M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
David’s Last Words
23 These are the last words of David:
The declaration of David son of Jesse,(A)
the declaration of the man raised on high,[a]
the one anointed by the God of Jacob.(B)
This is the most delightful of Israel’s songs.
2 The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me,
his word was on my tongue.(C)
3 The God of Israel spoke;
the Rock of Israel said to me,
“The one who rules the people with justice,
who rules in the fear of God,(D)
4 is like the morning light when the sun rises
on a cloudless morning,
the glisten of rain on sprouting grass.”
5 Is it not true my house is with God?
For he has established a permanent covenant(E) with me,
ordered and secured in every detail.(F)
Will he not bring about
my whole salvation and my every desire?
6 But all the wicked are like thorns raked aside;
they can never be picked up by hand.
7 The man who touches them
must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear.
They will be completely burned up on the spot.
Exploits of David’s Warriors
8 These are the names of David’s warriors:(G)
Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the officers.[b] He wielded his spear[c] against eight hundred men that he killed at one time.
9 After him, Eleazar son of Dodo son of an Ahohite was among the three warriors with David when they defied the Philistines. The men of Israel retreated in the place they had gathered for battle, 10 but Eleazar stood his ground and attacked the Philistines until his hand was tired and stuck to his sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops came back to him, but only to plunder the dead.
11 After him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled in formation where there was a field full of lentils. The troops fled from the Philistines, 12 but Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.
13 Three of the thirty leading warriors went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam,(H) while a company of Philistines was camping in Rephaim Valley. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold,(I) and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15 David was extremely thirsty[d] and said, “If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem!” 16 So three of the warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord. 17 David said, “Lord, I would never do such a thing! Is this not the blood of men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.
18 Abishai, Joab’s brother and son of Zeruiah,(J) was leader of the Three.[e] He wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three. 19 Was he not more honored than the Three? He became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.(K)
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada(L) was the son of a brave man from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons[f] of Ariel[g] of Moab, and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21 He also killed an Egyptian, an impressive man. Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear. 22 These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors. 23 He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
24 Among the Thirty were
Joab’s brother Asahel,(M)
Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
25 Shammah the Harodite,
Elika the Harodite,
26 Helez the Paltite,
Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27 Abiezer the Anathothite,
Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28 Zalmon the Ahohite,
Maharai the Netophathite,
29 Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite,
Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites,
30 Benaiah the Pirathonite,
Hiddai from the wadis of Gaash,[h]
31 Abi-albon the Arbathite,
Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
the sons of Jashen,
Jonathan son of[i] 33 Shammah the Hararite,
Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,
34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai son of the Maacathite,
Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,(N)
35 Hezro the Carmelite,
Paarai the Arbite,
36 Igal son of Nathan from Zobah,
Bani the Gadite,
37 Zelek the Ammonite,
Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer for Joab son of Zeruiah,
38 Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite,
There were thirty-seven in all.
Justification through Faith
3 You foolish(A) Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you,[a] before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed[b] as crucified?(B) 2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard?[c] 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? 4 Did you experience[d](C) so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? 5 So then, does God give you the Spirit and work miracles(D) among you by your doing the works of the law? Or is it by believing what you heard— 6 just like Abraham who believed God,(E) and it was credited to him for righteousness?[e](F)
7 You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons.(G) 8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham,(H) saying, All the nations[f] will be blessed through you.[g](I) 9 Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham,(J) who had faith.[h]
Law and Promise
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse,(K) because it is written,(L) Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.[i](M) 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live(N) by faith.[j](O) 12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.[k](P) 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,(Q) because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.[l](R) 14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.(S)
15 Brothers and sisters, I’m using a human illustration. No one sets aside or makes additions to a validated human will.[m] 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed,[n](T) who is Christ. 17 My point is this: The law, which came 430 years later,(U) does not invalidate a covenant previously established by God[o] and thus cancel the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise; but God has graciously given it to Abraham through the promise.
The Purpose of the Law
19 Why, then, was the law given?(V) It was added for the sake of transgressions[p] until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels(W) by means of a mediator.(X) 20 Now a mediator is not just for one person alone, but God is one.(Y) 21 Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if the law had been granted with the ability to give life, then righteousness would certainly be on the basis of the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin’s power,[q](Z) so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith(AA) in Jesus Christ to those who believe.(AB) 23 Before this faith(AC) came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.(AD) 24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ,(AE) so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith(AF) has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.
Sons and Heirs
27 For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.(AG) 28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free,(AH) male and female;(AI) since you are all one(AJ) in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs(AK) according to the promise.(AL)
Egypt’s Doom
30 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says:
Wail,(A) “Woe because of that day!”
3 For a day is near;
a day belonging to the Lord is near.(B)
It will be a day of clouds,(C)
a time of doom[a] for the nations.
4 A sword will come against Egypt,
and there will be anguish in Cush
when the slain fall in Egypt,
and its wealth is taken away,
and its foundations are demolished.
5 Cush, Put, and Lud,(D)
and all the various foreign troops,[b]
plus Libya[c] and the men of the covenant land
will fall by the sword along with them.
6 This is what the Lord says:
Those who support Egypt will fall,
and its proud strength will collapse.
From Migdol to Syene
they will fall within it by the sword.
This is the declaration of the Lord God.
7 They will be desolate
among[d] desolate lands,
and their cities will lie
among ruined[e] cities.(E)
8 They will know that I am the Lord
when I set fire to Egypt(F)
and all its allies are shattered.
9 On that day, messengers will go out from me in ships(G) to terrify confident Cush. Anguish will come over them on the day of Egypt’s doom.[f] For indeed it is coming.
10 “‘This is what the Lord God says:
I will put an end to the hordes[g] of Egypt
by the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
11 He along with his people,
ruthless men from the nations,
will be brought in to destroy the land.
They will draw their swords against Egypt
and fill the land with the slain.(H)
12 I will make the streams dry
and sell the land to evil men.(I)
I will bring desolation
on the land and everything in it
by the hands of foreigners.
I, the Lord, have spoken.
13 “‘This is what the Lord God says:
I will destroy the worthless idols
and put an end to the false gods in Memphis.(J)
There will no longer be
a prince from the land of Egypt.
And I will instill fear in that land.
14 I will make Pathros(K) desolate,
set fire to Zoan,
and execute judgments on Thebes.
15 I will pour out my wrath on Pelusium,
the stronghold of Egypt,
and will wipe out the hordes of Thebes.
16 I will set fire to Egypt;
Pelusium will writhe in anguish,
Thebes will be breached,
and Memphis will face foes in broad daylight.[h]
17 The young men of On[i] and Pi-beseth
will fall by the sword,
and those cities[j] will go into captivity.
18 The day will be dark[k] in Tehaphnehes,
when I break the yoke of Egypt there
and its proud strength
comes to an end in the city.
A cloud(L) will cover Tehaphnehes,[l]
and its surrounding villages will go into captivity.
19 So I will execute judgments against Egypt,
and they will know that I am the Lord.’”
Pharaoh’s Power Broken
20 In the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm(M) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Look, it has not been bandaged—no medicine has been applied and no splint put on to bandage it so that it can grow strong enough to handle a sword. 22 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: Look! I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his arms, both the strong one and the one already broken, and will make the sword fall from his hand. 23 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them among the countries.(N) 24 I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and place my sword(O) in his hand. But I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him as a mortally wounded man. 25 I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king, but Pharaoh’s arms will fall. They will know that I am the Lord when I place my sword in the hand of Babylon’s king and he wields it against the land of Egypt. 26 When I disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them among the countries, they will know that I am the Lord.”
38 Yet he was compassionate;
he atoned for their iniquity
and did not destroy them.
He often turned his anger aside
and did not unleash[a] all his wrath.(A)
39 He remembered that they were only flesh,
a wind that passes and does not return.(B)
40 How often they rebelled against him
in the wilderness
and grieved him in the desert.
41 They constantly tested God(C)
and provoked the Holy One of Israel.(D)
42 They did not remember his power shown
on the day he redeemed them from the foe,(E)
43 when he performed his miraculous signs in Egypt
and his wonders in the territory of Zoan.(F)
44 He turned their rivers into blood,
and they could not drink from their streams.(G)
45 He sent among them swarms of flies,(H)
which fed on them,
and frogs, which devastated them.(I)
46 He gave their crops to the caterpillar
and the fruit of their labor to the locust.(J)
47 He killed their vines with hail
and their sycamore fig trees with a flood.
48 He handed over their livestock to hail
and their cattle to lightning bolts.(K)
49 He sent his burning anger against them:
fury, indignation, and calamity—
a band of deadly messengers.[b](L)
50 He cleared a path for his anger.
He did not spare them from death
but delivered their lives to the plague.(M)
51 He struck all the firstborn(N) in Egypt,
the first progeny of the tents of Ham.(O)
52 He led his people out like sheep
and guided them like a flock in the wilderness.(P)
53 He led them safely, and they were not afraid;
but the sea covered their enemies.(Q)
54 He brought them to his holy territory,
to the mountain his right hand acquired.(R)
55 He drove out nations before them.(S)
He apportioned their inheritance by lot
and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.(T)
56 But they rebelliously tested the Most High God,
for they did not keep his decrees.(U)
57 They treacherously turned away like their ancestors;
they became warped like a faulty bow.(V)
58 They enraged him with their high places
and provoked his jealousy with their carved images.(W)
59 God heard and became furious;
he completely rejected Israel.(X)
60 He abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh,
the tent where he resided among mankind.(Y)
61 He gave up his strength to captivity
and his splendor to the hand of a foe.(Z)
62 He surrendered his people to the sword
because he was enraged with his heritage.(AA)
63 Fire consumed his chosen young men,
and his young women had no wedding songs.[c](AB)
64 His priests fell by the sword,
and the widows could not lament.(AC)
65 The Lord awoke as if from sleep,
like a warrior from the effects of wine.(AD)
66 He beat back his foes;
he gave them lasting disgrace.(AE)
67 He rejected the tent of Joseph
and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.
68 He chose instead the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion, which he loved.(AF)
69 He built his sanctuary like the heights,
like the earth that he established forever.(AG)
70 He chose David his servant
and took him from the sheep pens;(AH)
71 he brought him from tending ewes
to be shepherd over his people Jacob—
over Israel, his inheritance.(AI)
72 He shepherded them with a pure heart
and guided them with his skillful hands.(AJ)
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