M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Clothes for the Priests
39 They used blue, purple, and ·red [scarlet] thread to make woven clothes for the priests to wear when they ·served [ministered] in the Holy Place. They made the holy clothes for Aaron as the Lord had commanded Moses.
2 They made the ·holy vest [ephod] of gold, and blue, purple, and ·red [scarlet] thread, and fine linen [28:6–14]. 3 They hammered the gold into sheets and then cut it into long, thin strips. They worked the gold into the blue, purple, and ·red [scarlet] thread, and fine linen. This was done ·by skilled craftsmen [or with a skilled design]. 4 They made the shoulder straps for the ·holy vest [ephod], which were attached to the top corners of it and tied together over each shoulder. 5 The skillfully ·woven belt [embroidered waistband] was made in the same way; it was joined to ·the holy vest [L it] as one piece. It was made of gold, and blue, purple, and ·red [scarlet] thread, and fine linen, the way the Lord commanded Moses.
6 They put gold [L filigree] around the onyx stones and then ·wrote [engraved] the names of the sons of Israel on these gems, ·as a person carves words and designs on a seal [like the engravings on a seal/signet]. 7 Then they attached the gems on the shoulder straps of the ·holy vest [ephod], as reminders of the twelve sons of Israel. This was done just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
8 ·The skilled craftsmen [L They] made the ·chest covering [breastpiece] like the ·holy vest [ephod]; it was made of gold, and blue, purple, and ·red [scarlet] thread, and fine linen. 9 ·The chest covering [L It] was square—·nine inches [a span] long and ·nine inches [a span] wide—and it was ·folded double to make a pocket [L doubled]. 10 Then they put four rows of ·beautiful jewels [L stones] on it: In the first row there was a ·ruby [or carnelian], a ·topaz [or chrysolite], and a ·yellow quartz [or emerald]; 11 in the second there was a turquoise, a ·sapphire [or lapis], and an ·emerald [or moonstone]; 12 in the third there was a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 13 in the fourth there was a ·chrysolite [or beryl], an onyx, and a jasper [C identification is uncertain]. Gold [L filigree] was put around these ·jewels [stones] to attach them to the ·chest covering [breastpiece], 14 and the names of the sons of Israel were ·carved [engraved] on these twelve ·jewels [stones] as a person ·carves [engraves] a ·seal [signet]. Each ·jewel [stone] had the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
15 They made chains of pure gold, twisted together like a rope, for the ·chest covering [breastpiece]. 16 They made two gold pieces and two gold rings. They put the two gold rings on the two upper corners of the ·chest covering [breastpiece]. 17 Then they put two gold chains in the two rings at the ends of the ·chest covering [breastpiece], 18 and they fastened the other two ends of the chains to the two ·gold pieces [or settings]. They attached these gold pieces to the two shoulder straps in the front of the ·holy vest [ephod]. 19 They made two gold rings and put them at the lower corners of the ·chest covering [breastpiece] on the inside edge next to the ·holy vest [ephod]. 20 They made two more gold rings on the bottom of the shoulder straps in front of the ·holy vest [ephod], near the seam, just above the ·woven belt [embroidered waistband] of the ·holy vest [ephod]. 21 They used a blue ·ribbon [cord] and tied the rings of the ·chest covering [breastpiece] to the rings of the ·holy vest [ephod], connecting it to the ·woven belt [L embroidered waistband]. In this way the ·chest covering [breastpiece] would not ·swing out [get loose] from the ·holy vest [ephod]. They did all these things the way the Lord commanded.
22 Then they made the outer robe ·to be worn under the holy vest [L of the ephod]. It was woven only of blue cloth. 23 They made a ·hole [opening] in the center of the outer robe, with a woven collar ·sewn around it [L like a coat of mail; C the Hebrew is obscure] so it would not tear. 24 Then they made balls like pomegranates of blue, purple, and ·red [scarlet] thread, and fine linen and hung them around the bottom of the outer robe. 25 They also made bells of pure gold and hung these around the bottom of the outer robe between the balls. 26 So around the bottom of the outer robe there was a bell and a pomegranate ball, a bell and a pomegranate ball. The priest wore this outer robe when he ·served as priest [ministered], just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
27 They ·wove [L made] inner robes of fine linen for Aaron and his sons, 28 and they made turbans, ·headbands [headdresses], and underclothes of fine linen. 29 Then they made the ·cloth belt [sash] of fine linen, and blue, purple, and ·red [scarlet] thread·, and designs were sewn onto it [embroidered with needlework], just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
30 They made a ·strip [rosette; medallion; plate; L flower] of pure gold, which is the holy ·crown [diadem], and ·carved [engraved] these words in the gold, as one might ·carve [engrave] on a ·seal [signet]: “Holy to the Lord.” 31 Then they tied ·this flat piece [a blue cord to it to fasten it] to the turban with a blue ribbon, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
32 So all the work on the [L Tabernacle of the] Meeting Tent was finished. The ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 33 Then they brought the ·Holy Tent [L Tabernacle] to Moses: the Tent and all its furniture, hooks, frames, crossbars, ·posts [pillars], and bases; 34 the covering made of male ·sheepskins [ramskins] colored red, the covering made of ·fine leather [sea cow/porpoise hide], and the curtain ·that covered the entrance to the Most Holy Place [L for the screen]; 35 the Ark of the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty; L Testimony; 25:10], its poles and ·lid [the mercy seat/atonement cover; 25:17–22]; 36 the table [25:23–40], all its ·containers [utensils; tools], and the bread ·that showed they were in God’s presence [L of presence]; 37 the pure ·gold lampstand [L Menorah; 25:31–40] with its lamps in a row, all its ·tools [utensils], and the olive oil for the light; 38 the gold altar [C the incense altar; 30:1–6], the special olive oil used for ·appointing priests [anointing], the sweet-smelling incense, and the ·curtain that covered [screen at] the entrance to the Tent; 39 the bronze altar [27:1–8] and its ·screen [L bronze grating], its poles and all its ·tools [utensils], the bowl and its stand [30:17–21]; 40 the curtains for the courtyard with their ·posts [pillars] and bases, the ·curtain that covered the entry to [L screen for the gate of] the courtyard, the cords, pegs, and all the ·things [L utensils for service] in the Meeting Tent. 41 They brought the clothes for the priests to wear when they ·served [ministered] in the Holy ·Tent [Place]—the ·holy [sacred] clothes for Aaron the priest and the clothes for his sons, which they wore when they served as priests.
42 The ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] had done all this work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 43 Moses looked closely at all the work and saw they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.
Jesus Is Arrested(A)
18 When Jesus finished ·praying [L saying these things], he went with his ·followers [disciples] across the Kidron Valley [C a deep wadi or ravine separating Jerusalem on the east from the Mount of Olives]. On the other side there was a garden [or grove; C Gethsemane; Matt. 26:36; Mark 14:32], and Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] went into it.
2 Judas knew where this place was, because Jesus met there often with his ·followers [disciples]. Judas was the one who ·turned against [betrayed] Jesus. 3 So Judas came there with a group of soldiers [C Roman] and some guards [C Jewish temple police] from the ·leading [T chief] priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons.
4 Knowing everything that would happen to him, Jesus went out and asked, “Who is it you are looking for?”
5 They answered him, “Jesus ·from Nazareth [L the Nazarene].”
“·I am he [L I am; C this may be an allusion to God’s (Yahweh’s) self identification as “I AM” in Ex. 3:14 or to God’s repeated claim that “I am he” throughout Is. 40—55; see John 8:24, 28, 58],” Jesus said. (Judas, the one who ·turned against [betrayed] Jesus, was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “·I am he [L I am; see 18:5],” they moved back and fell to the ground.
7 Jesus asked them again, “Who is it you are looking for?”
They said, “Jesus ·of Nazareth [L the Nazarene].”
8 “I told you that I am he [see 18:5],” Jesus ·said [answered]. “So if you are looking for me, let the others go.” 9 This happened so that the words Jesus said before would ·come true [L be fulfilled]: “I have not lost any of the ones you gave me [6:39; 17:12].”
10 [L Then] Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and struck the ·servant [slave; bond-servant] of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. (The ·servant’s [slave’s; bond-servant’s] name was Malchus.) 11 Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back [L into its sheath]. Shouldn’t I drink the cup the Father gave me?” [C The prophets spoke of a cup of judgment; by dying on the cross Jesus drinks it on our behalf; Jer. 25:15–29.]
Jesus Is Brought Before Annas
12 Then the soldiers [C Roman] with their commander and the guards [C Jewish temple police] arrested Jesus. They tied him 13 and led him first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who ·told [advised; counseled] the Jews that it would be better if one man died ·for [on behalf of] all the people.
Peter Says He Doesn’t Know Jesus(B)
15 Simon Peter and another one of Jesus’ ·followers [disciples] ·went along after [followed] Jesus. This ·follower [disciple] knew the high priest, so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. 16 But Peter waited outside near the ·door [gate]. The ·follower [disciple] who knew the high priest came back outside, spoke to the ·girl at the door [gatekeeper; doorkeeper], and brought Peter inside. 17 The ·girl at the door [gatekeeper; doorkeeper] said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of that man’s ·followers [disciples]?”
Peter answered, “No, I am not!”
18 It was cold, so the ·servants [slaves; bond-servants] and guards [temple police] had built a [charcoal] fire and were standing around it, warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19 The high priest asked Jesus questions about his ·followers [disciples] and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken ·openly [publicly] to ·everyone [L the world]. I have always taught in synagogues and in the Temple, where all the Jews come together. I never said anything in secret. 21 So why do you question me? Ask the people who heard ·my teaching [L what I said to them]. They know what I said.”
22 When Jesus said this, one of the ·guards [officials; temple police] standing there ·hit [slapped] him. The ·guard [official; temple policeman] said, “Is that the way you answer the high priest?”
23 Jesus answered him, “If I said something wrong, then ·show [testify to; witness to] what it was. But if what I said is ·true [right], why do you hit me?”
24 Then Annas sent Jesus, who was still tied, to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter Says Again He Doesn’t Know Jesus(C)
25 As Simon Peter was standing and warming himself, they said to him, “Aren’t you one of that man’s ·followers [disciples]?”
Peter ·said it was not true [denied it]; he said, “No, I am not.”
26 One of the ·servants [slaves; bond-servants] of the high priest was there. This servant was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off [see 18:10]. The servant said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the ·garden [grove]?”
27 Again Peter ·said it wasn’t true [denied it]. At once ·a rooster [T the cock] crowed.
Jesus Is Brought Before Pilate(D)
28 Early in the morning they [C the Jewish leaders] led Jesus from Caiaphas’s house to the ·Roman governor’s palace [or governor’s headquarters; L Praetorium]. They would not go inside the ·palace [L Praetorium], because they did not want to make themselves ·unclean [C according to early Jewish sources a Jew who entered the house of a Gentile would become ritually unclean]; they wanted to eat the Passover meal. 29 So Pilate [C Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea from ad 26 to 37] went outside to them and asked, “What ·charges [accusation] do you bring against this man?”
30 They answered, “If he were not a ·criminal [L evildoer], we wouldn’t have brought him to you.”
31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”
“But ·we are not allowed [it is not legal for us] to put anyone to death,” the Jews answered. [C The Jewish people had to concede the authority for capital punishment to their Roman occupiers.] 32 (This happened so that what Jesus said about how he would die [C by crucifixion rather than stoning] would ·come true [L be fulfilled; see 12:32–33].)
33 Then Pilate went back inside the ·palace [headquarters; L Praetorium] and called Jesus to him and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 Jesus ·said [answered], “Is that your own question, or did others tell you about me?”
35 Pilate answered, “·I am not one of you [L Am I a Jew?]. It was your own ·people [nation] and their ·leading [T chief] priests who ·handed you over [or betrayed you] to me. What have you done wrong?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom ·does not belong to [T is not of] this world. If it belonged to this world, my servants would have fought to keep me from being ·given over [betrayed; handed over] to the ·Jewish leaders [L Jews]. But my kingdom is from another place.”
37 Pilate said, “So you are a king!”
Jesus answered, “You are the one saying I am a king. This is why I was born and came into the world: to ·tell people [testify/witness to] the truth. And everyone ·who belongs to the [on the side of] truth ·listens to me [L hears my voice].”
38 Pilate said, “What is truth?” After he said this, he went out to the ·crowd [L Jews] again and said to them, “I find ·nothing [no case; no basis for a charge] against this man. 39 But it is your custom that I ·free [release] one prisoner to you at Passover time. Do you want me to ·free [release] the ‘king of the Jews’?”
40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Let Barabbas ·go free [be released]!” (Barabbas was a ·robber [bandit; revolutionary; terrorist; C the Romans referred to insurrectionists as “robbers” or “criminals”].)
15 A ·gentle [soft; tender] answer ·will calm a person’s anger [L turns back/T away wrath],
but an ·unkind [painful; sharp] answer ·will cause more [raises] anger.
2 Wise people use knowledge when they speak,
but fools ·pour out [bubble forth with] foolishness.
3 The Lord’s eyes ·see everything [L are everywhere];
he watches both evil and good people.
4 ·As a tree gives fruit, healing words give life [L A healthy/healing tongue is a tree of life],
but ·dishonest [deceitful; perverse] words crush the spirit.
5 Fools ·reject [disdain] their ·parents’ [father’s] ·correction [discipline],
but anyone who ·accepts [guards] correction is wise.
6 Much ·wealth [treasure] is in the houses of ·good [righteous] people,
but evil people get nothing but trouble.
7 Wise people use their ·words [L lips] to ·spread [scatter; disperse] knowledge,
but there is no knowledge in the ·thoughts [hearts; minds] of fools.
8 The Lord ·hates [detests] the sacrifice that the wicked offer,
but he ·likes [favors] the prayers of ·honest people [people with integrity].
9 The Lord ·hates [detests] ·what evil people do [L the path of the wicked],
but he ·loves [favors] those who ·do what is right [pursue righteousness].
10 The person who ·quits doing what is right [L abandons the way] will be punished,
and the one who hates to be corrected will die.
11 ·The Lord knows what is happening in the world of the dead [L Sheol and Abaddon/Destruction are before the Lord],
so he surely knows the ·thoughts of the living [L human heart].
12 ·Those who make fun of wisdom [L Mockers] don’t like to be corrected;
they will not ·ask the wise for advice [L go to the wise].
13 ·Happiness makes a person smile [L A joyful heart brightens one’s face],
but ·sadness [L a troubled heart] can break a person’s spirit.
14 ·People with understanding want more [L Understanding hearts seek] knowledge,
but fools ·just want more [L feed on] foolishness.
15 Every day is hard for ·those who suffer [or the poor],
but a happy heart is like a continual feast.
16 It is better to ·be poor [have little] and ·respect [fear] the Lord
than to ·be wealthy [have great treasure] and ·have much trouble [turmoil].
17 It is better to eat vegetables with those who love you
than ·to eat meat [L an ox of the stall] with those who hate you.
18 People with quick tempers cause ·trouble [conflict],
but ·those who control their tempers [patient people] stop ·a quarrel [accusations].
19 A lazy person’s ·life [L path] is like a patch of thorns,
but an ·honest [virtuous] person’s ·life [path] is like a smooth highway.
20 Wise ·children [sons] make their father happy,
but foolish ·children [L people] disrespect their mother.
21 A person without ·wisdom [sense/heart] enjoys being foolish,
but someone with understanding ·does what is right [walks straight ahead].
22 Plans fail without good advice,
but they succeed with the advice of many others.
23 People enjoy giving ·good advice [L a right reply].
Saying the right word at the right time is so pleasing.
24 ·Wise [Insightful] people’s ·lives [L way] ·get better and better [move upward].
They ·avoid whatever would cause their death [L turn aside from Sheol/the grave below].
25 The Lord will ·tear down [uproot] the proud person’s house,
but he will ·protect [establish] the widow’s ·property [boundaries].
26 The Lord ·hates [detests] evil ·thoughts [or plans]
but ·is pleased with kind words [L pleasing words are pure].
27 ·Greedy people [L Those who get unjust gain] bring trouble to their ·families [L house],
but the person who ·can’t be paid to do wrong [L hates gifts/bribes] will live.
28 ·Good people [L The heart/mind of the righteous] ·think [reflect; meditate] before they answer,
but the wicked simply ·pour [blurt] out evil.
29 The Lord ·does not listen to [L is far from] the wicked,
but he hears the prayers of ·those who do right [the righteous].
30 Good news ·makes you feel better [L refreshes the bone].
·Your happiness will show in your eyes [L The light of the eyes give joy to the heart].
31 ·If you listen to correction to improve your life,
you [L The ear that listens to correction] will ·live [lodge] among the wise.
32 Those who ·refuse [neglect] ·correction [discipline] hate themselves,
but those who ·accept [listen to] correction ·gain understanding [L acquire heart/mind].
33 ·Respect [Fear] for the Lord ·will teach you wisdom [is wise instruction/discipline].
·If you want to be honored, you must be humble [L Humility comes before glory].
2 [L Therefore,] ·Does your life in Christ give you strength? [L If there is any encouragement in Christ…] ·Does his love comfort you? [L …if any comfort from (his) love…] ·Do we share together in the Spirit? [L …if any fellowship/sharing of the Spirit…] ·Do you have mercy and kindness? [L …if any mercy/affection and kindness/compassion…] 2 ·If so […then], ·make me very happy [L fulfill/complete my joy] by ·having the same thoughts [being like-minded/of one mind], sharing the same love, and having one ·mind [heart; soul] and ·purpose [goal; mind]. 3 When you do things, do not let ·selfishness [rivalry; selfish ambition] or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more ·honor [regard; value] to others than to yourselves. 4 Do not ·be interested only in your own life [look out for your own interests], but ·be interested in the lives of others [look out for others’ interests].
Be Unselfish like Christ
5 In your lives you must ·think and act like [have the same attitude as] Christ Jesus. [C What follows may be from an early Christian hymn.]
6 ·Christ himself was like God in everything [L Who, being in the form of God].
But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be ·used for his own benefit [or grasped; seized; held on to].
7 But he ·gave up his place with God and made himself nothing [L emptied himself].
He ·became like [L took the form of] a ·servant [slave; bondservant]
and was born ·as a man [L in the likeness of humanity/men].
8 And ·when he was living [L being found in appearance/likeness] as a ·man [human being],
he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God,
even ·when that caused his [to the point of] death—death on a cross.
9 So God ·raised [exalted] him to the highest place.
God ·made his name [or gave him the name] ·greater than [far above] every other name
10 so that every knee will bow to the name of Jesus—
everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
11 And ·everyone [L every tongue] will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
and bring glory to God the Father.
Be the People God Wants You to Be
12 My ·dear friends [beloved], you have always obeyed God when I was with you. It is even more important that you obey now while I am away from you. ·Keep on working to complete [Continue working out] your salvation with ·fear [awe; reverence] and trembling, 13 because God is working in you ·to help you want to do and be able to do [L both to will/desire and to work] what pleases him.
14 Do everything without ·complaining [grumbling] or arguing. 15 Then you will be ·innocent [blameless] and ·without any wrong [innocent; pure; harmless], God’s children without ·fault [blemish; C as are sacrificial animals]. ·But you are living with people that are crooked and evil [L …in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; Deut. 32:5], among whom you shine like stars in the ·dark world [or sky; L world]. 16 You ·offer [or hold firmly/fast to] the ·teaching that gives life [message/word of life]. So ·when Christ comes again [L on the day of Christ; C judgment day], I can ·be happy [L be proud; boast] because I ·ran the race and won [L did not run for nothing/in vain]. ·My work was not wasted [L …nor did I labor for nothing/in vain].
17 Your faith makes you offer your lives as a sacrifice in serving God. [L Even] If I ·have to offer my own blood [L am poured out as a drink offering] with your sacrifice, I will be ·happy [rejoicing] and full of joy with all of you. 18 You also should be ·happy [rejoicing] and full of joy with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon. [L …so that] I will be ·happy [encouraged] to learn how you are. 20 I have no one else like Timothy [1:1], who ·truly [genuinely] cares for you. 21 Other people ·are interested only in their own lives [pursue their own interests/concerns], not ·in the work [the interests/concerns; L the things] of Jesus Christ. 22 You know ·the kind of person Timothy is [his tested and proven character]. You know he has served with me in ·telling the Good News [L the Gospel], as a son serves his father. 23 [L Therefore] I ·plan [hope] to send him to you quickly when I know what will happen to me [C probably referring to the outcome of Paul’s trial in Rome]. 24 I am ·sure [confident] ·that the Lord will help me to [L in the Lord that I will] come to you soon.
25 [L But; or Meanwhile,] I thought ·I should [it necessary to] send back to you Epaphroditus [4:18], my ·brother in Christ [L brother] and coworker, ·who serves with me in Christ’s army [L and fellow soldier]. He was your messenger, sent as a ·servant [minister] to meet my needs. 26 I am sending him because he ·wants very much to see [greatly misses; L longs for] all of you. He is ·worried [distressed] because you heard that he was sick. 27 Yes, he was sick, and nearly died, but God had mercy on him and me too so that I would not have ·more sadness [L sorrow upon sorrow]. 28 I ·want very much [am very eager] to send him to you so that when you see him you can ·be happy [rejoice], and I can stop worrying about you. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with much joy. Give honor to people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to give me the help you could not give in your service to me.
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