M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Ark Brought into the Temple
8 (A)Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all (B)the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, (C)to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from (D)the city of David, which is Zion. 2 All the men of Israel assembled themselves to King Solomon at (E)the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 3 Then all the elders of Israel came, and (F)the priests took up the ark. 4 They brought up the ark of the Lord and (G)the tent of meeting and all the holy utensils, which were in the tent, and the priests and the Levites brought them up. 5 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, (H)were with him before the ark, sacrificing [a]so many sheep and oxen they could not be counted or numbered. 6 Then (I)the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord (J)to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, (K)under the wings of the cherubim. 7 For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its poles from above. 8 But (L)the poles were so long that the ends of the poles could be seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen outside; they are there to this day. 9 (M)There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where (N)the Lord made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 10 It happened that when the priests came from the holy place, (O)the cloud filled the house of the Lord, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.
Solomon Addresses the People
12 (P)Then Solomon said,
“The Lord has said that (Q)He would dwell in the thick cloud.
13 “(R)I have surely built You a lofty house,
(S)A place for Your dwelling forever.”
14 Then the king [b]faced about and (T)blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 15 He said, “(U)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, (V)who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hand, saying, 16 ‘(W)Since the day that I brought My people Israel from Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that (X)My name might be there, but (Y)I chose David to be over My people Israel.’ 17 (Z)Now it was [c]in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 18 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was [d]in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was [e]in your heart. 19 (AA)Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who [f]will be born to you, he will build the house for My name.’ 20 Now the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for (AB)I have risen in place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord [g]promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 21 There I have set a place for the ark, (AC)in which is the covenant of the Lord, which He made with our fathers when He brought them from the land of Egypt.”
The Prayer of Dedication
22 Then (AD)Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and (AE)spread out his hands toward heaven. 23 He said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, (AF)there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, (AG)keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart, 24 who have kept with Your servant, my father David, that which You have [h]promised him; indeed, You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand as it is this day. 25 Now therefore, O Lord, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You have [i]promised him, saying, ‘[j](AH)You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way to walk before Me as you have walked.’ 26 Now therefore, O God of Israel, let Your word, I pray, be confirmed (AI)which You have spoken to Your servant, my father David.
27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, (AJ)heaven and the [k]highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! 28 Yet have regard to the (AK)prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today; 29 (AL)that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward (AM)the place of which You have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place. 30 (AN)Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, (AO)when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and (AP)forgive.
31 “(AQ)If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath, and he comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this house, 32 then hear in heaven and act and judge Your servants, (AR)condemning the wicked by bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.
33 “(AS)When Your people Israel are [l]defeated before an enemy, because they have sinned against You, (AT)if they turn to You again and confess Your name and pray and make supplication to You in this house, 34 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers.
35 “(AU)When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain, because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name and turn from their sin when You afflict them, 36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Israel, (AV)indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And (AW)send rain on Your land, which You have given Your people for an inheritance.
37 “(AX)If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, locust or grasshopper, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their [m]cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 38 whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, [n]each knowing the [o]affliction of his own heart, and spreading his [p]hands toward this house; 39 then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and render to each according to all his ways, (AY)whose heart You know, for (AZ)You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men, 40 that they may [q]fear You all the days that they live [r]in the land which You have given to our fathers.
41 “Also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your name’s sake 42 (for they will hear of Your great name (BA)and Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house, 43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order (BB)that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to [s]fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that [t]this house which I have built is called by Your name.
44 “When Your people go out to battle against [u]their enemy, by whatever way You shall send them, and (BC)they pray to the Lord [v]toward the city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name, 45 then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their [w]cause.
46 “When they sin against You (for (BD)there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that [x]they take them away captive (BE)to the land of the enemy, far off or near; 47 (BF)if they [y]take thought in the land where they have been taken captive, and repent and make supplication to You in the land of those who have taken them captive, saying, ‘(BG)We have sinned and have committed iniquity, we have acted wickedly’; 48 (BH)if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, and (BI)pray to You toward their land which You have given to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name; 49 then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven Your dwelling place, and maintain their [z]cause, 50 and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You, and (BJ)make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, that they may have compassion on them 51 ((BK)for they are Your people and Your inheritance which You have brought forth from Egypt, (BL)from the midst of the iron furnace), 52 (BM)that Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant and to the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You. 53 For You have separated them from all the peoples of the earth as Your inheritance, (BN)as You spoke through Moses Your servant, when You brought our fathers forth from Egypt, O Lord [aa]God.”
Solomon’s Benediction
54 (BO)When Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and supplication to the Lord, (BP)he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his [ab]hands spread toward heaven. 55 And he stood and (BQ)blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying:
56 “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, (BR)according to all that He [ac]promised; (BS)not one word has [ad]failed of all His good [ae]promise, which He [af]promised through Moses His servant. 57 May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; (BT)may He not leave us or forsake us, 58 that (BU)He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers. 59 And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that He may maintain the [ag]cause of His servant and the [ah]cause of His people Israel, [ai]as each day requires, 60 so (BV)that all the peoples of the earth may know that (BW)the Lord is God; there is no one else. 61 (BX)Let your heart therefore be [aj]wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”
Dedicatory Sacrifices
62 (BY)Now the king and all Israel with him (BZ)offered sacrifice before the Lord. 63 Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord, 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. (CA)So the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. 64 On the same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord, because there he [ak]offered the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings; for (CB)the bronze altar that was before the Lord was too small to hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings.
65 So (CC)Solomon observed the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly (CD)from the entrance of Hamath (CE)to the brook of Egypt, before the Lord our God, for seven days and seven more days, even fourteen days. 66 On the eighth day he sent the people away and they blessed the king. Then they went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord had [al]shown to David His servant and to Israel His people.
Be Imitators of God
5 (A)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and (B)walk in love, just as Christ also (C)loved [a]you and (D)gave Himself up for us, an (E)offering and a sacrifice to God [b]as a (F)fragrant aroma.
3 But (G)immorality [c]or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among [d]saints; 4 and there must be no (H)filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which (I)are not fitting, but rather (J)giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that (K)no [e]immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom (L)of Christ and God.
6 (M)Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things (N)the wrath of God comes upon (O)the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be (P)partakers with them; 8 for (Q)you were formerly (R)darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as (S)children of Light 9 (for (T)the fruit of the Light consists in all (U)goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 [f](V)trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 (W)Do not participate in the unfruitful (X)deeds of (Y)darkness, but instead even [g](Z)expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible (AA)when they are [h]exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason [i]it says,
15 Therefore [j]be careful how you (AE)walk, not (AF)as unwise men but as wise, 16 [k](AG)making the most of your time, because (AH)the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but (AI)understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And (AJ)do not get drunk with wine, [l]for that is (AK)dissipation, but be (AL)filled with the Spirit, 19 (AM)speaking to [m]one another in (AN)psalms and (AO)hymns and spiritual (AP)songs, (AQ)singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 (AR)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to [n](AS)God, even the Father; 21 [o](AT)and be subject to one another in the [p](AU)fear of Christ.
Marriage Like Christ and the Church
22 (AV)Wives, (AW)be subject to your own husbands, (AX)as to the Lord. 23 For (AY)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the (AZ)head of the church, He Himself (BA)being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
25 (BB)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and (BC)gave Himself up for her, 26 (BD)so that He might sanctify her, having (BE)cleansed her by the (BF)washing of water with (BG)the word, 27 that He might (BH)present to Himself the church [q]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be (BI)holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to (BJ)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are (BK)members of His (BL)body. 31 (BM)For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to (BN)love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she [r](BO)respects her husband.
Prophecy about Gog and Future Invasion of Israel
38 And the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face toward (A)Gog of the land of (B)Magog, the [a]prince of (C)Rosh, (D)Meshech and (E)Tubal, and prophesy against him 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord [b]God, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, [c]prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. 4 I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will (F)bring you out, and all your army, (G)horses and horsemen, all of them [d]splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords; 5 (H)Persia, [e](I)Ethiopia and (J)Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 (K)Gomer with all its troops; (L)Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples with you.
7 “(M)Be prepared, and prepare yourself, you and all your companies that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. 8 (N)After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been (O)gathered from many [f]nations to the (P)mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but [g]its people were brought out from the [h]nations, and they are (Q)living securely, all of them. 9 You will go up, you will come (R)like a storm; you will be like a (S)cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you.”
10 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It will come about on that day, that [i]thoughts will come into your mind and you will (T)devise an evil plan, 11 and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of [j](U)unwalled villages. I will go against those who are (V)at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, 12 to (W)capture spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the [k]center of the world.’ 13 (X)Sheba and (Y)Dedan and the merchants of (Z)Tarshish with all its [l]villages will say to you, ‘Have you come to capture spoil? Have you assembled your company to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture great (AA)spoil?’”’
14 “Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On that day when My people Israel are (AB)living securely, will you not know it? 15 (AC)You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly and a mighty army; 16 and you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may (AD)know Me when I am (AE)sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog.”
17 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who (AF)prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them? 18 It will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” declares the Lord God, “that My fury will mount up in My (AG)anger. 19 In My (AH)zeal and in My blazing wrath I declare that on that day there will surely be a great [m](AI)earthquake in the land of Israel. 20 (AJ)The fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all the creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence; the (AK)mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will [n]collapse and every wall will fall to the ground. 21 I will call for a (AL)sword against [o]him on all My mountains,” declares the Lord God. “(AM)Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 With pestilence and with blood I will enter into (AN)judgment with him; and I will rain on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, [p]a torrential rain, with (AO)hailstones, fire and brimstone. 23 I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and (AP)make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord.”’
The Lord’s Covenant with David, and Israel’s Afflictions.
A [a]Maskil of [b]Ethan [c]the Ezrahite.
89 I will (A)sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever;
To all generations I will (B)make known Your (C)faithfulness with my mouth.
2 For I have said, “(D)Lovingkindness will be built up forever;
In the heavens You will establish Your (E)faithfulness.”
3 “I have made a covenant with (F)My chosen;
I have (G)sworn to David My servant,
4 I will establish your (H)seed forever
And build up your (I)throne to all generations.” [d]Selah.
5 The (J)heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord;
Your faithfulness also (K)in the assembly of the (L)holy ones.
6 For (M)who in the skies is comparable to the Lord?
Who among the [e](N)sons of the mighty is like the Lord,
7 A God (O)greatly feared in the council of the (P)holy ones,
And (Q)awesome above all those who are around Him?
8 O Lord God of hosts, (R)who is like You, O mighty [f]Lord?
Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
9 You rule the swelling of the sea;
When its waves rise, You (S)still them.
10 You Yourself crushed [g](T)Rahab like one who is slain;
You (U)scattered Your enemies with [h]Your mighty arm.
11 The (V)heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The (W)world and [i]all it contains, You have founded them.
12 The (X)north and the south, You have created them;
(Y)Tabor and (Z)Hermon (AA)shout for joy at Your name.
13 You have [j]a strong arm;
Your hand is mighty, Your (AB)right hand is exalted.
14 (AC)Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
(AD)Lovingkindness and [k]truth go before You.
15 How blessed are the people who know the [l](AE)joyful sound!
O Lord, they walk in the (AF)light of Your countenance.
16 In (AG)Your name they rejoice all the day,
And by Your righteousness they are exalted.
17 For You are the glory of (AH)their strength,
And by Your favor [m]our (AI)horn is exalted.
18 For our (AJ)shield belongs to the Lord,
[n]And our king to the (AK)Holy One of Israel.
19 [o]Once You spoke in vision to Your godly [p]ones,
And said, “I have [q]given help to one who is (AL)mighty;
I have exalted one (AM)chosen from the people.
20 “I have (AN)found David My servant;
With My holy (AO)oil I have anointed him,
21 With whom (AP)My hand will be established;
My arm also will (AQ)strengthen him.
22 “The enemy will not [r]deceive him,
Nor the [s](AR)son of wickedness afflict him.
23 “But I shall (AS)crush his adversaries before him,
And strike those who hate him.
24 “My (AT)faithfulness and My lovingkindness will be with him,
And in My name his (AU)horn will be exalted.
25 “I shall also set his hand (AV)on the sea
And his right hand on the rivers.
26 “He will cry to Me, ‘You are (AW)my Father,
My God, and the (AX)rock of my salvation.’
27 “I also shall make him My (AY)firstborn,
The (AZ)highest of the kings of the earth.
28 “My (BA)lovingkindness I will keep for him forever,
And My (BB)covenant shall be confirmed to him.
29 “So I will establish his [t](BC)descendants forever
And his (BD)throne (BE)as the days of heaven.
30 “If his sons (BF)forsake My law
And do not walk in My judgments,
31 If they [u]violate My statutes
And do not keep My commandments,
32 Then I will punish their transgression with the (BG)rod
And their iniquity with stripes.
33 “But I will not break off (BH)My lovingkindness from him,
Nor deal falsely in My faithfulness.
34 “My (BI)covenant I will not [v]violate,
Nor will I (BJ)alter [w]the utterance of My lips.
35 “[x]Once I have (BK)sworn by My holiness;
I will not lie to David.
36 “His [y](BL)descendants shall endure forever
And his (BM)throne (BN)as the sun before Me.
37 “It shall be established forever (BO)like the moon,
And the (BP)witness in the sky is faithful.” [z]Selah.
38 But You have (BQ)cast off and (BR)rejected,
You have been full of wrath [aa]against Your (BS)anointed.
39 You have (BT)spurned the covenant of Your servant;
You have (BU)profaned (BV)his crown [ab]in the dust.
40 You have (BW)broken down all his walls;
You have (BX)brought his strongholds to ruin.
41 (BY)All who pass along the way plunder him;
He has become a (BZ)reproach to his neighbors.
42 You have (CA)exalted the right hand of his adversaries;
You have (CB)made all his enemies rejoice.
43 You also turn back the edge of his sword
And have (CC)not made him stand in battle.
44 You have made his [ac](CD)splendor to cease
And cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have (CE)shortened the days of his youth;
You have (CF)covered him with shame. Selah.
46 (CG)How long, O Lord?
Will You hide Yourself forever?
Will Your (CH)wrath burn like fire?
47 (CI)Remember [ad]what my span of life is;
For what (CJ)vanity [ae]You have created all the sons of men!
48 What man can live and not (CK)see death?
Can he (CL)deliver his soul from the [af]power of [ag]Sheol? Selah.
49 Where are Your former lovingkindnesses, O Lord,
Which You (CM)swore to David in Your faithfulness?
50 Remember, O Lord, the (CN)reproach of Your servants;
[ah]How I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples,
51 With which (CO)Your enemies have reproached, O Lord,
With which they have reproached the footsteps of (CP)Your anointed.
52 (CQ)Blessed be the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.