M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Jethro Visits Moses
18 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, was the priest of Midian [2:15]. He heard about everything that God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites, and how the Lord had led the Israelites out of Egypt. 2 Now Moses had sent [L away] his wife Zipporah [2:21] to Jethro, his father-in-law [4:24–26], 3 along with his two sons. The first son was named Gershom [C sounds like Hebrew for “stranger there”], because when he was born, Moses said, “I am a ·stranger [sojourner; wanderer; resident alien] in a foreign country.” 4 The other son was named Eliezer [C sounds like Hebrew for “my God is help”], because when he was born, Moses said, “The God of my father is my help. He saved me from ·the king of Egypt [L the sword of Pharaoh].”
5 So Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife and his two sons and went to Moses. He was camped in the ·desert [wilderness] near the mountain of God [C Mount Sinai]. 6 Jethro had sent a message ahead to Moses that said, “I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. After the two men asked about each other’s ·health [well-being], they went into Moses’ tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law everything the Lord had done to ·the king [L Pharaoh] and the Egyptians to help Israel. He told about all the ·problems [hardship] they had faced along the way and how the Lord had saved them.
9 Jethro ·was very happy to hear [rejoiced concerning] all the good things the Lord had done for Israel when he had saved them from the Egyptians. 10 He said, “·Praise [Blessed be] the Lord. He has saved you from the [L hand of the] Egyptians and [L the hand of] ·their king [L Pharaoh], and he has saved the people from the ·power [L hand] of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know the Lord is greater than all gods, because he did this to those who ·looked down on Israel [treated Israel with insolence/arrogance].” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, gave a whole burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] and other sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to Moses’ father-in-law to eat ·the holy meal [L bread/food] together before God.
13 The next day Moses ·solved disagreements [decided cases; L sat as judge] among the people, and the people stood around him from morning until night. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is all this you are doing for the people? Why are you the only one ·to solve disagreements [L sitting]? All the people are standing ·around you [or in line] from morning until night!”
15 Then Moses said to his father-in-law, “It is because the people come to me ·for God’s help in solving their disagreements [L to seek/inquire of God]. 16 When people have a ·disagreement [L matter; case], they come to me, and I ·decide who is right [judge between a person and his neighbor]. I tell them God’s ·laws [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·teachings [instructions; laws].”
17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “·You are not doing this right [L What you are doing is not good]. 18 You and the people who ·come to you [L are with you] will ·get too tired [wear out]. ·This is too much work for you [L The matter is too heavy for you]; you can’t do it by yourself. 19 Now listen to me, and I will give you some advice. I want God to be with you. You must speak to God for the people and tell him about their ·disagreements [cases]. 20 Warn them about the ·laws [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·teachings [instructions; laws], and ·teach [make known to] them the ·right way to live [L way they should go] and what they should do. 21 But choose some ·capable [virtuous; noble] men from among the people—men who ·respect [fear] God [Prov. 1:7], who can be trusted, and who ·will not change their decisions for money [L hate dishonest profit]. Make these men officers over the people, to rule over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 22 Let these officers ·solve the disagreements [consider cases; judge] among the people all the time. They can bring the ·hard [L big] cases to you, but they can ·decide [judge] the ·simple [L small] cases themselves. That will make it easier for you, because they will share the work with you. 23 If you do this as God commands you, then you will be able to do your job, and all the people will go ·home [to their place] ·with their disagreements solved [L in peace].”
24 So Moses listened to [L the voice of] his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He ·chose [selected] ·capable [virtuous; noble] men from all the Israelites and made them ·leaders [heads] over the people; they were officers over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26 These officers ·solved disagreements among [judged] the people all the time. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but they ·decided [judged] the ·simple [L small] cases themselves.
27 So Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro went back to his own ·home [L land].
True Giving(A)
21 As Jesus looked up, he saw some rich people putting their gifts into the Temple ·money box [or treasury; C one of thirteen trumpet-shaped receptacles used to collect offerings]. 2 Then he saw a poor widow putting two small copper coins [C Greek: lepta; worth only 1/128 of a denarius, the daily wage of a worker] into the box. 3 He said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow gave more than all those rich people. 4 [L For] They gave ·only what they did not need [out of their surplus/abundance]. ·This woman is very poor, but she gave [L But she, out of her poverty, gave] all she had to live on.”
The Temple Will Be Destroyed(B)
5 Some ·people [or of the disciples] were talking about the Temple and how it was ·decorated [adorned] with beautiful stones and gifts offered to God.
But Jesus said, 6 “As for these things you are looking at, the ·time [days] will come when not one stone will be left on another. Every stone will be ·thrown [torn] down.”
7 They asked Jesus, “Teacher, when will these things happen? What will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
8 Jesus said, “·Be careful [Watch out] so you are not ·fooled [deceived; led astray]. [L For; Because] Many people will come in my name, saying, ‘I am ·the One [or he; C the Messiah]’ and, ‘The time ·has come [or is near]!’ But don’t follow them. 9 When you hear about wars and ·riots [uprisings; insurrections], don’t be ·afraid [terrified], because these things must happen first, but the end will ·come later [not come immediately].”
10 Then he said to them, “Nations will ·fight [L rise up] against other nations, and kingdoms against other kingdoms. 11 In various places there will be great earthquakes, ·sicknesses [plagues; pestilences], and ·a lack of food [famines]. ·Fearful [Terrifying] events and great signs will come from heaven.
12 “But before all these things happen, people will ·arrest [seize; L lay their hands on] you and ·treat you cruelly [persecute you]. They will ·judge you in their [drag you into the; L hand you over to] synagogues and put you in jail and force you to stand before kings and governors, because ·you follow me [of your allegiance to me; L of my name]. 13 But this will give you an opportunity to ·tell [testify; bear witness] about me. 14 [L So; Therefore] ·Make up your minds [Resolve; L Put it in your hearts] not to ·worry [or rehearse] ahead of time about what you will say [12:11]. 15 [L For] I will give you ·the wisdom to say things [words and wisdom] that none of your enemies will be able to ·stand against [resist] or ·prove wrong [refute; contradict]. 16 Even your parents, brothers [and sisters], relatives, and friends will ·turn against you [betray you; L hand you over], and they will kill some of you. 17 All people will hate you because ·you follow me [L of my name]. 18 But ·none of these things can really harm you [L not a hair on your head will perish; C a metaphor for living forever with God]. 19 By ·continuing to have faith [your endurance/perseverance] you will ·save your lives [or gain/win your souls].
Jerusalem Will Be Destroyed(C)
20 “When you see armies all around Jerusalem, you will know ·it will soon be destroyed [L its desolation draws near/is at hand]. 21 At that time, the people in Judea should run away to the mountains. The people in Jerusalem must get out, and those who are ·near the city [in the countryside] should not go in. 22 These are the days of ·punishment [vengeance; retribution] to ·bring about [fulfill] all that is written in the Scriptures. 23 ·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] women who are pregnant or have nursing babies [L in those days]! [L For; Because] Great ·trouble [distress; calamity] will come upon this land, and ·God will be angry with these people [L wrath will come against this people]. 24 They will ·be killed by [L fall by the mouth of] the sword and taken as ·prisoners [captives] to all nations. Jerusalem will be ·crushed [trampled] by Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles is ·over [fulfilled].
Don’t Fear(D)
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On earth, nations will be ·afraid [distressed] and confused because of the roar and ·fury [surging waves] of the sea. 26 People will be so afraid they will ·faint [or lose all hope], wondering what is ·happening to [coming upon] the world, because the ·powers of the heavens [or heavenly bodies] will be shaken. 27 Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory [Dan. 7:13]. 28 When these things begin to happen, ·look up [or stand up] and hold your heads high, because ·the time when God will free you [your redemption/liberation] is ·near [at hand]!”
Jesus’ Words Will Live Forever(E)
29 Then Jesus told this ·story [parable]: “Look at the fig tree and all the other trees. 30 When their leaves appear, you [L see for yourselves and] know that summer is near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that God’s kingdom is near.
32 “I tell you the truth, all these things will happen ·while the people of this time are still living [L before this generation passes away; C either the generation that sees the destruction of Jerusalem (ad 70), or a future generation of the end times]. 33 ·Earth and sky will be destroyed [T Heaven and earth will pass away], but the words I have spoken will never ·be destroyed [pass away].
Be Ready All the Time
34 “·Be careful [Watch yourselves] not to ·spend your time [or become dulled by; L let your hearts be weighed down by] ·feasting [carousing; debauchery], ·drinking [drunkenness], or worrying about worldly things. If you do, that day might come on you suddenly, 35 ·like a trap. For it will come upon all people who live on the earth. [or Like a trap, it will come upon all people who live on the earth.] 36 So be ·ready [alert; watching] all the time. Pray that you will be strong enough to escape all these things that ·will [are about to] happen and that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 During the day, Jesus taught the people in the Temple, and at night he went out of the city and stayed on the Mount of Olives. 38 Every morning all the people got up early to go to the Temple to listen to him.
Elihu’s Speech Continues
36 Elihu continued:
2 “·Listen to [or Be patient with] me a little longer, and I will ·show [inform] you
that there is more to be said for God.
3 What I know comes from far away.
I will ·show that my Maker is right [ascribe righteousness to my Maker].
4 You can be sure that my words are not false;
·one who really knows is with you [L perfect knowledge is with me].
5 “God is powerful, but he does not ·hate [disdain; reject] people;
he is strong and ·sure of what he wants to do [L powerful in understanding/heart].
6 He will not keep evil people alive,
but he gives the ·poor [afflicted] their rights.
7 He ·always watches over [L does not withhold his eye from] those who do right;
he sets them on thrones with kings
and they are ·honored [exalted] forever.
8 If people are bound in chains,
or if ·trouble [affliction], like ropes, ties them up,
9 God tells them what they have done,
that they have sinned in their pride.
10 He ·makes them listen [L opens their ear] to his ·warning [instruction; discipline]
and commands them to change from doing evil.
11 If they ·obey [or listen] and serve him,
·the rest of their lives will be successful [L their days will finish happily],
and the rest of their years will be ·happy [pleasant].
12 But if they do not listen,
they will ·die by the sword [or pass through the water channel; C reference to death],
and they will die ·without knowing why [in ignorance].
13 “Those who have ·wicked [L godless] hearts hold on to anger.
Even when ·God punishes [L he imprisons] them, they do not cry for help.
14 They die while they are still young,
and their lives end ·in disgrace [L among male prostitutes].
15 But God saves those who ·suffer [are afflicted] ·through [or by means of] their ·suffering [affliction];
he ·gets them to listen [L opens their ear] ·through [or by means of] their pain.
16 “God ·is gently calling [has wooed/enticed] you from the jaws of ·trouble [distress]
to an ·open place of freedom [L broad place with no constraints]
where he has set your table full of ·the best food [L fatness].
17 But now you are ·being punished like [obsessed/filled with the case of] the wicked;
·you are getting justice [L judgment and justice hold on tight to you].
18 Be careful! ·Don’t be led away from God by riches [L …lest anger seduce you by abundance];
don’t let ·much money [a big ransom/bribe] turn you away.
19 Neither your wealth nor all your great strength
will keep you out of trouble.
20 Don’t ·wish [pant; long] for the night
when people are taken from their homes.
21 Be careful not to turn to evil,
which you ·seem to want more [have chosen rather] than ·suffering [affliction].
22 “God is ·great [exulted] and powerful;
·no other teacher is [L who is a teacher…?] like him.
23 ·No one [L Who…?] has ·planned [prescribed] his ways for him;
·no one can say to God [L who says to him…?], ‘You have done wrong.’
24 Remember to ·praise [extol] his work,
about which people have sung.
25 Everybody has seen it;
people look at it from far off.
26 God is so ·great, greater than we can understand [exalted and we do not understand]!
·No one knows how old he is [L The number of his years is unknown].
27 “He ·evaporates [or holds in check] the drops of water from the earth
and ·turns them into rain [filters rain for his streams/or mists; Gen. 2:6].
28 The rain then pours down from the clouds,
and ·showers fall [L drops abundantly] on people.
29 ·No one understands [L Who can understand…?] ·how God spreads out the [L the spreading] clouds
or how he sends thunder from ·where he lives [L his booth/pavilion].
30 Watch how God ·scatters [spreads] his lightning around him,
·lighting up the deepest parts [L covering the roots] of the sea.
31 This is the way God ·governs [or sustains] the nations;
this is how he gives us ·enough [plenty; abundant] food.
32 God ·fills [L covers] his hands with lightning
and commands it to strike its target.
33 His thunder announces ·the coming storm [L about him/it; C thunder announces either the coming storm or the coming of God],
and ·even the cattle know it is near [or the storm announces his coming wrath; or the passion of his anger is against inquity].
6 We are working together [C with fellow believers, or with God, or with Christ], so we ·beg [urge; appeal to; encourage] you: Do not ·let the grace that you received from God be for nothing [L receive God’s grace in vain]. 2 [L For] God says,
“At the ·right [favorable; acceptable] time I heard your prayers.
On the day of salvation I helped you [Is. 49:8].”
·I tell you that [T Behold; L Look] the “·right [favorable; acceptable] time” is now, ·and [T behold; L look] the “day of salvation” is now.
3 We try not to ·be a problem [cause offense; place an obstacle/stumbling block] for anyone in any way, so that no one will find fault with our ·work [ministry]. 4 But in every way ·we show we are servants of God [or as God’s servants/ministers, we commend ourselves]: ·in accepting many hard things [in/with great endurance], in ·troubles [trials; tribulation], in ·difficulties [hardships; times of need], ·and in great problems [in distress/calamities/L tight spots]. 5 ·We are beaten [L …in beatings/floggings] ·and thrown into prison [L in imprisonments]. ·We meet those who become upset with us and start riots [L …in riots/rebellions]. ·We work hard [L …in hard labors], ·and sometimes we get no sleep [L …in sleepless nights] ·or food [L …in hunger]. 6 ·We show we are servants of God by our pure lives [L …in/by purity; C Paul continues the same list, but moves to positive character traits], ·our understanding [L …in/by knowledge], patience, and kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by ·true [sincere; unhypocritical] love, 7 by ·speaking the truth [or the message/word of truth; C the Gospel], and by God’s power. ·We use our right living [L …with weapons of righteousness] ·to defend ourselves against everything [or both to attack (with a sword) and defend (with a shield); L in our right hands and in our left]. 8 ·Some people honor us, but others blame us [L …through honor/glory and dishonor/disgrace…]. ·Some people say evil things about us, but others say good things [L …through slander and praise…]. ·Some people say we are liars, but we speak the truth [L …(treated) as deceivers, yet true…]. 9 ·We are not known, but we are well known [L …as unknown, yet known…]. ·We seem to be dying, but we continue to live [L …as dying, yet look/behold we live!]. ·We are punished [L …as punished/scourged], but we are not killed. 10 ·We have much sadness [L …as sorrowful/grieving], but we are always rejoicing. ·We are poor [L …as poor], but we are making many people ·rich in faith [L rich]. ·We have [L …as having] nothing, but really we have everything.
11 We have spoken ·freely [openly; frankly] to you, ·Corinthian friends [L Corinthians], and have opened our hearts to you. 12 ·Our feelings of love for you have not stopped [We have not withheld our affection from you; L You are not constrained/held back by us], but you have ·stopped your feelings of love [L constrained/held back your affection] for us. 13 I speak to you ·as if you were [L as] my children. ·Do to us as we have done [As a fair exchange]—open your hearts to us [v. 11].
Warning About Non-Christians
14 Do not ·join yourselves to [become partners with; L be mismatched/unevenly yoked with] unbelievers. ·Good and bad do not belong together [L For what partnership has righteousness and wickedness/lawlessness?]. ·Light and darkness cannot share together [Or what fellowship/partnership can light have with darkness?]. 15 How can Christ and Belial [C the devil; Satan] have any ·agreement [harmony; accord]? What can a believer ·have together [share in common] with a nonbeliever? 16 What ·agreement [union] can the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God [1 Cor. 3:16]. As God said: “I will live with them and walk with them. And I will be their God, and they will be my people [Lev. 26:11–12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27].”
17 “[L Therefore] ·Leave those people [L Come out from their midst],
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch nothing that is ·unclean [polluted, defiled],
and I will ·accept [receive; welcome] you [Is. 52:11; Ezek. 20:41].”
18 “I will be your father,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty [2 Sam. 7:14].”
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