M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
29 Then King David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon, the one whom Elohim has chosen, is young and inexperienced. Yet, the work is important because this palace is not for a person but for Yahweh Elohim. 2 With all my might I gathered the materials for the temple of my Elohim: gold for gold objects, silver for silver objects, bronze for bronze objects, iron for iron objects, wood for wooden objects, onyx stones and settings, black stones, stones of different colors, gems, and marble. 3 Moreover, I delight in the temple of my Elohim. I have a personal treasury of gold and silver that I’m giving to my Elohim’s temple in addition to everything else I gathered for the holy temple. 4 There are 225,000 pounds of gold from Ophir and 525,000 pounds of refined silver. They are to be used to cover the walls of the buildings, 5 to make gold objects, silver objects, and everything else the craftsmen will make. Who else is willing to make an offering and dedicate himself to Yahweh today?”
6 Then the leaders of the families, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of regiments and battalions, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave generously. 7 They gave 375,186 pounds of gold, 750,000 pounds of silver, 135,000 pounds of bronze, and 7,500,000 pounds of iron for the work on Elohim’s temple. 8 Whoever happened to have precious stones gave them to Jehiel, Gershon’s descendant, for the treasury of Yahweh’s temple. 9 The people were overjoyed that the leaders gave so generously and wholeheartedly to Yahweh.
King David was also overjoyed, and 10 he praised Yahweh while the whole assembly watched. David said,
“May you be praised, Yahweh Elohim of Israel,
our father forever and ever.[a]
11 Greatness, power, splendor, glory, and majesty are yours, Yahweh,
because everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
The kingdom is yours, Yahweh,
and you are honored as head of all things.
12 Riches and honor are in front of you.
You rule everything.
You hold power and strength in your hands,
and you can make anyone great and strong.
13 “Our Elohim, we thank you
and praise your wonderful name.
14 But who am I and who are my people
that you enable us to give so generously?
Everything comes from you.
We give you only what has come from your hands.
15 To you we are all like our ancestors—
foreigners without permanent homes.
Our days are as fleeting as shadows on the ground.
There’s no hope for them.
16 “Yahweh, our Elohim, all this wealth that we gathered to build a temple for your holy name is from you. All of it is yours. 17 I know, my Elohim, that you examine hearts and delight in honesty. With an honest heart I have willingly offered all these things. I’ve been overjoyed to see your people here offering so willingly to you. 18 Yahweh Elohim of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, always watch over your people’s deepest thoughts. Keep their hearts directed toward you. 19 Make my son Solomon completely committed to you so that he will obey your commands, requests, and laws and do everything to build the palace I have planned.”
Solomon Is Made King
20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise Yahweh your Elohim!” So the whole assembly praised Yahweh Elohim of their ancestors and knelt in front of Yahweh and the king.
21 The next day they sacrificed to Yahweh. They sacrificed burnt offerings to Yahweh: 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, 1,000 lambs, wine offerings, and many sacrifices for all Israel. 22 That day they ate and drank as they joyfully celebrated in front of Yahweh. For the second time they made David’s son Solomon king. On Yahweh’s behalf they anointed Solomon to be leader and Zadok to be the priest.
23 Then Solomon sat on Yahweh’s throne as king in place of his father David. Solomon was successful and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the leaders and soldiers and all of King David’s sons pledged their loyalty to King Solomon. 25 Yahweh made Solomon extremely powerful, as all Israel could see. The people of Israel gave him royal honor like no king of Israel before him ever had.
David’s Reign(A)
26 David, son of Jesse, had ruled all Israel. 27 He ruled as king of Israel for 40 years. He ruled for 7 years in Hebron and for 33 in Jerusalem. 28 He died at a very old age. His long life was full of wealth and honor. Then his son Solomon succeeded him as king.
29 Everything about King David from first to last is written in the records of the seer[b] Samuel, the prophet Nathan, and the seer Gad. 30 It includes everything about his reign, his power, and the things that happened to him, Israel, and all the other kingdoms.
Be Ready for the Day of the Lord
3 Dear friends, this is the second letter I’m writing to you. In both letters I’m trying to refresh your memory. 2 I want you to remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and what the Lord and Savior commanded you through your apostles.
3 First, you must understand this: In the last days people who follow their own desires will appear. These disrespectful people will ridicule God’s promise 4 by saying, “What’s happened to his promise to return? Ever since our ancestors died, everything continues as it did from the beginning of the world.”
5 They are deliberately ignoring one fact: Because of God’s word, heaven and earth existed a long time ago. The earth appeared out of water and was kept alive by water. 6 Water also flooded and destroyed that world. 7 By God’s word, the present heaven and earth are designated to be burned. They are being kept until the day ungodly people will be judged and destroyed.
8 Dear friends, don’t ignore this fact: One day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.
10 The day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day heaven will pass away with a roaring sound. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and be destroyed. The earth and everything that people have done on it will be exposed.[a]
11 All these things will be destroyed in this way. So think of the kind of holy and godly lives you must live 12 as you look forward to the day of God and eagerly wait for it to come. When that day comes, heaven will be on fire and will be destroyed. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and melt. 13 But we look forward to what God has promised—a new heaven and a new earth—a place where everything that has God’s approval lives.
14 Therefore, dear friends, with this to look forward to, make every effort to have him find you at peace, without spiritual stains or blemishes. 15 Think of our Lord’s patience as an opportunity for us to be saved. This is what our dear brother Paul wrote to you about, using the wisdom God gave him. 16 He talks about this subject in all his letters. Some things in his letters are hard to understand. Ignorant people and people who aren’t sure of what they believe distort what Paul says in his letters the same way they distort the rest of the Scriptures. These people will be destroyed.
17 Dear friends, you already know these things. So be on your guard not to be carried away by the deception of people who have no principles. Then you won’t fall from your firm position. 18 But grow in the good will[b] and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Yeshua Christ. Glory belongs to him now and for that eternal day! Amen.
The Lord’s Lawsuit against His People
6 Now listen to what Yahweh is saying,
“Stand up! Plead your case in front of the mountains,
and let the hills listen to your request.
2 Listen to Yahweh’s lawsuit, you mountains.
Listen, you strong foundations of the earth.
Yahweh has filed a lawsuit against his people.
He is arguing his case against Israel.
3 “My people, what have I done to you?
How have I tried your patience? Answer me!
4 I brought you out of Egypt and freed you from slavery.
I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you.
5 My people, remember what King Balak of Moab planned to do to you
and how Balaam, son of Beor, responded to him.
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal[a]
so that you may know the victories of Yahweh.”
6 What should I bring when I come into Yahweh’s presence,
when I bow in front of the God of heaven?
Should I bring him year-old calves as burnt offerings?
7 Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams
or with endless streams of olive oil?
Should I give him my firstborn child because of my rebellious acts?
Should I give him my young child for my sin?
8 You mortals, Yahweh has told you what is good.
This is what Yahweh requires from you:
to do what is right,
to love mercy,
and to live humbly with your Elohim.
9 The voice of Yahweh calls out to the city.
(The fear of your name is wisdom.)
“Listen, you tribe assembled in the city.[b]
10 I have cursed all the wicked people who use their money for evil
and use inaccurate weights and measures.
11 I cannot tolerate dishonest scales
and bags filled with inaccurate weights.
12 The rich people in the city are violent.
Those who live in the city speak lies,
and their tongues speak deceitfully.
13 I have begun to strike you with heavy blows
and to ruin you because of your sins.
14 You will eat, but you won’t be full.
So you will always be hungry.
You will put things away, but you won’t save them.
Anything you save I will destroy.
15 You will plant, but you won’t harvest.
You will crush olives, but you won’t rub the oil on your skin.
You will make new wine, but you won’t drink it.
16 You have kept Omri’s laws
and all the practices of the descendants of Ahab,
and you have followed their advice.
That is why I will ruin you.
Your people will be ridiculed.
You will bear the disgrace of my people.”
The Lost Sheep(A)
15 All the tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Yeshua. 2 But the Pharisees and the experts in Moses’ Teachings complained, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Yeshua spoke to them using this illustration: 4 “Suppose a man has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the 99 sheep grazing in the pasture and look for the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 When he finds it, he’s happy. He puts that sheep on his shoulders and 6 goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says to them, ‘Let’s celebrate! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ 7 I can guarantee that there will be more happiness in heaven over one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts than over 99 people who already have turned to God and have his approval.”
The Lost Coin
8 “Suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house, and look for the coin carefully until she finds it? 9 When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Let’s celebrate! I’ve found the coin that I lost.’ 10 So I can guarantee that God’s angels are happy about one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts.”
The Lost Son
11 Then Yeshua said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the property.’ So the father divided his property between his two sons.
13 “After a few days, the younger son gathered his possessions and left for a country far away from home. There he wasted everything he had on a wild lifestyle. 14 He had nothing left when a severe famine spread throughout that country. He had nothing to live on. 15 So he got a job from someone in that country and was sent to feed pigs in the fields. 16 No one in the country would give him any food, and he was so hungry that he would have eaten what the pigs were eating.
17 “Finally, he came to his senses. He said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more food than they can eat, while I’m starving to death here? 18 I’ll go at once to my father, and I’ll say to him, “Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and you. 19 I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore. Make me one of your hired men.” ’
20 “So he went at once to his father. While he was still at a distance, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son, put his arms around him, and kissed him. 21 Then his son said to him, ‘Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and you. I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore.’[a]
22 “The father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s celebrate with a feast. 24 My son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost but has been found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
25 “His older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called to one of the servants and asked what was happening.
27 “The servant told him, ‘Your brother has come home. So your father has killed the fattened calf to celebrate your brother’s safe return.’
28 “Then the older son became angry and wouldn’t go into the house. His father came out and begged him to come in. 29 But he answered his father, ‘All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you. I’ve never disobeyed one of your commands. Yet, you’ve never given me so much as a little goat for a celebration with my friends. 30 But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came home, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
31 “His father said to him, ‘My child, you’re always with me. Everything I have is yours. 32 But we have something to celebrate, something to be happy about. This brother of yours was dead but has come back to life. He was lost but has been found.’”
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.