M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
37 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood—two cubits and a half was the length of it, a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it.
2 He overlaid it with pure gold within and without and made a molding or crown of gold to go around the top of it.
3 He cast four rings of gold for its four corners, two rings on either side.
4 He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
5 He put the poles through the rings at the sides of the ark to carry it.
6 [Bezalel] made the mercy seat of pure gold, two cubits and a half its length and one cubit and a half its breadth.
7 And he made two cherubim of beaten gold; on the two ends of the mercy seat he made them,
8 One cherub at one end and one at the other end; of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim at its two ends.
9 And the cherubim spread out their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces to each other, looking down to the mercy seat.(A)
10 Bezalel made the [showbread] table of acacia wood; it was two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.
11 He overlaid it with pure gold and made a molding of gold around its top.
12 And he made a border around it [just under the top] a handbreadth wide, and a molding of gold around the border.
13 And he cast for it four rings of gold and fastened the rings on the four corners that were at its four legs.
14 Close to the border were the rings, the places for the poles to pass through to carry the [showbread] table.
15 [Bezalel] made the poles of acacia wood to carry the [showbread] table and overlaid them with gold.
16 He made of pure gold the vessels which were to be on the table, its plates and dishes [for bread], its bowls and flagons for pouring [liquid sacrifices].
17 And he made the lampstand of pure gold; its base and shaft were made of hammered work; its cups, its knobs, and its flowers were of one piece with it.
18 There were six branches going out of the sides of the lampstand, three branches out of one side of it and three branches out of the other side of it;
19 Three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, each with a [calyx] knob and a flower, and three cups made like almond blossoms in the [opposite] branch, each with a [calyx] knob and a flower; and so for the six branches going out of the lampstand.
20 On [the shaft of] the lampstand were four cups made like almond blossoms, with knobs and flowers [one at the top].
21 And a knob under each pair of branches, of one piece with the lampstand, for the six branches going out of it.
22 Their knobs and their branches were of one piece with it, all of it hammered work of pure gold.
23 And he made of pure gold its seven lamps, its snuffers, and its ashtrays.
24 Of a talent of pure gold he made the lampstand and all its utensils.(B)
25 And [Bezalel] made the incense altar of acacia wood; its top was a cubit square and it was two cubits high; the horns were one piece with it.
26 He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, its sides round about, and its horns; also he made a rim around it of gold.
27 And he made two rings of gold for it under its rim, on its two opposite sides, as places for the poles [to pass through] to carry it.
28 And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
29 He also made the holy anointing oil [symbol of the Holy Spirit] and the pure, fragrant incense, after the perfumer’s art.
16 I have told you all these things, so that you should not be offended (taken unawares and falter, or be caused to stumble and fall away). [I told you to keep you from being scandalized and repelled.]
2 They will put you out of (expel you from) the synagogues; but an hour is coming when whoever kills you will think and claim that he has offered service to God.
3 And they will do this because they have not known the Father or Me.
4 But I have told you these things now, so that when they occur you will remember that I told you of them. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.
5 But now I am going to Him Who sent Me, yet none of you asks Me, Where are You going?
6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [taken complete possession of them].
7 However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].
8 And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment:
9 About sin, because they do not believe in Me [trust in, rely on, and adhere to Me];
10 About righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God), because I go to My Father, and you will see Me no longer;
11 About judgment, because the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world [Satan] is judged and condemned and sentence already is passed upon him.
12 I have still many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them or to take them upon you or to grasp them now.
13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].
14 He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.
15 Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the Spirit] will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.
16 In a little while you will no longer see Me, and again after a short while you will see Me.
17 So some of His disciples questioned among themselves, What does He mean when He tells us, In a little while you will no longer see Me, and again after a short while you will see Me, and, Because I go to My Father?
18 What does He mean by a little while? We do not know or understand what He is talking about.
19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask Him, so He said to them, Are you wondering and inquiring among yourselves what I meant when I said, In a little while you will no longer see Me, and again after a short while you will see Me?
20 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that you shall weep and grieve, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
21 A woman, when she gives birth to a child, has grief (anguish, agony) because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she no longer remembers her pain (trouble, anguish) because she is so glad that a man (a child, a human being) has been born into the world.
22 So for the present you are also in sorrow (in distress and depressed); but I will see you again and [then] your hearts will rejoice, and no one can take from you your joy (gladness, delight).
23 And when that time comes, you will ask nothing of Me [you will need to ask Me no questions]. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant you whatever you ask in My Name [as [a]presenting all that I Am].(A)
24 Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as [b]presenting all that I Am]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.
25 I have told you these things in parables (veiled language, allegories, dark sayings); the hour is now coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I shall tell you about the Father in plain words and openly (without reserve).
26 At that time you will ask (pray) in My Name; and I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf [for it will be unnecessary].
27 For the Father Himself [tenderly] loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from the Father.
28 I came out from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.
29 His disciples said, Ah, now You are speaking plainly to us and not in parables (veiled language and figures of speech)!
30 Now we know that You are acquainted with everything and have no need to be asked questions. Because of this we believe that you [really] came from God.
31 Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? [Do you believe it at last?]
32 But take notice, the hour is coming, and it has arrived, when you will all be dispersed and scattered, every man to his own home, leaving Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
13 A wise son heeds [and is the fruit of] his father’s instruction and correction, but a scoffer listens not to rebuke.
2 A good man eats good from the fruit of his mouth, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
3 He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4 The appetite of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the appetite of the diligent is abundantly supplied.(A)
5 A [consistently] righteous man hates lying and deceit, but a wicked man is loathsome [his very breath spreads pollution] and he comes [surely] to shame.
6 Righteousness (rightness and justice in every area and relation) guards him who is upright in the way, but wickedness plunges into sin and overthrows the sinner.
7 One man considers himself rich, yet has nothing [to keep permanently]; another man considers himself poor, yet has great [and indestructible] riches.(B)
8 A rich man can buy his way out of threatened death by paying a ransom, but the poor man does not even have to listen to threats [from the envious].
9 The light of the [uncompromisingly] righteous [is within him—it grows brighter and] rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked [furnishes only a derived, temporary light and] shall be put out shortly.
10 By pride and insolence comes only contention, but with the well-advised is skillful and godly Wisdom.
11 Wealth [not earned but] won in haste or unjustly or from the production of things for vain or detrimental use [such riches] will dwindle away, but he who gathers little by little will increase [his riches].
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoever despises the word and counsel [of God] brings destruction upon himself, but he who [reverently] fears and respects the commandment [of God] is rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.
15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard [like the barren, dry soil or the impassable swamp].
16 Every prudent man deals with knowledge, but a [self-confident] fool exposes and flaunts his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into evil, but a faithful ambassador brings healing.
18 Poverty and shame come to him who refuses instruction and correction, but he who heeds reproof is honored.
19 Satisfied desire is sweet to a person; therefore it is hateful and exceedingly offensive to [self-confident] fools to give up evil [upon which they have set their hearts].
20 He who walks [as a companion] with wise men is wise, but he who associates with [self-confident] fools is [a fool himself and] shall smart for it.(C)
21 Evil pursues sinners, but the consistently upright and in right standing with God is recompensed with good.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner [finds its way eventually] into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up.
23 Much food is in the tilled land of the poor, but there are those who are destroyed because of injustice.
24 He who spares his rod [of discipline] hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines diligently and punishes him early.(D)
25 The [uncompromisingly] righteous eats to his own satisfaction, but the stomach of the wicked is in want.
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord [as His representatives], for this is just and right.
2 Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother—this is the first commandment with a promise—(A)
3 That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.
4 Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.
5 Servants (slaves), be obedient to those who are your physical masters, having respect for them and eager concern to please them, in singleness of motive and with all your heart, as [service] to Christ [Himself]—
6 Not in the way of eye-service [as if they were watching you] and only to please men, but as servants (slaves) of Christ, doing the will of God heartily and with your whole soul;
7 Rendering service readily with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men,
8 Knowing that for whatever good anyone does, he will receive his reward from the Lord, whether he is slave or free.
9 You masters, act on the same [principle] toward them and give up threatening and using violent and abusive words, knowing that He Who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no respect of persons (no partiality) with Him.
10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
11 Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
13 Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.(B)
16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God.
18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).
19 And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel),
20 For which I am an ambassador in a coupling chain [in prison. Pray] that I may declare it boldly and courageously, as I ought to do.
21 Now that you may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord [and His service], will tell you everything.
22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may [e]console and cheer and encourage and strengthen your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love joined with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
24 Grace (God’s undeserved favor) be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying and incorruptible [love]. Amen (so let it be).
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation