M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
21 1 David causeth the people to be numbered, 14 and there dieth seventy thousand men of the pestilence.
1 And [a]Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
2 Therefore David said to Joab, and to the rulers of the people, Go, and number Israel from [b]Beersheba even to Dan, and bring it to me, that I may know the number of them.
3 And Joab answered, The Lord increased his people an hundred times so many as they be, O my lord the king: are they not all my lord’s servants? wherefore doeth my lord require this thing? why should he be a cause of [c]trespass to Israel?
4 Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. And Joab departed and went through all Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.
5 And Joab gave the number and sum of the people unto David: and all Israel were [d]eleven hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was [e]four hundred and seventy thousand men that drew sword.
6 But the Levites and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the King’s word was abominable to Joab.
7 ¶ And God was displeased with this thing: therefore he smote Israel.
8 Then David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, remove the iniquity of thy servant: for I have done very foolishly.
9 And the Lord spake unto Gad David’s [f]Seer, saying,
10 Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
11 So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Take to thee,
12 Either three years famine, or three months to be destroyed before thine adversaries, and the sword of thine enemies [g]to take thee, or else the sword of the Lord and pestilence in the land three days, that the Angel of the Lord may destroy throughout all the coasts of Israel: now therefore advise thee, what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
13 And David said unto Gad, I am in a wonderful strait, let me now fall into the hand of the Lord: for his mercies are exceedingly great, and let me not fall into the hand of man.
14 So the Lord sent a pestilence in Israel, and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.
15 ¶ And God sent the Angel into Jerusalem to destroy it. And [h]as he was destroying, the Lord beheld, and [i]repented of the evil, and said to the Angel that destroyed, It is now enough, let thine hand cease. Then the Angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of [j]Ornan the Jebusite.
16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the Angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, with his sword drawn in his hand and stretched out toward Jerusalem. Then David and the Elders of Israel which were clothed in sack, fell upon their faces.
17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded to number the people? It is even I that have sinned and have committed evil, but these sheep, what have they done? O Lord my God, I beseech thee, let thine hand be on me and on my father’s house, and not on [k]thy people for their destruction.
18 ¶ Then the Angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
19 So David went up according to the saying of Gad, which he had spoken in the Name of the Lord.
20 And Ornan turned about and saw the Angel, and his four sons that were with him, [l]hid themselves, and Ornan threshed wheat.
21 And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
22 And David said to Ornan, Give me the place of thy threshing floor, that I may build an [m]altar therein unto the Lord: give it me for sufficient money, that the plague may be stayed from the people.
23 Then Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which seemeth him good: lo, I give thee bullocks for burnt offerings, and threshing instruments for wood, and wheat for meat offering, I give it all.
24 And King David said to Ornan, Not so: but I will buy it for sufficient [n]money: for I will not take that which is thine for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.
25 So David gave to Ornan for that place [o]six hundred shekels of gold by weight.
26 And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings, and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord, and he [p]answered him by fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering.
27 And when the Lord had spoken to the Angel, he put up his sword again into his sheath.
28 At that time when David saw that the Lord had heard him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.
29 (But the Tabernacle of the Lord which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.
30 And David could not go before it to ask counsel at God: for he was afraid of the sword of the Angel of the Lord.)
2 He exhorteth the newborn in faith, to lead their lives answerable to the same: 6 and lest their faith should stagger, he bringeth in that which was foretold touching Christ. 11 Then he willeth them to be obedient to Magistrates, 21 and that they patiently bear adversity after Christ’s example.
1 Wherefore, (A)[a]laying aside all maliciousness, and all guile, and dissimulation, and envy, and all evil speaking,
2 [b]As [c]newborn babes desire that sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby,
3 [d]Because ye [e]have tasted that the Lord is bountiful.
4 [f]To whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed of men, but chosen of God and precious,
5 Ye also as lively stones, be made a spiritual house, [g]an holy (B)Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 [h]Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, (C)Behold, I put in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect and precious, and he that believeth therein, shall not be ashamed.
7 [i]Unto you therefore which believe, it is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the (D)stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a (E)stone to stumble at, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient, unto the which thing they were even ordained.
9 [j]But ye are a chosen generation, a royal (F)Priesthood, an holy nation, a people set at liberty, that ye should show forth the virtues of him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light,
10 (G)Which in time past were not a people, yet are now the people of God: which in time past were not under mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 [k]Dearly beloved, [l]I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, (H)[m]abstain from fleshly lusts [n]which fight against the soul,
12 (I)[o] And have your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that they which speak evil of you as of evil doers, [p]may by your good (J)works which they shall see, glorify God in the day of [q]visitation.
13 (K)[r] Therefore submit yourselves unto [s]all manner ordinance of man [t]for the Lord’s sake, [u]whether it be unto the King, as unto the superior,
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent of him, [v]for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 [w]For so is the will of God, that by well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of the foolish men.
16 As free, and not as having the liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17 [x][y]Honor all men: (L)love [z]brotherly fellowship: fear God: honor the King.
18 (M)[aa]Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and courteous, but also to the froward.
19 (N)[ab]For this is thankworthy, if a man for [ac]conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongly.
20 For what praise is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently? but and if when ye do well, ye suffer wrong and take it patiently, this is acceptable to God.
21 [ad]For hereunto ye are called: for Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an [ae]example that ye should follow his steps,
22 (O)Who did no sin, neither was there guile found in his mouth.
23 Who when he was reviled, reviled not again: when he suffered, he threatened not, but [af]committed it to him [ag]that judgeth righteously.
24 (P)[ah]Who his own self bare our sins in his body on the tree, that we being dead to sin, should live in righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray: but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
4 The great goodness of God toward his creatures.
1 Therefore it displeased [a]Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
2 And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? therefore I prevented it to flee unto [b]Tarshish: for I knew, that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
3 Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life [c]from me: for it is better for me to die than to live.
4 Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be [d]angry?
5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the East side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow [e]till he might see what should be done in the city.
6 And the Lord God prepared a [f]gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, and deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.
7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd, that it withered.
8 And when the sun did arise, God prepared also a fervent East wind: and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted and wished in his heart to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
9 And God said unto Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be [g]angry unto the death.
10 Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd for the which thou hast not labored, neither madest it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night,
11 And should [h]not I spare Nineveh that great city, wherein are sixscore thousand persons, that [i]cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand, and also much cattle?
9 1 The Apostles are sent to preach. 7 and 19 The common people’s opinion of Christ. 12 Of the five loaves and two fishes. 20 The Apostle’s confession. 24 To lose the life. 35 We must hear Christ. 39 The possessed of a spirit. 46 Strife among the Apostles for the Primacy. 49 One casting out devils in Christ’s Name. 52 The Samaritans will not receive Christ. 55 Revenge forbidden. 57, 59, 61 Of three that would follow Christ, but on divers conditions.
1 Then (A)[a]called he his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to heal diseases.
2 (B)And he sent them forth to preach the kingdom of God, and to cure the sick.
3 And he said to them, (C)Take nothing to your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, nor silver, neither have two coats apiece.
4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there [b]abide, and thence depart.
5 And how many soever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, (D)shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
6 And they went out, and went through every town preaching the Gospel, and healing everywhere.
7 ¶ (E)[c]Now Herod the Tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he [d]doubted, because that it was said of some, that John was risen again from the dead:
8 And of some, that Elijah had appeared: and of some, that one of the old Prophets was risen again.
9 Then Herod said, John have I beheaded: who then is this of whom I hear such things? and he desired to see him.
10 ¶ (F)[e]And when the Apostles returned, they told him what great things they had done. (G)Then he took them to him, and went aside into a [f]solitary place, near to the city called Bethsaida.
11 But when the people knew it, they followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need to be healed.
12 (H)And when the day began to wear away, the twelve came, and said unto him, Send the people away, that they may go into the towns and villages round about, and lodge, and get meat: for we are here in a desert place.
13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes, [g]except we should go and buy meat for all this people.
14 For they were about five thousand men. Then he said to his disciples, Cause them to sit down by fifties in a company.
15 And they did so, and caused all to sit down.
16 Then he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looked up to heaven, and [h]blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples, to set before the people.
17 So they did all eat, and were satisfied: and there was taken up of that remained to them, twelve baskets full of broken meat.
18 ¶ (I)[i]And it came to pass, as he was [j]alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
19 They answered, and said, John Baptist: and others say, Elijah: and some say, that one of the old Prophets is risen again.
20 And he said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answered, and said: That Christ of God.
21 And he warned and commanded them, that they should tell that to no man,
22 [k]Saying, (J)The Son of man must suffer many things, and be reproved of the Elders, and of the high Priests and Scribes, and be slain, and the third day rise again.
23 ¶ (K)And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross [l]daily, and follow me.
24 (L)For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 (M)For what advantageth it a man, if he win the whole world, and destroy himself, or lose himself?
26 (N)For whosoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his glory, and in the glory of the Father, and of the holy Angels.
27 (O)And I tell you of a surety, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God.
28 (P)[m]And it came to pass about an eight days after those words, that he took Peter and John, and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was changed, and his garment was white and glistered.
30 And behold, two men talked with him, which were Moses and Elijah:
31 Which appeared in glory, and told of his [n]departing, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
32 But Peter and they that were with him, were heavy with sleep, and when they awoke, they saw his glory, and the two men standing with him.
33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: let us therefore make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah, and wist not what he said.
34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud and overshadowed them, and they feared when they were entering into the cloud.
35 (Q)And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is that my beloved Son, hear him.
36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone: and they kept it close, and told no man in [o]those days any of those things which they had seen.
37 ¶ [p]And it came to pass on the next day, as they came down from the mountain, much people met him.
38 (R)And behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, behold my son: for he is all that I have.
39 And lo, a spirit taketh him, and suddenly he crieth, and he teareth him, that he foameth, and hardly departeth from him, when he hath [q]bruised him.
40 Now I have besought thy disciples to cast him out, but they could not.
41 Then Jesus answered and said, O generation faithless, and crooked, how long now shall I be with you, and suffer you? bring thy son hither.
42 And while he was yet coming, the devil rent him, and tore him: and Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him to his father.
43 ¶ [r]And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God: and while they all wondered at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
44 [s]Mark these words diligently: (S)for it shall come to pass, that the son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
45 But they understood not that word: for it was hid from them, so that they could not perceive it: and they feared to ask him of that word.
46 ¶ (T)[t]Then there arose a disputation among them, which of them should be the greatest.
47 When Jesus saw the thoughts of their hearts, he took a little child, and set him by him,
48 And said unto them, Whosoever receiveth this little child in my Name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, he shall be great.
49 ¶ (U)[u]And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy Name, and we forbad him, because he followeth thee not with us.
50 Then Jesus said unto him, Forbid ye him not: for he that is not against us, is with us.
51 ¶ [v]And it came to pass, when the days were accomplished, that he should be received up, he [w]settled himself fully to go to Jerusalem,
52 And sent messengers before him: and they went and entered into a town of the Samaritans, to prepare him lodging.
53 But they would not receive him, because his behavior was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
54 [x]And when his disciples, James and John saw it, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command, that fire come down from heaven, and consume them, even as (V)Elijah did?
55 But Jesus turned about, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not of what [y]spirit ye are.
56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. Then they went to another town.
57 ¶ [z]And it came to pass that as they went in the way, (W)a certain man said unto him, I will follow thee, Lord, whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven nests, but the Son of man hath not whereon to lay his head.
59 [aa]But he said unto another, Follow me. And the same said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 And Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury [ab]their dead: but go thou, and preach the kingdom of God.
61 [ac]Then another said, I will follow thee, Lord: but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at mine house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man that putteth his hand to the plough, and looketh back, is apt to the kingdom of God.
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