jair which are in Bashan, sixty cities. ³¹ It was half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei, the cities of the nation of Og in Bashan. These were given to the people of Machir the son of Manasseh, for half of the sons of Machir by their families.

³² These are the lands which Moses divided in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan east of Jericho. ³³ But Moses did not give any land to the family of Levi. The Lord, the God of Israel, is their share, as He had told them.

A Song of Praise

145 I will praise You, my God and King. I will honor Your name forever and ever. ² I will honor You every day, and praise Your name forever and ever. ³ The Lord is great and our praise to Him should be great. He is too great for anyone to understand. ⁴ Families of this time will praise Your works to the families-to-come. They will tell about Your powerful acts. ⁵ I will think about the shining-greatness of Your power and about Your great works. ⁶ Men will speak of Your powerful acts that fill us with fear. And I will tell of Your greatness. ⁷ Many words will come from their mouths about how good You are. They will sing for joy about how right You are.

⁸ The Lord is full of loving-favor and pity, slow to anger and great in loving-kindness. ⁹ The Lord is good to all. And His loving-kindness is over all His works. ¹⁰ All Your works will give thanks to You, O Lord. And all those who belong to You will honor You. ¹¹ They will speak of the shining-greatness of Your holy nation, and talk of Your power. ¹² They will make Your powerful acts and the great power of Your holy nation known to the sons of men. ¹³ Your holy nation is a nation that lasts forever. And Your rule lasts for all time.

¹⁴ The Lord holds up all who fall. He raises up all who are brought down. ¹⁵ The eyes of all look to You. And You give them their food at the right time. ¹⁶ You open Your hand and fill the desire of every living thing.

¹⁷ The Lord is right and good in all His ways, and kind in all His works. ¹⁸ The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. ¹⁹ He will fill the desire of those who fear Him. He will also hear their cry and will save them. ²⁰ The Lord takes care of all who love Him. But He will destroy all the sinful. ²¹ My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord. And all flesh will honor His holy name forever and ever.

Armies around Jerusalem

6 “Run away to be safe, O sons of Benjamin! Run from Jerusalem! Blow the horn in Tekoa, and light a fire in Beth-haccerem. For a sinful power is coming down from the north, that will destroy much. ² I will cut off the beautiful and fine ones, the people of Zion. ³ Shepherds and their flocks will come to her. They will set up their tents around her and feed their flocks there, each in his place. ⁴ Make war against her. Rise up, let us go and fight her at noon. It is bad for us, for the day is passing! The shadows of the evening are longer! ⁵ Rise up, let us go and fight in the night and destroy her strong houses!” ⁶ For the Lord of All says, “Cut down her trees, and build a battle-wall against Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished. There is nothing but a sinful power that makes hard times for others within her. ⁷ As a well keeps its water good for drinking, so Jerusalem keeps going on in her sin. The sounds of those who fight and those who destroy are heard in her. Sickness and sorrow are always before Me. ⁸ Listen about the danger, O Jerusalem, or I will become a stranger to you. I will make you a waste, a land with no people.”

Israel Will Not Listen

⁹ The Lord of All says, “They will gather all the people of Israel who are left like gathering from the vine. Pass your hand over the branches again like one who gathers grapes.” ¹⁰ Whom should I tell of the danger, that they may hear? See, their ears are closed and they cannot listen. They have become ashamed of the Word of the Lord. They have no joy in it. ¹¹ But I am full of the anger of the Lord. I am tired of holding it in. “Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the young men gathered together. For both husband and wife will be taken, the old and those who have lived a very long time. ¹² Their houses, their fields and their wives will be given to others. I will put out My hand against the people of the land,” says the Lord. ¹³ “For from the least to the greatest of them, every one is always wanting something. And from the man of God to the religious leader, every one lies to get what he wants. ¹⁴ They have healed the hurt of My people only a little, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. ¹⁵ Were they ashamed because of the sinful things they had done? No, they were not ashamed at all. They did not even know how to turn red. So they will fall among those who fall. When I punish them, they will be brought down,” says the Lord.

Israel Will Not Go God’s Way

¹⁶ The Lord says, “Stand by where the roads cross, and look. Ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it. And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ ¹⁷ I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the horn!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’ ¹⁸ So hear, O nations, and know, O people, what will happen to them. ¹⁹ Hear, O earth. See, I am bringing much trouble upon these people. It is the fruit of their plans, because they have not listened to My words. And they have turned away from My law. ²⁰ Why does special perfume come to Me from Sheba, or sweet spices from a far away land? I will not receive your burnt gifts on the altar in worship. The gifts you give on the altar are not pleasing to Me.” ²¹ So the Lord says, “See, I am laying things in front of these people, and they will fall over them. Fathers and sons will fall together, and neighbor and friend will die.”

Armies from the North

²² The Lord says, “See, a people is coming from the north country. A great nation is being raised up from the farthest parts of the earth. ²³ They take hold of bow and spear. They are hard on people and have no pity. Their voice sounds like the sea. They ride on horses, dressed as a man for battle against you, O people of Zion!” ²⁴ We have heard about it. Our hands fall weak. Suffering has taken hold of us, like the pain of a woman giving birth. ²⁵ Do not go out into the field, and do not walk on the road. For the one who hates us has a sword. Fear is all around us. ²⁶ O daughter of my people, dress in cloth made from hair and roll in ashes. Have sorrow as if you lost your only son. Cry with a bitter cry. For all at once the destroyer will come upon us.

²⁷ “I have asked you to test My people, that you may know and test their ways.” ²⁸ All of them are strongwilled in turning to their own way, going about telling stories to hurt people. They are brass and iron. All of them are sinful. ²⁹ Air is blown hard on the fire to burn up the lead. It is of no use because the sinful ones are not taken away. ³⁰ They are called waste silver, because the Lord has turned away from them.

The Picture-Story of the Workmen in the Grape-Field

20 “For the holy nation of heaven is like the owner of a grape-field. He went out early in the morning to hire workmen to work in his grape-field. ² He promised to give them a day’s pay and then sent them to his grape-field. ³ Later in the morning he went to the center of the town where people gather. He saw men standing there doing nothing. ⁴ He said to them, ‘You go to my grape-field and work also. Whatever is right, I will pay you.’ And they went. ⁵ Again he went out about noon and at three o’clock and did the same thing. ⁶ About five o’clock he went out and still found others doing nothing. He asked them, ‘Why do you stand here all day and do nothing?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said, ‘Go to my grape-field and work. Whatever is right, I will pay you.’

⁸ “When evening came, the owner of the grape-field said to the boss of the workmen, ‘Call the workmen. Give them their pay. Start with the last ones hired and go on to the first ones hired.’ ⁹ The workmen who had been hired at five o’clock came up. Each one of them got a day’s pay for his work. ¹⁰ When the workmen who had been hired the first thing in the morning came, they thought they would get more. But each one got a day’s pay. ¹¹ After they received it, they talked against the owner. ¹² They said, ‘The last workmen hired have only worked one hour. You have given to them the same as to us. We have worked hard through the heat of the day.’ ¹³ But he said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me when I promised to pay you a day’s pay? ¹⁴ Take your pay and go. I want to give the last ones hired the same as I have given you. ¹⁵ Do I not have the right to do what I want to do with my own money? Does your eye make you want more because I am good?’ ¹⁶ So those who are last will be first and the first will be last.”

Jesus Tells of His Death the Third Time ^(A)

¹⁷ As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He talked also to the twelve followers by the side of the road. He said, ¹⁸  “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the religious leaders and to the teachers of the Law. They will say that He must be put to death. ¹⁹ They will hand Him over to the people who do not know God. They will make fun of Him and will beat Him. They will nail Him to a cross. Three days later He will be raised to life.”

The Mother of James and John Asks Jesus Something Hard ^(B)

²⁰ The mother of Zebedee’s children (James and John) came to Jesus with her sons. She got down on her knees before Jesus to ask something of Him. ²¹ He said to her, “What do you want?” She said, “Say that my two sons may sit, one at Your right side and one at Your left side, when You are King.” ²² Jesus said to her, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to take the suffering that I am about to take? (*Are you able to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?)” They said, “Yes, we are able.” ²³ He said to them, “You will suffer as I will suffer. But the places at My right side and at My left side are not Mine to give. Whoever My Father says will have those places.”

²⁴ The other ten followers heard this. They were angry with the two brothers. ²⁵ Jesus called them to Him and said, “You know how the kings of the nations show their power to the people. Important leaders use their power over the people. ²⁶ It must not be that way with you. But whoever wants to be great among you, let him care for you. ²⁷ Whoever wants to be first among you, let him be your servant. ²⁸ For the Son of Man came not to be cared for. He came to care for others. He came to give His life so that many could be bought by His blood and made free from the punishment of sin.”

The Healing of the Blind Men ^(C)

²⁹ As they went away from the city of Jericho, many people followed Him. ³⁰ Two blind men were sitting by the side of the road. They called out when they heard that Jesus was going by. They said, “Lord, take pity on us, Son of David!” ³¹ Many people spoke sharp words to them. They told the blind men not to call out. But they called all the more, “Lord! Take pity on us, Son of David!” ³² Jesus stopped and called them. He asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?” ³³ The blind men said to Jesus, “Lord, we want our eyes opened!” ³⁴ Jesus had loving-pity on them and put His hands on their eyes. At once they could see, and they followed Jesus.