M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
19 7 Joab encourageth the king. 8 David is restored. 23 Shimei is pardoned. 24 Mephibosheth meeteth the king. 39 Barzillai departeth. 41 Israel striveth with Judah.
1 And it was told Joab, Behold, the King weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
2 Therefore the [a]victory of that day was turned into mourning to all the people: for the people heard say that day, The King sorroweth for his son.
3 And the people went that day into the city [b]secretly, as people confounded hide themselves when they flee in battle.
4 So the King [c]hid his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, My son Absalom, Absalom my son, my son.
5 ¶ Then Joab came into the [d]house to the King, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons, and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines,
6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends: for thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither thy [e]princes, nor servants: therefore this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and we all had died this day, that then it would have [f]pleased thee well.
7 Now therefore up, come out, and speak [g]comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the Lord, except thou come out, there will not tarry one man with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee, than all the evil that fell on thee from thy youth hitherto.
8 Then the king arose, and sat in the [h]gate: and they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate: and all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.
9 ¶ Then all the people were at [i]strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The King saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines, and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.
10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle: therefore why are ye so slow to bring the king again?
11 But King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the [j]Priests, saying, Speak unto the Elders of Judah, and say, Why are ye behind to bring the King again to his house (for the saying of all Israel is come unto the King, even to his house.)
12 Ye are my brethren: my bones and my flesh are ye: Wherefore then are ye the last that bring the King again?
13 Also say ye to Amasa, Art thou not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host to me forever in the [k]room of Joab.
14 So he bowed the hearts of all the men of Judah, as of one man: therefore they sent to the King, saying, Return thou with all thy servants.
15 ¶ So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, for to go to meet the king, and to conduct him over Jordan.
16 ¶ And [l]Shimei the son of Gera, the son of Benjamin, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David,
17 And a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and (A)Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him: and they went over Jordan before the king.
18 And there went over a boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do him pleasure. Then Shimei the son of Gera fell before the king, when he was come over Jordan,
19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute (B)wickedness unto me, nor remember the thing that thy servant did [m]wickedly when my lord the King departed out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.
20 For thy servant doth know, that I have done amiss: therefore behold, I am the first this day of all the house of [n]Joseph, that am come to go down to meet my lord the king.
21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, and said, Shall not Shimei die for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?
22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that this day ye should be adversaries unto me? shall there any man die this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?
23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not [o]die, and the king swore unto him.
24 ¶ And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither washed his feet, nor dressed his beard, nor washed his clothes from the time the king departed, until he returned in peace.
25 And when [p]he was come to Jerusalem, and met the king, the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?
26 And he answered, My lord the King, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I would have mine ass saddled to ride thereon, for to go with the king, because thy servant is lame.
27 And he hath (C)accused thy servant unto my lord the king: but my lord the king is as an [q]angel of God: do therefore thy pleasure.
28 For all my father’s house were [r]but dead men before my lord the king, yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table: what right therefore have I yet to cry anymore unto the king?
29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou anymore of thy matters? I have said, Thou, and Ziba, divide the [s]lands.
30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, seeing my lord the king is come home in peace.
31 ¶ Then Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.
32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old, and he had provided the king of sustenance, while he lay at Mahanaim: for he was a man of very great substance.
33 And the king said unto Barzillai, Come over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.
34 And Barzillai said unto the king, [t]How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
35 I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good or evil? Hath thy servant any taste in that I eat, or in that I drink? Can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and women? wherefore then should thy servant be anymore a [u]burthen unto my lord the king?
36 Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king, and why will the king recompense it me with such a reward?
37 I pray thee, let thy servant turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried in the grave of my father and of my mother: but behold thy servant [v]Chimham, let him go with my lord the King, and do to him what shall please thee.
38 And the king answered, Chimham shall go with me, and I will do to him that thou shalt be content with: and whatsoever thou shalt [w]require of me, that will I do for thee.
39 So all the people went over Jordan: and the king passed over: and the king kissed Barzillai, and [x]blessed him, and he returned unto his own place.
40 ¶ Then the King went to [y]Gilgal, and Chimham went with him, and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of [z]Israel.
41 And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king and his household, and all David’s men with him over [aa]Jordan?
42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: and wherefore now be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten of the king’s cost, or have we taken any bribes?
43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and have also more right to David than ye: Why then did ye despise us [ab]that our advise should not be first had in restoring our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
12 1 He doth even unwillingly make rehearsal, 3 of the heavenly visions, 4 that were revealed unto him, 6 for which though he might indeed glory, yet he will not, 10 being privy of his own infirmities: 11 but they drive him to this kind of folly, 20 in that they give ear to certain vainglorious persons, who draw them from Christ.
1 It [a]is not expedient for me no doubt to rejoice: for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know a man [b]in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether he were in the body, I cannot tell, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth) which was taken up into the [c]third heaven.
3 And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth.)
4 How that he was taken up into [d]Paradise, and heard words which [e]cannot be spoken, which are not [f]possible for man to utter.
5 [g]Of such a man will I rejoice: of myself will I not rejoice, except it be of mine infirmities.
6 For though I would rejoice, I should not be a fool, for I will say the truth: but I refrain, lest any man should think of me above that he seeth in me, or that he heareth of me.
7 [h]And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given unto me a [i]prick in the flesh, the messenger of [j]Satan to buffet me, because I should not be exalted out of measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord [k]thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect through weakness. [l]Very gladly therefore will I rejoice rather in mine infirmities, that the power of Christ may [m]dwell in me.
10 Therefore I take [n]pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in anguish for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 I was a fool to boast myself: ye have compelled me: [o]for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I inferior unto the very chief Apostles, though I be nothing.
12 The [p]signs of an Apostle were wrought among you with all patience, with signs, and wonders and great works.
13 For what is it, wherein ye were inferiors unto other Churches, (A)except that I have not been [q]slothful to your hindrance? forgive me this wrong.
14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come unto you, and yet will I not be slothful to your hindrance: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the fathers, but the fathers for the children.
15 And I will most gladly bestow, and will be bestowed for your souls: though the more I love you, the less I am loved.
16 [r]But be it that I charged you not: yet for as much as I was crafty, I took you with guile.
17 Did I pill you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
18 I have desired Titus, and with him I have sent a brother: did Titus pill you of any things? walked we not in the selfsame spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
19 [s]Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in [t]Christ. But we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
20 [u]For I fear lest when I come, I shall not find you such as I would: and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: and lest there be strife, envying, wrath, contentions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, and discord.
21 I fear lest when I come again, my God abase me among you, and I shall bewail many of them which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness, and fornication, and wantonness which they have committed.
26 1 He prophesieth that Tyre shall be overthrown, because it rejoiced at the destruction of Jerusalem. 15 The wondering and astonishment of the merchants for the destruction of Tyre.
1 And in the [a]eleventh year in the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, because that Tyre hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, the [b]gate of the people is broken: it is turned unto me: for seeing she is desolate, I shall be [c]replenished,
3 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I come against thee, O Tyre, and I will bring up many nations against thee, as the sea mounteth up with his waves.
4 And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.
5 Thou shalt be for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God, and it shall be a spoil to the nations.
6 And her [d]daughters which are in the field, shall be slain by the sword, and they shall know that I am the Lord.
7 For thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will bring upon Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel, a King of kings from the North, with horses and with chariots, and with horsemen, with a multitude and much people.
8 He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field, and he shall make a fort against thee, and cast a mount against thee, and lift up the buckler against thee.
9 He shall set engines of war before him against thy walls, and with his weapons break down thy towers.
10 The dust of his horses shall cover thee, for their multitude: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into thy gates as into the entry of a city that is broken down.
11 With the hooves of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets: he shall slay the people by the sword, and the [e]pillars of thy strength shall fall down to the ground.
12 And they shall rob thy riches, and spoil thy merchandise, and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses, and they shall cast thy stones and thy timber and thy dust into the midst of the water.
13 (A)Thus will I cause the sound of thy songs to cease, and the sound of thine harps shall be no more heard.
14 I will lay thee like the top of a rock: [f]thou shalt be for a spreading of nets: thou shalt be built no more: for I the Lord have spoken it, saith the Lord God.
15 Thus saith the Lord God to Tyre, Shall not the isles tremble at the sound of thy fall? and at the cry of the wounded, when they shall be slain and murdered in the midst of thee?
16 Then all the princes of the [g]sea shall come down from their thrones: they shall lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments, and shall clothe themselves with astonishment: they shall sit upon the ground and be astonished at every moment, and be amazed at thee.
17 And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited [h]of the Sea men, the renowned city which was strong in the sea, both she and her inhabitants, which cause their fear to be on all that haunt therein!
18 Now shall the isles be astonished in the day of thy fall: yea, the isles that are in the sea, shall be troubled at thy departure.
19 For thus saith the Lord God, when I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited, and when I shall bring the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee,
20 When I shall cast thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people [i]of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, like the old ruins, with them, I say, which go down to the pit, so that thou shalt not be inhabited, and I shall show my glory in the land of the [j]living.
21 I will [k]bring thee to nothing, and thou shalt be no more: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again, saith the Lord God.
74 1 The faithful complain of the destruction of the Church and true religion, 2 Under the Name of Zion, and the Temple destroyed: 11 and trusting in the might and free mercies of God, 20 by his covenant , 21 they require help and succor for the glory of God’s holy Name, for the salvation of his poor afflicted servants, 23 and the confusion of his proud enemies.
A Psalm to give instruction, committed to Asaph.
1 O God, [a]why hast thou put us away forever? why is thy wrath kindled against the sheep of thy pasture?
2 Think upon the congregation, which thou hast possessed of old, and on the [b]rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed, and on this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
3 Lift up thy [c]strokes, that thou mayest forever destroy every enemy that doeth evil to the Sanctuary.
4 Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregation, and [d]set up their banners for signs.
5 He that [e]lifted the axes upon the thick trees, was renowned as one that brought a thing to perfection:
6 But now they break down the carved work thereof with axes and hammers.
7 They have cast thy Sanctuary into the fire, and razed it to the ground, and have defiled the dwelling place of thy Name.
8 They said in their [f]hearts, Let us destroy them altogether: they have burnt all the Synagogues of God in the land.
9 We see not our signs: there is not one Prophet more, nor any with us that knoweth [g]how long.
10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach thee? shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name forever?
11 Why withdrawest thou thine hand, even thy right hand? draw it out of thy bosom, and [h]consume them.
12 Even God is my king of old, working salvation [i]in the midst of the earth.
13 Thou didst divide the sea by thy power: thou brakest the heads of the [j]dragons in the waters.
14 Thou brakest the head of [k]Leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be [l]meat for the people in wilderness.
15 Thou brakest up the fountain and river: thou driest up mighty rivers.
16 The [m]day is thine, and the night is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made Summer and Winter.
18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached the Lord, and the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.
19 Give not the soul of thy [n]turtle dove unto the beast, and forget not the Congregation of thy poor forever.
20 Consider thy covenant: for [o]the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of the cruel.
21 O let not the oppressed return ashamed, but let the poor and needy praise thy Name.
22 Arise, O God: maintain thy [p]own cause: remember thy daily reproach by the foolish man.
23 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: for the tumult of them that rise against thee, [q]ascendeth continually.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.