M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Plague on the Egyptian Cattle
9 Then the Lord told Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord God of the Hebrews says: “Let my people go so they may serve[a] me. 2 But if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them, 3 then the hand of the Lord will come[b] with a very severe plague on your livestock in the fields, on horses, on donkeys, on camels, on cattle, and on sheep. 4 The Lord will distinguish between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of the Egyptians, so that nothing that belongs to the Israelis will die.”’”
5 The Lord set the time: “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.” 6 The Lord did this thing the next day, and all the livestock of the Egyptians died. But not one of the livestock died that belonged to the Israelis. 7 Then Pharaoh inquired and discovered[c] that not a single one of the livestock of Israel had died, but Pharaoh’s heart was stubborn[d] and he would not let the people go.
The Plague of Boils
8 Then the Lord told Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it into the air[e] in front of Pharaoh. 9 The soot[f] will become dust over the entire land of Egypt, and it will become boils erupting into sores on people and animals throughout the land of Egypt.”
10 So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. Then Moses threw it into the air,[g] and it became boils producing running sores on people and animals. 11 The magicians were not able to stand before Moses because of the boils, because the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. 12 The Lord made Pharaoh’s heart stubborn[h] so that he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had told Moses.
The Plague of Hail
13 Then the Lord told Moses, “Get up early in the morning, present yourself to Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord God of the Hebrews says: “Let my people go so they may serve[i] me. 14 Indeed, this time I’m sending all my plagues against you[j], your officials,[k] and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. 15 Indeed, by now I could have sent forth my hand and struck you and your people with a plague, and you would have been destroyed from the earth. 16 However, I’ve kept you standing[l] in order to show you my power and to declare my name in all the earth. 17 You are still acting arrogantly against my people by not letting them go. 18 Look! About this time tomorrow, I’ll send a severe hail storm, such as has not happened in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. 19 So send for your livestock and everything that belongs to you that’s out in the field, because[m] every person and animal found in the field that has not been brought inside to shelters will die when the hail comes down on them.”’”
20 Whoever feared the message from the Lord among Pharaoh’s officials[n] made his servants and livestock flee into shelters. 21 But whoever did not pay attention[o] to the message from the Lord left his servants and his livestock outside in the fields.
22 Then the Lord told Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, and there will be hail in all the land of Egypt, on people, animals, and all the vegetation of the field throughout the land of Egypt.” 23 When Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. The Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt.
24 There was very heavy hail, and lightning was flashing continuously in the midst of the hail. There had not been anything like it in the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. 25 The hail struck everything, including people and animals, outside in the fields throughout the land of Egypt. The hail struck all the vegetation of the fields and shattered all the trees in the orchards. 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelis were, was there no hail.
27 Pharaoh sent word[p] and called for Moses and Aaron. “I’ve sinned this time,” he told them. “The Lord is righteous, but I and my people are wicked. 28 Pray to the Lord! There has been enough of God’s thunder and hail! I’ll let you go, and you need not stay any longer.”
29 Moses told him, “When I leave the city I’ll spread out my hands to the Lord. The thunder will cease and the hail won’t continue, so that you may know that the earth belongs to the Lord. 30 But as for you and your officials,[q] I know that you don’t yet fear the Lord God.” 31 (Now the flax and the barley were ruined because the barley was in ear and the flax was in bud. 32 The wheat and the wild grain[r] were not ruined because they were late crops.)
33 Then Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to the Lord. The thunder and hail stopped, and the rain no longer poured out on the land. 34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he continued to sin. He, along with his officials,[s] hardened his heart. 35 Pharaoh’s heart was stubborn,[t] and he did not let the Israelis go, just as the Lord had said through Moses.
A Warning against Hypocrisy
12 Meanwhile, the people[a] had gathered by the thousands and were trampling on one another. Jesus[b] began to speak first to his disciples. “Watch out for the yeast—that is, the hypocrisy—of the Pharisees! 2 There is nothing covered up that won’t be exposed and nothing secret that won’t be made known. 3 Therefore, what you have said in darkness will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered[c] in private rooms will be shouted from the housetops.”
Fear God(A)
4 “But I tell you, my friends, never be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can’t do anything more. 5 I’ll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the authority to throw you into hell[d] after killing you. Yes, I tell you, be afraid of him!
6 “Five sparrows are sold for two pennies, aren’t they? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Why, even all the hairs on your head have been counted! Stop being afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows.”
Acknowledging the Messiah(B)
8 “But I tell you, the Son of Man will acknowledge before God’s angels everyone who acknowledges me before people. 9 But whoever denies me before people will be denied before God’s angels. 10 Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit won’t be forgiven. 11 When people[e] bring you before synagogue leaders,[f] rulers, or authorities, don’t worry about how you will defend yourselves or what[g] you will say, 12 because at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you are to say.”
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Then someone in the crowd told him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”
14 But Jesus[h] asked him, “Mister,[i] who appointed me to be a judge or arbitrator over you people?” 15 Then he told them, “Be careful to guard yourselves against every kind of greed, because a person’s life doesn’t consist of the amount of possessions he has.”
16 Then he told them a parable. He said, “The land of a certain rich man produced good crops. 17 So he began to think to himself, ‘What should I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and I’ll store all my grain and goods in them. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You’ve stored up plenty of good things for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’ 20 But God told him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you. Now who will get the things you’ve accumulated?’ 21 That’s how it is with the person who stores up treasures for himself rather than with God.”
Stop Worrying(C)
22 Then Jesus[j] told his disciples, “That’s why I’m telling you to stop worrying about your life—what you will eat—or about your body—what you will wear, 23 because life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the crows.[k] They don’t plant or harvest, they don’t even have a storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! 25 Can any of you add an hour to the length of your life[l] by worrying? 26 So if you can’t do a small thing like that, why worry about other things? 27 Consider how the lilies grow. They don’t work or spin yarn, but I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 28 Now if that’s the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, how much more will he clothe you—you who have little faith?
29 “So stop concerning yourselves about what you will eat or what you will drink, and stop being distressed, 30 because it is the unbelievers[m] who are concerned about all these things. Surely your Father knows that you need them! 31 Instead, be concerned about his[n] kingdom, and these things will be provided for you as well. 32 Stop being afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
33 “Sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don’t wear out—a dependable treasure in heaven, where no thief can get close and no moth can destroy anything. 34 Because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
The Watchful Servants(D)
35 “You must keep your belts fastened and your lamps burning. 36 Be like people who are waiting for their master to return from a wedding. As soon as he arrives and knocks, they will open the door for him. 37 How blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching for him when he comes! I tell all of you[o] with certainty, he himself will put on an apron, make them sit down at the table, and go around and serve them. 38 How blessed they will be if their master[p] comes in the middle of the night or near dawn[q] and finds them awake![r] 39 But be sure of this: if the homeowner had known at what time the thief were coming, he would have watched and[s] would not have let his house be broken into. 40 So be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at a time when you don’t expect him.”
41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable just for us or for everyone?”
42 The Lord said, “Who, then, is the faithful and careful servant manager whom his master will put in charge of giving all his other servants their share of food at the right time? 43 How blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing this when he comes! 44 I tell you with certainty, he will put him in charge of all his property. 45 But if that servant says to himself,[t] ‘My master is taking a long time to come back,’ and begins to beat the other servants and to eat, drink, and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he doesn’t expect him and at an hour that he doesn’t know. Then his master[u] will punish him severely[v] and assign him a place with unfaithful people. 47 That servant who knew what his master wanted but didn’t prepare himself or do what was wanted will receive a severe beating. 48 But the servant[w] who did things that deserved a beating without knowing it will receive a light beating. Much will be required from everyone to whom much has been given. But even more will be demanded from the one to whom much has been entrusted.”
Not Peace, but Division(E)
49 “I’ve come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already ablaze! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and what stress I am under until it’s completed! 51 Do you think that I came to bring peace on earth? Not at all, I tell you, but rather division! 52 From now on, five people in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Interpreting the Time(F)
54 Then Jesus[x] told the crowds, “When you see a cloud coming in from the west, you immediately say, ‘There’s going to be a storm,’ and that’s what happens. 55 When you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and so it is. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, yet you don’t know how to interpret the present time?”
Settling with Your Opponent(G)
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 For example, when you go with your opponent in front of a ruler, do your best to settle with him on the way there. Otherwise, you will be dragged in front of the judge, and the judge will hand you over to an officer, and the officer will throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you pay back the last penny!”
Job Asserts His Innocence
27 Job continued with his discussion and said:
2 “The living God has withheld justice from me;
the Almighty has made my life[a] bitter.
3 As long as I can breathe;
as long as God’s breath is in my nostrils,
4 I won’t speak lies
nor will I utter deceit.
5 Far be it from me to admit that you’re right!
I intend to maintain my integrity[b] even if it kills me!
6 I’ll retain my righteousness and not compromise it;
my conscience won’t rebuke me at any time.
7 “May my enemy be like the wicked;
my adversary like the unjust.[c]
8 For where is the hope of the godless when he is eliminated;
when God takes away his life?
9 Will God hear his cry
when distress overtakes him?
10 Will he take delight in the Almighty?
Will he call on God at all times?”
On the Demise of the Wicked
11 “I’ll teach you about the power[d] of God,
that which is with the Almighty I won’t conceal.
12 Look! All of you have been watching,
so why have you become so completely worthless?
13 “This is what a wicked person[e] inherits from God,
and what the ruthless will receive from the Almighty:
14 If he has many children,
their destiny is to die by the sword,
and his descendants won’t have enough food.
15 Those who do survive him disease will bury,
and his widow won’t even weep.
16 “Though he hoards silver[f] like dust,
and stores away garments like clay,
17 whatever he stores up, the righteous will wear,
and the innocent will inherit that silver!
18 “He has built his house like a moth’s cocoon,[g]
like a temporary[h] sunshade that a watchman makes.
19 He will go to bed wealthy,
but won’t be doing that anymore!
When he opens his eyes, it will be gone!
20 Terror will overtake him like a flood,[i]
at night, a tornado will sweep him away.
21 He’ll be swept up by a storm[j] wind and carried away;
he’ll be whirled away from his place.
22 It will toss him around without pity.
He’ll try to break free[k] from its grip,[l]
23 but it will clap its hands over him,
hissing at him as it lunges toward him.”[m]
The Supremacy of Love
13 If I speak in the languages of humans and angels but have no love, I have become a reverberating gong or a clashing cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can understand all secrets and every form of knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains but have no love, I am nothing. 3 Even if I give away everything that I have and sacrifice myself,[a] but have no love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is always patient;
love is always kind;
love is never envious
or arrogant with pride.
Nor is she conceited,
5 and she is never rude;
she never thinks just of herself
or ever gets annoyed.
She never is resentful;
6 is never glad with sin;
she’s always glad to side with truth,
and pleased that truth will win.[b]
7 She bears up under everything;
believes the best in all;
there is no limit to her hope,
and never will she fall.
8 Love never fails. Now if there are prophecies, they will be done away with. If there are languages, they will cease. If there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For what we know is incomplete and what we prophesy is incomplete. 10 But when what is complete[c] comes, then what is incomplete will be done away with.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish ways. 12 Now we see only an indistinct image in a mirror, but then we will be face to face. Now what I know is incomplete, but then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13 Right now three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
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