M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Tola Serves as Judge
10 After Abimelech, Tola, who was the son of Puah and grandson of Dodo, came to rescue Israel. Tola was from Issachar and lived in Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim. 2 He judged Israel for 23 years. Tola died and was buried in Shamir.
Jair Serves as Judge
3 After Tola, Jair from Gilead became a judge. He judged Israel for 22 years. 4 Jair had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkeys. He also had 30 towns that are still called Havvoth Jair to this day. They are in the region of Gilead. 5 Jair died and was buried in Kamon.
Israel Sins Again
6 The people of Israel again did what Yahweh considered evil. They began to serve other gods and goddesses—the Baals and the Astartes—and the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. They abandoned Yahweh and did not serve him.
7 Yahweh became angry with the people of Israel. So he used the Philistines and Ammonites to defeat them. 8 They oppressed and crushed the people of Israel that year. For 18 years they oppressed all who lived east of the Jordan River in the land of the Amorites in Gilead. 9 Ammon also crossed the Jordan River to fight the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. So Israel suffered a great deal.
10 Then the people of Israel cried out to Yahweh for help. They said, “We have sinned against you. We have abandoned our Elohim and served other gods—the Baals.”
11 Yahweh said to the people of Israel, “When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, 12 the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites oppressed you, you cried out to me for help. Didn’t I rescue you from them? 13 But you still abandoned me and served other gods. That’s why I won’t rescue you again. 14 Cry out for help to the gods you chose. Let them rescue you when you’re in trouble.”
15 The people of Israel said to Yahweh, “We have sinned. Do to us whatever you think is right. But please rescue us today!” 16 Then they got rid of the foreign gods they had and served Yahweh. So Yahweh could not bear to have Israel suffer any longer.
17 The troops of Ammon were summoned to fight, and they camped at Gilead. The people of Israel also gathered together and camped at Mizpah. 18 The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever starts the fight against Ammon will rule everyone who lives in Gilead.”
Jephthah Called to Be Judge
11 Jephthah was a soldier from the region of Gilead. Jephthah’s father was named Gilead. His mother was a prostitute. 2 Gilead’s wife also gave birth to sons. When his wife’s sons grew up, they threw Jephthah out. They told him, “You’ll get no inheritance from our father. You’re the son of that other woman.” 3 Jephthah fled from his brothers. He went to live in the land of Tob. Worthless men gathered around Jephthah and went out on raids with him.
4 Later, Ammon waged war with Israel. 5 When the Ammonites attacked Israel, Gilead’s leaders went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 They said to Jephthah, “Come and be our commander so that we can wage war against Ammon.”
7 But Jephthah replied to Gilead’s leaders, “Don’t you hate me? Didn’t you throw me out of my father’s house? So why are you coming to me now when you’re in trouble?”
8 Gilead’s leaders answered Jephthah, “The reason we’ve turned to you now is that we want you to go with us and wage war against Ammon. You will be the ruler of everyone who lives in Gilead.”
9 Jephthah told them, “If you take me back to fight against Ammonites and Yahweh gives them to me, I will be your leader.”
10 Gilead’s leaders said to Jephthah, “Yahweh is a witness between us. We will certainly do what you say.” 11 Jephthah went with them, and the people made him their leader and commander. So Jephthah went to Mizpah and repeated all these things in the presence of Yahweh.
Paul and Barnabas in Iconium
14 The same thing happened in the city of Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went into the synagogue and spoke in such a way that a large crowd of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up some people who were not Jewish and poisoned their minds against the believers. 3 Paul and Barnabas stayed in the city of Iconium for a long time. They spoke boldly about the Lord, who confirmed their message about his good will[a] by having them perform miracles and do amazing things. 4 But the people of Iconium were divided. Some were for the Jews, while others were for the apostles.
5 In the meantime, Paul and Barnabas found out that the non-Jewish people and the Jewish people with their rulers planned to attack them and stone them to death. 6 So they escaped to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding territory. 7 They spread the Good News there.
Paul and Barnabas in Lystra
8 A man who was born lame was in Lystra. He was always sitting because he had never been able to walk. 9 He listened to what Paul was saying. Paul observed him closely and saw that the man believed he could be made well. 10 So Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand up.” The man jumped up and began to walk.
11 The crowds who saw what Paul had done shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come to us, and they look human.” 12 They addressed Barnabas as Zeus and Paul as Hermes because Paul did most of the talking. 13 Zeus’ temple was at the entrance to the city. The priest of the god Zeus brought bulls with flowery wreaths around their necks to the temple gates. The priest and the crowd wanted to offer a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas.
14 When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they were very upset. They rushed into the crowd 15 and said, “Men, what are you doing? We’re human beings like you. We’re spreading the Good News to you to turn you away from these worthless gods to the living God. The living God made the sky, the land, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In the past God allowed all people to live as they pleased. 17 Yet, by doing good, he has given evidence of his existence. He gives you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons. He fills you with food and your lives with happiness.” 18 Although Paul and Barnabas said these things, they hardly kept the crowd from sacrificing to them.
19 However, Jews from the cities of Antioch and Iconium arrived in Lystra and won the people over. They tried to stone Paul to death and dragged him out of the city when they thought that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.
Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria
The next day Paul and Barnabas left for the city of Derbe. 21 They spread the Good News in that city and won many disciples. Then they went back to the cities of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (which is in Pisidia). 22 They strengthened the disciples in these cities and encouraged the disciples to remain faithful. Paul and Barnabas told them, “We must suffer a lot to enter the kingdom of God.” 23 They had the disciples in each church choose spiritual leaders,[b] and with prayer and fasting they entrusted the leaders to the Lord in whom they believed.
24 After they had gone through Pisidia, they went to Pamphylia. 25 They spoke the message in the city of Perga and went to the city of Attalia. 26 From Attalia they took a boat and headed home to the city of Antioch in Syria. (In Antioch they had been entrusted to God’s care[c] for the work they had now finished.) 27 When they arrived, they called the members of the church together. They reported everything God had done through them, especially that he had given people who were not Jewish the opportunity to believe. 28 They stayed for a long time with these disciples.
The Righteous Branch
23 “How horrible it will be for the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep in my care,” declares Yahweh. 2 “This is what I, Yahweh Elohim of Israel, said to the shepherds who take care of my people: You have scattered my sheep and chased them away. You have not taken care of them, so now I will take care of you by punishing you for the evil you have done,” declares Yahweh.
3 “Then I will gather the remaining part of my flock from all the countries where I chased them. I will bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fertile and increase in number. 4 I will put shepherds over them. Those shepherds will take care of them. My sheep will no longer be afraid or terrified, and not one of them will be missing,” declares Yahweh.
5 “The days are coming,” declares Yahweh,
“when I will grow a righteous Tsemach for David.
He will be a king who will rule wisely.
He will do what is fair and right in the land.
6 In his lifetime, Judah will be saved,
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name that he will be given:
Yahweh Tsidqenu.
7 “That is why the days are coming,” declares Yahweh, “when people’s oaths will no longer be, ‘Yahweh brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. As Yahweh lives. . . .’ 8 Instead, their oaths will be, ‘Yahweh brought the descendants of the nation of Israel out of the land of the north and all the lands where he[a] had scattered them. As Yahweh lives. . . .’ At that time they will live in their own land.
Warnings to the False Prophets
9 “Say this about the prophets:
I am deeply disturbed.
All my bones tremble.
I am like a drunk,
like a person who has had too much wine,
because of Yahweh and his holy words.
10 The land is filled with adulterers.
The land mourns because of the curse.
Pastures in the wilderness have dried up.
The people are evil,
and they use their strength to do the wrong things.
11 The prophets and priests are godless.
Even in my temple I’ve found them doing evil,” declares Yahweh.
12 “That is why their own way will become
like slippery paths in the dark.
They will be chased away, and they will fall down in the dark.
I will bring disaster on them.
It is time for them to be punished,” declares Yahweh.
13 “Say this about the prophets of Samaria:
I saw something disgusting.
The prophets of Samaria prophesied by Baal
and led my people Israel astray.
14 “Say this about the prophets of Jerusalem:
I see something horrible.
The prophets of Jerusalem commit adultery and live a lie.
They support those who do evil
so that no one turns back from his wickedness.
They are all like Sodom to me,
and those who live in Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”
15 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says about the prophets:
I will give them wormwood to eat and poison to drink.
The prophets of Jerusalem have spread godlessness
throughout the land.
16 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says:
Don’t listen to what the prophets are saying to you.
They fill you with false hope.
They speak about visions that they dreamed up.
These visions are not from Yahweh.
17 They keep saying to those who despise me,
“Yahweh says, ‘Everything will go well for you.’”
They tell all who live by their own stubborn ways,
“Nothing bad will happen to you.”
18 Who is in Yahweh’s inner circle
and sees and hears his word?
Who pays attention and listens to his word?
19 The storm of Yahweh will come with his anger.
Like a windstorm, it will swirl down on the heads of the wicked.
20 The anger of Yahweh will not turn back
until he has done everything he intends to do.
In the last days you will understand this clearly.
21 I didn’t send these prophets,
yet they ran with their message.
I didn’t speak to them,
yet they prophesied.
22 If they had been in my inner circle,
they would have announced my words to my people.
They would have turned back from their evil ways
and the evil they have done.
23 “I am an Elohim who is near.
I am also an Elohim who is far away,” declares Yahweh.
24 “No one can hide so that I can’t see him,” declares Yahweh.
“I fill heaven and earth!” declares Yahweh.
25 “I’ve heard the prophets who speak lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ 26 How long will these prophets continue to lie and deceive? 27 They tell each other the dreams they had, because they want to make my people forget my name, as their ancestors forgot my name because of Baal. 28 The prophet who has a dream should tell his dream. However, the person who has my word should honestly speak my word. What does grain have to do with straw?” asks Yahweh. 29 “Isn’t my word like fire or like a hammer that shatters a rock?” asks Yahweh. 30 “I’m against the prophets who steal my words from each other,” declares Yahweh. 31 “I’m against the prophets who speak their own thoughts and say that they speak for me. 32 I’m against those who prophesy dreams they made up,” declares Yahweh. “They tell the dreams they made up and lead my people astray with their lies and their wild talk. I didn’t send them or command them to go. They don’t help these people at all,” declares Yahweh.
33 “When these people, the prophets, or the priests ask you, ‘What revelation has Yahweh burdened you with now?’ say to them, ‘You are the burden! I will abandon you, declares Yahweh.’ 34 Suppose the prophets, the priests, or these people say, ‘This is Yahweh’s revelation!’ I will punish them and their families. 35 They should ask their neighbors and their relatives, ‘What is Yahweh’s answer?’ and ‘What did Yahweh say?’ 36 They should never again say, ‘This is Yahweh’s revelation,’ because each person’s word becomes the revelation. They will twist the words of Elohim Chay, Yahweh Tsebaoth, our Elohim.
37 “Jeremiah, say this to the prophets, ‘What was Yahweh’s answer to you?’ and ‘What did Yahweh say?’ 38 Suppose they say, ‘This is Yahweh’s revelation!’ Then say, ‘This is what Yahweh says: Because you have said, “This is Yahweh’s revelation!” even though I commanded you not to repeat this saying, 39 I will certainly forget you. I will throw you out of my presence and out of the city that I gave you and your ancestors. 40 I will bring eternal disgrace and shame on you. It will never be forgotten.’”
9 He said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see the kingdom of God arrive with power.”
Moses and Elijah Appear with Jesus(A)
2 After six days Yeshua took only Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone.
Yeshua’s appearance changed in front of them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them. 4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared to them and were talking with Yeshua.
5 Peter said to Yeshua, “Rabbi, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s put up three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 (Peter didn’t know how to respond. He and the others were terrified.)
7 Then a cloud overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
8 Suddenly, as they looked around, they saw no one with them but Yeshua.
9 On their way down the mountain, Yeshua ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen. They were to wait until the Son of Man had come back to life. 10 They kept in mind what he said but argued among themselves what he meant by “come back to life.” 11 So they asked him, “Don’t the experts in Moses’ Teachings say that Elijah must come first?”
12 Yeshua said to them, “Elijah is coming first and will put everything in order again. But in what sense was it written that the Son of Man must suffer a lot and be treated shamefully? 13 Indeed, I can guarantee that Elijah has come. Yet, people treated him as they pleased, as Scripture says about him.”
Jesus Cures a Demon-Possessed Boy(B)
14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them. Some experts in Moses’ Teachings were arguing with them. 15 All the people were very surprised to see Yeshua and ran to welcome him.
16 Yeshua asked the experts in Moses’ Teachings, “What are you arguing about with them?”
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son. He is possessed by a spirit that won’t let him talk. 18 Whenever the spirit brings on a seizure, it throws him to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes exhausted. I asked your disciples to force the spirit out, but they didn’t have the power to do it.”
19 Yeshua said to them, “You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!”
20 They brought the boy to him. As soon as the spirit saw Yeshua, it threw the boy into convulsions. He fell on the ground, rolled around, and foamed at the mouth.
21 Yeshua asked his father, “How long has he been like this?”
The father replied, “He has been this way since he was a child. 22 The demon has often thrown him into fire or into water to destroy him. If it’s possible for you, put yourself in our place, and help us!”
23 Yeshua said to him, “As far as possibilities go, everything is possible for the person who believes.”
24 The child’s father cried out at once, “I believe! Help my lack of faith.”
25 When Yeshua saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he gave an order to the evil spirit. He said, “You spirit that won’t let him talk, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 The evil spirit screamed, shook the child violently, and came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, and everyone said, “He’s dead!”
27 Yeshua took his hand and helped him to stand up.
28 When Yeshua went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we force the spirit out of the boy?”
29 He told them, “This kind of spirit can be forced out only by prayer.”[a]
Jesus Again Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life(C)
30 They left that place and were passing through Galilee. Yeshua did not want anyone to know where he was 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He taught them, “The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people. They will kill him, but on the third day he will come back to life.”
32 The disciples didn’t understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him.
Greatness in the Kingdom(D)
33 Then they came to Capernaum. While Yeshua was at home, he asked the disciples, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 They were silent. On the road they had argued about who was the greatest.
35 He sat down and called the twelve apostles. He told them, “Whoever wants to be the most important person must take the last place and be a servant to everyone else.” 36 Then he took a little child and had him stand among them. He put his arms around the child and said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
Using the Name of Jesus(E)
38 John said to Yeshua, “Teacher, we saw someone forcing demons out of a person by using the power and authority of your name. We tried to stop him because he was not one of us.”
39 Yeshua said, “Don’t stop him! No one who works a miracle in my name can turn around and speak evil of me. 40 Whoever isn’t against us is for us. 41 I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”
Causing Others to Lose Faith(F)
42 “These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be thrown into the sea with a large stone hung around his neck.
43 “So if your hand causes you to lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life disabled than to have two hands and go to hell, to the fire that cannot be put out.[b] 45 If your foot causes you to lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 If your eye causes you to lose your faith, tear it out! It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. 48 In hell worms that eat the body never die, and the fire is never put out. 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good. But if salt loses its taste, how will you restore its flavor? Have salt within you, and live in peace with one another.”
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.