M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Moses and Aaron Confront Pharaoh
5 Later Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what Yahweh Elohim of Israel says: Let my people go into the desert to celebrate a festival in my honor.”
2 Pharaoh asked, “Who is Yahweh? Why should I obey him and let Israel go? I don’t know Yahweh, and I won’t let Israel go.”
3 They replied, “The Elohim of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us travel three days into the desert to offer sacrifices to Yahweh our Elohim. If we don’t go, he may kill us with a plague or a war.”
4 The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their work? Get back to work!” 5 Then Pharaoh added, “Look how many people there are in the land! Do you want them to quit working?”
Pharaoh Increases the Israelites’ Labor
6 That same day Pharaoh gave these orders to the slave drivers and foremen: 7 “Don’t give the people any more straw to make bricks as you have been doing. Let them gather their own straw, 8 but insist that they make the same number of bricks they were making before. Making fewer bricks will not be acceptable. They’re lazy! That’s why they’re crying, ‘Let us go offer sacrifices to our Elohim.’ 9 Make the work harder for these people so that they will be too busy to listen to lies.”
10 The slave drivers and foreman went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: I’m no longer giving you straw. 11 Get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work load will not be reduced one bit.”
12 So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The slave drivers kept hurrying them. They said, “Finish the same amount of work each day, just as when you had straw.”
14 Pharaoh’s slave drivers had placed Israelite foremen in charge of the people. The slave drivers beat the foremen and said, “You didn’t finish all the bricks you were ordered to make yesterday or today. Why didn’t you make as many as you used to?”
15 Then the Israelite foremen complained to Pharaoh. They asked, “Why are you treating us this way? 16 We’re given no straw, and yet we’re told to make bricks. We’re being beaten, but your men are at fault.”
17 “You’re lazy! Just plain lazy!” Pharaoh answered. “That’s why you keep saying, ‘Let us go offer sacrifices to Yahweh.’ 18 Now get back to work! You won’t be given any straw, but you must still make the same number of bricks.”
19 The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “Don’t make fewer bricks each day than you’re supposed to.”
20 As they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting for them. 21 So they said, “May Yahweh see what you have done and judge you! You have made Pharaoh and his officials hate us. You have given them an excuse to kill us.”
22 Moses went back to Yahweh and asked, “Why have you brought this trouble on your people? Why did you send me? 23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak for you, he has treated your people cruelly, and you have done nothing at all to rescue your people.”
Women Who Supported Jesus
8 After this, Yeshua traveled from one city and village to another. He spread the Good News about God’s kingdom. The twelve apostles were with him. 2 Also, some women were with him. They had been cured from evil spirits and various illnesses. These women were Mary, also called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; 3 Joanna, whose husband Chusa was Herod’s administrator; Susanna; and many other women. They provided financial support for Yeshua and his disciples.
A Story about a Farmer(A)
4 When a large crowd had gathered and people had come to Yeshua from every city, he used this story as an illustration: 5 “A farmer went to plant his seeds. Some seeds were planted along the road, were trampled, and were devoured by birds. 6 Others were planted on rocky soil. When the plants came up, they withered because they had no moisture. 7 Others were planted among thornbushes. The thornbushes grew up with them and choked them. 8 Others were planted on good ground. When they came up, they produced a hundred times as much as was planted.”
After he had said this, he called out, “Let the person who has ears listen!”
9 His disciples asked him what this story meant. 10 Yeshua answered, “Knowledge about the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given directly to you. But it is given to others in stories. When they look, they don’t see, and when they hear, they don’t understand.
11 “This is what the story illustrates: The seed is God’s word. 12 Some people are like seeds that were planted along the road. They hear the word, but then the devil comes. He takes the word away from them so that they don’t believe and become saved. 13 Some people are like seeds on rocky soil. They welcome the word with joy whenever they hear it, but they don’t develop any roots. They believe for a while, but when their faith is tested, they abandon it. 14 The seeds that were planted among thornbushes are people who hear the word, but as life goes on the worries, riches, and pleasures of life choke them. So they don’t produce anything good. 15 The seeds that were planted on good ground are people who also hear the word. But they keep it in their good and honest hearts and produce what is good despite what life may bring.
16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it under a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand so that those who come in will see the light. 17 There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. There is nothing kept secret that will not come to light.
18 “So pay attention to how you listen! Those who understand these mysteries will be given more knowledge. However, some people don’t understand these mysteries. Even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”
The True Family of Jesus(B)
19 His mother and his brothers came to see him. But they couldn’t meet with him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told Yeshua, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside. They want to see you.”
21 He answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear and do what God’s word says.”
Jesus Calms the Sea(C)
22 One day Yeshua and his disciples got into a boat. He said to them, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they started out. 23 As they were sailing along, Yeshua fell asleep.
A violent storm came across the lake. The boat was taking on water, and they were in danger. 24 They went to him, woke him up, and said, “Master! Master! We’re going to die!”
Then he got up and ordered the wind and the waves to stop. The wind stopped, and the sea became calm. 25 He asked them, “Where is your faith?”
Frightened and amazed, they asked each other, “Who is this man? He gives orders to the wind and the water, and they obey him!”
Jesus Cures a Demon-Possessed Man(D)
26 They landed in the region of the Gerasenes across from Galilee. 27 When Yeshua stepped out on the shore, a certain man from the city met him. The man was possessed by demons and had not worn clothes for a long time. He would not stay in a house but lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Yeshua, he shouted, fell in front of him, and said in a loud voice, “Why are you bothering me, Yeshua, Son of the Most High God? I beg you not to torture me!” 29 Yeshua ordered the evil spirit to come out of the man. (The evil spirit had controlled the man for a long time. People had kept him under guard. He was chained hand and foot. But he would break the chains. Then the demon would force him to go into the desert.)
30 Yeshua asked him, “What is your name?”
He answered, “Legion [Six Thousand].” (Many demons had entered him.) 31 The demons begged Yeshua not to order them to go into the bottomless pit.
32 A large herd of pigs was feeding on a mountainside. The demons begged Yeshua to let them enter those pigs. So he let them do this. 33 The demons came out of the man and went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned.
34 When those who had taken care of the pigs saw what had happened, they ran away. They reported everything in the city and countryside. 35 The people went to see what had happened. They came to Yeshua and found the man from whom the demons had gone out. Dressed and in his right mind, he was sitting at Yeshua’s feet. The people were frightened. 36 Those who had seen this told the people how Yeshua had restored the demon-possessed man to health.
37 Then all the people from the surrounding region of the Gerasenes asked Yeshua to leave because they were terrified.
Yeshua got into a boat and started back. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged him, “Let me go with you.”
But Yeshua sent the man away and told him, 39 “Go home to your family, and tell them how much God has done for you.” So the man left. He went through the whole city and told people how much Yeshua had done for him.
Jairus’ Daughter and a Woman with Chronic Bleeding(E)
40 When Yeshua came back, a crowd welcomed him. Everyone was expecting him.
41 A man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, arrived and quickly bowed down in front of Yeshua. He begged Yeshua to come to his home. 42 His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Yeshua went, the people were crowding around him.
43 A woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years was in the crowd. No one could cure her. 44 She came up behind Yeshua, touched the edge of his clothes, and her bleeding stopped at once.
45 Yeshua asked, “Who touched me?”
After everyone denied touching him, Peter said, “Teacher, the people are crowding you and pressing against you.”
46 Yeshua said, “Someone touched me. I know power has gone out of me.”
47 The woman saw that she couldn’t hide. Trembling, she quickly bowed in front of him. There, in front of all the people, she told why she touched him and how she was cured at once.
48 Yeshua told her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace!”
49 While Yeshua was still speaking to her, someone came from the synagogue leader’s home. He said, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
50 When Yeshua heard this, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid! Just believe, and she will get well.”
51 Yeshua went into the house. He allowed no one to go with him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s parents. 52 Everyone was crying and showing how sad they were. Yeshua said, “Don’t cry! She’s not dead. She’s just sleeping.”
53 They laughed at him because they knew she was dead. 54 But Yeshua took her hand and called out, “Child, get up!” 55 She came back to life and got up at once. He ordered her parents to give her something to eat. 56 They were amazed. Yeshua ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Eliphaz Speaks: Admit You Are Wicked, Job
22 Then Eliphaz from Teman replied to Job,
2 “Can a human be of any use to El
when even a wise person is only useful to himself?
3 Is Shadday pleased when you are righteous?
Does he gain anything when you follow the path of integrity?
4 Does God correct you
and bring you into a court of law because you fear him?
5 “Aren’t you really very wicked?
Is there no end to your wrongdoing?
6 For no reason you take your brothers’ goods as security for a loan
and strip them of their clothes.[a]
7 You don’t even give a tired person a drink of water,
and you take food away from hungry people.
8 A strong person owns the land.
A privileged person lives in it.
9 You send widows away empty-handed,
and the arms of orphans are broken.
10 That is why traps are all around you
and great fear suddenly grips you.
11 That is why darkness surrounds you and you cannot see
and a flood of water covers you.
12 “Isn’t Eloah high above in the heavens?
Look how high the highest stars are!
13 You ask, ‘What does El know?
Can he judge anything from behind a dark cloud?
14 Thick clouds surround him so that he cannot see.
He walks above the clouds.’[b]
15 “Are you following the old path that wicked people have taken?
16 They are snatched up before their time.
A river washes their foundation away.
17 They told El, ‘Leave us alone!
What can Shadday do for us?’
18 Yet, he filled their homes with good things.
(The plan of the wicked is foreign to my way of thinking.)
19 The righteous saw it and were glad,
and the innocent made fun of them by saying,
20 ‘Indeed, their wealth has been wiped out,
and a fire has burned up what little they had left.’
Make Peace with God
21 “Be in harmony and at peace with God.
In this way you will have prosperity.
22 Accept instruction from his mouth,
and keep his words in your heart.
23 If you return to Shadday you will prosper.
If you put wrongdoing out of your tent,
24 and lay your gold down in the dust,
and put your gold from Ophir among the pebbles in the rivers,
25 then Shadday will become your gold
and your large supply of silver.
26 Then you will be happy with Shadday
and look up toward Eloah.
27 You will pray to him, and he will listen to you,
and you will keep your vow to him.
28 When you promise to do something, you will succeed,
and light will shine on your path.
29 When others are discouraged, you will say, ‘Cheer up!’
Then he will save the humble person.[c]
30 He will rescue one who is not innocent.
That person will be rescued by your purity.”
Paul’s Right to Be Paid for His Work as an Apostle
9 Don’t you agree that I’m a free man? Don’t you agree that I’m an apostle? Haven’t I seen Yeshua our Lord? Aren’t you the result of my work for the Lord? 2 If I’m not an apostle to other people, at least I’m an apostle to you. You are the seal which proves that I am the Lord’s apostle. 3 This is how I defend myself to those who cross-examine me. 4 Don’t we have the right to eat and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take our wives along with us like the other apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas[a] do? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who don’t have any rights, except to find work to support ourselves?
7 Does a soldier ever serve in the army at his own expense? Does anyone plant a vineyard and not eat the grapes? Does anyone take care of a flock and not drink milk from the sheep? 8 Am I merely stating some human rule? Don’t Moses’ Teachings say the same thing? 9 Moses’ Teachings say, “Never muzzle an ox when it is threshing[b] grain.” God’s concern isn’t for oxen. 10 Isn’t he speaking entirely for our benefit? This was written for our benefit so that the person who plows or threshes should expect to receive a share of the crop. 11 If we have planted the spiritual seed that has been of benefit to you, is it too much if we receive part of the harvest from your earthly goods? 12 If others have the right to expect this from you, don’t we deserve even more? But we haven’t used our rights. Instead, we would put up with anything in order not to hinder the Good News of Christ in any way.
13 Don’t you realize that those who work at the temple get their food from the temple? Don’t those who help at the altar get a share of what is on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who spread the Good News should earn their living from the Good News.
15 I haven’t used any of these rights, and I haven’t written this in order to use them now. I would rather die than have anyone turn my bragging into meaningless words. 16 If I spread the Good News, I have nothing to brag about because I have an obligation to do this. How horrible it will be for me if I don’t spread the Good News! 17 If I spread the Good News willingly, I’ll have a reward. But if I spread the Good News unwillingly, I’m only doing what I’ve been entrusted to do.
18 So what is my reward? It is to spread the Good News free of charge. In that way I won’t use the rights that belong to those who spread the Good News.
Paul’s Work as an Apostle
19 Although I’m free from all people, I have made myself a slave for all people to win more of them. 20 I became Jewish for Jewish people. I became subject to the laws in Moses’ Teachings for those who are subject to those laws. I did this to win them even though I’m not subject to Moses’ Teachings. 21 I became like a person who does not have Moses’ Teachings for those who don’t have those teachings. I did this to win them even though I have God’s teachings. I’m really subject to Christ’s teachings. 22 I became like a person weak in faith to win those who are weak in faith. I have become everything to everyone in order to save at least some of them. 23 I do all this for the sake of the Good News in order to share what it offers.
24 Don’t you realize that everyone who runs in a race runs to win, but only one runner gets the prize? Run like them, so that you can win. 25 Everyone who enters an athletic contest goes into strict training. They do it to win a temporary crown, but we do it to win one that will be permanent. 26 So I run—but not without a clear goal ahead of me. So I box—but not as if I were just shadow boxing. 27 Rather, I toughen my body with punches and make it my slave so that I will not be disqualified after I have spread the Good News to others.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.