M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Jacob’s Family Grows Strong
1 When Jacob went to Egypt, he took his sons, and ·each son took his own family [L …their households] with him. These are the names of the sons of Israel: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, 4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 There was a total of seventy people who ·were descendants [L came out of the loins/thigh] of Jacob [Gen. 46:26–27]. Jacob’s son Joseph was already in Egypt.
6 Some time later, Joseph and his brothers died, along with all ·the people who had lived at that same time [L that generation]. 7 But the ·people [L sons; children] of Israel ·had many children [L were fruitful], and ·their number grew greatly [L they became a teeming swarm and multiplied]. They became very strong, and the ·country of Egypt [L land] was filled with them [Gen. 1:28].
Trouble for the People of Israel
8 Then a new king ·began to rule [L rose over] Egypt, who did not know who Joseph was [C identification uncertain; may refer to Ahmose in 16th century bc]. 9 ·This king [L He] said to his people, “Look! The people of Israel are too many and ·too strong for us to handle [L stronger than us]! 10 If we don’t ·make plans against [deal wisely/shrewdly with] them, the number of their people will grow even more. Then if there is a war, they might join ·our enemies [L those who hate us] and fight us and ·escape [L go up] from the country!”
11 So ·the Egyptians made life hard for the Israelites [L they afflicted/oppressed them with hard labor]. They put slave masters over them, who forced the Israelites to build the cities Pithom and Rameses as ·supply centers [storage cities] for ·the king [L Pharaoh]. 12 But the harder ·the Egyptians forced the Israelites to work [L they afflicted/oppressed them], the more ·the Israelites grew in number [they multiplied] and spread out. So ·the Egyptians became very afraid of them [L they dreaded the sons/T children of Israel] 13 and ·demanded even more of them [L the Egyptians ruthlessly forced the sons/T children of Israel to labor]. 14 They made their lives ·bitter [miserable]. They forced the Israelites to work hard to make bricks and mortar and to do all kinds of work in the fields. ·The Egyptians were not merciful to them in all their painful work [L They ruthlessly forced them to work].
15 Two Hebrew ·nurses [midwives] named Shiphrah and Puah were told by the king [C not the Pharaoh of 1:8; perhaps fifteenth or thirteenth century bc—if the latter, probably Rameses], 16 “When you ·are helping the Hebrew women give birth to their babies [act as midwives for the Hebrew women], ·watch [observe them on the birthstool; or look at the stones; C a euphemism for testicles]! If the baby is a girl, let her live, but if it is a boy, kill him!” 17 But the ·nurses [midwives] feared God, so they did not do as the king [L of Egypt] told them; they let all the boy babies live. 18 Then the king of Egypt sent for the ·nurses [midwives] and said, “Why did you do this? Why did you let the boys live?”
19 The ·nurses [midwives] said to ·him [L Pharaoh], “The Hebrew women are ·much stronger than [L not like] the Egyptian women. They are ·strong [vigorous; hardy]. They give birth to their babies before we can get there.” 20 God ·was good [showed favor] to the ·nurses [midwives]. And the Hebrew people continued to grow in number, so they became even stronger. 21 Because the ·nurses [midwives] feared God [Prov. 1:7], he gave them families of their own.
22 So ·the king [L Pharaoh] commanded all his people, “Every time a boy is born to the Hebrews, you must throw him into the Nile River, but let all the girl babies live.”
Jesus Is Tempted by the Devil(A)
4 Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. The Spirit led Jesus into the ·desert [wilderness] 2 where the devil ·tempted [or tested] Jesus for forty days [C like Israel’s forty years of testing in the wilderness]. Jesus ate nothing during that time, and when those days were ended, he was very hungry [Ex. 34:28].
3 The devil said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, ·tell [command] this rock to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written in the Scriptures: ‘A person does not live on bread alone [Deut. 8:3].’”
5 Then the devil took Jesus [L up] and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant. 6 The devil said to Jesus, “I will give you all these kingdoms and all their ·power [authority] and ·glory [splendor]. [L …because] It has all been ·given [handed over] to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. 7 If you worship me, then it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered, “It is written in the Scriptures: ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him [Deut. 6:13; 10:20].’”
9 Then the devil led Jesus to Jerusalem and put him on ·a high place [the pinnacle] of the Temple. He said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, ·jump [throw yourself] down [L from here]. 10 [L For] It is written in the Scriptures:
‘He ·has put his angels in charge of you [or will order his angels to protect you; L will command his angel concerning you]
to ·watch over you [guard you carefully; Ps. 91:11].’
11 It is also written:
‘They will ·catch you in [lift you up with] their hands
so that you will not ·hit your foot on [trip/stumble over] a rock [Ps. 91:12].’”
12 Jesus answered, “But it also says in the Scriptures: ‘Do not test the Lord your God [Deut. 6:16].’”
13 After the devil had ·tempted [tested] Jesus ·in every way [or with all these temptations], he left him to wait until a ·better [opportune] time.
Jesus Teaches the People(B)
14 Jesus returned to Galilee ·in the power of [empowered by] the Holy Spirit, and ·stories [news; reports] about him spread all through the ·area [region; countryside]. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues, and everyone ·praised [acclaimed; glorified] him.
16 Jesus traveled to Nazareth, where he had grown up. On the Sabbath day he went to the synagogue, as he always did, and stood up to read. 17 The ·book [or scroll] of Isaiah the prophet was given to him. He ·opened [L unrolled] the ·book [or scroll] and found the place where this is written:
18 “·The Lord has put his Spirit in me [L The Spirit of the Lord is on me],
because he ·appointed [L anointed; C at Jesus’ baptism he was anointed by the Spirit as the Messiah, meaning the Anointed One] me to ·tell [proclaim; preach] the ·Good News [Gospel] to the poor.
He has sent me to ·tell the captives they are free [proclaim liberty/release for the captives/prisoners]
and to tell the blind that they can see again [Is. 61:1].
God sent me to free ·those who have been treated unfairly [the oppressed; Is. 58:6]
19 and to ·announce [proclaim] the ·time [year] when the Lord will show his ·kindness [favor; Is. 61:2; C an allusion to the release of slaves during the Jubilee year; Lev. 25].”
20 Jesus ·closed the book [or rolled up the scroll], gave it back to the ·assistant [synagogue attendant], and sat down. ·Everyone [L All the eyes] in the synagogue was watching Jesus closely. 21 He began to say to them, “·While you heard these words just now, they were coming true [L Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your ears]!”
22 All the people spoke well of Jesus and were amazed at the ·words of grace [or gracious words] he spoke. They asked, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
23 Jesus said to them, “·I know that [No doubt; Surely] you will ·tell [quote] me ·the old saying [this proverb]: ‘·Doctor [T Physician], heal yourself.’ You want to say, ‘We heard about the things you did in Capernaum [C a town in Galilee where Jesus lived and ministered]. Do those things here in your own town!’” 24 Then Jesus said, “·I tell you the truth [L Truly/Amen I say to you], a prophet is not ·accepted [welcomed] in his hometown. 25 But I tell you ·the truth [truly], there were many widows in Israel during the time of Elijah. ·It did not rain [L The sky/heavens were shut] in Israel for three and one-half years, and there was ·no food anywhere [L a great famine] in the whole country [1 Kin. 17]. 26 But Elijah was sent to none of those widows, only to a widow in Zarephath, a town in Sidon [C a Gentile city on the coast north of Israel]. 27 And there were many ·with skin diseases [T lepers] living in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha. But none of them were ·healed [cured; cleansed], only Naaman, ·who was from the country of Syria [L the Syrian; 2 Kin. 5].”
28 When all the people in the synagogue heard these things, they ·became very angry [were furious; L were filled with wrath]. 29 They got up, ·forced [drove] Jesus out of town, and took him to the ·edge [brow] of the ·cliff [hill] on which the town was built. They planned to throw him off the ·edge [cliff], 30 but Jesus ·walked [passed] through the crowd and went on his way.
Jesus Forces Out an Evil Spirit(C)
31 Jesus went to Capernaum [4:23], a city in Galilee, and on the Sabbath day, he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because ·he spoke with [his words/message had] authority. 33 In the synagogue a man who had within him an ·evil spirit [L unclean spirit; C demons were viewed as “unclean” or defiling spirit-beings] shouted in a loud voice, 34 “Jesus of Nazareth! What do you ·want [have to do] with us? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are—God’s Holy One!”
35 Jesus ·commanded [reprimanded; rebuked] the evil spirit, “Be quiet! Come out of the man!” The ·evil spirit [L demon] threw the man down to the ground before all the people and then left the man without ·hurting [injuring] him.
36 [L All] The people were amazed and said to each other, “·What does this mean? [or What words these are!] With authority and power he ·commands [gives orders to] ·evil [defiling; L unclean; v. 33] spirits, and they come out.” 37 And so the news about Jesus spread to every place in the whole area.
Jesus Heals Many People(D)
38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon [C Peter]. Simon’s mother-in-law was sick with a high fever, and they asked Jesus ·to help her [L concerning her]. 39 He ·came to her side [or stood over her] and ·commanded the fever to leave [L rebuked the fever]. It left her, and immediately she got up and ·began serving them [or waiting on them; C presumably meal preparation].
40 ·When [or As] the sun went down, the people brought those who were sick to Jesus. ·Putting [Laying] his hands on each sick person, he healed every one of them. 41 Demons [L also] came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But Jesus ·commanded [reprimanded; rebuked] the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew Jesus was the ·Christ [Messiah].
42 At daybreak, Jesus went to a ·lonely [isolated; deserted] place, but the ·people [crowds] ·looked [were looking] for him. When they ·found [came to] him, they tried to keep him from leaving. 43 But Jesus said to them, “I must preach [L the good news] about God’s kingdom to other towns, too. [L …because] This is why I was sent.”
44 Then he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.[a]
Bildad Answers Job
18 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:
2 “·When will you stop these speeches [L How long before you stop these words]?
·Be sensible [or Reflect], and then we can talk [Prov. 15:28; 18:13; 29:20].
3 ·You think of [L Why do you consider/count] us as cattle,
as ·if we are stupid [L stupid in your eyes/estimation].
4 You tear ·yourself [your life] to pieces in your anger.
Should the earth be vacant ·just for [or because of] you?
Should the rocks move from their places [14:18]?
5 “The lamp of the wicked will be put out,
and the flame in their lamps will stop burning.
6 The light in their tents will grow dark,
and the lamps ·by their sides [or above them] will go out.
7 Their ·strong steps [vigorous gait] will grow ·weak [cramped; restricted];
·they will fall into their own evil traps [or their own schemes/advice will throw them down].
8 Their feet will be caught in a net [Prov. 28:9]
when they walk into ·its web [a snare].
9 A trap will catch them by the heel [Prov. 22:5]
and [L a noose] hold them tight.
10 A ·trap for them [L rope] is hidden on the ground,
right in their path.
11 ·Terrible things [L Terrors] startle them from every side
and ·chase [or disperse] them at ·every step [L their feet].
12 ·Hunger takes away their strength [or Calamity is hungry for them],
and disaster is ·at their side [or prepared for them when they stumble].
13 Disease eats away ·parts of their skin [or their fleshy limbs];
·death [L the firstborn of Death; C death is personified] ·gnaws at [consumes] their ·arms and legs [L limbs].
14 They are torn from the ·safety [confidence] of their tents
and ·dragged off to Death, the King of Terrors [L terrors march them off to their king].
15 ·Their tents are set on fire [or Nothing of theirs will remain in their tents],
and sulfur is scattered over their ·homes [or pastures].
16 Their roots dry up below ground,
and their branches die above ground [C the wicked are like a dead tree].
17 People on earth will not remember them;
their names will be forgotten in the land.
18 They will be driven from light into darkness
and ·chased [driven] out of the world [C they will die].
19 They have no children or descendants among their people,
and no one will be left alive where they once lived.
20 People ·of the west [or who come after] will be ·shocked [desolated] ·at what has happened to them [by their end/fate],
and people ·of the east [or who came before] will be ·very frightened [seized with horror].
21 Surely this is ·what will happen to [L the dwelling of] the wicked;
such is the place of one who does not know God.”
Wickedness in the Church
5 It is actually being ·said [reported] that there is sexual sin among you. And it is a kind that ·does not happen [or is not tolerated] even among ·people who do not know God [pagans; Gentiles]. A man there ·has [is living in sin with; is sleeping with] his father’s wife [C probably his stepmother; Lev. 18:7–8; 20:11]. 2 And you are ·proud [arrogant; puffed up]! ·You should [L Should you not…?] have been filled with ·sadness [grief; mourning] so that the man who did this should be put out of your group. 3 I am not there with you in person, but I am with you in spirit. And I have already ·judged [condemned] the man who did that sin as if I were really there. 4 When you meet together in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I meet with you in spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 then hand this man over to Satan. So his ·sinful self will be destroyed [sinful nature will be purged; or body/flesh will be destroyed; or body will be beaten down by sin], and his spirit will be saved on the day of the Lord.
6 Your ·bragging [boasting] is not good. You know the saying, “Just a little ·yeast [or leaven; C leaven is a small lump of fermented dough used to make a loaf rise, as yeast is today] makes the whole batch of dough rise [C yeast/leaven symbolizes the permeating influence of this man’s sin within the community; Gal. 5:9].” 7 ·Take out all [Cleanse; Purge] the old ·yeast [leaven] so that you will be a new batch of dough without ·yeast [leaven], which you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed [C Christ’s sacrificial death rescued us from spiritual death, just as the blood of the first Passover lambs rescued the children of Israel; Ex. 11—12]. 8 So let us celebrate this feast [C a new kind of Passover feast], but not with the bread that has the old ·yeast [leaven]—the ·yeast [leaven] of ·sin [evil; malice] and wickedness [C unleavened bread was used in the Passover celebration; Ex. 12:15; Deut. 16:3]. Let us celebrate this feast with the bread that has no ·yeast [leaven]—the bread of ·goodness [sincerity] and truth.
9 I wrote you in my earlier letter not to associate with those who sin sexually. 10 But I did not [L at all] mean you should not associate with those of this world who sin sexually, or with the greedy, or ·robbers [or swindlers], or those who worship idols. To get away from them you would have to leave this world. 11 I am writing to tell you that you must not associate with those who call themselves ·believers in Christ [a brother or sister] but who sin sexually, or are greedy, or worship idols, or ·abuse others with words [slander], or get drunk, or ·cheat [swindle] people. Do not even eat with people like that.
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