M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Solomon’s Accomplishments(A)
8 It took Solomon 20 years to build the Lord’s Temple and his own palace. 2 During this time, he also rebuilt the towns that Hiram had restored to him, and he settled Israelis in them. 3 After this, Solomon traveled to Hamath-zobah and captured it. 4 Then he rebuilt Tadmor in the desert, along with supply centers[a] that he had built in Hamath. 5 He also built upper and lower Beth-horon as fortified cities, installing[b] walls, gates, and bars, 6 and he rebuilt Baalath and its supply centers[c] that belonged to Solomon, along with all the cities that he utilized to garrison his chariots and cavalry forces. Solomon was pleased also to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in every territory[d] that he controlled.
Conscripted Laborers
7 All of the survivors who remained living in the land but who were not Israelis (including Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites) 8 were descendants of the nations whom the people of Israel had not eliminated. Solomon put them to work as conscripted laborers, which they continue to do[e] to this day. 9 However, Solomon never made conscripted laborers from among the Israelis, but they did serve as his army, as his chief captains, and as commanders in charge of his chariots and cavalry. 10 King Solomon appointed 250 chief officers to command his army.[f] 11 Later, Solomon moved Pharaoh’s daughter from the City of David to the palace that he had constructed to house her, because he reasoned, “My wife isn’t going to live in the palace where King David of Israel lived, because wherever the ark of the Lord entered is holy.”
12 Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord on the Lord’s altar that he had built in front of the porch of the Temple,[g] 13 acting[h] in compliance with the daily rule by offering them in conformity to commands issued by Moses for the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the three annual festivals (the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Tents). 14 Following proscriptions laid down by his father David, Solomon[i] appointed divisions of priests for their service as well as descendants of Levi for duties of praise and ministry before the priests consistent with the daily rules. Furthermore, because David, the man of God, had commanded it, Solomon[j] also appointed gatekeepers to serve by divisions at every gate of the Temple.[k] 15 They scrupulously adhered to[l] the orders issued by the king to the priests and descendants of Levi in everything, including matters pertaining to operation of[m] the treasuries.
Work on the Temple is Completed
16 And so Solomon completed all of the work, from the day that the foundation stone of the Lord’s Temple was laid[n] until the Lord’s Temple was completely finished. 17 After this, Solomon visited Ezion-geber and Elath at the seashore in the land of Edom. 18 Hiram sent Solomon[o] ships and servants who were expert mariners, and they sailed with Solomon’s servants to Ophir,[p] where they brought back 450 talents[q] of gold for Solomon.
Greetings from John
1 From:[a] The Elder
To: My dear friend Gaius, whom I genuinely love.
Encouragement for Gaius
2 Dear friend, I pray that you are doing well in every way and that you are healthy, just as your soul is healthy. 3 I was overjoyed when some brothers arrived and testified about your truthfulness and how you live according to the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers. 6 They have testified before the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 After all, they went on their trip for the sake of the Name,[b] accepting no support from gentiles. 8 Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can become genuine helpers with them.
Criticism of Diotrephes
9 I wrote a letter[c] to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, will not recognize our authority.[d] 10 For this reason, when I come I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with that, he refuses to receive the brothers. He even tries to stop those who want to accept them[e] and throws them out of the church.
Praise for Demetrius
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The person who does what is good is from God. The person who does what is evil has never seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good report from everyone, including the truth itself. We, too, can testify to this report, and you know that our testimony is true.
Final Greeting
13 Although I have a great deal to write to you,[f] I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 Instead, I hope to see you[g] soon and speak face to face.
15 May peace be with you![h] Your friends greet you.[i] Greet[j] each of our friends by name.
Habakkuk’s Prayer of Faith
3 A prayer by the prophet Habakkuk, set to music.[a]
2 Lord, as I listen to what has been said about you,
I am afraid.
Lord, revive your work throughout all of our lives—
reveal yourself[b] throughout all of our lives—
when you[c] are angry,
remember compassion.
3 God comes from Teman[d]—
the Holy One from Mount Paran.[e]
His glory spreads throughout the heavens,
and praises about him fill the earth.
4 His radiance is like sunlight;
beams of light shine[f] from his hand,
where his strength lays hidden.
5 Before him pestilence walks,
and disease follows behind him.[g]
6 He stood up and shook the land;
with his stare he startled the nations.
The age-old mountains were shattered,
and the ancient hilltops bowed down.
His ways are eternal.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan in distress,
and the tent curtains of the land of Midian in anguish.
8 Was the Lord displeased with the rivers?
Was your anger directed[h] against the watercourses
or your wrath against the sea?
Indeed, you rode upon your horses,
upon your chariots of deliverance.
9 Your bow was exposed,
and your[i] arrows targeted by command.
You split the earth with rivers.
10 When the mountains looked upon you, they trembled;
the overflowing water passed by,
the ocean shouted,
and its waves[j] surged upward.
11 The sun and moon stand still in their orbits;
at the glint of your arrows they speed along,
even at the gleam of your flashing spear.
12 You march through the land in righteous[k] indignation;
you tread down the nations in anger.
13 You marched out to deliver your people,
to deliver with your anointed.
You struck the head of the house of the wicked;
you stripped him naked from head to foot.
14 With his own lances you pierced the heads of his warriors,
who came out like a windstorm to scatter us[l]—
their joy is to devour the afflicted who are in hiding.
15 You rode on the sea with your horses,
even riding[m] the crested waves of mighty waters.
Habakkuk’s Response
16 I heard and I trembled within.
My lips quivered at the noise.
My legs gave way beneath me,[n]
and I trembled.
Nevertheless, I await the day of distress
that will dawn on our invaders.
17 Even though the fig tree does not blossom,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even if the olive harvest fails,
and the fields produce nothing edible;
even if the flock is snatched from the sheepfold,
and there is no herd in the stalls—
18 as for me, I will rejoice in the Lord.
I will find my joy in the God who delivers me.
19 The Lord God is my strength—
he will make my feet like those of a deer,
equipping me to tread on my mountain heights.
For the choir director:
On my stringed instruments.
The Plot to Kill Jesus(A)
22 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. 2 So the high priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put him to death, because they were afraid of the crowd.
3 But Satan went into Judas called Iscariot, who belonged to the circle[a] of the Twelve. 4 So he went off and discussed with the high priests and the Temple police how he could betray Jesus[b] to them. 5 They were delighted, and agreed to give him money. 6 Judas[c] accepted their offer and began to look for a good opportunity to betray Jesus[d] to them when no crowd was present.
The Passover with the Disciples(B)
7 Then the day of the Festival[e] of Unleavened Bread came, on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus[f] sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover meal.”
9 They asked him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”
10 He told them, “Just after you go into the city, a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?”’ 12 Then he will show you a large upstairs room that is furnished. Get things ready for us there.” 13 So they went and found everything just as Jesus[g] had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
The Lord’s Supper(C)
14 Now when the hour came, Jesus[h] took his place at the table, along with his apostles. 15 He told them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer, 16 because I tell all of you,[i] I will never eat it again until it finds its fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves, 18 because I tell you, from now on I will never drink the product of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 Then he took a loaf of bread, gave thanks, broke it in pieces, and handed it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Keep on doing this in memory of me.”
20 He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant sealed[j] by my blood, which is being poured out for you. 21 Yet look! The hand of the man who is betraying me is with me on the table! 22 The Son of Man is going away, just as it has been determined, but how terrible it will be for that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 Then they began to discuss among themselves which one of them was going to do this.
An Argument about Greatness
24 Now an argument sprang up among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 But he told them, “The kings of the unbelievers[k] lord it over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But you are not to do so. On the contrary, the greatest among you should become like the youngest, and the one who leads should become like the one who serves. 27 Because who is greater, the one who sits at the table, or the one who serves? It is the one at the table, isn’t it? But I’m among you as one who serves.
28 “You are the ones who have always stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred a kingdom[l] on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit down on thrones to govern the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial(D)
31 “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has asked permission to sift all of you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail. When you have come back, you must strengthen your brothers.”
33 Peter[m] told him, “Lord, I am ready to go even to prison and to die with you!”
34 But Jesus[n] said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”
Be Prepared for Trouble
35 Then Jesus[o] asked his disciples,[p] “When I sent you out without a wallet, traveling bag, or sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you?”
They replied, “Nothing at all.”
36 Then he told them, “But now whoever has a wallet must take it along, and his traveling bag, too. And the one who has no sword must sell his coat and buy one. 37 Because I tell you, what has been written about me must be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the criminals.’[q] Indeed, what is written about me must be fulfilled.”
38 So they said, “Lord, look! Here are two swords.”
He answered them, “Enough of that!”[r]
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives(E)
39 Then he left and went to the Mount of Olives, as usual. The disciples went with him. 40 When he arrived, he told them, “Keep on praying that you may not be tempted.” 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Yet not my will but yours be done.”
43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like large drops of blood falling on the ground.[s]
45 When he got up from prayer, he went to the disciples and found them asleep from sorrow. 46 He asked them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and keep on praying that you may not be tempted.”
Jesus is Arrested(F)
47 While Jesus[t] was still speaking, a crowd arrived. The man called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them, and he came close to Jesus to kiss[u] him. 48 But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When those who were around Jesus[v] saw what was about to take place, they asked, “Lord, should we attack with our swords?” 50 Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear.
51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” So he touched the wounded man’s[w] ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus told the high priests, the Temple police, and the elders, who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit?[x] 53 While I was with you day after day in the Temple, you didn’t lay a hand on me. But this is your hour, when darkness reigns!”[y]
Peter Denies Jesus(G)
54 Then they arrested him, led him away, and brought him to the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. 55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had taken their seats, Peter, too, sat down among them. 56 A servant girl saw him sitting by the fire, stared at him, and said, “This man was with him, too.”
57 But he denied it, “I don’t know him, woman!” he responded.
58 A little later, a man looked at him and said, “You are one of them, too.”
But Peter said, “Mister,[z] I am not!”
59 About an hour later, another man emphatically asserted, “This man was certainly with him, because he is a Galilean!”
60 But Peter said, “Mister,[aa] I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just then, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
61 Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. And Peter remembered the word from the Lord, and how he had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 So he went outside and cried bitterly.
Jesus is Insulted and Beaten(H)
63 Then the men who were holding Jesus in custody began to make fun of him while they beat him. 64 They blindfolded him and asked him over and over again, “Prophesy! Who is the one who hit you?” 65 And they kept insulting[ab] him in many other ways.
66 As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled and brought him before their Council.[ac] 67 They said, “If you are the Messiah,[ad] tell us.”
But he told them, “If I tell you, you won’t believe me, 68 and if I ask you a question, you won’t answer me. 69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”[ae]
70 Then they all asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?”
He answered them, “You said it—I AM.”
71 “Why do we need any more testimony?” they asked. “We have heard it ourselves from his own mouth!”
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