M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Sheba’s Rebellion
20 A good-for-nothing man by the name of Sheba, Bichri’s son, from the tribe of Benjamin happened to be at Gilgal. He blew a ram’s horn to announce,
“We have no share in David’s kingdom.
We won’t receive an inheritance from Jesse’s son.
Everyone to his own tent, Israel!”
2 So all the people of Israel left David to follow Sheba, Bichri’s son. But the people of Judah remained loyal to their king on his way from the Jordan River to Jerusalem.
3 When David came to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines[a] he had left to look after the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but no longer slept with them. So they lived like widows in confinement until they died.
4 The king told Amasa, “Call the people of Judah together for me, and in three days be here yourself.” 5 Amasa went to call Judah together, but he took longer to do it than David had given him.
6 David then told Abishai, “Sheba, son of Bichri, will do us more harm than Absalom. Take my men and go after him, or he will find some fortified cities and take the best ones for himself.”[b]
7 So Joab’s men, the Cherethites, Pelethites, and all the soldiers went with Abishai. They left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba, Bichri’s son. 8 When they were at the large rock in Gibeon, Amasa met them there. Joab wore a military uniform, and strapped over it at his hip was a sword in a scabbard. As he stepped forward, the sword dropped into his hand. 9 “How are you, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. He took hold of Amasa’s beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10 Amasa wasn’t on his guard against the sword in Joab’s left hand. Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and his intestines poured out on the ground. (He died without being stabbed again.) Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba, son of Bichri. 11 One of Joab’s young men stood beside Amasa[c] and said, “Anyone who favors Joab and is on David’s side should follow Joab.” 12 Amasa was wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road. When the man saw that all the troops stopped as they came to the body, he carried Amasa from the road to the field and threw a sheet over him. 13 As soon as he was moved from the road, everyone followed Joab and pursued Sheba, Bichri’s son.
14 Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel (Beth Maacah). All the Berites were gathered together and followed him to the city. 15 Joab’s army came and attacked him in Abel (Beth Maacah). They put up a dirt ramp against the city, and it stood level with the outer wall. All the troops with Joab were trying to destroy the wall and tear it down.
16 Then a clever woman called from the city, “Listen, listen! Tell Joab to come here so that I can talk to him.”
17 He came near, and she asked, “Are you Joab?”
“I am,” he answered.
“Listen to what I have to say,” she told him.
“I’m listening,” he answered.
18 So she said, “There’s an old saying: ‘Be sure to ask at Abel before doing anything. That’s the way they settle matters.’ 19 We are peaceful and faithful Israelites. Are you trying to destroy a mother city in Israel? Why should you swallow up what belongs to Yahweh?”
20 Joab answered, “That’s unthinkable! I don’t wish to swallow it up or destroy it. 21 That isn’t the case. A man from the mountains of Ephraim by the name of Sheba, son of Bichri, has rebelled against King David. Give him to me, and I’ll withdraw from the city.”
“That’s fine,” the woman told Joab. “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.” 22 Then the woman went to all the people with her clever plan. They cut off Sheba’s head and threw it to Joab. He blew the ram’s horn, and everyone scattered and withdrew from the city and went home. Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.
David’s Officials
23 Now, Joab was put in charge of Israel’s whole army. Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was in charge of the Cherethites and Pelethites. 24 Adoram was in charge of forced labor. Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was the royal historian. 25 Sheva was the royal scribe. Zadok and Abiathar were priests. 26 And Ira, a descendant of Jair, was a priest to David.
Paul Tells the Corinthians to Prepare for His Visit
13 This is the third time that I’ll be visiting you. Every accusation must be verified by two or three witnesses. 2 I already warned you when I was with you the second time, and even though I’m not there now, I’m warning you again. When I visit you again, I won’t spare you. That goes for all those who formerly led sinful lives as well as for all the others. 3 Since you want proof that Christ is speaking through me, that’s what you’ll get. Christ isn’t weak in dealing with you. Instead, he makes his power felt among you. 4 He was weak when he was crucified, but by God’s power he lives. We are weak with him, but by God’s power we will live for you with his help.
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are still in the Christian faith. Test yourselves! Don’t you recognize that you are people in whom Yeshua Christ lives? Could it be that you’re failing the test? 6 I hope that you will realize that we haven’t failed the test. 7 We pray to God that you won’t do anything wrong. It’s not that we want to prove that we’ve passed the test. Rather, we want you to do whatever is right, even if we seem to have failed. 8 We can’t do anything against the truth but only to help the truth. 9 We’re glad when we are weak and you are strong. We are also praying for your improvement.
10 That’s why I’m writing this letter while I’m not with you. When I am with you I don’t want to be harsh by using the authority that the Lord gave me. The Lord gave us this authority to help you, not to hurt you.
Farewell
11 With that, brothers and sisters, I must say goodbye. Make sure that you improve. Accept my encouragement. Share the same attitude and live in peace. The God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All of God’s holy people greet you.[a]
13 May the Lord Yeshua Christ’s good will,[b] God’s love, and the Holy Spirit’s presence be with all of you!
A Funeral Song about Tyre
27 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, sing a funeral song about Tyre. 3 Tyre is the city at the entrance to the sea. It is the merchant to the nations. Say to Tyre, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says:
Tyre, you used to brag about your perfect beauty.
4 Your home is the sea.
“‘Your builders made your beauty perfect.
5 Your builders made all your boards from pine trees on Mount Hermon.
They took cedar trees from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
6 They made your oars from oaks in Bashan.
They made your deck from pine trees on the shores of Cyprus.
It had ivory set in it.
7 Your sails were made out of fine embroidered linen from Egypt.
They were like your flags.
Your awnings were violet and purple.
They came from the coasts of Elishah.
8 People from Sidon and Arvad used to row you.
Your own skilled people were your sailors.
9 Master shipbuilders from Gebal went inside you to caulk your seams.
All the ships on the sea and their sailors
docked alongside you to trade with you.
10 People from Persia, Lud, and Put were soldiers in your army.
They hung their shields and helmets inside you.
Their victories made you look good.
11 “‘People from Arvad and Helech[a] were guards all around your walls. People from Gammad guarded your towers. They hung their shields all around your walls, making your beauty perfect.
12 “‘People from Tarshish traded with you because you were so very rich. They exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise. 13 People from Greece, Tubal, and Meshech traded with you. They exchanged slaves and bronze items for your goods. 14 People from Beth Togarmah exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your merchandise. 15 People from Dedan traded goods with you. You traded with many people on the coasts, and they brought you ivory and ebony as payment.
16 “‘People from Syria traded with you because you had so many products. They exchanged emeralds, purple cloth, richly woven cloth, linen, coral, and rubies for your merchandise. 17 Judah and Israel traded with you. They exchanged wheat from Minnith, baked goods, honey, olive oil, and balsam for your goods. 18 People from Damascus traded with you because you had so many products. They exchanged wine from Helbon and wool from Sahar.
19 “‘Danites and Greeks from Uzal traded for your merchandise. They exchanged wrought iron, cassia, and sugar cane for your goods. 20 Dedan traded saddle blankets with you. 21 Arabia and all the officials of Kedar traded with you. They traded lambs, rams, and male goats. 22 The merchants from Sheba and Raamah traded with you. They traded the finest spices, precious stones, and gold for your merchandise. 23 Haran, Canneh, Eden, the merchants from Sheba, Assyria, and Kilmad traded with you. 24 In your marketplace they traded for beautiful clothes, purple robes, embroidered cloth, and many multicolored rugs with woven and twisted cords.
25 “‘Ships from Tarshish carried your goods.
You were like a ship filled with heavy cargo in the sea.
26 Your rowers took you out to the high seas,
and an east wind wrecked you in the sea.
27 Your wealth, your merchandise, and the goods you sell,
your mariners and your sailors,
your caulkers and your merchants,
your soldiers and everyone else on board
sank into the sea when your ship was wrecked.
28 “‘When your sailors cried out, people on the shore trembled.
29 All the rowers, the sailors,
and all the mariners came down from their ships
and stood on the shore.
30 They cried loudly and bitterly over you.
They put dust on their heads and covered themselves with ashes.
31 They shaved their heads because of you and put on sackcloth.
They cried over you with bitterness and with bitter mourning.
32 They sang a funeral song for you with loud crying:
“Who is like Tyre, the city destroyed in the sea?”
33 Your merchandise was sent overseas.
You filled many people with your great wealth and your goods.
You made the kings of the earth rich.
34 Now you are wrecked in the sea, at the bottom of the sea.
Your goods and your whole crew sank with you.
35 All those who live on the coasts are horrified because of you.
Their kings are terribly afraid.
Their faces show their fear.
36 The merchants among the nations laugh at you.
You have come to a terrible end,
and you will never exist again.’”
Psalm 75
For the choir director; al tashcheth; a psalm by Asaph; a song.
1 We give thanks to you, O Elohim; we give thanks.
You are present, and your miracles confirm that.
2 When I choose the right time,
I will judge fairly.
3 When the earth and everyone who lives on it begin to melt,
I will make its foundations as solid as rock. Selah
4 I said to those who brag, “Don’t brag,”
and to wicked people,
“Don’t raise your weapons.
5 Don’t raise your weapons so proudly
or speak so defiantly.”
6 The authority to reward someone does not come
from the east,
from the west,
or even from the wilderness.
7 Elohim alone is the Shophet.
He punishes one person and rewards another.
8 A cup is in Yahweh’s hand.
(Its foaming wine is thoroughly mixed with spices.)
He will empty it,
and all the wicked people on earth
will have to drink every last drop.
9 But I will speak about your miracles forever.
I will make music to praise the Elohim of Jacob.
10 I will destroy all the weapons of wicked people,
but the weapons of righteous people will be raised proudly.
Psalm 76
For the choir director; on stringed instruments; a psalm by Asaph; a song.
1 Elohim is known in Judah.
His name is great in Israel.
2 His tent is in Salem.
His home is in Zion.
3 There he destroyed flaming arrows,
shields, swords, and weapons of war. Selah
4 You are the radiant one.
You are more majestic than the ancient mountains.[a]
5 Brave people were robbed.
They died.
None of the warriors were able to lift a hand.
6 At your stern warning, O Elohim of Jacob,
chariot riders and horses were put to sleep.
7 You alone must be feared!
Who can stand in your presence when you become angry?
8 From heaven you announced a verdict.
The earth was fearful and silent
9 when you rose to judge, O Elohim,
when you rose to save every oppressed person on earth. Selah
10 Even angry mortals will praise you.
You will wear the remainder of their anger.[b]
11 Make vows to Yahweh your Elohim, and keep them.
Let everyone around him bring gifts to the one who must be feared.
12 He cuts short the lives of influential people.
He terrifies the kings of the earth.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.