M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Setting Up the Holy Tent
40 Then the Lord said to Moses: 2 “On the first day of the first month, set up the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle], which is the Meeting Tent. 3 Put the Ark of the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty; L Testimony; 25:10] in it and ·hang the curtain in front of the Ark [L screen the Ark with a curtain]. 4 Bring in the table [25:23–30] and arrange ·everything on the table that should be there [L its setting]. Then bring in the ·lampstand [L Menorah; 25:31–40] and set up its lamps. 5 Put the gold altar for ·burning incense [L offering smoke; 30:1–6] in front of the Ark of the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty; L Testimony], and put the ·curtain [screen] at the entrance to the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle].
6 “Put the altar of burnt offerings [27:1–8] in front of the entrance of the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle], the Meeting Tent. 7 Put the bowl [30:17–21] between the Meeting Tent and the altar, and put water in it. 8 Set up the courtyard ·around the Holy Tent [L all around], and put the ·curtain [screen] at the ·entry [L gate] to the courtyard.
9 “Use the ·special [anointing] olive oil and ·pour it on [L anoint] the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] and everything in it, in order to ·give the Tent and all that is in it for service to the Lord [sanctify/consecrate it and all its utensils/tools]. They will be holy. 10 ·Pour the special oil on [L Anoint] the altar for burnt offerings and on all its ·tools [utensils]. ·Give the altar for service to God [Consecrate/Sanctify the altar], and it will be ·very holy [T a holy of holies]. 11 Then ·pour the special olive oil on [L anoint] the bowl and the base under it so that they will be ·given for service to God [consecrated; sanctified].
12 “Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Meeting Tent, and wash them with water. 13 Then put the ·holy [sacred] clothes on Aaron. ·Pour the special oil on [L Anoint] him [Ps. 133], and ·give him for service to God [L consecrate/sanctify him] so that he may serve me as a priest. 14 Bring his sons and put the inner robes [28:39–41] on them. 15 ·Pour the special oil on [L Anoint] them in the same way that you ·appointed [L anointed] their father as priest so that they may also serve me as priests. ·Pouring oil on [L Anointing] them will make them a family of priests, they and their descendants ·from now on [L throughout their generations].” 16 Moses did everything that the Lord commanded him.
17 So the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] was set up on the first day of the first month during the second ·year after they left Egypt [L year]. 18 When Moses set up the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle], he put the bases in place, and he put the frames on the bases. Next he put ·the crossbars through the rings of the frames [L in the poles] and set up the ·posts [pillars]. 19 After that, Moses spread ·the cloth over the Holy Tent [L the tent over the Tabernacle] and put the covering over it, just as the Lord commanded.
20 Moses put the ·stone tablets that had the Agreement written on them [Covenant; Testimony; Treaty] into the Ark. He put the poles ·through the rings of [L on] the Ark and put the ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover] on it. 21 Next he brought the Ark into the ·Tent [Tabernacle] and hung the curtain to ·cover [screen] the Ark [L of the Testimony], just as the Lord commanded him.
22 Moses put the table in the Meeting Tent on the north side of the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] in front of the curtain. 23 Then he ·put [arranged] the bread ·on the table [L in rows] before the Lord, just as the Lord commanded him. 24 Moses put the lampstand [L Menorah] in the Meeting Tent on the south side of the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] across from the table. 25 Then he put the lamps on the lampstand before the Lord, just as the Lord commanded him.
26 Moses put the gold altar for burning incense in the Meeting Tent in front of the curtain. 27 Then he ·burned [L turned into smoke] sweet-smelling incense on it, just as the Lord commanded him. 28 Then he hung the ·curtain [screen] at the entrance to the ·Holy Tent [L Tabernacle].
29 He put the altar for burnt offerings [Lev. 1] at the entrance to the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle], the Meeting Tent, and offered a whole burnt offering and ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 3] offerings on it, just as the Lord commanded him. 30 Moses put the bowl [30:17–21] between the Meeting Tent and the altar for burnt offerings, and he put water in it for washing. 31 Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons used this water to wash their hands and feet [C cleansing rituals]. 32 They washed themselves every time they entered the Meeting Tent and every time they went near the altar for burnt offerings, just as the Lord commanded Moses.
33 Then Moses set up the courtyard around the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] and the altar, and he put up the ·curtain [screen] at the entry to the courtyard. So Moses finished the work.
The Cloud over the Holy Tent
34 Then the cloud covered the Meeting Tent [C representing God’s presence], and the glory of the Lord filled the Holy Tent [C representing his manifest presence]. 35 Moses could not enter the Meeting Tent, because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle].
36 When the cloud rose from the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle], the Israelites would begin to travel, 37 but as long as the cloud ·stayed on the Holy Tent [L did not rise], they did not travel. They stayed in that place until the cloud rose. 38 So the cloud of the Lord was over the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] during the day, and there was a fire in the cloud at night. So all the ·Israelites [L house of Israel] could see the cloud while they traveled.
19 Then Pilate ordered that Jesus be taken away and ·whipped [flogged]. 2 The soldiers ·made [wove; twisted together] a crown ·from some thorny branches [T of thorns] and put it on Jesus’ head and put a purple robe [C purple was the color of royalty] around him. 3 Then they came to him many times and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and ·hit him in the face [slapped/struck him].
4 Again Pilate came out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing Jesus out to you. I want you to know that I find ·nothing [no case; no basis for a charge] against him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “·Here is the man [T Behold the man]!”
6 When the ·leading [T chief] priests and the ·guards [officials; temple police] saw Jesus, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
But Pilate answered them, “Crucify him yourselves, because I find ·nothing [no case; no basis for a charge] against him.”
7 The ·leaders [Jewish leaders; L Jews] answered [L him], “We have a law [Lev. 24:16] that says he should die, because he ·said he is [made himself; claimed to be] the Son of God.”
8 When Pilate heard this [L statement; word], he was even more afraid. 9 He went back inside the ·palace [headquarters; L Praetorium] and asked Jesus, “Where do you come from?” But Jesus did not answer him. 10 Pilate said [L to him], “You refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know I have ·power [authority] to ·set you free [release you] and ·power [authority] to have you crucified?”
11 Jesus answered [him], “The only ·power [authority] you have over me is the ·power [authority] given to you ·by God [L from above]. The man who ·turned me in to you [betrayed me; C Caiaphas or perhaps Judas] is guilty of a greater sin.”
12 ·After this [or For this reason], Pilate tried to let Jesus go. But ·some in the crowd [L the Jews] ·cried out [shouted], “Anyone who makes himself king ·is against [opposes] Caesar [C the Roman emperor]. If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar.”
13 When Pilate heard ·what they were saying [L these words], he brought Jesus out and ·sat down [or seated him] on the judge’s seat at the place called The Stone Pavement. (In the ·Hebrew language [C more specifically, Aramaic, the native language of the Jews at the time] the name is Gabbatha.) 14 It was about ·noon [L the sixth hour; C hours were counted from dawn, about 6 AM] on Preparation Day of Passover week. Pilate said to ·the crowd [L the Jews], “·Here is your king! [L Look, your king! or Look at your king!]”
15 They shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to crucify your king?”
The ·leading [T chief] priests answered, “The only king we have is Caesar.”
16 So Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.
Jesus Is Crucified(A)
The soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, Jesus went out to a place called The Place of the Skull, which in the Hebrew [C Aramaic; see v. 13] language is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Jesus. They also crucified two other men, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle. 19 Pilate wrote a ·sign [title; notice; inscription] and ·put [fastened] it on the cross. It read: jesus ·of nazareth [L the Nazarene], the king of the jews. 20 The ·sign [title; notice; inscription] was written in Hebrew [C Aramaic; 19:13], in Latin, and in Greek [C the languages spoken in Jerusalem at the time]. Many of the people read the sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. 21 The ·leading [T chief] priests [L of the Jews] said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews.’ But write, ‘This man ·said [claimed], “I am the King of the Jews.”’”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23 After the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, with each soldier getting one part [C it was a custom that the executioners would get the victim’s clothes]. They also took his ·long shirt [tunic; undergarment], which was ·all one piece of cloth [seamless], woven from top to bottom. 24 So the soldiers said to each other, “We should not tear this into parts. Let’s throw lots [C similar to dice] to see who will get it.” This happened so that this Scripture would come true:
“They divided my clothes among them,
and they threw lots for my clothing [Ps. 22:18].”
So the soldiers did this.
25 [L Now] Standing near his cross were Jesus’ mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. [C It is unclear whether Mary the wife of Clopas is the same as Jesus’ mother’s sister or someone else.] 26 When Jesus [L therefore] saw his mother and the ·follower [disciple] he loved [C probably John himself] standing nearby, he said to his mother, “·Dear woman [L Woman; see 2:4], ·here is [T behold] your son.” 27 Then he said to the ·follower [disciple], “·Here is [T Behold] your mother.” From that time on, the ·follower [disciple] took her to live in his home.
Jesus Dies(B)
28 After this, Jesus knew that everything had been ·done [finished; completed]. So that the Scripture would ·come true [be fulfilled], he said, “I ·am thirsty [T thirst; Ps. 22:15; 69:21].” 29 There was a jar full of ·vinegar [sour wine] there, so the soldiers soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a ·branch [stalk] of a hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ mouth. 30 When Jesus ·tasted [L received] the ·vinegar [sour wine], he said, “It is ·finished [completed; accomplished].” Then he bowed his head and ·died [L gave up/yielded his spirit].
31 This day was Preparation Day [C for the celebration of Passover; 12:12], and the next day was a ·special [high; L great] Sabbath day [C special because it occurred during Passover]. Since the ·religious leaders [L Jews] did not want the bodies to stay on the cross on the Sabbath day, they asked Pilate to order that the legs of the men be broken [C so they would die quicker] and the bodies be taken away [Deut. 21:22–23]. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man on the cross beside Jesus. Then they broke the legs of the man on the other cross beside Jesus. 33 But when the soldiers came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers ·stuck [pierced] his ·spear [lance; javelin] into Jesus’ side, and at once blood and water came out [C indicating his death as a human being]. 35 (The one who saw this happen is the one who ·told us this [witnesses; testifies; C again probably an allusion to the disciple John], and ·whatever he says [his witness/testimony] is true. And he knows that he tells the truth, and he tells it so that you might believe [see 21:24].) 36 [L For] These things happened to ·make the Scripture come true [fulfill the Scripture]: “Not one of his bones will be broken [Ps. 34:20; see Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12].” 37 And [L again] another Scripture says, “They will look at the one they ·stabbed [pierced; Zech. 12:10].”
Jesus Is Buried(C)
38 ·Later [L After these things], Joseph from Arimathea asked Pilate if he could take the body of Jesus. (Joseph was a secret ·follower [disciple] of Jesus, because he was afraid of ·some of the leaders [the Jewish leaders; L the Jews].) Pilate gave his permission, so Joseph came and took Jesus’ body away. 39 Nicodemus, who earlier had come to Jesus at night [3:1–15; 7:50–52], went with Joseph. He brought about seventy-five pounds [C Greek: a hundred litrai; a litra was about 12 ounces] of [a mixture of] myrrh and aloes [C used to cover a decomposing body to prevent the stench]. 40 These two men took Jesus’ body and wrapped it with the spices in pieces of linen cloth, ·which is how they bury the dead [L according to the burial custom of the Jews]. 41 In the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden. In the garden was a new tomb that had never been used before. 42 The men laid Jesus in that tomb because it was nearby, and ·they were preparing to start their Sabbath day [L because it was the Jewish Day of Preparation].
16 People may make plans in their ·minds [hearts],
but ·only the Lord can make them come true [L from the Lord comes a responding tongue].
2 ·You may believe you are doing right [L All paths of people are pure in their eyes],
but the Lord will ·judge your reasons [measure your motives; L weigh the spirits].
3 ·Depend on the Lord in whatever you do [Commit your acts/deeds to the Lord],
and your plans will ·succeed [be established].
4 The Lord makes everything ·go as he pleases [for a purpose].
He has even prepared a day of ·disaster [evil; harm; trouble] for evil people.
5 The Lord ·hates [detests] those who are proud.
They will surely be punished.
6 ·Love [Loyalty] and ·truth [faithfulness] bring ·forgiveness of sin [atonement for guilt].
By ·respecting [fearing] the Lord you will avoid evil.
7 When ·people live so that they please the Lord [L people’s paths draw the Lord’s favor]
even their enemies will make peace with them.
8 It is better to ·be poor [have little] and ·right [righteousness]
than ·to be wealthy [much gain] and ·dishonest [injustice].
9 ·People may make plans in their minds [L Human hearts plan their path],
but the Lord ·decides what they will do [L establishes their step].
10 The words of a king are like a ·message from God [oracle],
so ·his decisions should be fair [L he should not betray justice with his mouth].
11 The Lord wants honest balances and scales;
·all the weights are his work [L he concerns himself with the weights in the pouch].
12 Kings ·hate [detest] those who do wrong,
because ·governments only continue if they are fair [L in righteousness the throne is established].
13 Kings ·like [favor] ·honest people [L righteous lips];
they ·value [love] ·someone who speaks the truth [L those who speak with integrity].
14 An angry king ·can put someone to [L is a messenger of] death,
so a wise person will ·try to make him happy [appease/calm him].
15 ·A smiling king can give people [L In the light of the face of the king there is] life;
his ·kindness [favor] is like a ·spring shower [L cloud that brings late rain].
16 It is better to get wisdom than gold,
and to choose understanding rather than silver!
17 ·Good people stay [L The highway of those with integrity turns] away from evil.
By ·watching what they do [protecting their path], they ·protect [guard] their lives.
18 Pride ·leads to destruction [comes before a disaster];
·a proud attitude brings ruin [T pride comes before a fall].
19 It is better to be humble and ·be with those who suffer [with the needy]
than ·to share stolen property [dividing plunder/spoil] with the proud.
20 Whoever ·listens to what is taught [has insight] will ·succeed [prosper],
and whoever trusts the Lord will be ·happy [blessed].
21 The wise of heart ·are known for their [L will be called] understanding.
Their ·pleasant [sweet] words ·make them better teachers [enhance their teaching].
22 ·Understanding is like a fountain which gives life to those who use it [L One who possesses insight is a fountain of life],
but ·foolishness brings punishment to fools [or the instruction of foolish people is folly].
23 Wise people’s ·minds [hearts] ·tell them what to say [L provide insight to their mouth],
and that ·helps them be better teachers [enhances their teaching].
24 Pleasant words are like ·a honeycomb [liquid honey],
·making people happy and healthy [L sweet to the taste and healing to the bones].
25 ·Some people think they are doing right [L There is a path that is straight before a person/T seems right to a man],
but in the end it ·leads [L is the path] to death.
26 The workers’ hunger ·helps [L works for] them,
·because their desire to eat makes them work [L and their mouths press/urge them on].
27 ·Useless [Worthless] people ·make evil plans [L dig up evil],
and their ·words [L lips] are like a burning fire.
28 A ·useless [perverse] person causes ·trouble [conflicts],
and a gossip ruins close friendships.
29 ·Cruel [Violent] people ·trick [entice] their neighbors
and ·lead them to do wrong [L make them walk on a path that is not good].
30 Someone who winks their eye is planning ·evil [perverse things],
and the one who ·grins [L purses/narrows their lips] is ·planning something wrong [concealing evil].
31 Gray hair is like a crown of honor;
it is ·earned by living a good life [L found on the path of righteousness].
32 Patience is better than strength [or A patient person is better than a warrior].
Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city.
33 People throw lots ·to make a decision [L into the lap],
but the ·answer [decision] comes from the Lord.
The Importance of Christ
3 [Furthermore, or Finally,] My brothers and sisters, ·be full of joy [rejoice] in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it ·will help you to be more ready [L is a safeguard/protection for you]. 2 ·Watch out for [Beware] those who do evil, ·who are like dogs [L beware the dogs; C a derogatory reference to Paul’s opponents], ·who demand to cut the body [L beware the mutilation; C a mocking reference to those who demand circumcision of Gentile believers]. 3 [L For] We are the ·ones who are truly circumcised [L (true) circumcision]. We ·worship [serve] God ·through [or in] his Spirit, and ·our pride is [we boast/glory] in Christ Jesus. We do not put ·trust [reliance; confidence] in ·ourselves or anything we can do [human ability/effort; T the flesh], 4 although I might be able to put ·trust [reliance; confidence] in ·myself [human ability/effort; T the flesh]. If anyone thinks he has a reason to ·trust [rely; have confidence] in ·himself [human ability/effort; T the flesh], he should know that I have greater reason. 5 I was circumcised eight days after my birth [Gen. 17:12; Lev. 12:3]. I am from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. I am a ·Hebrew, and my parents were Hebrews [or true Hebrew; Hebrew through and through; L Hebrew of Hebrews]. With regard to the ·law of Moses [L law], I was a Pharisee [C Pharisees strictly followed the OT law and expanded on it with many traditions]. 6 ·I was so enthusiastic [L With regard to (religious) zeal,] I persecuted the church. With regard to ·obedience to the law of Moses [L righteousness based on the law] I was ·faultless [blameless]. 7 Those things were ·important [valuable; or assets] to me, but now I think they are ·worth nothing [or liabilities; L a loss] because of Christ. 8 Not only those things, but I think that all things are ·worth nothing [or liabilities; L a loss] ·compared with [or because of] the ·greatness [superior/supreme value] of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him, I have lost all those things, and now I ·know they are [consider them] ·worthless trash [garbage; refuse; excrement]. ·This allows me to have [L …so that I may gain] Christ 9 and to ·belong to [be united with; L be found in] him. ·Now I am right with God, not because I followed the law [L …not having my own righteousness from the law], but because ·I believed in Christ [of faith in Christ; or of the faithfulness of Christ]. This is the ·right relationship with [or righteousness of/from] God that comes through ·faith [or the faithfulness (of Christ)]. 10 I want to know Christ and the power ·that raised him from the dead [L of his resurrection]. I want to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death. 11 ·Then I have hope that [L …if somehow] I myself will ·be raised [reach/attain to the resurrection] from the dead.
Continuing Toward Our Goal
12 ·I do not mean [L Not] that I have already ·achieved [obtained; taken hold of] it or have already ·been perfected [become mature; or reached the goal]. But I keep ·trying [pressing forward; striving; pursuing] to ·take hold of that for which [or make it my own because] Christ ·took hold of me [or made me his own]. 13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not ·yet reached that goal [taken hold of it], but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the ·past [L things that are behind] and ·straining toward [stretching/reaching forward to] what is ahead, 14 I keep ·trying to reach [pursuing; chasing] the goal and get the prize for which God called me ·to the life above [heavenward; L upward] ·through [or in] Christ Jesus.
15 All of us who are ·spiritually mature [perfect; complete] should think this way, too. And if there are things you ·do not agree with [L think differently about], God will ·make them clear [or reveal this] to you. 16 But we should ·continue following the truth [or live up to the standard] we already have.
17 Brothers and sisters, ·all of you should try to follow my example [L become imitators of me] and ·to copy [L watch closely; pay attention to] those who ·live [walk] the way we ·showed [modeled it for] you. 18 [L For] Many people ·live [walk] like enemies of the cross of Christ. I have often told you about them, and ·it makes me cry to [L with tears I] tell you about them now. 19 ·In the end, they will be destroyed [Their end/destiny is destruction]. ·They do whatever their bodies want [L Their god is their stomach/belly], ·they are proud of their shameful acts [L their glory is in their shame], and they think only about earthly things. 20 But our ·homeland [or citizenship] is in heaven, and we are waiting for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. 21 By his power to ·rule [L subject to himself] all things, he will ·change [transform; transfigure] our humble bodies and make them like his own glorious body.
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