M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Joab Puts Absalom to Death
18 Then David [a]numbered the people who were with him and (A)set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 And David sent the people out, (B)one-third under the hand of Joab, one-third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one-third under the hand of (C)Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will surely go out with you also.” 3 But the people said, “(D)You should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not set their heart on us; even if half of us die, they will not set their heart on us. But now [b]you are worth ten thousand of us; so now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.” 4 Then the king said to them, “Whatever is good in your sight I will do.” So (E)the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. 5 Then the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And (F)all the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders concerning Absalom.
6 Then the people went out into the field to meet Israel, and the battle took place in (G)the forest of Ephraim. 7 And the people of Israel were [c]defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men. 8 And the battle there was scattered over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 Then Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Now Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And (H)his head caught fast in the oak, so he was [d]left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him passed onward. 10 Then a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11 Then Joab said to the man who had told him, “Now behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 So the man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive one thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not send forth my hand against the king’s son; for (I)in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘[e]Keep for me the young man Absalom!’ 13 Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and (J)there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.” 14 Then Joab said, “I will not wait around here before you.” (K)So he took three [f]spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the [g]midst of the oak. 15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and put him to death.
16 Then (L)Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people. 17 And they took Absalom and cast him into [h]a deep pit in the forest and (M)set over him a very great heap of stones. And (N)all Israel fled, each to his tent. 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and (O)set up for himself a pillar which is in (P)the King’s Valley, for he had said, “(Q)I have no son [i]to preserve my name.” So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
David Weeps Over Absalom
19 Then (R)Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and proclaim the good news to the king (S)that Yahweh has judged to save him from the hand of his enemies.” 20 But Joab said to him, “You are not the man for the good news this day, but you shall proclaim the good news another day; however, you shall not proclaim the good news today because the king’s son has died.” 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. 22 Now Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since (T)you will have no reward for going?” 23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed the Cushite.
24 Now (U)David was sitting between the two gates; and (V)the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself. 25 And the watchman called and told the king. And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer. 26 Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man running by himself.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” 27 And the watchman said, “I see that the running of the first one (W)is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “(X)This is a good man and comes with good news.”
28 And Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “Peace!” And (Y)he prostrated himself before the king with his [j]face to the ground. And he said, “(Z)Blessed is Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.” 29 Then the king said, “(AA)Is there peace with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz said, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but (AB)I did not know what it was.” 30 Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
31 Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for (AC)Yahweh has judged to save you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” 32 Then the king said to the Cushite, “(AD)Is there peace with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “(AE)Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!”
33 [k]Then the king trembled and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “(AF)O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! (AG)Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
Paul Defends His Apostleship
11 I wish that you would (A)bear with me in a little (B)foolishness, but [a]indeed you are bearing with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, for I (C)betrothed you to one husband, so that I might (D)present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear that, as the (E)serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be corrupted from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 4 For if [b]one comes and preaches (F)another Jesus whom we did not preach, or you receive a (G)different spirit which you did not receive, or a (H)different gospel which you did not accept, you (I)bear this (J)beautifully. 5 For I consider myself (K)in no way inferior to the [c]most-eminent apostles. 6 But even if I am (L)unskilled in word, yet I am not so in (M)knowledge; in fact, in every way we have (N)made this evident to you in all things.
7 Or (O)did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I proclaimed the (P)gospel of God to you (Q)without charge? 8 I robbed other churches by (R)taking wages from them to minister to you. 9 And when I was present with you and was in need, I was (S)not a burden to anyone; for when (T)the brothers came from (U)Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept and will keep myself from (V)being a burden to you. 10 (W)As the truth of Christ is in me, (X)this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of (Y)Achaia. 11 Why? (Z)Because I do not love you? (AA)God knows I do!
12 But what I am doing I will continue to do, (AB)so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be found just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. 13 For such men are (AC)false apostles, (AD)deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even (AE)Satan disguises himself as an (AF)angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness, (AG)whose end will be according to their deeds.
16 (AH)Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. 17 What I am saying, I am not saying [d](AI)according to the Lord, but as (AJ)in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Since (AK)many boast (AL)according to the flesh, I will boast also. 19 For you, (AM)being so wise, are bearing the foolish gladly. 20 For you bear it if anyone (AN)enslaves you, anyone (AO)devours you, anyone (AP)takes advantage of you, anyone (AQ)exalts himself, anyone (AR)hits you in the face. 21 To my (AS)shame I must say that we have been (AT)weak by comparison.
But in whatever respect anyone else (AU)is daring—I (AV)speak in foolishness—I am just as daring myself. 22 Are they (AW)Hebrews? (AX)So am I. Are they (AY)Israelites? (AZ)So am I. Are they Abraham’s (BA)seed? (BB)So am I. 23 Are they (BC)ministers of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in [e](BD)far more labors, in [f](BE)far more imprisonments, in (BF)beatings without number, in frequent (BG)danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews (BH)forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was (BI)beaten with rods, once I was (BJ)stoned, three times I was shipwrecked—a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my (BK)countrymen, dangers from the (BL)Gentiles, dangers in the (BM)city, dangers in the desolate places, dangers on the sea, dangers among (BN)false brothers. 27 I have been in (BO)labor and hardship, in many sleepless nights, in (BP)starvation and thirst, often (BQ)hungry, in cold and [g](BR)without enough clothing. 28 Apart from such [h]external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for (BS)all the churches. 29 Who is (BT)weak without my being weak? Who is made to stumble [i]without my burning concern?
30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my (BU)weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, (BV)He who is blessed forever, (BW)knows that I am not lying. 32 In (BX)Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was (BY)guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, 33 and I was let down in a basket (BZ)through a window [j]in the wall, and so escaped his hands.
Prophesy Against Ammon
25 And the word of Yahweh came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face toward the (A)sons of Ammon and prophesy against them 3 and say to the sons of Ammon, ‘Hear the word of Lord Yahweh! Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Because you said, ‘(B)Aha!’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into exile, 4 therefore, behold, I am going to give you to the (C)sons of the east for a possession, and they will set their encampments among you and make their dwellings among you; they will (D)eat your fruit and drink your milk. 5 I will make (E)Rabbah a pasture for camels and the sons of Ammon a resting place for flocks. Thus you will know that I am Yahweh.” 6 For thus says Lord Yahweh, “Because you have (F)clapped your hands and stamped your feet and (G)were glad with all the scorn of your soul against the land of Israel, 7 therefore, behold, I have (H)stretched out My hand against you, and I will give you for (I)plunder to the nations. And I will (J)cut you off from the peoples and (K)make you perish from the lands; I will destroy you. Thus you will (L)know that I am Yahweh.”
Prophesy Against Moab
8 ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Because (M)Moab and Seir say, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the nations,’ 9 therefore, behold, I am going to open the flank of Moab by its cities, by its cities which are on its [a]frontiers, the glory of the land, (N)Beth-jeshimoth, (O)Baal-meon, and (P)Kiriathaim, 10 and I will give it for a possession along with the sons of Ammon to the (Q)sons of the east, so that the sons of Ammon will not be remembered among the nations. 11 Thus I will execute judgments on Moab, and they will know that I am Yahweh.”
Prophesy Against Edom
12 ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Because (R)Edom has acted against the house of Judah by taking vengeance and has incurred grievous guilt and avenged themselves upon them,” 13 therefore thus says Lord Yahweh, “I will also (S)stretch out My hand against Edom and (T)cut off man and beast from it. And I will lay it waste; from (U)Teman even to (V)Dedan they will fall by the sword. 14 (W)I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel. Therefore, they will act in Edom (X)according to My anger and according to My wrath; thus they will know My vengeance,” declares Lord Yahweh.
Prophesy Against Philistia
15 ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Because the Philistines have acted in (Y)revenge and have taken vengeance with scorn of soul to bring ruin with everlasting enmity,” 16 therefore thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I will (Z)stretch out My hand against the Philistines and cut off the (AA)Cherethites and cause the remnant of the seacoast to perish. 17 So I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful reproofs; and they will (AB)know that I am Yahweh when I lay My vengeance on them.”’”
BOOK 3
The Nearness of God Is My Good
A Psalm of Asaph.
73 Surely God is (A)good to Israel,
To those who are (B)pure in heart!
2 But as for me, (C)my feet had almost stumbled,
My steps [a]had almost slipped.
3 For I was (D)envious of the boastful,
I saw the (E)peace of the wicked.
4 For there are no pains in their death,
And their [b]body is fat.
5 They are (F)not [c]in trouble as other [d]men,
And they are not (G)stricken along with the rest of mankind.
6 Therefore lofty pride is (H)their necklace;
The (I)garment of violence covers them.
7 Their eye [e]bulges from (J)fatness;
The delusions of their heart overflow.
8 They (K)scoff and [f]wickedly speak of oppression;
They (L)speak from on high.
9 They have (M)set their mouth [g]against the heavens,
And their tongue goes through the earth.
10 Therefore [h]his people return here, to his place,
And waters of (N)fullness are [i]drunk by them.
11 They say, “(O)How does God know?
And is there knowledge with the Most High?”
12 Behold, (P)these are the wicked;
And always (Q)at ease, they have increased in wealth.
13 Surely (R)in vain I have [j]kept my heart pure
And (S)washed my hands in innocence;
14 For I have been stricken (T)all day long
And [k](U)reproved every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will recount thus,”
Behold, I would have betrayed the (V)generation of Your children.
16 When I (W)gave thought to know this,
It was trouble in my sight
17 Until I came into the [l](X)sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their (Y)end.
18 Surely You set them in (Z)slippery places;
You cause them to fall to [m](AA)destruction.
19 How they become (AB)desolate in a moment!
They are completely swept away by (AC)terrors!
20 Like a (AD)dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when (AE)aroused, You will (AF)despise their [n]form.
21 When my (AG)heart was embittered
And I was (AH)pierced [o]within,
22 Then I was (AI)senseless and ignorant;
I was like [p]an (AJ)animal [q]before You.
23 Nevertheless (AK)I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
24 With Your counsel You will (AL)lead me,
And afterward (AM)take me [r]in glory.
25 (AN)Whom have I in heaven but You?
And [s]besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
26 My (AO)flesh and my heart fail,
But God is the rock of my heart and my (AP)portion forever.
27 For, behold, (AQ)those who are far from You will (AR)perish;
You have [t]destroyed everyone who [u](AS)is unfaithful to You.
28 But as for me, (AT)the nearness of God is my good;
I have set Lord Yahweh as my (AU)refuge,
That I may (AV)recount all Your works.
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