M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Ark of the Covenant
37 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits[a] long, one and a half cubits[b] wide, and one and a half cubits[c] high. 2 He overlaid it with pure gold, inside and outside, and made a gold molding around it. 3 He cast four rings for it on its four feet, two rings on one side of it and two rings on its other side. 4 He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5 He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry[d] it.
6 He made a Mercy Seat of pure gold two and a half cubits[e] long and one and a half cubits[f] wide. 7 He made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered work at the two ends of the Mercy Seat. 8 One cherub was at one end and one cherub at the other end. He made the cherubim at the two ends of the Mercy Seat and of one piece with it. 9 The cherubim had their wings spread upward, covering the Mercy Seat with their wings and facing each other. The faces of the cherubim were turned toward the Mercy Seat.
The Table of Showbread
10 Then he made a table of acacia wood two cubits[g] long, one cubit[h] wide, and one and a half cubits[i] high. 11 He overlaid it with pure gold and put a gold molding around it. 12 He made a rim one handbreadth[j] wide around it, and made a gold molding around the rim. 13 He cast four gold rings for it and put the rings on the four corners where its four feet were. 14 The rings were close to the rim as holders for the poles to carry the table. 15 He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold to carry the table. 16 He made the utensils which were on the table, its plates, dishes, bowls, and jars out of which libations are poured. He made them of pure gold.
The Lamp Stand
17 He made the lamp stand of pure gold. He made the lamp stand, its base, and stem of hammered work and its cups, calyxes, and flowers were of one piece with it. 18 Six branches extended from its sides, three branches of the lamp stand from one side of it, and three branches of the lamp stand from its other side. 19 Three cups shaped like almond blossoms with calyxes and flowers were on one branch and three cups shaped like almond blossoms with calyxes and flowers were on the other branch, and so on for the six branches extending from the lamp stand. 20 On the lamp stand itself there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms each with their calyxes and flowers. 21 A calyx was under the two branches that extended out of the stem;[k] a calyx was under the next pair of[l] branches that extended out of the stem;[m] and a calyx was under the last pair of[n] branches that extended out of the stem,[o] and so on for the six branches extending from the lamp stand. 22 Their calyxes and their branches were of one piece with it, all of it was of one piece of hammered work of pure gold. 23 He made its seven lamps, its tongs, and its trays from pure gold. 24 He made it and all of its furnishings from a talent[p] of pure gold.
The Altar for Incense
25 He made the altar for burning incense of acacia wood, a square, one cubit[q] long, one cubit[r] wide, and two cubits[s] high, with its horns of one piece with it. 26 He overlaid it with pure gold—its top, its sides all around, and its horns—and he made a gold molding around it. 27 He made two gold rings for it under its molding, on its two opposite sides, as holders for poles by which to carry it. 28 He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 29 And he made the holy anointing oil and the pure aromatic incense, the work of a perfumer.
16 “I have told you this to keep you from falling away.[a] 2 You’ll be thrown out of the synagogues. Yes, a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he’s serving God. 3 They’ll do this because they haven’t known the Father or me. 4 But I’ve told you this, so that when the time comes you’ll remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you this in the beginning, because I was still with you.”
The Work of the Spirit
5 “But now I am going to the one who sent me. Yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have told you this, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7 However, I’m telling you the truth. It’s for your advantage that I’m going away, because if I don’t go away, the Helper won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment— 9 of sin, because they don’t believe in me; 10 of righteousness, because I’m going to the Father and you will no longer see me; 11 and of judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.[b]
12 “I still have a lot to say to you, but you cannot bear it now. 13 Yet when the Spirit of Truth comes, he’ll guide you into all truth. He won’t speak on his own accord, but he’ll speak whatever he hears and will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. That is why I said, ‘He will take what is mine and declare it to you.’ 16 In a little while you will no longer see me, then in a little while you will see me again.”
17 At this point, some of his disciples asked each other, “What does he mean by telling us, ‘In a little while you will no longer see me, then in a little while you will see me again,’ and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept saying, “What is this ‘in a little while’ that he keeps talking about? We don’t know what he means.”
Sorrow will Turn to Joy
19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him a question, so he asked them, “Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will no longer see me, then in a little while you will see me again’? 20 Truly, I tell all of you[c] emphatically, you’ll cry and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You’ll be deeply distressed, but your pain will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is in labor she has pain, because her time has come. Yet when she has given birth to her child, she doesn’t remember the agony anymore because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. 22 Now you are having pain. But I’ll see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. 23 On that day, you won’t ask me for anything. Truly, I tell all of you[d] emphatically, whatever you ask the Father for in my name, he will give it to you.[e] 24 So far you haven’t asked for anything in my name. Keep asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”
Victory over the World
25 “I have said these things to you in figurative language. The time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 At that time, you will make your requests in my name, so that I will have no need to ask the Father on your behalf, 27 because the Father himself loves you, and because you have loved me and believed that I came from God.[f] 28 I left the Father and came into the world. Now[g] I’m leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
29 Jesus’[h] disciples said, “Well, now you’re speaking plainly and not using figurative language. 30 Now we know that you know everything and don’t need to have anyone ask you any questions. Because of this, we believe that you have come from God.”
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Listen, the time is coming, indeed it has already come, when you will be scattered, each of you to his own home, and you will leave me all by myself. Yet I’m not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you’ll have trouble, but be courageous—I’ve overcome the world!”
Who is a Wise Son?
13 A wise son heeds[a] a father’s correction,
but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his words a man receives benefit,[b]
but the treacherous crave violence.
3 Anyone who guards his words protects his life;
anyone who talks too much[c] is ruined.
4 The lazy person craves, yet receives nothing,
but the desires of the diligent are satisfied.
5 A righteous person hates deceit,
but the wicked person is shameful and disgraceful.
6 Righteousness protects the blameless,
but wickedness brings down[d] the sinner.
7 One person pretends to be wealthy, but has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet is rich.
8 The life of a wealthy man may be held for ransom,
but whoever is poor receives no threats.
9 The light of the righteous shines,
but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
10 Arrogance only brings quarreling,
but those receiving advice are wise.
11 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away,
but whoever works diligently increases his prosperity.[e]
12 Delayed hope makes the heart ill,
but fulfilled longing is a tree of life.
13 Anyone who despises a word of advice will pay for it,
but whoever heeds a command will be rewarded.
14 What the wise have to teach is a fountain of life
and causes someone to avoid the snares of death.
15 Good understanding produces grace,
but the lifestyle of the treacherous never changes.[f]
16 Every sensible person acts from knowledge,
but a fool demonstrates folly.
17 An evil messenger stumbles into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and shame are for those who ignore correction,
but whoever listens to instruction gains honor.
19 Fulfilled longing is sweet to the soul,
but avoiding evil is detestable to the fool.
20 Whoever keeps company with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Disaster pursues the sinful,
but good will reward the righteous.
22 A good person leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren,
but the wealth of the wicked is reserved for the righteous.
23 The field of the poor may produce much food,
but it can be swept away through injustice.
24 Whoever does not discipline[g] his son hates him,
but whoever loves him is diligent to correct him.
25 A righteous person eats to his heart’s content,
but the stomach of the wicked remains hungry.
Advice for Children and Parents
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord,[a] for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother…”[b] (This is a very important commandment with a promise.) 3 “…so that it may go well for you, and that you may have a long life on the earth.”[c]
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up by training[d] and instructing them about the Lord.
Advice for Slaves and Masters
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear, trembling, and sincerity, as when you obey[e] the Messiah.[f] 6 Do not do this only while you’re being watched in order to please them, but be like slaves of the Messiah,[g] who are determined to obey God’s will. 7 Serve willingly, as if you were serving the Lord and not merely people,[h] 8 because you know that everyone will receive a reward from the Lord for whatever good he has done, whether he is a slave or free.
9 Masters, treat your slaves[i] the same way. Do not threaten them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
Putting on the Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, relying on his mighty strength. 11 Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the Devil’s strategies.[j] 12 For our[k] struggle is not against human opponents,[l] but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers in the darkness around us,[m] and evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm. 13 For this reason, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to take a stand whenever evil comes. And when you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand firm.
14 Stand firm, therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and being firm-footed in the gospel of peace.[n] 16 In addition to having clothed yourselves with these things, having taken up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one, 17 also take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and request. Likewise, be alert with your most diligent efforts and pray for all the saints. 19 Pray[o] also for me, so that, when I begin to speak, the right words will come to me. Then I will boldly make known the secret of the gospel, 20 for whose sake I am an ambassador in chains, desiring to declare the gospel[p] as boldly as I should.[q]
Final Greeting
21 So that you may know what has happened to me and how I am doing, Tychicus, our dear brother and a faithful minister in service to the Lord, will tell you everything. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, so that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.
23 May peace and love, with faith, be with the brothers, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah![r]
24 May grace be with all who sincerely love the Lord Jesus, the Messiah![s]
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