M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Covenant Box
37 Bezalel used acacia wood to make the Covenant Box.[a] It was 1 metre long, 75 centimetres wide and 75 centimetres high. 2 He covered it with gold, inside and outside. He built up the edges of the box with gold. 3 He made four gold rings for it and he fixed them to its four feet. He fixed two rings on one side and two rings on the other side. 4 He used acacia wood to make two poles. He also covered them with gold. 5 He pushed the poles through the rings on the sides of the Covenant Box, to carry it.
6 He used pure gold to make the special lid for the Covenant Box. It was 1 metre long and 75 centimetres wide. 7 He used gold to make images of two cherubs. He used a hammer to make them the right shape. He made them to stand at the two ends of the lid. 8 One cherub stood at one end of the lid and one cherub stood at the other end. He made the two cherubs and the lid from one piece of gold. 9 The cherubs looked at each other and they watched over the lid. Their wings touched each other over the top of the lid.
The special table
10 Bezalel used acacia wood to make the special table. It was 1 metre long, 50 centimetres wide and 75 centimetres high. 11 He covered the wood with gold. He built up the edges of the table with gold. 12 He fixed an extra piece of wood around its edge. It was 7 centimetres wide. He built up the edges of this piece with gold. 13 He made four gold rings for the table. He fixed them to the four corners, one beside each leg of the table. 14 The rings were near to the extra piece of wood. They would hold the poles to carry the table. 15 He used acacia wood to make the poles and he covered them with gold. They would use the poles to carry the table. 16 He used pure gold to make the things that would be on the table. He made plates, big spoons, jars and bowls. They would use those things to pour out drink offerings.
The lampstand
17 Bezalel used one piece of pure gold to make the lampstand. He used a hammer to make it the right shape. He used the gold to make its base, its middle pole and the cups to hold the oil. The cups were like open flowers and closed flowers. 18 There were six branches on the lampstand, three branches on each side of the middle pole. 19 Three cups in the shape of almond flowers and their leaves were on each branch. Each of the six branches of the lampstand had three cups like that.
20 On the lampstand itself there were four cups in the shape of almond flowers and their leaves. 21 There was one closed flower under the first pair of branches. There was a second closed flower under the second pair of branches. There was a third closed flower under the third pair of branches. So there were three closed flowers for the six branches. 22 He made the flowers and the branches from the same piece of pure gold as the lampstand. He used a hammer to make the gold into the right shape.
23 He used pure gold to make seven lamps for the lampstand, as well as the small tools and dishes to take care of the lamps. 24 He used 34 kilograms of pure gold to make the lampstand and all its tools.
The altar for incense
25 Bezalel used acacia wood to make the altar for incense. It was square, 45 centimetres long, 45 centimetres wide and 90 centimetres high. The altar's horns were part of it, made from one piece of wood. 26 He covered all the altar with gold: its top, its sides and the horns. He built up an edge of gold around the four sides. 27 He made two gold rings for the altar. He fixed them below the gold edge, on two opposite sides. They would hold the poles to carry the altar. 28 He used acacia wood to make the poles and he covered them with gold.
29 He also made the special oil that would make things holy. He also made the incense with a sweet smell, like perfume.
16 Jesus then said, ‘I have told you all these things, so that you will not turn away from God. 2 People will send you away from their meeting places. There will be a time when people will want to kill you. When they do this, they will even think that they are doing what God wants. 3 They will do these things to you because they have never known either the Father or me. 4 But I have told you this so that you will remember. When they begin to do these things, you will remember that I told you about them already.’
The work of God's Spirit
‘I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I will go to the Father who sent me. But none of you asks me, “Where will you go?” 6 And now you are very sad, because I have told you these things. 7 But what I tell you is true. It will be better for you if I go away. Because, if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I do go away, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will show the people of this world what they are like. He will show clearly that they are wrong. They are wrong about what sin really is. They are wrong about who is right with God. They are wrong about how God judges people. 9 They are wrong about sin, because they do not believe in me. 10 They are wrong about who is right with God, because I will go to the Father. Then you will not see me again. 11 They are wrong about how God judges people, because God has already judged Satan, the ruler of this world.
12 I have many more things to tell you. But you are not strong enough to know them now. 13 But the Spirit will come. He is the one who shows people true things about God. When he comes, he will be a guide to you. He will help you to understand everything that is true. He will not speak on his own authority. He will tell you only what he hears from the Father. He will tell you about things that will happen after this time. 14 He will take my message and he will tell it to you. In that way, he will give me honour. 15 Everything that the Father has is mine. That is why I said, “The Spirit will take what is mine and then he will tell it to you.” ’
The disciples will be sad first but after that they will be happy
16 Jesus then said, ‘After a short time, you will not see me any more. But soon after that, you will see me again.’ 17 Some of his disciples said to each other, ‘What does he mean? He says, “After a short time, you will not see me any more, but soon after that you will see me.” He also says, “It is because I go to the Father.” 18 What does he mean when he says, “a short time”? We do not know what he is talking about!’
19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him about this. So he said to them, ‘I said, “After a short time, you will not see me. But soon after that, you will see me again.” Perhaps you are asking each other about that. 20 I tell you this: You will be sad and you will cry. But the people who belong to this world will be happy. Yes, you will be sad. But soon after that, you will become happy instead. 21 It will be like this. When a woman is soon to give birth to a baby, she is sad. She knows that it will be painful. But after the baby is born, she is happy. She forgets her pain, because now she is so happy. She is happy because her child has been born into the world. 22 It is like that for you. You are sad now. But I will see you again, and then you will be happy. You will be really happy. Nobody will be able to take away your joy.
23 When that day arrives, you will not ask me for anything. I tell you this: The Father will help you with anything that you ask him for in my name. 24 Until now, you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask God, and you will receive what you ask for. Then you will be completely happy.
25 I have spoken to you with words and stories that are like pictures. But there will be a time when I will not speak like that any more. Instead, I will speak clearly to you about the Father. 26 When that day arrives, you yourselves will ask the Father in my name.[a] I do not say that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 I will not need to do that, because the Father himself loves you. He loves you because you love me, and you have believed that I came from God. 28 Yes, I came from the Father, and I came into this world. Now I will leave this world and I will return to the Father.’
29 Jesus' disciples said to him, ‘Now you are speaking clearly. You are not speaking with words that are like pictures! 30 Now we are sure that you know everything. You do not even need to ask people what they are thinking. Because of this, we believe that you came from God.’ 31 Jesus answered them, ‘You say that you believe in me now. 32 But it will happen very soon that all of you will run away to your own homes. Yes, that time has already arrived. You will run away and leave me alone. But I will not really be alone, because the Father is always with me. 33 I have told you these things so that you will have peace. You will be like that because you live together with me. In this world, you will have trouble. But be brave! I have destroyed the power of this world.’
13 A wise son listens to his father's teaching.
But if you tell a proud person that he is wrong, he will not listen.
2 If you say kind words, you will eat good things.
But wicked people only want to be cruel.
3 Someone who thinks before he speaks will keep his life safe.
But someone who talks too much will destroy himself.
4 A lazy person always wants to have more, but he will not get it.
If a person works hard, he will have more than he needs.
5 Honest people hate anything that is false.
But wicked people do things that bring them shame.
6 When honest people do what is right, it keeps them safe.
But when sinners do evil things, it destroys them.
7 Somebody who has nothing may still pretend to be rich.
Somebody else may pretend to be poor, but he is very rich.
8 A rich person may have to use his money to save his life.
But poor people do not have that problem.
9 Righteous people have joy that shines like a bright light.
But wicked people have a light that will quickly go out.
10 A person who boasts only causes trouble.
But if you accept good advice, it shows that you are wise.
11 If you try to get money quickly, you will not stay rich for long.
But if you are patient, you will become rich little by little.
12 When you do not receive the things that you hope for, it makes you sad.
But when you receive what you have always wanted, you are very happy.
13 If you do not accept good teaching, you will destroy yourself.
If you accept good advice, it will help you to do well.
14 The teaching of wise people is like a spring of water that gives life.
It will keep you away from death's dangerous traps.
15 People respect a person who has wise thoughts.
But the way that wicked people live destroys them.
16 Careful people need to understand what they are doing.
But a fool quickly shows how foolish he is.
17 If you send a message with a wicked person, he will cause trouble.
But if you send someone that you can trust, he will bring peace.
18 Anyone who turns away from good teaching will become poor and ashamed.
But if you accept advice when you do something wrong, people will respect you.
19 It is very nice to receive the things that you want.
But foolish people refuse to stop doing evil things.
20 If you have wise people as your friends, you will become wise yourself.
But if you have foolish friends, you will hurt yourself.
21 Trouble chases sinners and it catches them.
But righteous people will receive good things.
22 When a good person dies, he leaves good things for his grandchildren.
But a sinner's riches will belong to righteous people in the end.
23 Even a poor man's field may give him enough food.
But he loses it because wicked people rob him.
24 If you do not punish your child, you show that you hate him.
If you really love your child, you will punish him when he does something wrong.
25 Righteous people have plenty of food to eat.
But wicked people have an empty stomach.
Children and parents
6 You who are children, obey your parents. Because you belong to the Lord, that is the right thing to do. 2 God's Law says: ‘Always respect your father and your mother.’ That is the first rule of God's Law that also has a promise. 3 The promise is this: ‘As a result, you will be happy and you will live for a long time on the earth.’[a]
4 Fathers, do not do things that make your children angry. Instead, teach them carefully as they grow up. Help them to understand the message of the Lord, and help them to obey it.
Slaves and masters
5 You who are slaves, obey your human masters. Respect them and be afraid of them. Work well to help them, as if you were working for Christ as your master. 6 Do not do good work only when they can see you. Some people only work to make other people like them. Instead, work well all the time, as slaves who serve Christ. Work in the way that God wants you to work. 7 Be happy to obey your human masters. Remember that you are serving the Lord himself, not just other people. 8 You know that anyone who does some good thing will receive a good gift from the Lord. This will happen whether that person is a slave or a free person.
9 You who are masters, be good to your slaves in the same way. Do not frighten them with punishment. Remember that both you and your slaves have the same Master in heaven. And he is always fair when he judges people, whoever they are.
How God helps us to be strong
10 At the end of my letter, I want to say this to you: Be united with the Lord, so that you are strong. Then his great power will help you. 11 Use all the help that God gives to us. Then you can be like a soldier who fights against the Devil. You must put on the whole armour that God gives to us. The Devil attacks us in clever ways, and we need to be strong. 12 We are not fighting against human enemies. Instead, we are fighting against the rulers and the powerful spirits that have authority over this dark world. We are fighting against the bad spirits who live in the heavens.
13 Because of that, take all the help that God gives, like it is your armour. Then, when the bad time comes, you will be able to stand strongly. You will not fall. After you have finished everything, you will still be standing strongly in your place.
14 So you must stand strongly. This is God's armour that you must wear: God's true message will be like a belt that you tie round your body.[b] Always do what is right. That will be like a metal shirt that you wear to keep your body safe. 15 Be prepared to tell people the good news about peace with God. That will be like shoes on your feet. 16 As well as all that, have faith to trust God. That will be like a shield that you hold in front of you. It will stop the Devil from hurting you with his arrows that burn with fire.[c] 17 Remember that God has saved you from your sins. That will be like a strong hat that keeps your head safe. Also, use God's message to help you. That will be like a sword that God's Spirit puts in your hand.
18 As you stand strongly like that, always pray for God's help. Pray about everything as God's Spirit helps you to pray. For this purpose, watch carefully all the time. Also, continue to pray for all God's people everywhere.
19 Please pray for me, too. Pray that God will give me the right message to speak. Pray that I will not be afraid to tell people about God's good news. Pray that I can explain God's secret to them. 20 God has sent me to tell people the good news on his behalf. And that is why I am now in prison. So pray that I will speak God's message bravely, as I ought to speak it.
Paul finishes his letter
21 My Christian friend, Tychicus, will tell you all the news about me. He works hard as the Lord's servant. He will tell you about what is happening here. Then you will know what I am doing and how I am. 22 That is the reason why I am sending him to you. I want him to tell you what is happening to us here, so that you will feel stronger.
23 I pray that God, the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ will be good to you who are believers. I pray that you will have peace in your minds. I pray that you will love one another, as you continue to trust Christ. 24 I pray that God will be very kind to everyone who continues to love our Lord Jesus Christ.
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