M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
David Learns About Saul’s Death
1 Now Saul was dead. After David had ·defeated [slaughtered; been victorious over] the Amalekites, he returned to Ziklag and stayed there two days. 2 On the third day a young man from Saul’s camp came to Ziklag. ·To show his sadness, [L …and] his clothes were torn and he had dirt on his head. He came and ·bowed facedown on the ground [L fell to the ground and prostrated himself] before David.
3 David asked him, “Where did you come from?”
The man answered, “I escaped from the Israelite camp.”
4 David asked him, “·What happened [How did things go]? Please tell me!”
The man answered, “The ·people [army; men] have ·run away [fled] from the battle, and many of them have fallen and are dead. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead also.”
5 David asked him, “How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
6 The young man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. There I saw Saul leaning on his spear. The Philistine chariots and the ·men riding in them [charioteers; or horsemen; cavalry] were ·coming closer to Saul [closing in on him]. 7 When he looked back and saw me, he called to me. I answered him, ‘Here I am!’
8 “Then Saul asked me, ‘Who are you?’
“I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9 “Then Saul said to me, ‘Please come here and ·kill me [put me out of my misery]. I am ·badly hurt [in the throes of death; L convulsions have seized me] and ·am almost dead already [yet my life still lingers].’
10 “So I ·went over [L stood beside/over him] and killed him. He had ·been hurt so badly [L fallen and] I knew he couldn’t live. Then I took the crown from his head and the ·bracelet [band] from his arm, and I have brought them here to you, my ·master [lord].”
11 Then David tore his clothes [C a sign of mourning or distress] and all the men with him did also. 12 They ·were very sad [mourned] and cried and fasted until evening. They cried for Saul and his son Jonathan and for all the people of the Lord and for all the ·Israelites [L house of Israel] who had ·died in the battle [L had fallen by the sword].
David Orders the Amalekite Killed
13 David asked the young man who brought the report, “Where are you from?”
The young man answered, “I am the son of a ·foreigner [resident alien], an Amalekite.”
14 David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to ·kill [lift your hand and destroy] the Lord’s ·appointed king [anointed]?”
15 Then David called one of his [L young] men and told him, “·Go! Kill the Amalekite [L Come, strike him down]!” So the Israelite ·killed him [L struck him down and he died]. 16 David had said to the Amalekite, “·You are responsible for your own death [L Your blood is/be on your own head]. ·You confessed [L Your own mouth has testified against you] by saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s ·appointed king [anointed].’”
David’s Song About Saul and Jonathan
17 David ·sang [chanted; intoned; or composed] a ·funeral song [lament] ·about [over] Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this song. It is called “The Bow,” and it is written in the Book of Jashar [C an ancient record of heroic deeds, now lost; Josh. 10:13]:
19 “Israel, your ·leaders [glorious/beautiful/proud ones; or gazelle; C a metaphor for a leader] have been killed on ·the hills [your heights].
How the mighty have ·fallen in battle [L fallen]!
20 Don’t ·tell [announce; speak of] it in Gath.
Don’t ·announce [proclaim; broadcast] it in the streets of Ashkelon.
If you do, the Philistine ·women [L daughters] will ·be happy [rejoice].
The daughters of the ·Philistines [pagans; L uncircumcised] will ·rejoice [gloat; exult].
21 “May there be no dew or rain on the mountains of Gilboa,
and may their fields produce no [L offerings of] grain,
because there the mighty warrior’s shield was ·dishonored [defiled; despised].
Saul’s shield will no longer be ·rubbed [anointed] with oil.
22 Jonathan’s bow did not ·fail [turn back]
·to kill many soldiers [L from shedding the blood of the slain].
Saul’s sword did not ·fail [return empty]
·to wound many strong men [L from the fat/bodies of the mighty].
23 “We loved Saul and Jonathan
and ·enjoyed [admired] them ·while they lived [in life].
They ·are together [were not parted] even in death.
They were ·faster [swifter] than eagles.
They were stronger than lions.
24 “You daughters of Israel, ·cry for [weep over] Saul.
Saul clothed you with ·red dresses [luxurious scarlet/crimson]
and put gold ·decorations [ornaments/jewelry] on them.
25 “How the mighty have fallen in battle!
Jonathan ·is dead [lies slain] on Gilboa’s ·hills [heights].
26 I ·cry [grieve; am desolate/distressed] for you, my brother Jonathan.
·I enjoyed your friendship so much [You were greatly loved by me].
Your love to me was wonderful,
·better than [surpassing; deeper than] the love of women.
27 “How the mighty have fallen!
·The weapons of war are gone [Stripped of their weapons of war].”
Gifts from the Holy Spirit
12 Now, brothers and sisters, I don’t want you to ·misunderstand [be uninformed] ·about [concerning; or in regard to your question about; see 7:1; 8:1; 16:1] spiritual gifts. 2 You know the way you lived ·before you were believers [L when you were pagans/Gentiles]. You let yourselves be influenced and led away to worship idols—things that could not speak. 3 So I want you to understand that no one who is speaking ·with the help of [by means of; in the power of] God’s Spirit says, “Jesus be cursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” ·without the help of [L except by means of/in the power of] the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. 5 There are different ·ways to serve [ministries] but the same Lord to serve. 6 And there are different ·ways that God works through people [kinds of action; activities] but the same God works ·in all of us in everything we do [L all things in all people]. 7 ·Something from the Spirit can be seen in [L The manifestation/disclosure of the Spirit is given to] each person, for the common good. 8 The Spirit gives one person the ·ability to speak with wisdom [message/word of wisdom], and the same Spirit gives another the ·ability to speak with knowledge [message/word of knowledge]. 9 The same Spirit gives faith to one person. And, to another, that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. 10 The Spirit gives to another person ·the power to do miracles [works of power], to another ·the ability to prophesy [L prophecy]. And he gives to another the ·ability to know the difference between good and evil [L discernment/distinguishing of] spirits. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak in different kinds of ·languages [or ecstatic utterance; L tongues] and to another the ·ability to interpret those languages [L interpretation of tongues]. 11 One Spirit, the same Spirit, does all these things, and the Spirit ·decides what to give [L distributes just as he wishes to] each person.
The Body of Christ Works Together
12 A person’s body is ·one thing [a unity; L one], but it has many parts. Though there are many parts to a body, all those parts make only one body. Christ is like that also. 13 Some of us are Jews, and some are Greeks. Some of us are slaves, and some are free. But we were all baptized into one body ·through [by; in] one Spirit. And we were all made to ·share in [L drink of] the one Spirit.
14 [L For] The ·human body [L body] is not made up of one part, but of many. 15 The foot might say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body.” But saying this would not stop the foot from being a part of the body. 16 The ear might say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body.” But saying this would not stop the ear from being a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, ·it would not be able to [L how would it…?] hear. If the whole body were an ear, ·it would not be able to [L how would it…?] smell.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the foot, “I don’t need you!” 22 ·No! [L On the contrary,] Those parts of the body that seem to be the weaker are ·really necessary [essential; indispensable]. 23 And the parts of the body we think are less ·deserving [honorable] are the parts to which we give ·the most [special; greater] honor. We ·give special respect to [or treat with special modesty] the parts ·we want to hide [that are shameful/unpresentable]. 24 The more ·respectable [presentable] parts of our body need no special care. But God put the body together and gave ·more [special] honor to the parts that need it 25 so ·our body would not be divided [or there would be no division in the body]. God wanted the different parts to care the same for each other. 26 If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part of our body is ·honored [glorified], all the other parts ·share its honor [L rejoice with it].
27 ·Together you [L You; C the Greek is plural] are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of that body. 28 In the church God has ·given a place first to [appointed/placed first] apostles, second to prophets, and third to teachers, then those who do ·miracles [acts of powers], those who have gifts of healing, those who can help others, those who are able to ·govern [lead], and those who can speak ·in different languages [or with ecstatic utterance; L different kinds of tongues; v. 10]. 29 ·Not all are apostles [L Not all are apostles, are they? C vv. 29–30 are all rhetorical questions assuming a negative answer]. Not all are prophets. Not all are teachers. Not all do miracles. 30 Not all have gifts of healing. Not all speak ·in different languages [or with ecstatic utterance; L in tongues]. Not all interpret those ·languages [L tongues]. 31 But ·you should truly want to have [eagerly desire; be zealous for] the greater gifts.
And now I will show you ·the best way of all [a better/superior way].
The Coals of Fire
10 Then I looked and ·saw [T behold] in the ·dome [vault; expanse; or platform; 1:22] above the heads of the ·living creatures [L cherubim] something like a ·sapphire [or lapis lazuli] gem which looked like a throne. 2 The Lord said to the man dressed in linen, “Go in between the wheels under the living creatures, fill your hands with ·coals of fire [burning coals] from between the ·living creatures [L cherubim], and scatter the coals over the city.”
As I watched, the man with linen clothes went in. 3 Now the ·living creatures [L cherubim] were standing on the south side of the ·Temple [L house] when the man went in. And a cloud filled the inner courtyard. 4 Then the glory of the Lord [C his manifest presence] went up from the ·living creatures [L cherubim] and stood over the ·door [threshold] of the ·Temple [L house]. The ·Temple [L house] was filled with the cloud [Ex. 40:34–38], and the courtyard was full of the brightness from the glory of the Lord. 5 The sound of the wings of the ·living creatures [L cherubim] was heard all the way to the outer courtyard. It was like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.
6 When the Lord commanded the man dressed in linen, “Take fire from between the wheels, from between the ·living creatures [L cherubim],” the man went in and stood by a wheel. 7 ·One living creature [L The cherub] put out his hand to the fire that was among them, took some of the fire, and put it in the hands of the man dressed in linen. Then the man took the fire and went out.
The Wheels and the Creatures
8 Something that looked like a human hand could be seen under the wings of the ·living creatures [L cherubim]. 9 I ·saw [L looked and saw/T behold] the four wheels by the ·living creatures [L cherubim], one wheel by each ·living creature [L cherub]. The wheels looked like shining ·chrysolite [or topaz; or beryl]. 10 All four wheels looked alike: Each looked like a wheel ·crossways inside [L in the middle of] another wheel. 11 When the wheels moved, they went in any of the directions that the four ·living creatures [L cherubim] faced. The wheels did not turn about, and the ·living creatures [L cherubim] did not turn their bodies as they went. 12 All their bodies, their backs, their hands, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes all over. Each of the four living creatures had a wheel. 13 I heard the wheels being called “·whirling wheels [or the wheelwork].” 14 Each ·living creature [L one] had four faces. The first face was the face of a ·creature with wings [L cherub]. The second face was a ·human [man’s] face, the third was the face of a lion, and the fourth was the face of an eagle.
15 Then the ·living creatures [cherubim] ·flew [mounted; rose] up. They were the same living creatures I had seen by the Kebar ·River [Canal; 1:1]. 16 When the ·living creatures [L cherubim] moved, the wheels moved beside them. When the ·living creatures [L cherubim] lifted their wings to fly up from the ground, the wheels did not leave their place beside them. 17 When the ·living creatures [L cherubim] stopped, the wheels stopped. When the creatures went up, the wheels went up also, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
18 Then the glory of the Lord [C his manifest presence] left the ·door [threshold] of the ·Temple [L house] and stood over the ·living creatures [L cherubim]. 19 ·As I watched [Before my eyes], the ·living creatures [L cherubim] spread their wings and flew up from the ·ground [earth], with the wheels beside them. They stood where the east gate of the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord opened, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.
20 These were the living creatures I had seen under the God of Israel by the Kebar ·River [Canal; 1:1]. I knew they were called cherubim. 21 Each one had four faces and four wings, and under their wings were things that looked like human hands. 22 Their faces looked the same as the ones I had seen by the Kebar ·River [Canal; 1:1]. They each went straight ahead.
Trusting Money Is Foolish
For the director of music. A psalm of the sons of Korah [C descendants of Kohath, son of Levi, who served as Temple musicians; 1 Chr. 6:22].
49 Listen to this, all you ·nations [peoples];
·listen [L give ear], all you who live on earth.
2 Listen, both ·great [high] and ·small [low],
rich and poor together.
3 ·What I say is wise [L My mouth speaks wisdom],
and ·my heart speaks with [L the meditation of my heart is] understanding.
4 I will ·pay attention [extend my ear] to a ·wise saying [proverb];
I will ·explain [solve] my riddle on the ·harp [lyre].
5 Why should I ·be afraid of [fear] ·bad [evil] days?
·Why should I fear when evil people […when the guilt of deceivers/the treacherous] surround me?
6 They ·trust [find refuge] in their ·money [wealth]
and ·brag [boast] about their riches.
7 No one can ·buy back [ransom; redeem] the life of ·another [or a brother].
No one can ·pay [L give a ransom to] God for his own life,
8 because the ·price [ransom; redemption] of a life is ·high [precious].
No payment is ever enough.
9 Do people live forever?
Don’t they all ·face death [L see the Pit; 16:10]?
10 See, even wise people die.
Fools and stupid people also ·die [perish; Eccl. 2:12–16]
and ·leave [abandon; forsake] their wealth to others.
11 Their graves will ·always [forever] be their homes.
·They will live there from now on [L …their dwelling to all generations],
even though they named places after themselves.
12 Even rich people do not ·live forever [abide];
like the animals, people ·die [perish; Eccl. 3:19].
13 This is ·what will happen to [L the way/path for] those who trust in themselves
and ·to their followers [or the end of those; L after them] who ·believe them [L are pleased with their mouth]. ·
14 Like sheep, they ·must die [L head to Sheol; C the grave or the underworld],
and death will be their shepherd.
·Honest [Virtuous; Upright] people will ·rule [have dominion] over them in the morning,
and their bodies will ·rot in a grave [waste away in Sheol] far from ·home [their grand homes].
15 But God will ·save [ransom; redeem] my life
and will take me from ·the grave [or the underworld; L Sheol; v. 14]. ·
16 Don’t be afraid of ·rich [wealthy] people
because their houses are more ·beautiful [or substantial].
17 They don’t take anything ·to the grave [when they die];
their ·wealth [substance] won’t go down with them.
18 Even though they were ·praised [blessed] when they were alive—
and people may praise you when you ·succeed [do well]—
19 they will go to where their ancestors are [C the grave].
They will never see light again.
20 Rich people with no understanding
are just like animals that ·die [perish].
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