M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Israel’s Prophecy concerning His Sons
49 Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves that I may tell you what will befall you (A)in the [a]days to come.
2 “Gather together and hear, O sons of Jacob;
And (B)listen to Israel your father.
3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn;
My might and (C)the beginning of my strength,
[b]Preeminent in dignity and [c]preeminent in power.
4 “[d]Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence,
(D)Because you went up to your father’s bed;
Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.
5 “(E)Simeon and Levi are brothers;
Their swords are implements of violence.
6 “(F)Let my soul not enter into their council;
Let not my glory be united with their assembly;
Because in their anger they slew [e]men,
And in their self-will they lamed [f]oxen.
7 “Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;
And their wrath, for it is cruel.
(G)I will [g]disperse them in Jacob,
And scatter them in Israel.
8 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;
Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
(H)Your father’s sons shall bow down to you.
9 “Judah is a (I)lion’s whelp;
From the prey, my son, you have gone up.
(J)He [h]couches, he lies down as a lion,
And as a [i]lion, who [j]dares rouse him up?
10 “(K)The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
[k]Until Shiloh comes,
And (L)to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
11 “[l](M)He ties his foal to the vine,
And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine;
(N)He washes his garments in wine,
And his robes in the blood of grapes.
12 “His eyes are [m]dull from wine,
And his teeth [n]white from milk.
13 “(O)Zebulun will dwell at the seashore;
And he shall be [o]a haven for ships,
And his flank shall be toward Sidon.
14 “Issachar is [p]a strong donkey,
(P)Lying down between the [q]sheepfolds.
15 “When he saw that a resting place was good
And that the land was pleasant,
He bowed his shoulder to bear burdens,
And became a slave at forced labor.
16 “(Q)Dan shall (R)judge his people,
As one of the tribes of Israel.
17 “Dan shall be a serpent in the way,
A horned snake in the path,
That bites the horse’s heels,
So that his rider falls backward.
18 “(S)For Your salvation I wait, O Lord.
21 “(W)Naphtali is a doe let loose,
He gives beautiful words.
22 “(X)Joseph is a fruitful [w]bough,
A fruitful [x]bough by a spring;
Its [y]branches run over a wall.
23 “The archers bitterly attacked him,
And shot at him and harassed him;
24 But his (Y)bow remained [z]firm,
And [aa](Z)his arms were agile,
From the hands of the (AA)Mighty One of Jacob
(From there is (AB)the Shepherd, (AC)the Stone of Israel),
25 From (AD)the God of your father who helps you,
And [ab](AE)by the [ac]Almighty who blesses you
With (AF)blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
26 “The blessings of your father
Have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors
Up to the [ad]utmost bound of (AG)the everlasting hills;
May they be on the head of Joseph,
And on the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.
27 “Benjamin is a [ae]ravenous wolf;
In the morning he devours the prey,
And in the evening he divides the spoil.”
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them [af]when he blessed them. He blessed them, every one [ag]with the blessing appropriate to him. 29 Then he charged them and said to them, “I am about to be (AH)gathered to my people; (AI)bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in (AJ)the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the (AK)cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field from Ephron the Hittite for a [ah]burial site. 31 There they buried (AL)Abraham and his wife (AM)Sarah, there they buried (AN)Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and there I buried Leah— 32 the field and the cave that is in it, purchased from the sons of Heth.” 33 When Jacob finished charging his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and (AO)breathed his last, and was (AP)gathered to his people.
Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem
2 Now in those days a decree went out from (A)Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of (B)all [a]the inhabited earth. 2 [b]This was the first census taken while [c]Quirinius was governor of (C)Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because (D)he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she (E)gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a [d]manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And (F)an angel of the Lord suddenly (G)stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “(H)Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a (I)Savior, who is [e](J)Christ (K)the Lord. 12 (L)This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a [f]manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the [h]manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary (O)treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, (P)glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
Jesus Presented at the Temple
21 And when (Q)eight days had passed, [i]before His circumcision, (R)His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 (S)And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “(T)Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “(U)A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was (V)righteous and devout, (W)looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And (X)it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not (Y)see death before he had seen the Lord’s [j]Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, [k](Z)to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
(AA)According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have (AB)seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 (AC)A Light [l]of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and (AD)mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary (AE)His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for (AF)the fall and [m]rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a (AG)prophetess, [n]Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of (AH)the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in [o]years (AI)and had lived with her husband seven years after her [p]marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with (AJ)fastings and prayers. 38 At that very [q]moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were (AK)looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Return to Nazareth
39 When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to (AL)their own city of Nazareth. 40 (AM)The Child continued to grow and become strong, [r]increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Visit to Jerusalem
41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at (AN)the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; 43 and as they were returning, after spending the (AO)full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, 44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. 46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him (AP)were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and (AQ)His mother said to Him, “[s]Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, (AR)Your father and I [t]have been anxiously looking for You.” 49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that (AS)I had to be in My Father’s [u]house?” 50 But (AT)they did not understand the statement which He [v]had made to them. 51 And He went down with them and came to (AU)Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and (AV)His mother (AW)treasured all these [w]things in her heart.
52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and [x]stature, and in (AX)favor with God and men.
Eliphaz Says Job Presumes Much
15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite [a]responded,
2 “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge
(A)And fill [b]himself with the east wind?
3 “Should he argue with useless talk,
Or with words which are not profitable?
4 “Indeed, you do away with [c]reverence
And hinder meditation before God.
5 “For (B)your guilt teaches your mouth,
And you choose the language of (C)the crafty.
6 “Your (D)own mouth condemns you, and not I;
And your own lips testify against you.
7 “Were you the first man to be born,
Or (E)were you brought forth before the hills?
8 “Do you hear the (F)secret counsel of God,
And limit wisdom to yourself?
9 “(G)What do you know that we do not know?
What do you understand that [d]we do not?
10 “Both the (H)gray-haired and the aged are among us,
Older than your father.
11 “Are (I)the consolations of God too small for you,
Even the (J)word spoken gently with you?
12 “Why does your (K)heart carry you away?
And why do your eyes flash,
13 That you should turn your spirit against God
And allow such words to go out of your mouth?
14 “What is man, that (L)he should be pure,
Or (M)he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
15 “Behold, He puts no trust in His (N)holy ones,
And the (O)heavens are not pure in His sight;
16 How much less one who is (P)detestable and corrupt,
Man, who (Q)drinks iniquity like water!
What Eliphaz Has Seen of Life
17 “I will tell you, listen to me;
And what I have seen I will also declare;
18 What wise men have told,
And have not concealed from (R)their fathers,
19 To whom alone the land was given,
And no alien passed among them.
20 “The wicked man writhes (S)in pain all his days,
And [e]numbered are the years (T)stored up for the ruthless.
21 “[f]Sounds of (U)terror are in his ears;
(V)While at peace the destroyer comes upon him.
22 “He does not believe that he will (W)return from darkness,
And he is destined for (X)the sword.
23 “He wanders about for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’
He knows that a day of (Y)darkness is [g]at hand.
24 “Distress and anguish terrify him,
They overpower him like a king ready for the attack,
25 Because he has stretched out his hand against God
And conducts himself (Z)arrogantly against [h]the Almighty.
26 “He rushes [i]headlong at Him
With [j]his massive shield.
27 “For he has (AA)covered his face with his fat
And made his thighs heavy with flesh.
28 “He has (AB)lived in desolate cities,
In houses no one would inhabit,
Which are destined to become [k]ruins.
29 “He (AC)will not become rich, nor will his wealth endure;
And his grain will not bend down to the ground.
30 “He will (AD)not [l]escape from darkness;
The (AE)flame will wither his shoots,
And by (AF)the breath of His mouth he will go away.
31 “Let him not (AG)trust in emptiness, deceiving himself;
For emptiness will be his [m]reward.
32 “It will be accomplished (AH)before his time,
And his palm (AI)branch will not be green.
33 “He will drop off his unripe grape like the vine,
And will (AJ)cast off his flower like the olive tree.
34 “For the company of (AK)the godless is barren,
And fire consumes (AL)the tents of [n]the corrupt.
35 “They (AM)conceive [o]mischief and bring forth iniquity,
And their [p]mind prepares deception.”
Foundations for Living
3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to (A)spiritual men, but as to (B)men of flesh, as to (C)infants in Christ. 2 I gave you (D)milk to drink, not solid food; for you (E)were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is (F)jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking [a](G)like mere men? 4 For when (H)one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere (I)men?
5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? (J)Servants through whom you believed, even (K)as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 (L)I planted, (M)Apollos watered, but (N)God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will (O)receive his own [b]reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s (P)fellow workers; you are God’s [c](Q)field, God’s (R)building.
10 According to (S)the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder (T)I laid a foundation, and (U)another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a (V)foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, [d]precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 (W)each man’s work will become evident; for (X)the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test [e]the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will (Y)receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet (Z)so as through fire.
16 (AA)Do you not know that (AB)you are a [f]temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the [g]temple of God, God will destroy him, for the [h]temple of God is holy, and [i]that is what you are.
18 (AC)Let no man deceive himself. (AD)If any man among you thinks that he is wise in (AE)this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. 19 For (AF)the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is (AG)the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “(AH)The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” 21 So then (AI)let no one boast in men. For (AJ)all things belong to you, 22 (AK)whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or (AL)life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, 23 and (AM)you belong to Christ; and (AN)Christ belongs to God.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.