M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
22 2 Jehoshaphat and Ahab fight against the King of Syria. 15 Micaiah showeth the king what shall be the success of their enterprise. 24 Zedekiah the false prophet smiteth him. 34 Ahab is slain. 40 Ahaziah his son succeedeth. 41 The reign of Jehoshaphat, 50 and Jehoram his son.
1 And (A)they continued [a]three years without war between Aram and Israel.
2 And in the third year did Jehoshaphat the king of Judah [b]come down to the king of Israel.
3 (Then the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye not that [c]Ramoth Gilead was ours? and we stay, and take it not out of the hand of the King of Aram?)
4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle against Ramoth Gilead? And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, [d]I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and mine horses as thine horses.
5 Then Jehoshaphat said unto the King of Israel, [e]Ask counsel, I pray thee, of the Lord today.
6 Then the king of Israel gathered the [f]prophets upon a four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I let it alone? And they said, Go up, for the Lord shall deliver it into the hands of the King.
7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there here never a Prophet of the [g]Lord more, that we might inquire of him?
8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man (Micaiah the son of Imlah) by whom we may ask counsel of the Lord, but [h]I hate him: for he doth not prophesy good unto me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
9 Then the king of Israel called an [i]Eunuch, and said, Call quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.
10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat either of them on his throne in their [j]apparel in the void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them.
11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him [k]horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the Lord, With these shalt thou push the Aramites, until thou hast consumed them.
12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth Gilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the king’s hand.
13 ¶ And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah, spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with [l][m]one accord, let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak thou good.
14 And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, whatsoever the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak.
15 ¶ So he came to the King, and the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall we leave off? And he answered him, [n]Go up, and prosper: and the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
16 And the king said unto him, How oft shall I charge thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the Name of the Lord?
17 Then he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that had no shepherd. And the Lord said, [o]These have no master, let every man return unto his house in peace.
18 (And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good unto me, but evil?)
19 Again he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sit on his throne, and all the [p]host of heaven stood about him on his right hand and on his left hand.
20 And the Lord said, Who shall [q]entice Ahab that he may go and fall at Ramoth Gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
21 Then there came forth a spirit, and [r]stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith?
22 And he said, I will go out, and be a [s]false spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. Then he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt also prevail: go forth, and do so.
23 Now therefore behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath appointed evil against thee.
24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, (B)[t]When went the spirit of the Lord from me, to speak unto thee?
25 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go from chamber to chamber to hide thee.
26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah and carry him unto Amon the governor of the city, and unto Joash the king’s son,
27 And say, Thus saith the King, Put this man in the prison house, and feed him with [u]bread of affliction, and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.
28 And Micaiah said, If thou return in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And he said, [v]Hearken all ye people.
29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.
30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will change mine apparel, and will enter into the battle, but put thou on thine apparel. And the king of Israel changed himself, and went into the battle.
31 And the king of Aram commanded his two and thirty captains over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only against the king of Israel.
32 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, Surely it is the king of Israel: and they turned to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat [w]cried.
33 And when the captains of the chariots saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from him.
34 Then a certain man drew a bow [x]mightily, and smote the king of Israel between the joints [y]of his brigandine. Wherefore he said unto his chariot man, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host: for I am [z]hurt.
35 And the battle increased that day, and the [aa]king stood still in his chariot against the Aramites, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.
36 And there were a proclamation throughout the [ab]host about the going down of the Sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.
37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.
38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood (and [ac]they washed his armor) according (C)unto the word of the Lord which he spake.
39 Concerning the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he built, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?
40 So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
41 ¶ (D)And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign upon Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
42 Jehoshaphat was five and thirty years old when he began to reign, and reigned five and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
43 And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father, and declined not there from, but did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord. Nevertheless, [ad]the high places were not taken away: for the people offered still, and burnt incense in the high places.
44 And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
45 Concerning the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his worthy deeds that he did, and his battles which he fought, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?
46 And the Sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he put clean out of the land.
47 There was then no King in Edom: the [ae]deputy was king.
48 Jehoshaphat made ships of [af]Tarshish to sail to [ag]Ophir for gold, but they went not, for the ships were broken at Ezion Geber.
49 Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships, But Jehoshaphat would not.
50 And Jehoshaphat did sleep with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
51 ¶ Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria, the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.
52 But he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin.
53 For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked the Lord God of Israel unto wrath, [ah]according unto all that his father had done.
5 1 Condemning the curious searching for the seasons of Christ’s coming, 6 he warneth them to be ready daily to receive him: 11 And so giveth them sundry good lessons.
1 But [a]of the times and [b]seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For ye yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord shall come, even as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then shall come upon them sudden destruction, as the travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.
4 [c]But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day shall come on you, as it were a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, neither of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep, sleep in the night, and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night.
8 [d]But let us which are of the day, be sober, (A)putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the hope of salvation for an helmet.
9 [e]For God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ.
10 [f]Which died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 [g]Wherefore exhort one another, and edify one another, even as ye do.
12 [h]Now we beseech you brethren, that ye [i]acknowledge them which labor among you, and are over you in the [j]Lord, and admonish you.
13 That ye have them in singular love for [k]their work’s sake. [l]Be at peace among yourselves.
14 [m]We desire you, brethren, admonish them that are [n]out of order: comfort the feebleminded: bear with the weak: be patient toward all men.
15 (B)[o]See that none recompense evil for evil unto any man: but ever follow that which is good, both toward yourselves, and toward all men.
16 [p]Rejoice evermore.
17 (C)Pray continually.
18 In all things, give thanks, for this is the [q]will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.
19 [r]Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not [s]prophesying.
21 Try all things, and keep that which is good.
22 [t]Abstain from all [u]appearance of evil.
23 Now the very God of peace [v]sanctify you throughout: and I pray God that your whole spirit and soul and body, may be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 (D)[w][x]Faithful is he which calleth you, which will also [y]do it.
25 [z]Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
27 I charge you in the Lord, that this Epistle be read unto all the brethren the Saints.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, Amen.
¶ The first Epistle unto the Thessalonians written from Athens.
4 2 Another dream of Nebuchadnezzar, which Daniel declareth. 29 The Prophet declareth how of a proud king, he should become as a beast. 31 After he confesseth the power of God, and is restored to his former dignity.
1 I Nebuchadnezzar being at [a]rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace,
2 Saw a [b]dream, which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed, and the visions of mine head troubled me.
3 Therefore made I a decree, that they should bring all the wise men of Babel before me, that they might declare unto me the interpretation of the dream.
4 So came the enchanters, the astrologians, the Chaldeans and the soothsayers, to whom I told the dream, but [c]they could not show me the interpretation thereof,
5 Till at the last Daniel came before me, (whose name was [d]Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, which hath the spirit of the holy gods in him) and before him I told the dream, saying,
6 O Belteshazzar, [e]chief of the enchanters, because I know, that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream, that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
7 Thus were the visions of my head in my bed, and behold, I saw a [f]tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great:
8 A great tree and strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the ends of all the earth.
9 The boughs thereof were fair and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: it made a shadow under it for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh fed of it.
10 I saw in the visions of mine head upon my bed, and behold, a [g]watchman and an holy one came down from heaven,
11 And cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and break off his branches: shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit, that the beasts may flee from under it, and the fowls from his branches.
12 Nevertheless, leave the stump of his roots in the earth, and with a band of iron and brass bind it among the grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts among the grass of the field.
13 [h]Let his heart be changed from man’s nature, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him, and let seven times be passed over him.
14 [i]The sentence is according to the decree of the watchmen, and according to the word of the holy ones: the demand was answered, to the intent that living men may know, that the most High hath power over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and appointeth over it the most abject among men.
15 This is the dream, that I King Nebuchadnezzar have seen: therefore thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof: for all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to show me the interpretation: but thou art able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
16 ¶ Then Daniel (whose name was Belteshazzar) held his [j]peace by the space of one hour, and his thoughts troubled him, and the King spake and said, Belteshazzar, let neither the dream, nor the interpretation thereof trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
17 The tree that thou sawest, which was great and mighty, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof through all the world,
18 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all, under the which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven did sit,
19 It is thou, O king, that art great and mighty: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the ends of the earth.
20 Whereas the King saw a watchman, and an holy one that came down from heaven, and said, Hew down the tree, and destroy it, yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, and with a band of iron and brass bind it among the grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, [k]till seven times pass over him.
21 This is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king,
22 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as the [l]oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven: and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know, that [m]the most High beareth rule over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
23 Whereas they said, that one should leave the stump of the tree roots, thy kingdom shall remain unto thee: after that, thou shalt know, that the heavens have the rule.
24 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and [n]break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by mercy towards the poor: lo, let there be a [o]healing of thine error.
25 All these things shall come upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
26 ¶ At the end of twelve [p]months, he walked in the royal palace of Babel.
27 And the king spake and said, Is not this great Babel that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?
28 While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came down from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee be it spoken, Thy kingdom is departed from thee,
29 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass, as the oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou knowest, that the most High beareth rule over the kingdom of men, and giveth it unto whomsoever he will.
30 The very same hour was this thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar, and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as the oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown as eagles feathers, and his nails like birds claws.
31 And at the end of these [q]days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding was restored unto me, and I gave thanks unto the most High, and I praised and honored him, that liveth forever, (A)whose power is an everlasting power, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.
32 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and according to his [r]will he worketh in the army of heaven, and in the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, nor say unto him, What doest thou?
33 At the same time was mine understanding restored unto me, and I returned to the honor of my kingdom: my glory and my beauty was restored unto me, and my counselors and [s]my princes sought unto me, and I was established in my kingdom, and my glory was augmented toward me.
34 Now therefore I Nebuchadnezzar [t]praise, and extol and magnify the king of heaven, whose works are all truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride, he is able to abase.
108 This Psalm is composed of two other Psalms before the seven and fiftieth and the sixtieth. The matter here contained is, 1 That David giveth himself with heart and voice to praise the Lord, 7 and assureth himself of the promise of God concerning his kingdom over Israel, and his power against other nations: 11 Who though he seem to forsake us for a time, yet he alone will in the end cast down our enemies.
A song or Psalm of David.
1 O God, mine heart is [a]prepared, so is [b]my tongue: I will sing and give praise.
2 Awake viol and harp, I will awake early.
3 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the [c]people, and I will sing unto thee among the nations.
4 For thy mercy is great above the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
5 [d]Exalt thyself, O God, above the heavens, and let thy glory be upon all the earth,
6 That thy beloved may be delivered: [e]help with thy right hand and hear me.
7 God hath spoken in his [f]holiness: therefore I will rejoice, I shall divide Shechem and measure the valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead shall be mine, and Manasseh shall be mine: Ephraim also shall be the strength of mine head: Judah is my lawgiver.
9 (A)Moab shall be my washpot: over Edom will I cast out my shoe: upon Palestine will I triumph.
10 Who will lead me into the strong city? who will bring me unto Edom?
11 [g]Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst forsaken us, and didst not go forth, O God, with our armies?
12 Give us help against trouble: for vain is the help of man.
13 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he shall tread down our enemies.
109 1 David being falsely accused by flatterers unto Saul, prayeth God to help him, and to destroy his enemies. 8 And under them he speaketh of Judas the traitor unto Jesus Christ, and of all the like enemies of the children of God: 27 And desireth so to be delivered, that his enemies may know the work to be of God. 30 Then doth he promise to give praise unto God.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David.
1 Hold not thy tongue, O God of my [h]praise.
2 For the mouth of the wicked, and the mouth full of deceit are opened upon me: they have spoken to me with a lying tongue.
3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.
4 For my friendship they were my adversaries, [i]but I gave myself to prayer.
5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.
6 [j]Set thou the wicked over him, and let the adversary stand at his right hand.
7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned, and let his [k]prayer be turned into sin.
8 Let his days be few, and let another take his [l]charge.
9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
10 Let his children be vagabonds, and beg and seek bread, coming out of their places destroyed.
11 Let [m]the extortioner catch all that he hath, and let the strangers spoil his labor.
12 Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to show mercy upon his fatherless children.
13 Let his posterity be destroyed, and in the generation following, let their name be put out.
14 [n]Let the iniquity of his fathers be had in remembrance with the Lord: and let not the sin of his mother be done away.
15 But let them always be before the Lord, that he may cut off their memorial from the earth.
16 Because [o]he remembered not to show mercy, but persecuted the afflicted and poor man, and the sorrowful hearted to slay him.
17 As he loved cursing, [p]so shall it come unto him, and as he loved not blessing, so shall it be far from him.
18 As he clothed himself with cursing like a raiment, so shall it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
19 Let it be unto him as a garment to cover him, and for a girdle, wherewith he shall be always girded.
20 Let this be the reward of mine adversary [q]from the Lord, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
21 But thou, O Lord my God, deal with me according unto thy [r]Name: deliver me, (for thy mercy is good)
22 Because I am poor and needy, and mine heart is wounded within me.
23 I depart like the shadow that declineth, and am shaken off as the [s]grasshopper.
24 My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh [t]hath lost all fatness.
25 I became also a rebuke unto them: they that looked upon me, shaked their heads.
26 Help me, O Lord my God: [u]save me according to thy mercy.
27 And they shall know that this is thine hand, and that thou, Lord, hast done it.
28 Though [v]they curse, yet thou wilt bless: they shall arise and be confounded, but thy servant shall rejoice.
29 Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their confusion as with a cloak.
30 I will give thanks unto the Lord greatly with my [w]mouth, and praise him among the multitude.
31 For he will stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from them that would [x]condemn his soul.
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