M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

20 The Lord said to Joshua, ² “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Choose the cities where you may go and be safe when you are in trouble, as I said to you through Moses. ³ So the man who kills any person without meaning to or planning to may run to one of these cities. They will be places where you can go to be safe from the one who wants to punish you for the killing. ⁴ He will run to one of these cities and stand at the city gate. There he will tell his story to the leaders of that city. They will take him into the city and give him a place. So he may live among them. ⁵ If the one who wants to punish him comes after him, they will not give him the one who killed the person, because he killed his neighbor without planning to, and did not hate him in the past. ⁶ He will live in that city until he has been tried in front of the people. And he will live there until the death of the one who is the head religious leader at the time. Then the one who killed the person may return to his own city and his own house, to the city he ran away from.’”

⁷ So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali. They set apart Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim. And they set apart Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. ⁸ On the other side of the Jordan east of Jericho, they set apart Bezer in the desert plain from the family of Reuben. They set apart Ramoth in Gilead from the family of Gad. And they set apart Golan in Bashan from the family of Manasseh. ⁹ These were the chosen cities for all the people of Israel and for the stranger staying among them. So whoever killed any person without meaning to could run there. He could not be killed by the one who wanted to punish him, before standing trial in front of the people.

21 Then the family heads of the Levites came to Eleazar the religious leader, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the family groups of Israel. ² They said to them at Shiloh in Canaan, “The Lord said through Moses to give us cities to live in, as well as fields around them for our cattle.” ³ So the sons of Israel gave these cities and fields of their land to the Levites, as the Lord had said. ⁴ The name drawn first was for the families of the Kohathites. The Levites who were children of Aaron the religious leader received thirteen cities from the families of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin. ⁵ The rest of the sons of Kohath by drawing names received ten cities from the families of Ephraim and Dan and the half-family group of Manasseh. ⁶ The sons of Gershon by drawing names received thirteen cities from the families of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and the half-family group of Manasseh in Bashan. ⁷ The sons of Merari received twelve cities from the families of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun. ⁸ The sons of Israel by drawing names gave these cities with their fields to the Levites, as the Lord had said through Moses.

⁹ They gave from the families of Judah and Simeon the cities given here by name. ¹⁰ They were for the sons of Aaron, one of the families of the Kohathites, of the sons of Levi. For their name was drawn first. ¹¹ They gave them Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) with the fields around it in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the father of Anak.) ¹² But the city’s fields and towns had been given to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as his own.

¹³ So to the sons of Aaron the religious leader they gave Hebron and Libnah with their fields. Hebron was the city where one who killed a man could go to be safe. ¹⁴ And they gave them Jattir with its fields, Eshtemoa with its fields, ¹⁵ Holon with its fields, Debir with its fields, ¹⁶ Ain with its fields, Juttah with its fields, and Bethshemesh with its fields. There were nine cities from these two family groups. ¹⁷ From the family of Benjamin were given Gibeon with its fields, Geba with its fields, ¹⁸ Anathoth with its fields, and Almon with its fields, four cities. ¹⁹ For the sons of Aaron, the religious leaders, there were thirteen cities in all, with their fields.

²⁰ Then cities from the family of Ephraim were given to the rest of the families of the people of Kohath, the Levites. ²¹ They gave them Shechem with its fields in the hill country of Ephraim. A man who killed another person could run to Shechem to be safe. And they gave them Gezer with its fields, ²² Kibzaim with its fields, and Beth-horon with its fields, four cities. ²³ From the family of Dan were given Eletke with its fields, Gibbethon with its fields, ²⁴ Aijalon with its fields, and Gath-rimmon with its fields, four cities. ²⁵ From the half-family group of Manasseh were given Taanach with its fields, and Gathrimmon with its fields, two cities. ²⁶ There were ten cities in all, with their fields, for the rest of the families of the Kohathites.

²⁷ From the half-family group of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan and Be-eshterah and their fields to the sons of Gershon, one of the Levite families. A man who killed another person could run to Golan in Bashan to be safe. They were given two cities. ²⁸ From the family of Issachar were given Kishion with its fields, Daberath with its fields, ²⁹ Jarmuth with its fields, and Engannim with its fields, four cities. ³⁰ From the family of Asher were given Mishal with its fields, Abdon with its fields, ³¹ Helkath with its fields, and Rehob with its fields, four cities. ³² From the family of Naphtali were given Kedesh in Galilee with its fields, Hammoth-dor with its fields, and Kartan with its fields, three cities. A man who killed another man could run to Kedesh to be safe. ³³ The cities for the families of the Gershonites were thirteen in all, with their fields.

³⁴ They gave cities to the families of the sons of Merari, the rest of the Levites, from the family of Zebulun. They gave them Jokneam with its fields, Kartah with its fields, ³⁵ Dimnah with its fields, and Nahalal with its fields, four cities. ³⁶ From the family of Reuben were given Bezer with its fields, Jahaz with its fields, ³⁷ Kedemoth with its fields, and Mephaath with its fields, four cities. ³⁸ From the family of Gad was given Ramoth in Gilead with its fields. A man who killed another person could run to Ramoth in Gilead to be safe. And they gave them Mahanaim with its fields, ³⁹ Heshbon with its fields, and Jazer with its fields, four cities in all. ⁴⁰ There were twelve cities in all given to the families of the people of Merari, the rest of the families of the Levites.

⁴¹ The cities of the Levites among the land of the people of Israel were forty-eight cities in all, with their fields. ⁴² Each one of these cities had its fields around it. So it was with all these cities.

⁴³ The Lord gave Israel all the land He had promised to give to their fathers. They took it for their own, and lived in it. ⁴⁴ The Lord gave them peace on every side, just as He had promised their fathers. Not one of all those who hated them could stand in front of them. The Lord gave all those who hated them into their hand. ⁴⁵ Every good promise which the Lord had made to the people of Israel came true.

Luke Writes to Theophilus

1 Dear Theophilus, in my first writings I wrote about all the things Jesus did and taught from the beginning ² until the day He went to heaven. He spoke to the missionaries through the Holy Spirit. He told those whom He had chosen what they should do. ³ After He had suffered much and then died, He showed Himself alive in many sure ways for forty days. He told them many things about the holy nation of God.

Jesus Speaks Before He Goes to Be with the Father

⁴ As they were gathered together with Him, He told them, “Do not leave Jerusalem. Wait for what the Father has promised. You heard Me speak of this. ⁵ For John the Baptist baptized with water but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

⁶ Those who were with Him asked, “Lord, is this the time for You to give the nation back to the Jews?” ⁷ He said, “It is not for you to know the special days or the special times which the Father has put in His own power.

⁸ “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes into your life. You will tell about Me in the city of Jerusalem and over all the countries of Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus Goes to Be with the Father

⁹ When Jesus had said this and while they were still looking at Him, He was taken up. A cloud carried Him away so they could not see Him. ¹⁰ They were still looking up to heaven, watching Him go. All at once two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹ They said, “You men of the country of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus Who was taken from you into heaven will return in the same way you saw Him go up into heaven.”

Matthias Is Chosen to Take the Place of Judas

¹² The followers went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is close to Jerusalem. ¹³ When they came into the city, they went up to a room on the second floor where they stayed. The followers were Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas the brother of James. ¹⁴ These all agreed as they prayed together. The women and Mary the mother of Jesus and His brothers were there.

¹⁵ On one of those days Peter got up in front of the followers. (There were about 120 people there.) He said, ¹⁶ “Men and brothers, it happened as the Holy Writings said it would happen which the Holy Spirit spoke through David. They told about Judas who would hand Jesus over to those who wanted to take Him. ¹⁷ Judas was one of our group and had a part in our work. ¹⁸ This man bought a field with the money he received for his sin. And falling down head first, his body broke open and his insides ran out. ¹⁹ All the people of Jerusalem knew about this. They called the place Field of Blood. ²⁰ For it is written in the Book of Psalms, ‘Let his place of living be empty and let no one live there,’ and, ‘Let another person take over his work.’ ^(A)

²¹ “The man to take the place of Judas should be one of these men who walked along with us when the Lord Jesus was with us. ²² He must have been with Jesus from the day He was baptized by John to the day He was taken up from us. So one of these should be added to our group who will tell others that he saw Jesus raised from the dead.”

²³ They brought two men in front of them. They were Joseph, also called Barsabbas Justus, and Matthias. ²⁴ Then the followers prayed, saying, “Lord, You know the hearts of all men. Show us which of these two men You have chosen. ²⁵ He is to take the place of Judas in this work and be a missionary. Judas lost his place and went where he belonged because of sin.” ²⁶ Then they drew names and the name of Matthias was chosen. He became one with the eleven missionaries.

True Worship and False Gods

10 Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O people of Israel. ² The Lord says, “Do not learn the way of the nations. And do not be afraid of the things seen in the heavens, even if the nations are afraid of them. ³ For the ways of the people are of no use. They cut wood from the trees. A workman cuts it with an ax. ⁴ They make it beautiful with silver and gold. They put it together with nails so that it cannot fall apart. ⁵ Their false gods are like a wooden man set up in a vegetable field to make birds be afraid and stay away. They cannot speak. They must be carried, because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot hurt you. And they cannot help you.”

⁶ There is no one like You, O Lord. You are great, and Your name is great in power. ⁷ Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For You should be honored with fear. Among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their lands, there is no one like You. ⁸ They are all poor thinkers and foolish. What can they learn from a false god of wood? ⁹ Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz. They are the work of an able workman and of one who works with gold. Their clothing is blue and purple. They are all the work of able workmen. ¹⁰ But the Lord is the true God. He is the living God and the King Who lives forever. The earth shakes at His anger. And the nations cannot last when He is angry.

¹¹ This is what you should say to them: “The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will be destroyed from the earth and from under the heavens.”

A Song of Praise

¹² It is He Who made the earth by His power, and the world by His wisdom. By His understanding He has spread out the heavens. ¹³ When He speaks, there is a storm of waters in the heavens. He makes the clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and brings out the wind from His store-houses. ¹⁴ Every man is a poor thinker and without learning. Every one who works with gold is put to shame by his false gods. For his objects of worship fool people. There is no breath in them. ¹⁵ They are without worth, and make fun of the truth. In the time of their punishment, they will be destroyed. ¹⁶ He Who is the God of Jacob is not like these, for He has made all things. And Israel is His chosen family. The Lord of All is His name.

People of Jerusalem Will Be Taken Away

¹⁷ Pick up your load from the ground, you who are shut in by armies! ¹⁸ For the Lord says, “See, I am throwing out the people of the land at this time. And I will trouble them, that they may feel it.”

¹⁹ It is bad for me because I am hurt! My sore cannot be healed. But I said, “For sure this sickness is mine, and I must suffer with it.” ²⁰ My tent is destroyed and all my ropes are broken. My sons have gone from me and are no more. There is no one to put up my tent again or to set up my curtains. ²¹ For the shepherds are poor thinkers and have not asked for the Lord’s help. So they have not done well, and all their flock is sent different places. ²² Listen, the sound of news! See, it comes! Much noise of moving is coming out of the land of the north to destroy the cities of Judah, and to make it a place where wild dogs live.

Jeremiah’s Prayer

²³ O Lord, I know that a man’s way is not known by himself. It is not in man to lead his own steps. ²⁴ Punish me when I need it, O Lord, but be fair. Do not punish me in Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing. ²⁵ Pour out Your anger on the nations that do not know You, and on the families that do not call on Your name. For they have destroyed Jacob. They have destroyed him and have laid waste his land.

Jesus Tells of the House of God ^(A)

24 Jesus went out of the house of God. On the way His followers came to Him to show Him the buildings of the house of God. ² Jesus said to them, “Do you see all these things? For sure, I tell you, all these stones will be thrown down. Not one will be left standing on another.”

Jesus Teaches on the Mount of Olives

³ Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. The followers came to Him when He was alone and said, “Tell us, when will this happen? What can we look for to show us of Your coming and of the end of the world?”

⁴ Jesus said to them, “Be careful that no one leads you the wrong way. ⁵ Many people will come using My name. They will say, ‘I am Christ.’ They will fool many people and will turn them to the wrong way. ⁶ You will hear of wars and lots of talk about wars, but do not be afraid. These things must happen, but it is not the end yet. ⁷ Nations will have wars with other nations. Countries will fight against countries. There will be no food for people. The earth will shake and break apart in different places. ⁸ These things are the beginning of sorrows and pains.

⁹ “Then they will hand you over to be hurt. They will kill you. You will be hated by all the world because of My name. ¹⁰ Many people will give up and turn away at this time. People will hand over each other. They will hate each other. ¹¹ Many false religious teachers will come. They will fool many people and will turn them to the wrong way. ¹² Because of people breaking the laws and sin being everywhere, the love in the hearts of many people will become cold. ¹³ But the one who stays true to the end will be saved.

¹⁴ “This Good News about the holy nation of God must be preached over all the earth. It must be told to all nations and then the end will come.

Days of Trouble and Pain and Sorrow

¹⁵ “You will see a sinful man-made god standing in the house of God in Jerusalem. It was spoken of by the early preacher Daniel. ^(B) The one who reads this should understand it. ¹⁶ Then those in the country of Judea should run to the mountains. ¹⁷ The man who is on the top of his house should not come down to take anything out of his house. ¹⁸ The man who is in the field should not go back to get his coat. ¹⁹ It will be hard for a woman who will soon be a mother. It will be hard for the ones feeding babies in those days! ²⁰ Pray that you will not have to go in the winter or on the Day of Rest. ²¹ In those days there will be very much trouble and pain and sorrow. It has never been this bad from the beginning of the world and never will be again. ²² If the time had not been made short, no life would have been saved. Because of God’s people, the time will be made short.

The False Religious Teachers

²³ “If anyone says to you, ‘See! Here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. ²⁴ People who say they are Christ and false preachers will come. They will do special things for people to see. They will do great things, so that if it can be done, God’s people will be fooled to believe something wrong. ²⁵ Listen! I have told you before it comes. ²⁶ If they tell you, ‘See! He is in the desert,’ do not go to see. Or if they say, ‘See! He is in the inside room,’ do not believe them. ²⁷ The Son of Man will come as fast as lightning shines across the sky from east to west. ²⁸ Birds gather wherever there is a dead body.

Jesus Will Come Again in His Shining-Greatness

²⁹ “As soon as those days of trouble and pain and sorrow are over, the sun will get dark. The moon will not give light. The stars will fall from the sky. The powers in the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then something special will be seen in the sky telling of the Son of Man. All nations of the earth will have sorrow. They will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of the sky with power and shining-greatness. ³¹ He will send His angels with the loud sound of a horn. They will gather God’s people together from the four winds. They will come from one end of the heavens to the other.

The Picture-Story of the Fig Tree

³² “Now learn something from the fig tree. When the branch begins to grow and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ In the same way, when you see all these things happen, you know the Son of Man is near, even at the door. ³⁴ For sure, I tell you, the people of this day will not pass away before all these things have happened.

No One Knows When Jesus Will Come Again

³⁵ “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. ³⁶ But no one knows the day or the hour. No! Not even the angels in heaven know. The Son does not know. Only the Father knows.

³⁷ “When the Son of Man comes, it will be the same as when Noah lived. ³⁸ In the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking. They were marrying and being given in marriage. This kept on until the day Noah went into the large boat. ³⁹ They did not know what was happening until the flood came and the water carried them all away. It will be like this when the Son of Man comes.

⁴⁰ “Two men will be working in a field. One will be taken and the other will be left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding grain. One will be taken and the other will be left.

⁴² “Because of this, watch! You do not know on what day your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of a house had known when the robber was coming, he would have watched. He would not have allowed his house to have been broken into. ⁴⁴ You must be ready also. The Son of Man is coming at a time when you do not think He will come.

Faithful Servants and Servants Who Are Not Faithful

⁴⁵ “Who is the faithful and wise servant whom his owner has made boss over the other servants? He is to have food ready for them at the right time. ⁴⁶ That servant is happy who is doing what his owner wants him to do when he comes back. ⁴⁷ For sure, I tell you, he will make him boss over all that he has. ⁴⁸ But if that servant is bad, he will think, ‘The owner will not come soon.’ ⁴⁹ He will beat the others. He will eat and drink with those who are drunk. ⁵⁰ The owner will come on a day and at an hour when the servant is not looking for him. ⁵¹ The owner will punish the servant and will give him his place with those who pretend to be someone they are not. There will be loud crying and grinding of teeth.