M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
An exhortation to be patient and steadfast in trouble and adversity, in the hope of everlasting reward. A commendation of the new testament above the old.
12 Therefore let us also (seeing that we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses) lay away all that presses down, and the sin that hangs on, and let us run with patience to the battle that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him suffered the cross, disregarding the shame, and is seated on the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider, therefore, how he endured such speaking against him of sinners, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 For you have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed, striving against sin, 5 and have forgotten the consolation that speaks to you as to children: My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by him. 6 For whom the Lord loves, him he chastens; yea and he scourges every son that he receives.
7 If you endure chastening, God offers himself to you as to sons. What son is it whom the father does not correct? 8 If you are not under correction (of which all are partakers), then you are baseborn, and not sons.
9 Moreover, seeing we had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence, should we not much rather submit to the Father of spiritual gifts, so that we may live? 10 And they for a few short days taught us as it pleased them, but he prepares us for that which is profitable: to receive of his holiness. 11 No manner of chastisement for the present time seems to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless, afterwards it brings the quiet fruit of righteousness to those who are exercised by it.
12 Stretch forth therefore again the hands that were let down, and the weak knees, 13 and see that you have straight steps for your feet, lest any limping turn you out of the way; yea let it rather be healed. 14 Embrace peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
15 And see to it that no one be destitute of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness spring up and cause trouble, and thereby many be defiled; 16 and that there be no fornicator or unclean person like Esau, who for one breakfast sold his birthright. 17 You know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was put by, and he found no means to come by it again; no, though he sought it with tears.
18 For you have not come to the mount that can be touched, and to burning fire, nor yet to mist and darkness and tempest of weather, 19 neither to the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, which voice the people that heard it wished away so that the message would not be spoken to them. 20 For they were not able to abide that which was spoken. If a beast had touched the mountain, it was to have been stoned or thrust through with a dart. 21 Even so terrible was the sight that appeared, Moses said, I fear and quake!
22 But you have come to the mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the celestial Jerusalem, and to an innumerable multitude of angels, 23 and to the congregation of the first born sons, whose names are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just and perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of the new testament, and to the sprinkling of blood that speaks better than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not forsake him that speaks. For if they did not escape who refused him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven – 26 whose voice then shook the earth, and who now declares, saying: Yet once more will I shake, not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 No doubt this that he says – yet once more – signifies the removal of those things that are shaken, as of things that have ended their course, so that the things which are not shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, if we receive the kingdom that is not shaken, we have grace whereby we may serve God, and please him with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the mountains with haste, into a town of Judea, 40 and entered into the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe sprang in her belly. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and cried out with a loud voice and said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And how does it happen that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For lo, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe sprang in my belly for joy. 45 And blessed are you who believed, for those things will be performed that were told you from the Lord.
46 And Mary said, My soul does magnify the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour. 48 For he has looked on the poor degree of his handmaiden. Behold, now from henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For he who is mighty has done great things unto me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them who fear him, throughout all generations. 51 He shows strength with his arm. He scatters those who are proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He puts down the mighty from their seats and exalts those of low degree. 53 He fills the hungry with good things and sends the rich away empty. 54 He remembers mercy and helps his servant Israel, 55 even as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.
56 And Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and returned again to her own house.
57 Elizabeth’s time came to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 And when it was the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and were calling him by the name Zacharias, after his father. 60 However his mother spoke and said, Not so, but he shall be called John. 61 And they said to her, There is no one in your family called by this name.
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63 And he asked for writing tablets and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all marvelled. 64 And Zacharias’ mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue also, and he spoke, lauding God.
65 And awe came on all those who dwelt near to them. And also these stories were spread abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea, 66 and everyone who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child will this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And his father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people. 69 And he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 just as he promised by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began: 71 that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us, 72 to fulfil the mercy promised to our fathers, to remember his holy covenant, 73 and to perform the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, 74 to give us, so that we, delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear all the days of our life, 75 in such holiness and righteousness as are accepted before him.
76 And thou, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest. For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 and to give knowledge of salvation to his people for the remission of sins, 78 through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the Dayspring from on high has visited us, 79 to give light to those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was out in the wilderness till the day came when he was to show himself to the Israelites.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.