M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Josiah Reigns over Judah
34 (A)Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. 2 (B)And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left. 3 Now in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to (C)seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began (D)to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, the graven images, and the molten images. 4 And they tore down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and (E)the incense altars that were high above them he cut in pieces; also the Asherim, the graven images, and the molten images he broke in pieces and (F)ground to powder and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 Then (G)he burned the bones of the priests on their altars and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. 6 (H)And in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, even as far as Naphtali, in their surrounding [a]ruins, 7 he also tore down the altars and (I)beat the Asherim and the graven images into powder, and cut in pieces all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
Josiah Repairs the House of Yahweh
8 (J)Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had cleansed the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah (K)an official of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of Yahweh his God. 9 And they came to (L)Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the [b]doorkeepers, had gathered from the hand of (M)Manasseh and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 Then they gave it into the hand of [c]those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of Yahweh; and those who did the work, who were doing this in the house of Yahweh, [d]used it to restore and repair the house. 11 They in turn gave it to the craftsmen and to the builders to buy hewn stone and timber for clamps and to make beams for the houses (N)which the kings of Judah had let go to ruin. 12 (O)And the men did the work faithfully with foremen over them to direct: Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites of the sons of Merari, Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites, and (P)the Levites, all who were skillful with musical instruments. 13 They were also over (Q)those who carried loads, and directed all those who did the work from service to service; and some of the Levites were scribes and officials and gatekeepers.
Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law
14 When they were taking out the money which had been brought into the house of Yahweh, (R)Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Yahweh given by the hand of Moses. 15 So Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan. 16 Then Shaphan brought the book to the king and furthermore [e]responded to the king with a word, saying, “Everything that was given to the hand of your servants they are doing. 17 They have also poured out the money that was found in the house of Yahweh, and have given it into the hand of the supervisors and those who did the work.” 18 Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, “Hilkiah the priest gave me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
19 Now it happened that when the king heard (S)the words of the law, (T)he tore his clothes. 20 Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, [f]Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 21 “Go, inquire of Yahweh for me and those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book which has been found, for (U)great is the wrath of Yahweh which is poured out against us, because our fathers have not kept the word of Yahweh, to do according to all that is written in this book.”
Josiah Will Not See Yahweh’s Wrath
22 So Hilkiah and those whom the king [g]had told went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of [h]Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her regarding this. 23 And she said to them, “Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Say to the man who sent you to Me, 24 thus says Yahweh, “Behold, (V)I am bringing evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all (W)the curses written in the book which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25 (X)Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore My wrath will be poured out against this place, and it shall not be quenched.”’ 26 But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, “Regarding the words which you have heard, 27 (Y)because your heart was soft and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares Yahweh. 28 “Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, so your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.”’” So they brought back word to the king.
29 (Z)Then the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 And the king went up to the house of Yahweh and (AA)all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests and the Levites and all the people, from the greatest to the least; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of Yahweh.
Josiah Cuts a Covenant with Yahweh
31 Then the king (AB)stood in his place and (AC)cut a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to do the words of the covenant that were written in this book. 32 Moreover, he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand with him. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. 33 And Josiah (AD)took away all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve Yahweh their God. Throughout his [i]lifetime they did not turn away from following Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
Christ’s Thousand Year Reign
20 Then I saw (A)an angel coming down from heaven, having the (B)key of the abyss and a great chain [a]in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the (C)dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and (D)bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the (E)abyss, and shut it and (F)sealed it over him, so that he would (G)not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were finished. After these things he must be released for a short time.
4 Then I saw (H)thrones, and (I)they sat on them, and (J)judgment was given to them. And I saw (K)the souls of those who had been beheaded because of [b]their (L)witness of Jesus and because of the word of God, and who also had not (M)worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the (N)mark on their forehead and on their hand. And they (O)came to life and (P)reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished. (Q)This is the first resurrection. 6 (R)Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection. Over these the (S)second death has no authority, but they will be (T)priests of God and of Christ and will (U)reign with Him for a thousand years.
The Defeat of Satan
7 And when the thousand years are finished, Satan will be (V)released from his prison, 8 and will come out to (W)deceive the nations which are in the (X)four corners of the earth, (Y)Gog and Magog, to (Z)gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the (AA)sand of the [c]seashore. 9 And they (AB)came up on the [d]broad plain of the earth and surrounded the (AC)camp of the saints and the (AD)beloved city, and (AE)fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And (AF)the devil who (AG)deceived them was thrown into the (AH)lake of fire and [e]brimstone, where the (AI)beast and the (AJ)false prophet are also, and they will be (AK)tormented day and night forever and ever.
The Great White Throne Judgment
11 Then I saw a great white (AL)throne and Him who sits upon it, from whose [f]presence (AM)earth and heaven fled away, and (AN)no place was found for them. 12 Then I saw the dead, the (AO)great and the small, standing before the throne, and [g](AP)books were opened; and another [h]book was opened, which is (AQ)the book of life. And the dead (AR)were judged from the things which were written in the [i]books, (AS)according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and (AT)death and Hades (AU)gave up the dead which were in them, and they were judged, every one of them (AV)according to their deeds. 14 Then (AW)death and Hades were thrown into (AX)the lake of fire. This is the (AY)second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if [j]anyone’s name was not found written in (AZ)the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
I Will Curse Your Blessings
2 “And now this commandment is for you, O priests. 2 If you do (A)not listen, and if you do not set it upon your heart to give [a]honor to My name,” says Yahweh of hosts, “then I will send the (B)curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have (C)cursed them already because you are not setting it upon your heart. 3 Behold, I am going to (D)rebuke your seed, and I will (E)spread [b]refuse on your faces, the [c]refuse of your (F)feasts; and you will be taken away [d]with it. 4 Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, [e]that My (G)covenant may [f]continue with Levi,” says Yahweh of hosts. 5 “My covenant with him was one of life and (H)peace, and I gave them to him as something to be [g]feared; so he (I)feared Me and stood in [h]awe of My name. 6 [i](J)Instruction of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked (K)with Me in peace and uprightness, and he (L)turned many back from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should keep (M)knowledge, and [j]men should (N)seek [k]instruction from his mouth; for he is the (O)messenger of Yahweh of hosts. 8 But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to (P)stumble [l]by the instruction; you have [m](Q)corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says Yahweh of hosts. 9 “So (R)I also have made you despised and (S)low [n]before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing (T)partiality in the [o]instruction.
Judah Profaned Yahweh’s Sanctuary
10 “Do we not all have (U)one father? (V)Has not one God created us? Why do we deal (W)treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the (X)covenant of our fathers? 11 Judah has dealt (Y)treacherously, and an abomination has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has (Z)profaned the sanctuary of Yahweh [p]which He loves and has married the daughter of a foreign god. 12 As for the man who does this, may (AA)Yahweh cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who awakes and answers or who (AB)presents [q]an offering to Yahweh of hosts.
13 “And this is a second thing you do: you cover the altar of Yahweh with tears, with weeping, and with groaning because He (AC)no longer regards the [r]offering or receives it as acceptable from your hand. 14 But you say, ‘For what reason?’ Because Yahweh has been a witness between you and the (AD)wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt (AE)treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 [s]But not one has (AF)done so, even one who has a remnant of the Spirit. And [t]what did that one do while he was seeking a (AG)godly seed? Be careful then to keep your spirit, and let no one deal (AH)treacherously against the wife of your youth. 16 For [u]I hate [v](AI)divorce,” says Yahweh, the God of Israel, “and [w]him who covers his garment with [x](AJ)wrong,” says Yahweh of hosts. “Be careful then to keep your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”
17 You have (AK)wearied Yahweh with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “(AL)Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of Yahweh, and He (AM)delights in them,” or, “(AN)Where is the God of (AO)justice?”
Jesus Flogged and Rejected as King
19 Pilate then took Jesus and [a](A)flogged Him. 2 (B)And when the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and put a purple [b]robe on Him; 3 and they were coming to Him and saying, “(C)Hail, King of the Jews!” and were (D)giving Him slaps in the face. 4 And Pilate (E)came out again and *said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that (F)I find no guilt in Him.” 5 Jesus then came out, (G)wearing the crown of thorns and the purple [c]robe. Pilate *said to them, “Behold, the man!” 6 So when the chief priests and the (H)officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate *said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for (I)I find no guilt in Him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “(J)We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He (K)made Himself out to be the Son of God.”
8 Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he became more afraid; 9 and he (L)entered into the [d]Praetorium again and *said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But (M)Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate *said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” 11 Jesus answered, “(N)You would have no authority [e]over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason (O)he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” 12 As a result of this Pilate kept seeking to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “(P)If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself to be a king [f]opposes Caesar.”
13 Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and (Q)sat down on the judgment seat at a place called [g]The Stone Pavement, but (R)in [h]Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was (S)the day of [i]Preparation for the Passover; it was about the [j](T)sixth hour. And he *said to the Jews, “Behold, (U)your King!” 15 So they cried out, “(V)Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate *said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
The Crucifixion
16 So he then (W)delivered Him over to them to be crucified.
17 (X)They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, [k](Y)bearing His own cross, to the place called (Z)the Place of a Skull, which is called (AA)in [l]Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him, and with Him (AB)two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. 19 And Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “(AC)JESUS THE NAZARENE, (AD)THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 20 Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written (AE)in [m]Hebrew, Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘(AF)The King of the Jews;’ but that He said, ‘I am (AG)King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “(AH)What I have written I have written.”
23 Then (AI)the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made (AJ)four parts, a part to each soldier and also His [n]tunic; now that tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24 So they said to one another, “(AK)Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be;” (AL)this was in order that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “They (AM)divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast [o]lots.” 25 Therefore the soldiers did these things.
(AN)But standing by the cross of Jesus were (AO)His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and (AP)Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus then saw His mother, and (AQ)the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He *said to His mother, “(AR)Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then He *said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into (AS)his home.
Scripture Fulfilled—It Is Finished
28 After this, Jesus, (AT)knowing that all things had already been finished, (AU)in order [p]to finish the Scripture, *said, “(AV)I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so (AW)they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “(AX)It is finished!” And bowing His head, He (AY)gave up His spirit.
31 Then the Jews, because it was (AZ)the day of Preparation, so that (BA)the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath ([q]for that Sabbath was a (BB)high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was (BC)crucified with Him; 33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately (BD)blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has (BE)borne witness, and his witness is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For these things came to pass (BF)in order that the Scripture would be fulfilled, “(BG)Not a bone of Him shall be [r]broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “(BH)They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”
Jesus Is Buried
38 (BI)Now after these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but (BJ)secretly because of his (BK)fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. 39 (BL)And Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, (BM)bringing a [s]mixture of (BN)myrrh and aloes, weighing about [t]one (BO)hundred litras. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and (BP)bound it in (BQ)linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a (BR)new tomb (BS)in which no one had yet been laid. 42 Therefore because of the Jewish day of (BT)Preparation, since the tomb was (BU)nearby, they laid Jesus there.
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