M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Elisha Promises Food
7 Then Elisha said, “Listen to the word of the Lord; thus says the Lord, ‘(A)Tomorrow about this time a [a]measure of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’” 2 (B)The royal officer on whose hand the king was leaning answered the man of God and said, “Behold, (C)if the Lord should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” Then he said, “Behold, you will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat [b]of it.”
Four Lepers Relate Arameans’ Flight
3 Now there were four (D)leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why do we sit here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ then the famine is in the city and we will die there; and if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us [c]go over to (E)the camp of the Arameans. If they spare us, we will live; and if they kill us, we will but die.” 5 They arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Arameans; when they came to the outskirts of the camp of the Arameans, behold, there was no one there. 6 For (F)the Lord had caused the army of the Arameans to hear a sound of chariots and a sound of horses, even the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us (G)the kings of the Hittites and (H)the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.” 7 Therefore they (I)arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents and their horses and their donkeys, even the camp just as it was, and fled for their life. 8 When these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they entered one tent and ate and drank, and (J)carried from there silver and gold and clothes, and went and hid them; and they returned and entered another tent and carried from there also, and went and hid them.
9 Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent; if we wait until morning light, punishment will [d]overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household.” 10 So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and they told them, saying, “We came to the camp of the Arameans, and behold, there was no one there, nor the voice of man, only the horses tied and the donkeys tied, and the tents just as they were.” 11 The gatekeepers called and told it within the king’s household. 12 Then the king arose in the night and said to his servants, “I will now tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that (K)we are hungry; therefore they have gone from the camp (L)to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we will capture them alive and get into the city.’” 13 One of his servants said, “Please, let some men take five of the horses which remain, which are left [e]in the city. Behold, they will be in any case like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it; behold, they will be in any case like all the multitude of Israel who have already perished, so let us send and see.” 14 They took therefore two chariots with horses, and the king sent after the army of the Arameans, saying, “Go and see.”
The Promise Fulfilled
15 They went after them to the Jordan, and behold, all the way was full of clothes and equipment which the Arameans had thrown away in their haste. Then the messengers returned and told the king.
16 So the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. Then a [f]measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel and two [g]measures of barley for a shekel, (M)according to the word of the Lord. 17 Now the king appointed (N)the royal officer on whose hand he leaned [h]to have charge of the gate; but the people trampled on him at the gate, and he died just as the man of God had said, (O)who spoke when the king came down to him. 18 It happened just as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, “(P)Two [i]measures of barley for a shekel and a [j]measure of fine flour for a shekel, will be sold tomorrow about this time at the gate of Samaria.” 19 Then the royal officer answered the man of God and said, “Now behold, (Q)if the Lord should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” And he said, “Behold, you will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat [k]of it.” 20 And so it happened to him, for the people trampled on him at the gate and he died.
Apostasy
4 But (A)the Spirit explicitly says that (B)in later times some will [a]fall away from the faith, paying attention to (C)deceitful spirits and (D)doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars (E)seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who (F)forbid marriage and advocate (G)abstaining from foods which (H)God has created to be (I)gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For (J)everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is (K)received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of (L)the word of God and prayer.
A Good Minister’s Discipline
6 In pointing out these things to (M)the brethren, you will be a good (N)servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the [b](O)sound doctrine which you (P)have been following. 7 But [c]have nothing to do with (Q)worldly (R)fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of (S)godliness; 8 for (T)bodily discipline is only of little profit, but (U)godliness is profitable for all things, since it (V)holds promise for the (W)present life and also for the life to come. 9 (X)It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. 10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed (Y)our hope on (Z)the living God, who is (AA)the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
11 [d](AB)Prescribe and teach these things. 12 (AC)Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, (AD)love, faith and purity, show yourself (AE)an example [e]of those who believe. 13 (AF)Until I come, give attention to the public (AG)reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through (AH)prophetic utterance with (AI)the laying on of hands by the [f](AJ)presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 (AK)Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will [g](AL)ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
Conflicts to Come
11 “In the (A)first year of Darius the Mede, [a]I arose to be [b]an encouragement and a protection for him. 2 And now I will tell you the (B)truth. Behold, three more kings are going to arise [c]in Persia. Then a fourth will gain far more riches than all of them; as soon as he becomes strong through his riches, [d]he will arouse the whole empire against the realm of [e](C)Greece. 3 And a (D)mighty king will arise, and he will rule with great authority and (E)do as he pleases. 4 But as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out (F)toward the (G)four [f]points of the compass, though not to his own descendants, nor according to his authority which he wielded, for his sovereignty will be (H)uprooted and given to others besides [g]them.
5 “Then the (I)king of the South will grow strong, [h]along with one of his princes [i]who will gain ascendancy over him and obtain dominion; his domain will be a great dominion indeed. 6 After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will come to the (J)king of the North to carry out [j]a peaceful arrangement. But she will not retain her [k]position of power, nor will he remain with his [l]power, but she will be given up, along with those who brought her in and the one who sired her as well as he who supported her in those times. 7 But one of the [m]descendants of her line will arise in his place, and he will come against their army and enter the (K)fortress of the king of the North, and he will deal with them and display great strength. 8 Also their (L)gods with their [n]metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold he will take into captivity to Egypt, and he on his part will [o]refrain from attacking the king of the North for some years. 9 Then [p]the latter will enter the realm of the king of the South, but will return to his own land.
10 “His sons will [q]mobilize and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one of them will keep on coming and (M)overflow and pass through, that he may [r]again wage war up to his very fortress. 11 The (N)king of the South will be enraged and go forth and fight [s]with the king of the North. Then the latter will raise a great multitude, but that multitude will be given into [t]the hand of the former. 12 When the multitude is carried away, his heart will be lifted up, and he will cause tens of thousands to fall; yet he will not prevail. 13 For the king of the North will again raise a greater multitude than the former, and [u]after an (O)interval of some years he will [v]press on with a great army and much equipment.
14 “Now in those times many will rise up against the king of the South; the violent ones among your people will also lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they will [w]fall down. 15 Then the king of the North will come, cast up a (P)siege ramp and capture a well-fortified city; and the forces of the South will not stand their ground, not even [x]their choicest troops, for there will be no strength to make a stand. 16 But he who comes against him will (Q)do as he pleases, and (R)no one will be able to withstand him; he will also stay for a time in the [y](S)Beautiful Land, with destruction in his hand. 17 He will (T)set his face to come with the power of his whole kingdom, [z]bringing with him [aa]a proposal of peace which he will put into effect; he will also give him the daughter of women to ruin it. But she will not take a stand for him or be [ab]on his side. 18 Then he will turn his face to the (U)coastlands and capture many. But a commander will put a stop to his scorn against him; moreover, he will (V)repay him for his scorn. 19 So he will turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land, but he will (W)stumble and fall and be (X)found no more.
20 “Then in his place one will arise who will (Y)send an [ac]oppressor through the [ad]Jewel of his kingdom; yet within a few days he will be shattered, though not in anger nor in battle. 21 In his place a despicable person will arise, on whom the honor of kingship has not been conferred, but he will come in a time of tranquility and (Z)seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22 The overflowing (AA)forces will be flooded away before him and shattered, and also the prince of the covenant. 23 After an alliance is made with him he will practice deception, and he will go up and gain power with a small force of people. 24 [ae]In a time of tranquility he will enter the (AB)richest parts of the [af]realm, and he will accomplish what his fathers never did, nor his [ag]ancestors; he will distribute plunder, booty and possessions among them, and he will devise his schemes against strongholds, but only for a time. 25 He will stir up his strength and [ah]courage against the (AC)king of the South with a large army; so the king of the South will mobilize an extremely large and mighty army for war; but he will not stand, for schemes will be devised against him. 26 Those who eat his choice food will [ai]destroy him, and his army will [aj](AD)overflow, but many will fall down slain. 27 As for both kings, their hearts will be intent on (AE)evil, and they will (AF)speak lies to each other at the same table; but it will not succeed, for the (AG)end is still to come at the appointed time. 28 Then he will return to his land with much [ak]plunder; but his heart will be set against the holy covenant, and he will take action and then return to his own land.
29 “At the appointed time he will return and come into the South, but [al]this last time it will not turn out the way it did before. 30 For ships of [am](AH)Kittim will come against him; therefore he will be disheartened and will return and become enraged at the holy covenant and take action; so he will come back and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 Forces from him will arise, (AI)desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the (AJ)abomination [an]of desolation. 32 By (AK)smooth words he will [ao]turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display (AL)strength and take action. 33 [ap](AM)Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will (AN)fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days. 34 Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will (AO)join with them in (AP)hypocrisy. 35 Some of [aq]those who have insight will fall, in order to (AQ)refine, (AR)purge and make them [ar](AS)pure until the (AT)end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.
36 “Then the king will (AU)do as he pleases, and he will exalt and (AV)magnify himself above every god and will (AW)speak [as]monstrous things against the (AX)God of gods; and he will prosper until the (AY)indignation is finished, for that which is (AZ)decreed will be done. 37 He will show no regard for the [at]gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all. 38 But [au]instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures. 39 He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to [av]those who acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.
40 “At the (BA)end time the (BB)king of the South will collide with him, and the (BC)king of the North will (BD)storm against him with chariots, with horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries, (BE)overflow them and pass through. 41 He will also enter the [aw](BF)Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, (BG)Moab and the foremost of the sons of (BH)Ammon. 42 Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. 43 But he will [ax]gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and (BI)Libyans and (BJ)Ethiopians will follow at his [ay]heels. 44 But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and [az]annihilate many. 45 He will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful (BK)Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.
Daleth.
25 My (A)soul cleaves to the dust;
(B)Revive me (C)according to Your word.
26 I have told of my ways, and You have answered me;
(D)Teach me Your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts,
So I will (E)meditate on Your wonders.
28 My (F)soul [a]weeps because of grief;
(G)Strengthen me according to Your word.
29 Remove the false way from me,
And graciously grant me Your law.
30 I have chosen the faithful way;
I have [b]placed Your ordinances before me.
31 I (H)cling to Your testimonies;
O Lord, do not put me to shame!
32 I shall run the way of Your commandments,
For You will (I)enlarge my heart.
He.
33 (J)Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall observe it to the end.
34 (K)Give me understanding, that I may (L)observe Your law
And keep it (M)with all my heart.
35 Make me walk in the (N)path of Your commandments,
For I (O)delight in it.
36 (P)Incline my heart to Your testimonies
And not to (Q)dishonest gain.
37 Turn away my (R)eyes from looking at vanity,
And (S)revive me in Your ways.
38 (T)Establish Your [c]word to Your servant,
[d]As that which produces reverence for You.
39 (U)Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your ordinances are good.
40 Behold, I (V)long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness.
Vav.
41 May Your (W)lovingkindnesses also come to me, O Lord,
Your salvation (X)according to Your [e]word;
42 So I will have an (Y)answer for him who (Z)reproaches me,
For I trust in Your word.
43 And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
For I [f](AA)wait for Your ordinances.
44 So I will (AB)keep Your law continually,
Forever and ever.
45 And I will (AC)walk [g]at liberty,
For I (AD)seek Your precepts.
46 I will also speak of Your testimonies (AE)before kings
And shall not be ashamed.
47 I shall [h](AF)delight in Your commandments,
Which I (AG)love.
48 And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments,
Which I (AH)love;
And I will (AI)meditate on Your statutes.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.