M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
David Sins with Bathsheba
11 In the spring, when the kings normally went out to war, David sent out Joab, his ·servants [officers; army], and all the Israelites. They ·destroyed [massacred; ravaged] the Ammonites and ·attacked [besieged] the city of Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem. 2 One ·evening [afternoon] David got up from his ·bed [midday rest] and walked around on the roof [C the flat roofs of Israelite houses were used for living space] of ·his palace [L the king’s house]. While he was on the roof, he saw a woman bathing. She was very beautiful. 3 So David sent his servants to find out who she was. A servant answered, “That woman is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam. She is the wife of Uriah the Hittite [C Hittites were foreigners, but he joined the Israelite cause].” 4 So David sent messengers to bring Bathsheba to him. When she came to him, he ·had sexual relations [L lay] with her. (Now Bathsheba had purified herself from her ·monthly period [L uncleanness; Lev. 15:19–24].) Then she went back to her house. 5 But Bathsheba ·became pregnant [conceived] and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”
6 So David sent a message to Joab: “Send Uriah the Hittite to me.” And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were, and how the war was going. 8 Then David said to Uriah, “Go home and ·rest [L wash your feet; C perhaps a euphemism for sex].”
So Uriah left the ·palace [L king’s house], and the king sent a gift to him. 9 But Uriah did not go home. Instead, he slept outside the door of the palace as all the king’s ·officers [guard; L servants] did.
10 The officers told David, “Uriah did not go home.”
Then David said to Uriah, “You came from a long trip. Why didn’t you go home?”
11 Uriah said to him, “The Ark and the soldiers of Israel and Judah are staying in ·tents [booths; C temporary shelters]. My ·master [lord; commander] Joab and his officers are camping out in the fields. ·It isn’t right for me to [L How can I…?] go home to eat and drink and ·have sexual relations [L lie] with my wife [C thus rendering himself ritually unclean and unable to go into the presence of the Ark; Lev. 15:16–18]!”
12 David said to Uriah, “Stay here today. Tomorrow I’ll send you back to the battle.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 Then David called Uriah to come to see him, so Uriah ate and drank with David. David made Uriah drunk, but he still did not go home. That evening Uriah again slept with the king’s ·officers [guard; L servants].
14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. 15 In the letter David wrote, “Put Uriah on the front lines where the fighting is ·worst [fiercest; hardest] and ·leave him there alone [then pull back/withdraw]. Let him be ·killed in battle [L struck down and die].”
16 Joab ·watched [or besieged] the city and saw where its ·strongest defenders [valiant men] were and put Uriah there. 17 When the men of the city came out to fight against Joab, some of David’s men ·were killed [L fell]. And Uriah the Hittite was one of them.
18 Then Joab sent David a complete ·account [report] of the ·war [battle; fighting]. 19 Joab told the messenger, “Tell King David what happened in the ·war [battle; fighting]. 20 After you finish, the king may be angry and ask, ‘Why did you go so near the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot arrows from the city wall? 21 Do you remember who killed Abimelech son of Jerub-Besheth [C another name for Gideon]? It was a woman on the city wall. She threw a large stone for grinding grain on Abimelech and killed him there in Thebez [Judg. 9:50–57]. Why did you go so near the wall?’ If King David asks that, tell him, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite also died.’”
22 The messenger left and went to David and told him everything Joab had told him to say. 23 The messenger told David, “The men of Ammon were ·winning [gaining an advantage over us]. They came out and attacked us in the field, but we ·fought [drove; chased] them back to the city gate. 24 The archers on the city wall shot at your servants, and some of ·your men [L the king’s servants] were killed. Your servant Uriah the Hittite also died.”
25 David said to the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t be ·upset [discouraged; troubled] about this. The sword ·kills everyone the same [L devours first one and then another]. ·Make a stronger attack [Fight harder; Press your attack] against the city and capture it.’ Encourage Joab with these words.”
26 When ·Bathsheba [L the wife of Uriah] heard that her husband was dead, she ·cried [mourned] for him. 27 After she finished her time of ·sadness [mourning], David sent servants to bring her to his house. She became David’s wife and gave birth to his son, but the Lord was displeased with what David had done.
Preaching the Good News
4 [L Therefore,] Since God in his mercy gave us this ·work to do [ministry], we don’t ·give up [lose heart; become discouraged]. 2 But we have ·turned away from [rejected; renounced] ·secret [underhanded] and shameful ways. We ·use no trickery [L do not walk in deception], and we do not ·change [distort] the ·teaching [word] of God. We ·teach the truth plainly [fully/openly disclose the truth], ·showing everyone who we are so that they can know in their hearts what kind of people we are [L commending ourselves to every person’s conscience] in God’s sight. 3 If the ·Good News [Gospel] that we preach is ·hidden [veiled], it is ·hidden [veiled] only to those who are ·lost [perishing]. 4 The ·devil who rules this world [L god of this age] has blinded the minds of ·those who do not believe [unbelievers]. [L …so that] They cannot see the light of the Good News—the Good News ·about [that reveals] the glory of Christ, who is ·exactly like [L the image of] God. 5 [L For] We do not preach about ourselves, but we preach that Jesus Christ is Lord and that we are your ·servants [slaves; bondservants] for Jesus. 6 [L For; Because] God who said, “Let the light shine out of the darkness [Gen. 1:3; Is. 9:2],” is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts ·by letting us know [or to give us the knowledge of] the glory of God that is in the face of Christ.
Spiritual Treasure in Clay Jars
7 [L But] We have this treasure ·from God, but we are like clay jars that hold the treasure [L in clay jars]. This shows that the ·great [extraordinary; transcendent] power is from God, not from us. 8 We have ·troubles all around us [or all kinds of troubles/trials], but we are not ·defeated [crushed]. We ·do not know what to do [are perplexed/bewildered], but we do not ·give up the hope of living [despair]. 9 We are ·persecuted [pursued], but ·God does not leave us [not abandoned/left behind]. We are ·hurt [L struck down; knocked over] sometimes, but we are not destroyed. 10 We always carry the death of Jesus in our own bodies [C Paul was in constant danger of the kind of violent death Jesus experienced] so that the life of Jesus [C resurrection life] can also be ·seen [revealed; manifested] in our bodies. 11 [L For] We are alive, but for Jesus we are always ·in danger of [L being handed over to] death so that the life of Jesus can be ·seen [revealed; manifested] in our ·bodies that die [mortal flesh]. 12 So death is working in us, but life is working in you.
13 It is written in the Scriptures, “I believed, so I spoke [Ps. 116:10].” ·Our faith is like this, too [L Having the same spirit of faith,…]. We also believe, and so we speak. 14 We know that ·God [L the one] who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and will ·bring us together with you into his presence [L present (us) with you]. 15 All these things are for ·you [your benefit], so that the grace of God that is ·being given [expanding; increasing] to more and more people will bring increasing thanks to God for his glory.
Living by Faith
16 So we do not ·give up [despair; lose heart]. Though our ·physical body [L outer person] is ·becoming older and weaker [decaying; being destroyed], our ·spirit inside us [L inner (person)] is ·made new [being renewed] every day. 17 ·We have small troubles for a while now, but they [L For our brief and insignificant trials/tribulations] are ·helping us gain [or producing in us] an eternal ·glory [L burden/weight of glory] that ·is much greater than [overwhelmingly exceeds] the troubles. 18 We set our eyes not on what we see but on what we cannot see. [L For; Because] What we see ·will last only a short time [L is temporary/transitory], but what we cannot see ·will last forever [L is eternal].
God Is Fair
18 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 2 “What do you mean by ·using [quoting; repeating] this ·saying [proverb] about the land of Israel:
‘The ·parents [fathers] have eaten sour grapes,
and ·that caused the children to grind their teeth from the sour taste [T the children’s teeth are set on edge; C the children suffer for their parents’ sins; Jer. 31:29–30]’?
3 “As surely as I live, says the Lord God, you will not use this ·saying [proverb] in Israel anymore. 4 Every ·living thing [soul] belongs to me. The ·life [soul] of the ·parent [father] is mine, and the ·life [soul] of the child is mine. The ·person [soul] who sins is the one who will die.
5 “Suppose a ·person [man] is good and does what is ·fair [just] and right. 6 He does not eat ·at the mountain places of worship [L upon the mountains; C at pagan worship sites]. He does not ·look for help [L lift his eyes] to the idols of [L the house of] Israel. He does not ·have sexual relations with [L defile] his neighbor’s wife or ·with [L come near; C a euphemism for sexual relations] a woman during her time of ·monthly bleeding [impurity; Lev. 18:19]. 7 He does not ·mistreat [oppress] anyone but returns what was given ·as a promise for a loan [in pledge; as collateral]. He does not rob other people. He gives bread to the hungry and ·clothes to those who have none [L covers the naked with clothing]. 8 He does not lend money for interest or profit [Ex. 22:25; Ps. 15:5]. He keeps his hand from doing wrong. He ·judges fairly [practices true justice] between one person and another. 9 He ·lives by [L walks in] my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and obeys my ·laws [judgments] faithfully. Whoever does these things is ·good [righteous] and will surely live, says the Lord God.
10 “But suppose this person ·has [bears; begets] a ·wild [violent] son who ·murders people [L sheds blood] and who does any of these other things. 11 (But the father himself has not done any of these things.) This son eats ·at the mountain places of worship [upon the mountains; v. 6]. He ·has sexual relations with [L defiles] his neighbor’s wife. 12 He ·mistreats [oppresses] the poor and needy. He steals and refuses to return what was ·promised for a loan [given in pledge/as collateral; v. 7]. He ·looks for help [L lifts up his eyes] to idols. He does ·things which I hate [detestable/abominable things]. 13 He lends money for interest and profit [v. 8]. Will this son live? No, he will not live! He has done all these ·hateful [detestable; abominable] things, so he will surely be put to death. ·He will be responsible for his own death [L His blood will be upon himself].
14 “Now suppose this son has a son who has seen all his father’s sins, but after seeing them does not do those things. 15 He does not eat ·at the mountain places of worship [L upon the mountains; v. 6]. He does not ·look for help [L lift his eyes] to the idols of [L the house of] Israel. He does not ·have sexual relations with [L defile] his neighbor’s wife [v. 6]. 16 He does not ·mistreat [oppress] anyone or keep something promised ·for a loan [in pledge; as collateral] or steal. He gives bread to the hungry and ·clothes to those who have none [L covers the naked with clothing; v. 7]. 17 He keeps his hand from doing wrong. He does not take interest or profit when he lends money [v. 8]. He obeys my ·laws [rules; judgments] and ·lives by [walks in] my ·rules [statutes]. He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. 18 But his father ·took other people’s money unfairly [practiced extortion/fraud] and robbed his ·brother [or countryman] and did what was wrong among his people. So he will die for his own sin.
19 “But you ask, ‘Why is the son not punished for the father’s ·sin [iniquity; guilt]?’ The son has done what is ·fair [just] and right. He obeys all my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements], so he will surely live. 20 The person who sins is the one who will die. A ·child [son] will not be punished for a ·parent’s [father’s] ·sin [iniquity; guilt], and a ·parent [father] will not be punished for a ·child’s [son’s] ·sin [iniquity; guilt]. ·Those who do right [The righteous] will enjoy the results of their ·own goodness [righteousness]; ·evil people [the wicked] will suffer the results of their ·own evil [wickedness].
21 “But suppose the wicked ·stop doing all [turn away from] the sins they have done and obey all my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and do what is ·fair [just] and right. Then they will surely live; they will not die. 22 None of their ·sins [transgressions] will be ·held [L remembered] against them. Because they have done what is ·right [righteous], they will live. 23 ·I do not really want the wicked to die [L Do I take pleasure in the death of the wicked…?], says the Lord God. ·I [Do I not…?] want them to ·stop [turn from] their ·bad ways [L ways] and live.
24 “But suppose ·good people [the righteous] ·stop doing good [turn from righteousness] and do wrong and do the same ·hateful [detestable; abominable] things the wicked do. Will they live? All their ·good [righteous] acts will ·be forgotten [L not be remembered], because they became unfaithful. They have sinned, so they will die because of their sins.
25 “But you say, ‘·What the Lord does [L The way of the Lord] isn’t ·fair [just].’ Listen, ·people [L house] of Israel. ·I am fair [L Is my way unjust?]. It is what you do that is not ·fair [just]! 26 When ·good people [the righteous] ·stop [turn from] doing good and do wrong, they will die because of it. They will die, because they did wrong. 27 When the wicked ·stop being wicked [turn from wickedness] and do what is ·fair [just] and right, they will save their ·lives [souls]. 28 Because they thought about it and ·stopped [turned from] doing all the sins they had done, they will surely live; they will not die. 29 But the ·people [L house] of Israel still say, ‘·What the Lord does [L The way of the Lord] isn’t ·fair [just].’ ·People [L House] of Israel. ·I am fair [L Is my way unjust?]. It is what you do that is not ·fair [just].
30 “So I will judge you, ·people [L house] of Israel; I will judge each of you ·by what you do [L according to your ways], says the Lord God. ·Change your hearts [Repent] and ·stop all [turn from] your ·sinning [transgressions] so sin will not ·bring your ruin [be your downfall/stumbling block]. 31 ·Get rid of [Throw away] all the ·sins [transgressions; offenses] you have done, and ·get [make] for yourselves a new heart and a new ·way of thinking [spirit]. Why ·do you want to [should you] die, ·people [L house] of Israel? 32 I ·do not want anyone to die [L take no pleasure/delight in anyone’s death], says the Lord God, so ·change your hearts and lives so you may [L repent and] live.
Trust Only in God
For the director of music. For Jeduthun [C a Levitical musician; 1 Chr. 16:41–42; 25:1, 6; 2 Chr. 5:12]. A psalm of David.
62 I ·find rest [wait quietly] in God;
only he can ·save me [give me victory].
2 He is my rock [61:2] and my ·salvation [victory].
He is my ·defender [fortress];
I will not be ·defeated [shaken].
3 How long will you ·attack [assault] someone?
Will all of you ·kill [murder] that person?
Who is like a leaning wall, like a fence ·ready to fall [that totters; C the wicked take advantage of the weak]?
4 They are planning to make that person ·fall [totter].
They enjoy telling lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their ·hearts [L innards] they curse. ·
5 I ·find rest [wait quietly] in God;
·only he gives me hope [L for my hope is in him].
6 He is my rock [61:2] and my ·salvation [victory].
He is my ·defender [fortress];
I will not be ·defeated [shaken].
7 My ·honor [glory] and ·salvation [victory] come from God.
He is my ·mighty [strong] rock and my ·protection [refuge].
8 People, ·trust [have confidence in] God all the time.
·Tell him all your problems [L Pour out your heart before him],
because God is our ·protection [refuge]. ·
9 The least of people are only a ·breath [vapor; bubble; vanity],
and even the greatest are just a ·lie [delusion].
On the scales, they ·weigh nothing [L go up];
together they are only a ·breath [vapor; bubble; vanity].
10 Do not ·trust [have confidence] in ·force [oppression; extortion].
Stealing is ·of no use [meaningless].
Even if you gain more riches,
don’t ·put your trust in [L set your heart on] them.
11 God has said this once,
and I have heard it ·over and over [L twice]:
God is strong.
12 The Lord is ·loving [loyal].
You ·reward [repay] people for what they have done [1 Pet. 1:17; Rev. 20:12–13; 22:12].
Wishing to Be Near God
A psalm of David when he was in the ·desert [wilderness] of Judah [C fleeing from a jealous Saul; 1 Sam. 21–31].
63 God, you are my God.
I ·search for [am intent on] you.
I thirst for you [42:1–2]
·like someone [or my flesh yearns for you] in a dry, ·empty [exhausted; weary] land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in ·the Temple [L the Holy Place; or holiness]
and have seen your strength and glory.
3 Because your ·love [loyalty] is better than life,
·I [L My lips] will praise you.
4 I will ·praise [bless] you ·as long as I live [L with my life].
I will lift up my hands in your name [C in prayer].
5 I will be ·content as if I had eaten the best foods [L satisfied as with fat and fatness].
My lips will sing, and my mouth will praise you.
6 I remember you while I’m lying in bed;
I ·think about [meditate on] you through the watches of the night [C the night was divided into four watches of three hours each].
7 You are my help.
·Because of your protection [L In the shadow of your wings; C an image of compassion or perhaps a reference to the cherubim whose wings covered the Ark of the Covenant; Ex. 25:20], I sing.
8 I ·stay close [cling] to you;
·you support me with your right hand [L your right hand sustains me].
9 ·Some people are trying to kill me [L They seek my life for ruin],
but they will go down to the ·grave [L underbelly of the earth].
10 They will be ·killed with swords [L handed over to the sword]
and ·eaten by wild dogs [L be the prey of jackals].
11 But the king will rejoice in his God.
All who ·make promises in his name [L swear by him] will praise him,
but the mouths of liars will be shut.
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