M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Axe Head Floats
6 And (A)the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Behold now, the place before you where we are living is too limited for us. 2 Please let us go to the Jordan and each of us take from there a beam, and let us make a place there for ourselves where we may live.” So he said, “Go.” 3 Then one said, “Please be willing to go with your servants.” And he [a]answered, “I shall go.” 4 So he went with them; and they came to the Jordan and cut down trees. 5 Now it happened that as one was felling a beam, [b]the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, my master! For it was borrowed.” 6 Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And when he showed him the place, (B)he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. 7 And he said, “Take it up for yourself.” So he sent forth his hand and took it.
Horses and Chariots of Fire Around Elisha
8 Now the king of Aram was warring against Israel; and he [c]counseled with his servants saying, “In such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 (C)And the man of God sent word to the king of Israel saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Arameans are coming down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God had told him; thus he warned him, so that he guarded himself there, [d]more than once or twice.
11 Then the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him.” And it was told to him, saying, “Behold, he is in (D)Dothan.” 14 So he sent horses and chariots and a heavy military force there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
15 Then the attendant of the man of God arose early and went out, and behold, a military force with horses and chariots was all around the city. And his young man said to him, “Alas, my master! [e]What shall we do?” 16 So he said, “(E)Do not fear, for (F)those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “(G)O Yahweh, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of (H)horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And they came down to him, and Elisha prayed to Yahweh and said, “Strike this [f]people with blindness, I pray.” So He (I)struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city; walk after me and I will walk you over to the man whom you seek.” And he walked them over to Samaria.
20 Now it happened that when they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “O (J)Yahweh, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So Yahweh opened their eyes and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, “(K)My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?” 22 And he said, “You shall not strike them down. Would you (L)strike down those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? (M)Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and walk back to their master.” 23 So he prepared a great feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And (N)the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel.
Aram’s Siege of Samaria
24 Now it happened afterwards, that (O)Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his military camp and went up and besieged Samaria. 25 Now there was a great (P)famine in Samaria. And behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for [g]eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a [h]kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. 26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, “Save, my lord, O king!” 27 He said, “[i]If Yahweh does not save you, from where shall I save you? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?” 28 And the king said to her, “(Q)What [j]is the matter with you?” And she said, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ 29 (R)So we boiled my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.” 30 Now it happened that when the king heard the words of the woman, (S)he tore his clothes—now he was passing by on the wall—and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth [k]beneath on his [l]body. 31 Then he said, “May (T)God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat [m]remains on him today.”
Flour and Barley in Samaria
32 Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and (U)the elders were sitting with him. And the king sent a man from his presence; but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, “Do you (V)see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and [n]hold the door shut against him. Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?” 33 While he was still speaking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him and he said, “(W)Behold, this evil is from Yahweh; why should I wait for Yahweh any longer?”
Overseers and Deacons
3 (A)It is a trustworthy saying: if any man aspires to the (B)office of [a]overseer, he desires a good work. 2 [b](C)An overseer, then, must be above reproach, (D)the husband of one wife, (E)temperate, sensible, respectable, (F)hospitable, (G)able to teach, 3 (H)not addicted to wine [c]or pugnacious, but considerate, peaceable, (I)free from the love of money; 4 (J)leading his own household well, having his children in submission with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to lead his own household, how will he take care of (K)the church of God?), 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become (L)conceited and fall into the (M)condemnation of the devil. 7 And he must (N)have a good reputation with (O)those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and (P)the snare of the devil.
8 (Q)Deacons likewise must be dignified, not [d]double-tongued, (R)not indulging in much wine, (S)not fond of dishonest gain, 9 (T)but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 (U)And these men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 11 [e]Women must likewise be dignified, (V)not malicious gossips, but (W)temperate, faithful in all things. 12 (X)Deacons must be (Y)husbands of only one wife, (Z)leading their children and their own households well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons (AA)obtain for themselves a [f]high standing and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you soon, 15 but [g]in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how [h]one ought to conduct himself in (AB)the household of God, which is the (AC)church of (AD)the living God, the (AE)pillar and support of the truth. 16 And by common confession, great is (AF)the mystery of godliness:
Daniel’s Terrifying Vision of a Man
10 In the third year of (A)Cyrus king of Persia, a word was revealed to (B)Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the (C)word was true and one of great [a]conflict, but he understood the word and had an (D)understanding of what had appeared.
2 In those days, I, Daniel, had been (E)mourning for three entire [b]weeks. 3 I (F)did not eat any [c]tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three [d]weeks were fulfilled.
4 And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great (G)river, that is, the [e]Tigris, 5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man (H)dressed in linen, whose loins were (I)girded with a belt of pure (J)fine gold of Uphaz. 6 His body also was like [f]beryl, his face [g]had the appearance of lightning, (K)his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 Now I, Daniel, (L)alone saw the vision that appeared, but the (M)men who were with me did not see the vision that appeared; nevertheless, a great (N)terror fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. 8 So I alone (O)remained and saw this great vision that appeared; yet (P)no might remained in me, for my outward splendor turned to [h]a deathly pallor, and I retained no might. 9 But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I (Q)fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
Daniel Is Strengthened
10 Then behold, a hand (R)touched me and set me shaking on my [i]hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O (S)Daniel, man of [j]high esteem, (T)understand the words that I am about to speak to you and (U)stand [k]upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up (V)trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “(W)Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you gave your heart to understand this and to (X)humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response (Y)to your words. 13 But the [l]prince of the kingdom of Persia was [m]standing against me for twenty-one days; then behold, (Z)Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me. Now I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to (AA)give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the [n](AB)last days, for the vision pertains to (AC)the days yet future.” 15 Now when he had spoken to me according to these words, I [o]turned my face toward the ground and became (AD)speechless.
16 And behold, (AE)one [p]in the likeness of the sons of men was (AF)touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, as a result of the vision that appeared, (AG)pains have come upon me, and I have retained no might. 17 Now (AH)how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, right now (AI)no might stands within me, nor does any breath remain within me.”
18 Then this one with the appearance of a man touched me again and (AJ)strengthened me. 19 And he said, “O man of [q]high esteem, (AK)do not be afraid. Peace [r]be with you; gather (AL)strength and be strong!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, “May my lord speak, for you have (AM)strengthened me.” 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the [s]prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the [t](AN)prince of [u]Greece is about to come. 21 However, I will tell you what is [v]inscribed in the writing of (AO)truth. Now there is no one who [w]exerts strength with me against these forces except (AP)Michael your prince.
I Love Your Law, O Yahweh
Aleph
119 How blessed are those whose way is [a](A)blameless,
Who (B)walk in the law of Yahweh.
2 How blessed are those who (C)observe His testimonies,
They (D)seek Him (E)with all their heart.
3 They also do not (F)work unrighteousness;
They walk in His ways.
4 You have (G)commanded us,
To keep Your precepts [b]diligently.
5 Oh may my (H)ways be established
To (I)keep Your statutes!
6 Then I (J)shall not be ashamed
When I look [c]upon all Your commandments.
7 I shall (K)give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I shall keep Your statutes;
Do not (L)forsake me utterly!
Beth
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By (M)keeping it according to Your word.
10 With (N)all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me (O)stray from Your commandments.
11 Your word I have (P)treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O Yahweh;
(Q)Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have (R)recounted
All the (S)judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have (T)rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
[d]As much as in all riches.
15 I will (U)muse upon Your precepts
And look upon (V)Your ways.
16 I shall [e](W)delight in Your statutes;
I shall (X)not forget Your word.
Gimel
17 (Y)Deal bountifully with Your slave,
That I may live and keep Your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
Wonderful things from Your law.
19 I am a (Z)sojourner in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
20 My soul is crushed [f](AA)with longing
For Your judgments at all times.
21 You (AB)rebuke the arrogant, [g]the (AC)cursed,
Who (AD)stray from Your commandments.
22 (AE)Take away reproach and contempt from me,
For I (AF)observe Your testimonies.
23 Even though (AG)princes sit and talk against me,
Your slave (AH)muses on Your statutes.
24 Your testimonies also are my (AI)delight;
They are [h]my counselors.
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