M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Amnon and Tamar
13 Now it was after this that (A)Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was (B)Tamar, and (C)Amnon the son of David loved her. 2 Amnon was so frustrated because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed [a]hard to Amnon to do anything to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of [b](D)Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd man. 4 He said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so depressed morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Then Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.” 5 Jonadab then said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill; when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me some food to eat, and let her prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat from her hand.’” 6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and (E)make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”
7 Then David sent to the house for Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.” 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was lying down. And she took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. 9 She took the pan and [c]dished them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “(F)Have everyone go out from me.” So everyone went out from him. 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the [d]bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.” So Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon. 11 When she brought them to him to eat, he (G)took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” 12 But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for (H)such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this (I)disgraceful thing! 13 As for me, where could I [e]get rid of my reproach? And as for you, you will be like one of the [f]fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for (J)he will not withhold me from you.” 14 However, he would not listen to [g]her; since he was stronger than she, he (K)violated her and lay with her.
15 Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up, go away!” 16 But she said to him, “No, because this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you have done to me!” Yet he would not listen to her. 17 Then he called his young man who attended him and said, “Now throw this woman out of my presence, and lock the door behind her.” 18 Now she had on (L)a [h]long-sleeved garment; for in this manner the virgin daughters of the king dressed themselves in robes. Then his attendant took her out and locked the door behind her. 19 (M)Tamar put [i]ashes on her head and (N)tore her [j]long-sleeved garment which was on her; and (O)she put her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.
20 Then Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, my sister, he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart.” So Tamar remained and was desolate in her brother Absalom’s house. 21 Now when King David heard of all these matters, he was very angry. 22 But Absalom did not speak to Amnon (P)either good or bad; for (Q)Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar.
23 Now it came about after two full years that Absalom (R)had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
Absalom Avenges Tamar
24 Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold now, your servant has sheepshearers; please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, for we will be burdensome to you.” Although he [k]urged him, he would not go, but blessed him. 26 Then (S)Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But when Absalom [l]urged him, he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28 Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “See now, (T)when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then put him to death. Do not fear; have not I myself commanded you? Be courageous and be [m]valiant.” 29 The servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose and each mounted (U)his mule and fled.
30 Now it was while they were on the way that the report came to David, saying, “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose, (V)tore his clothes and (W)lay on the ground; and all his servants were standing by with clothes torn. 32 (X)Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, [n]responded, “Do not let my lord [o]suppose they have put to death all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead; because by the [p]intent of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he violated his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore, do not let my lord the king (Y)take the report to [q]heart, namely, ‘all the king’s sons are dead,’ for only Amnon is dead.”
34 Now (Z)Absalom had fled. And (AA)the young man who was the watchman raised his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. 35 Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons have come; according to your servant’s word, so it happened.” 36 As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted their voices and wept; and also the king and all his servants wept [r]very bitterly.
37 Now (AB)Absalom fled and went to (AC)Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of (AD)Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. 38 (AE)So Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 The heart of King David longed to go out to Absalom; for (AF)he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.
Their Ministry Commended
6 And (A)working together with Him, (B)we also urge you not to receive (C)the grace of God in vain— 2 for He says,
“(D)At the acceptable time I listened to you,
And on the day of salvation I helped you.”
Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— 3 (E)giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, 4 but in everything (F)commending ourselves as [a](G)servants of God, (H)in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in (I)beatings, in imprisonments, in (J)tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in (K)hunger, 6 in purity, in (L)knowledge, in (M)patience, in kindness, in the (N)Holy Spirit, in (O)genuine love, 7 in (P)the word of truth, in (Q)the power of God; by (R)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8 by glory and (S)dishonor, by (T)evil report and good report; regarded as (U)deceivers and yet (V)true; 9 as unknown [b]yet well-known, as (W)dying [c]yet behold, (X)we live; as [d]punished [e]yet not put to death, 10 as (Y)sorrowful yet always (Z)rejoicing, as (AA)poor yet making many rich, as (AB)having nothing [f]yet possessing (AC)all things.
11 (AD)Our mouth [g]has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our (AE)heart is opened wide. 12 You are not restrained [h]by us, but (AF)you are restrained in your own [i]affections. 13 Now in a like (AG)exchange—I speak as to (AH)children—open wide to us also.
14 (AI)Do not be [j]bound together with (AJ)unbelievers; for what (AK)partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what (AL)harmony has Christ with [k]Belial, or [l]what has a (AM)believer in common with an (AN)unbeliever? 16 Or (AO)what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are (AP)the temple of (AQ)the living God; just as God said,
“(AR)I will (AS)dwell in them and (AT)walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17 “(AU)Therefore, (AV)come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.
“And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will welcome you.
18 “(AW)And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be (AX)sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.
God’s Dealings with Israel Rehearsed
20 Now in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, [a]certain of the (A)elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me. 2 And the word of the Lord came to me saying, 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord [b]God, “Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live,” declares the Lord God, “(B)I will not be inquired of by you.”’ 4 Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? (C)Make them know the abominations of their fathers; 5 and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On the day when I (D)chose Israel and [c]swore to the [d]descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I [e]swore to them, saying, (E)I am the Lord your God, 6 on that day I swore to them, (F)to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had [f]selected for them, (G)flowing with milk and honey, which is (H)the glory of all lands. 7 I said to them, ‘(I)Cast away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and (J)do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; (K)I am the Lord your God.’ 8 But they (L)rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; [g]they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the (M)idols of Egypt.
Then I [h]resolved to (N)pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted (O)for the sake of My name, that it should (P)not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10 So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the (Q)wilderness. 11 I gave them My (R)statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by (S)which, if a man [i]observes them, he will live. 12 Also I gave them My sabbaths to be a (T)sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. 13 But the house of Israel (U)rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes and they rejected My ordinances, (V)by which, if a man [j]observes them, he will live; and My (W)sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I [k]resolved to (X)pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them. 14 But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, before whose sight I had brought them out. 15 Also (Y)I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands, 16 because they rejected My ordinances, and as for My statutes, they did not walk in them; they even profaned My sabbaths, for their (Z)heart continually went after their idols. 17 Yet My eye spared them rather than destroying them, and I did not cause their (AA)annihilation in the wilderness.
18 “I said to their [l](AB)children in the wilderness, ‘(AC)Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 (AD)I am the Lord your God; (AE)walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and [m]observe them. 20 (AF)Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’ 21 But the (AG)children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths. So I [n]resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I (AH)withdrew My hand and acted (AI)for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would (AJ)scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands, 24 because they had not observed My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My sabbaths, and (AK)their eyes were [o]on the idols of their fathers. 25 I also gave them statutes that were (AL)not good and ordinances by which they could not live; 26 and I pronounced them (AM)unclean because of their gifts, in that they (AN)caused all [p]their firstborn to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might (AO)know that I am the Lord.”’
27 “Therefore, son of man, (AP)speak to the house of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Yet in this your fathers have (AQ)blasphemed Me by (AR)acting treacherously against Me. 28 When I had (AS)brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every (AT)high hill and every leafy tree, and they offered there their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There also they made their soothing aroma and there they poured out their drink offerings. 29 Then I said to them, ‘What is the high place to which you go?’ So its name is called [q]Bamah to this day.”’ 30 Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Will you defile yourselves [r]after the manner of your (AU)fathers and play the harlot after their detestable things? 31 [s]When you offer your gifts, when you (AV)cause your sons to pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,” declares the Lord God, “I will not be inquired of by you. 32 What (AW)comes [t]into your mind will not come about, when you say: ‘We will be like the nations, like the tribes of the lands, (AX)serving wood and stone.’
God Will Restore Israel to Her Land
33 “As I live,” declares the Lord God, “surely with a mighty hand and with an (AY)outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I shall be (AZ)king over you. 34 I will (BA)bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with (BB)wrath poured out; 35 and I will bring you into the (BC)wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. 36 As I (BD)entered into judgment with your fathers in the (BE)wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” declares the Lord God. 37 “I will make you (BF)pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; 38 and I will (BG)purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will (BH)not enter the [u]land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am the Lord.
39 “As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord God, “(BI)Go, serve everyone his idols; [v]but later you will surely listen to Me, and My holy name you will (BJ)profane no longer with your gifts and with your idols. 40 For on My holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel,” declares the Lord God, “there the whole house of Israel, (BK)all of them, will serve Me in the land; there I will (BL)accept them and there I will [w]seek your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your holy things. 41 [x]As a soothing aroma I will accept you when I (BM)bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered; and I will prove Myself (BN)holy among you in the sight of the nations. 42 And (BO)you will know that I am the Lord, (BP)when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the (BQ)land which I swore to give to your forefathers. 43 There you will (BR)remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves; and you will (BS)loathe yourselves in your own [y]sight for all the evil things that you have done. 44 Then (BT)you will know that I am the Lord when I have dealt with you (BU)for My name’s sake, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.’”
45 [z]Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 46 “Son of man, set your face toward [aa]Teman, and speak out against the (BV)south and (BW)prophesy against the (BX)forest [ab]land of the Negev, 47 and say to the forest of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am about to (BY)kindle a fire in you, and it will consume every [ac]green tree in you, as well as every dry tree; the blazing flame will not be quenched and [ad](BZ)the whole surface from south to north will be burned by it. 48 All flesh will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall (CA)not be quenched.”’” 49 Then I said, “Ah Lord God! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking (CB)parables?’”
Praise for God’s Mighty Deeds and for His Answer to Prayer.
For the choir director. A Song. A Psalm.
66 (A)Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
2 Sing the (B)glory of His name;
Make His (C)praise glorious.
3 Say to God, “How (D)awesome are Your works!
Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will [a](E)give feigned obedience to You.
4 “(F)All the earth will worship You,
And will (G)sing praises to You;
They will sing praises to Your name.” [b]Selah.
5 (H)Come and see the works of God,
Who is (I)awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.
6 He (J)turned the sea into dry land;
They passed through (K)the river on foot;
There let us (L)rejoice in Him!
7 He (M)rules by His might forever;
His (N)eyes keep watch on the nations;
Let not the rebellious (O)exalt themselves. Selah.
8 Bless our God, O peoples,
And [c](P)sound His praise abroad,
9 Who [d](Q)keeps us in life
And (R)does not allow our feet to [e]slip.
10 For You have (S)tried us, O God;
You have (T)refined us as silver is refined.
11 You (U)brought us into the net;
You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins.
12 You made men (V)ride over our heads;
We went through (W)fire and through water,
Yet You (X)brought us out into a place of abundance.
13 I shall (Y)come into Your house with burnt offerings;
I shall (Z)pay You my vows,
14 Which my lips uttered
And my mouth spoke when I was (AA)in distress.
15 I shall (AB)offer to You burnt offerings of fat beasts,
With the smoke of (AC)rams;
I shall make an offering of [f]bulls with male goats. Selah.
16 (AD)Come and hear, all who [g]fear God,
And I will (AE)tell of what He has done for my soul.
17 I cried to Him with my mouth,
And [h]He was (AF)extolled with my tongue.
18 If I [i](AG)regard wickedness in my heart,
The (AH)Lord [j]will not [k]hear;
19 But certainly (AI)God has heard;
He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.
20 (AJ)Blessed be God,
Who (AK)has not turned away my prayer
Nor His lovingkindness from me.
The Nations Exhorted to Praise God.
For the choir director; with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.
67 God be gracious to us and (AL)bless us,
And (AM)cause His face to shine [l]upon us— [m]Selah.
2 That (AN)Your way may be known on the earth,
(AO)Your salvation among all nations.
3 Let the (AP)peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
4 Let the (AQ)nations be glad and sing for joy;
For You will (AR)judge the peoples with uprightness
And (AS)guide the nations on the earth. Selah.
5 Let the (AT)peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
6 The (AU)earth has yielded its produce;
God, our God, (AV)blesses us.
7 God blesses us,
[n]That (AW)all the ends of the earth may fear Him.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.