M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Jacob in Bethel
35 God said to Jacob, “·Go [L Rise up and go up] to the city of Bethel [12:8] and live there. Make an altar to the God who appeared to you there when you were ·running away [fleeing] from your brother Esau [28:1–22].”
2 So Jacob said to his ·family [household] and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods you have, and ·make yourselves clean [purify yourselves], and change your clothes. 3 We will ·leave here and go [L rise up and go up] to Bethel. There I will build an altar to God, who ·has helped [L answered] me ·during my time of trouble [L in the day of my distress]. He has been with me [C an indication of a covenant relationship] everywhere I have gone.” 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods ·they had [in their possession; L in their hands], and the earrings ·they were wearing [L on their ears], and he hid them under the ·great tree [L oak; or terebinth; 12:6] near the town of Shechem. 5 Then Jacob and his sons left there. But ·God caused the people in the nearby cities to be afraid [L the terror of God was on the surrounding cities], so they did not ·follow [pursue] them. 6 And Jacob and all the people who were with him went to Luz, which is now called Bethel, in the land of Canaan. 7 There Jacob built an altar and named the place ·Bethel, after God [El-Bethel; or “God of Bethel”], because God had appeared to him there when he was ·running [fleeing] from his brother.
8 Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under the oak tree at Bethel, so they named that place ·Oak of Crying [L Allon-bacuth].
Jacob’s New Name
9 When Jacob came back from ·northwestern Mesopotamia [L Paddan-aram], God appeared to him again and blessed him. 10 God said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. Your new name will be Israel.” So he called him Israel [32:28]. 11 God said to him, “I am ·God Almighty [L El Shaddai]. ·Have many children [L Be fruitful] and ·grow in number [L multiply; 1:22] as a nation. ·You will be the ancestor of many nations [L A company/assembly of nations will come from you] and kings [L will spring from your loins]. 12 The same land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you and your ·descendants [L seed; 12:2].” 13 Then God ·left him [L went up from him in the place where he spoke with him]. 14 Jacob set up a ·stone on edge [L pillar, a stone pillar] in that place where God had talked to him, and he poured a drink offering and olive oil on it to make it special for God. 15 And Jacob named the place Bethel [C “house of God”].
Rachel Dies Giving Birth
16 ·Jacob and his group [L They] ·left [departed from] Bethel. ·Before they came to [or While still some distance from] Ephrath [C near Bethlehem four miles south of Jerusalem; 35:19], Rachel began giving birth to her baby [L and had hard labor], 17 but she was having ·much trouble [hard labor]. When ·Rachel’s nurse [L the midwife] saw this, she said, “Don’t be afraid, Rachel. You are giving birth to another son.” 18 Rachel gave birth to the son, but she herself died. As she lay dying, she named the boy ·Son of My Suffering [Ben-oni], but Jacob called him Benjamin [C “son of my right hand/the south”].
19 Rachel was buried on the road to Ephrath, ·a district of [or which is] Bethlehem, 20 and Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. It is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. 21 Then Israel [C Jacob’s new name] continued his journey and ·camped [L pitched his tent] just south of ·Migdal Eder [or the tower of Eder; C Eder means “the flock”; perhaps located near Jerusalem; Mic. 4:8].
22 While Israel was there, Reuben ·had sexual relations [L lay] with Israel’s ·slave woman [concubine] Bilhah, and Israel heard about it [49:3–4].
The Family of Israel
Jacob had twelve sons. 23 He had six sons by his wife Leah: Reuben, his ·first son [firstborn], then Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
24 He had two sons by his wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
25 He had two sons by Rachel’s slave girl Bilhah: Dan and Naphtali.
26 And he had two sons by Leah’s slave girl Zilpah: Gad and Asher.
These are Jacob’s sons who were born in ·northwestern Mesopotamia [L Paddan-aram].
27 Jacob went to his father Isaac at Mamre near Hebron [13:18; 18:1; 23:17–18; 25:9], where Abraham and Isaac had ·lived [sojourned; lived as an alien]. 28 Isaac lived one hundred eighty years. 29 So Isaac breathed his last breath and died [L and was gathered to his people/relatives; 25:8] when he was very old [L and full of days], and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Esau’s Family
36 ·This is the family history [L These are the generations; 2:4] of Esau (also called Edom [25:30]). 2 Esau ·married [L took] women from the ·land [L daughters] of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite; and Oholibamah daughter of Anah, the son of Zibeon the Hivite; 3 and Basemath [26:34], Ishmael’s daughter, the sister of Nebaioth.
4 Adah gave birth to Eliphaz for Esau. Basemath gave him Reuel, 5 and Oholibamah gave him Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These were Esau’s sons who were born in the land of Canaan.
6 Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the people who lived with him, his herds and other animals, and all the ·belongings [property] he had ·gotten [acquired] in Canaan, and he went to a land away from his brother Jacob. 7 ·Esau and Jacob’s [L For their] ·belongings [property] were becoming too many for them to live ·in the same land [together]. The land where they had ·lived [sojourned; lived as aliens] could not support both of them, because they had too many herds. 8 So Esau lived in the mountains of ·Edom [L Seir; 14:6]. (Esau is also named Edom [25:30].)
9 ·This is the family history [L These are the generations; 2:4] of Esau. He is the ·ancestor [father] of the Edomites, who live in the mountains of ·Edom [L Seir].
10 ·Esau’s sons were [L These are the names of the sons of Esau:] Eliphaz, son of Adah and Esau, and Reuel, son of Basemath and Esau.
11 Eliphaz had five sons: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 Eliphaz also had a ·slave woman [concubine] named Timna, and Timna and Eliphaz gave birth to Amalek. These were Esau’s ·grandsons [descendants; L sons] by his wife Adah.
13 Reuel had four sons: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were Esau’s grandsons by his wife Basemath.
14 Esau’s third wife was Oholibamah the daughter of Anah. (Anah was the son of Zibeon.) Esau and Oholibamah gave birth to Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
15 These were the ·leaders [chiefs; or clans] that came from Esau: Esau’s ·first son [firstborn] was Eliphaz. From him came these ·leaders [chiefs; or clans]: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, 16 Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These were the ·leaders [chiefs; or clans] that came from Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the grandsons of Adah.
17 Esau’s son Reuel was the father of these ·leaders [chiefs; or clans]: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the ·leaders [chiefs; or clans] that came from Reuel in the land of Edom. They were the grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.
18 Esau’s wife Oholibamah gave birth to these ·leaders [chiefs; or clans]: Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the ·leaders [chiefs; or clans] that came from Esau’s wife Oholibamah the daughter of Anah. 19 These were the sons of Esau (also called Edom), and these were their leaders [chiefs; or clans].
20 These were the sons of Seir the Horite, who were living in the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These sons of Seir were the ·leaders [chiefs; or clans] of the Horites in Edom.
22 The sons of Lotan were Hori and Homam. (Timna was Lotan’s sister.)
23 The sons of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
24 The sons of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah. Anah is the man who found the hot springs in the ·desert [wilderness] while he was ·caring for [pasturing] his father’s donkeys.
25 The children of Anah were Dishon and Oholibamah daughter of Anah.
26 The sons of Dishon were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Keran.
27 The sons of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
28 The sons of Dishan were Uz and Aran.
29 These were the names of the Horite ·leaders [chiefs; or clans]: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 30 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
These men were the ·leaders [chiefs; or clans] of the Horite families who lived in the land of Edom.
31 These are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before the Israelites ever had a king [1 Sam. 8–12]:
32 Bela son of Beor was the king of Edom. He came from the city of Dinhabah.
33 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah became king. Jobab was from Bozrah.
34 When Jobab died, Husham became king. He was from the land of the Temanites.
35 When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who had defeated Midian in the country of Moab, became king. Hadad was from the city of Avith.
36 When Hadad died, Samlah became king. He was from Masrekah.
37 When Samlah died, Shaul became king. He was from Rehoboth on the ·Euphrates River [L River].
38 When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Acbor became king.
39 When Baal-Hanan son of Acbor died, Hadad became king. He was from the city of Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, who was the daughter of Me-Zahab.
40 These Edomite ·leaders [chiefs; or clans], listed by their ·families [clans] and regions, came from Esau. Their names were Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43 Magdiel, and Iram. They were the ·leaders [chiefs; or clans] of Edom. (Esau was the father of the Edomites.) The area where each of these ·families [clans] lived was named after that ·family [clan].
Jesus Goes to His Hometown(A)
6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown [C Nazareth; Matt. 2:23; Luke 2:39], and his ·followers [disciples] went with him. 2 On the Sabbath day he ·taught [L began to teach] in the synagogue. Many people heard him and were ·amazed [astonished], saying, “Where did this man get these ·teachings [L things]? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? And where did he get the power to do ·miracles [L such mighty works done by his hands]? 3 ·He is just [L Isn’t this…?] the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph [C Greek: Joses], Judas, and Simon. ·And his sisters are [L Are not his sisters…?] here with us.” So the people were ·upset with [offended by] Jesus.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is ·honored everywhere [not dishonored] except in his hometown and with his own ·people [relatives; kin] and in his own ·home [household].” 5 So Jesus was not able to work any miracles there except to heal a few sick people by ·putting [laying] his hands on them. 6 He ·was amazed [wondered; marveled] ·at how many people had no faith [because of their unbelief].
Jesus Commissions the Twelve Apostles(B)
Then Jesus went [around] to other villages in that area and taught. 7 He called ·his twelve followers [L the Twelve] together and ·got ready [began] to send them out two by two and gave them authority over ·evil [defiling; L unclean] spirits. 8 This is what Jesus ·commanded [ordered; instructed] them: “Take nothing for your ·trip [journey; way] except a ·walking stick [staff]. Take no bread, no ·bag [traveler’s bag; or beggar’s purse], and no money in your ·pockets [money belts]. 9 Wear sandals, but ·take only the clothes you are wearing [do not wear/pack two tunics]. 10 When you enter a house, stay there until you leave ·that town [that area]. 11 If the people in a certain place refuse to welcome you or listen to you, leave that place. Shake its dust off your feet [C a sign of rejection and coming judgment] as a ·warning to [testimony against] them.”[a]
12 So ·the followers [L they] went out and preached that people should ·change their hearts and lives [turn from sin; repent]. 13 They ·forced [drove; cast] many demons out and ·put olive oil on [anointed with oil] many sick people and healed them.
How John the Baptist Was Killed(C)
14 King Herod [C Antipas; a son of Herod the Great; Luke 3:1] heard about Jesus, because he was now well known. Some people said,[b] “He is John the Baptist, who has risen from the dead. That is why ·he can work these miracles [L miraculous powers are at work in him].”
15 Others said, “He is Elijah [C a great OT prophet (1 Kin. 17), who was expected to return in the end times (Mal. 4:5)].”
Other people said, “Jesus is a prophet, like the prophets who lived long ago.”
16 When Herod heard this, he said, “I killed John by cutting off his head. Now he has risen from the dead!”
17 Herod himself had ·ordered [sent] his soldiers to arrest John and ·put [bound; chained] him in prison ·in order to please [L because of] his wife, Herodias. She had been the wife of Philip, Herod’s brother, but then Herod had married her. 18 John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to ·be married to [have] your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias ·hated [had a grudge against] John and wanted to kill him. But she couldn’t, 20 because Herod was afraid of John and protected him. He knew John was a ·good [righteous] and holy man. Also, though John’s preaching always ·bothered [disturbed; puzzled; perplexed] him, he enjoyed listening to John.
21 Then the ·perfect [opportune] time came for Herodias to cause John’s death. On Herod’s birthday, he gave a ·dinner party [banquet] for ·the most important government leaders [his nobles/high officials], the commanders of his army, and ·the most important people [leaders] in Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias[c] came in and danced, she pleased Herod and the people eating with him.
So King Herod said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I will give it to you.” 23 He ·promised [swore/vowed to] her, “Anything you ask for I will give to you—up to half of my kingdom.”
24 The girl went [out] to her mother and asked, “What should I ask for?”
Her mother answered, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist.”
25 At once the girl ·went back [hurried back in] to the king and said to him, “I want [you to give me] the head of John the Baptist right now on a platter.”
26 Although the king was very ·sad [sorry; grieved; distressed], he had made a promise, and his dinner guests had heard it. So he did not want to refuse what she asked. 27 Immediately the king sent ·a soldier [an executioner] to bring John’s head. The ·soldier [executioner] went and cut off John’s head in the prison 28 and brought it back on a platter. He gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When John’s ·followers [disciples] heard this, they came and got John’s ·body [corpse] and put it in a tomb.
More than Five Thousand Fed(D)
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him about all the things they had done and taught. 31 Crowds of people were coming and going so that Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] did not even have time to eat. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves, and we will go to a ·lonely [isolated; deserted] place to get some rest.”
32 So they went in a boat by themselves to a ·lonely [isolated; deserted] place. 33 But many people saw them leave and recognized them. So from all the towns they ran to the place where Jesus was going, and they got there before him. 34 When he ·arrived [landed; came ashore], he saw a great crowd waiting. He ·felt sorry [had compassion] for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things.
35 When it was late in the day, his ·followers [disciples] came to him and said, “·No one lives in this place [This is a remote/deserted place], and it is already very late. 36 Send the people away so they can go to the countryside and towns around here to buy themselves something to eat.”
37 But Jesus answered, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, ·“We would all have to work a month to earn enough money to buy that much bread!” [L “Should we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”]
38 Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see.”
When they found out, they said, “Five loaves and two fish.”
39 Then Jesus ·told [commanded; ordered] ·his followers [L them] to have the people sit [recline; C the posture for a banquet or dinner party; 2:15] in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish and, looking up to heaven, he ·thanked God for [blessed] the food. He ·divided [broke] the bread and gave it to his ·followers [disciples] for them to give to the people. Then he divided the two fish among them all. 42 All the people ate and were satisfied. 43 ·The followers [L They] filled twelve baskets with the leftover pieces of bread and fish. 44 There were five thousand men who ate.
Jesus Walks on the Water(E)
45 Immediately Jesus ·told [compelled; made] his ·followers [disciples] to get into the boat and go ahead of him to Bethsaida [C a town on the northern shore of Lake Galilee, east of the Jordan River] across the lake. He stayed there to ·send the people home [dismiss the crowd]. 46 After ·sending them away [saying goodbye], he went into the hills to pray.
47 That night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on the land. 48 He saw his ·followers [disciples] struggling hard to row the boat, because the wind was blowing against them. ·Between three and six o’clock in the morning [L At about the fourth watch of the night], Jesus came to them, walking on the water, and he ·wanted [intended; was about] to ·walk past [pass by] the boat. 49 But when they saw him walking on the ·water [lake; sea], they thought he was a ghost and cried out. 50 They all saw him and were afraid. But ·quickly [immediately] Jesus spoke to them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ·became calm [ceased; stopped]. They were greatly amazed. 52 [For] They did not understand ·about the miracle of the five loaves [the significance of the loaves; L about the loaves], because their ·minds were closed [hearts were hardened/stubborn/dull].
53 When they had crossed the lake, they came to shore at Gennesaret [C either the plain on the northwestern shore of the lake, or a town in that region] and tied the boat there. 54 When they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus. 55 They ran everywhere in that ·area [region] and began to bring sick people on ·mats [cots] wherever they heard he was. 56 And everywhere he went—into towns, cities, or countryside—the people brought the sick to the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch just the ·edge [fringe; tassels] of his coat, and all who touched it were healed.
Satan Appears Before the Lord Again
2 ·On another day [or One day] the ·angels [L the sons of God] came to ·show themselves [L stand] before the Lord, and Satan [1:6] was with them again. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “I have been ·wandering around [roaming] the earth, ·going back and forth in [patrolling] it.”
3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job [1:8]? No one else on earth is like him. He is an honest and innocent man, honoring God and staying away from evil [1:1]. You ·caused [or enticed] me to ·ruin [injure] him for no good reason, but he ·continues to be without blame [or maintains his innocence].”
4 “One skin for another [L Skin for skin; C a proverb meaning that people only react if they are affected directly]!” Satan [1:6] answered. “A man will give all he has to save his own life. 5 But reach out your hand and ·destroy [afflict; L touch] his bones and flesh, and he will ·curse [L bless; C a euphemism for “curse”; 1:5] you to your face.”
6 The Lord said to Satan [1:6], “All right, then. Job is in your ·power [L hand], but you ·may not take [L must preserve] his life.”
7 So Satan [1:6] left the Lord’s presence. He put ·painful sores [horrible boils] on Job’s body, from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. 8 Job took a ·piece of broken [shard of] pottery to scrape himself, and he sat in ashes in misery.
9 Job’s wife said to him, “Why are you ·trying to stay innocent [maintaining your innocence]? Curse [2:5] God and die!”
10 Job answered, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Should we take only good things from God and not ·trouble [or evil]?” In spite of all this Job did not sin ·in what he said [L with his lips].
Job’s Three Friends Come to Help
11 Now Job had three friends: Eliphaz the Temanite [C from Tema, a town in Edom (1:1)], Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. When these friends heard about Job’s troubles, they agreed to meet and visit him. They wanted to ·show their concern [mourn] and to comfort him. 12 They ·saw Job [L lifted their eyes] from far away, but he looked so different they almost didn’t recognize him. They began to cry loudly and tore their robes and put ·dirt [dust] on their heads [C ancient mourning customs]. 13 Then they sat on the ground with Job seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him because they saw how much he was ·suffering [in pain].
Dead to Sin but Alive in Christ
6 ·So [L What then shall we say?] ·do you think we should [L shall we] continue sinning so that ·God will give us even more grace [L grace may increase/T abound]? 2 ·No [Absolutely not; May it never be; 3:31]! We died to ·our old sinful lives [L sin], so how can we continue living ·with [or in] sin? 3 ·Did you forget [or Don’t you know] that all of us who ·became part of Christ Jesus when we were baptized [L were baptized into Christ Jesus] ·shared his death in that baptism [or participated in his death through that baptism; L were baptized into his death]. 4 [L Therefore] When we were baptized, we were buried with Christ ·and shared his [and participated in his; L into] death. So, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the ·wonderful power [glorious power; L glory] of the Father, we also can live a new life.
5 Christ died, and we have been ·joined with [united with; grafted into] him ·by dying too [or by participating in his death; L in the likeness of his death]. So we will also be ·joined with [united with; grafted into] him by rising from the dead as he did. 6 We know that our old ·life [self; L person] died with Christ on the cross so that our ·sinful selves [or body controlled by sin; L body of sin] would have no power over us and we would not be slaves to sin. 7 Anyone who has died is ·made free [justified; declared righteous] from ·sin’s control [L sin].
8 [L Now; But] If we died with Christ, we ·know [have confidence; believe] we will also live with him. 9 Christ was raised from the dead, and we know that he cannot die again. Death has no ·power [mastery; dominion] over him now. 10 ·Yes [L For; Because], when Christ died, he died ·to defeat the power of sin [to take away sin; or with reference to sin] ·one time—enough for all time [once for all; Heb. 7:27]. [L But] He now has a new life, and his new life is ·with [or for the glory of; or with reference to] God. 11 In the same way, you should ·see [count; consider] yourselves as being dead to ·the power of sin [L sin] and alive ·with [to; with reference to] God ·through [or in; in union with] Christ Jesus.
12 So, do not let sin ·control your life [L reign; rule over you] ·here on earth [L in your mortal body] so that you ·do what your sinful self wants to do [L obey/submit to its (evil/sinful) desires]. 13 Do not offer ·the parts of your body [or any part of yourself; L your parts/members] to serve sin, as ·things to be used in doing [L instruments/weapons of] ·evil [unrighteousness; injustice]. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have died and now live. Offer ·the parts of your body [or every part of yourself; L your parts/members] to God ·to be used in doing good [L as instruments/weapons of righteousness/justice]. 14 [L For] Sin will not ·be your master [exercise dominion/power over you], because you are not under law but under God’s grace.
Be Slaves of Righteousness
15 ·So what should we do [L What then; 3:9]? Should we sin because we are under grace and not under law? ·No [Absolutely not; May it never be; v. 2]! 16 ·Surely you know [L Don’t you know…?] that when you submit yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, ·the person you obey is your master [L you are slaves to the one you obey]. [L Either] You can ·follow [be slaves to] sin, which brings ·spiritual death [L death], or you can ·obey God [L (be slaves) to obedience], which ·makes you right with him [leads to righteousness]. 17 In the past ·sin controlled you [L you were slaves to sin]. But thank God, you ·fully obeyed [L obeyed from the heart] the ·things [accepted/orthodox teaching; L example/pattern of teaching] ·that you were taught [or that have claimed your allegiance; L to which you were delivered/entrusted]. 18 You were set free from sin, and now you are slaves to ·goodness [righteousness]. 19 I use ·this example [or an analogy from everyday life; or an inadequate human illustration (like slavery)] because ·this is hard for you to understand [L of the limitations/weakness of your human nature/flesh]. In the past you offered ·the parts of your body [or yourselves; L your parts/members] to be slaves to ·sin [impurity; defilement] and ·evil [lawlessness; wickedness]; ·you lived only for evil [or …leading to even more lawlessness/wickedness]. In the same way now you must offer ·yourselves [L your parts/members] to be slaves of ·goodness [righteousness]. ·Then you will live only for God [L …leading to holiness/sanctification].
20 [L For] When you were slaves to sin, ·goodness did not control you [L you were free (from obligation) to righteousness]. 21 And what ·was the result of [benefit/fruit did you reap from] doing those things that now make you ashamed? [L For] ·Those things only bring [L The end/result of those things is] death. 22 But now you are free from sin and have become slaves of God. This ·brings you [reaps the benefit/fruit of] ·a life that is only for God [holiness; sanctification], and ·this gives you life forever [L the end/result is eternal life]. 23 [L For; Because] The ·payment [wages] for sin is death. But God gives us the free gift of ·life forever [eternal life] in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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