M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
22 Take a ·branch of the hyssop plant [L a bunch of hyssop], dip it into the bowl filled with blood, and then ·wipe [smear; L touch] the blood on the ·sides and tops of the doorframes [doorposts and lintel]. No one may ·leave that [L go out of the door of his] house until morning. 23 When the Lord ·goes [passes; crosses] through Egypt to ·kill [strike down; L plague] the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the ·sides and tops of the doorframes [doorposts and lintel], and he will ·pass over [12:13] that house. He will not let the ·one who brings death [destroyer] come into your houses and ·kill [strike; plague] you.
24 “You must keep this ·command [word] as a ·law [statute; ordinance; requirement] for you and your ·descendants [sons; children] ·from now on [forever]. 25 ·Do this [L You will keep/observe this ritual] when you go to the land the Lord has promised to give you [23:14–15; Lev. 23:5–8; Num. 9:1–14; Deut. 16:1–8; Josh. 5:10–11]. 26 When your ·children [sons] ask you, ‘·Why are we doing these things [L What does this ritual mean]?’ 27 you will say, ‘This is the Passover sacrifice to honor the Lord. When we were in Egypt, the Lord passed over the houses of ·Israel [L the sons/T children of Israel], and when he ·killed [struck down; plagued] the Egyptians, he ·saved [rescued; delivered] our homes.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped the Lord. 28 They did just as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron.
29 At midnight the Lord ·killed [struck] all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt—from the firstborn of ·the king [L Pharaoh] who sat on the throne to the firstborn of the prisoner in ·jail [dungeon; L pit]. Also, all the firstborn farm animals died. 30 ·The king [L Pharaoh], his officers, and all the Egyptians got up during the night because someone had died in every house. So there was a loud outcry everywhere in Egypt.
Israel Leaves Egypt
31 During the night ·the king [L he] called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Get up and leave my people. You and ·your people [L the sons/T children of Israel] may do as you have asked; go and ·worship [serve] the Lord. 32 Take all of your flocks and herds as you have asked, and go. And also bless me.” 33 The Egyptians also ·asked [L urged] the ·Israelites [L people] to hurry and leave, saying, “If you don’t leave, we will all die!”
34 So the people took their dough before the ·yeast [leaven] was added. They wrapped the ·bowls for making dough [L kneading bowls] in clothing and carried them on their shoulders. 35 The ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] did what Moses told them to do and asked their Egyptian neighbors for things made of silver and gold and for clothing. 36 The Lord caused the Egyptians to think ·well [favorably] of them, and the Egyptians gave the people everything they asked for. So ·the Israelites took rich gifts from them [L they plundered/picked clean the Egyptians].
37 The ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] traveled from Rameses to Succoth [C both were in the Nile Delta]. There were about six hundred thousand men ·walking [L on foot], not including the ·women and children [L children]. 38 ·Many other people who were not Israelites [L A mixed multiude] went with them, as well as a large number of sheep, goats, and cattle. 39 ·The Israelites [L They] used the dough they had brought out of Egypt to bake loaves of ·bread without yeast [unleavened bread]. The dough ·had no yeast in it [was unleavened], because they had been ·rushed [driven] out of Egypt and had no time to get food ready for their trip.
40 The people of Israel had lived in Egypt for four hundred thirty years; 41 on the very day the four hundred thirty years ended, the Lord’s ·divisions [hosts; 12:17] of people left Egypt. 42 That night the Lord kept watch to bring them out of Egypt, and so on this same night the Israelites are to keep watch to honor the Lord ·from now on [L throughout their generations].
43 The Lord told Moses and Aaron, “Here are the ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] for Passover: No foreigner is to eat the Passover. 44 If someone buys a slave and circumcises him, the slave may eat the Passover. 45 But neither ·a person who lives for a short time in your country [L alien; temporary resident] nor a hired worker may eat it.
46 “The meal must be eaten inside a house; take none of the meat outside the house. Don’t break any of the bones. 47 The whole ·community [congregation; assembly] of Israel ·must take part in this feast [L will act thus]. 48 A ·foreigner [sojourner; wanderer; resident alien] who ·lives [sojourns] with you may share in the Lord’s Passover if all the males in his house become circumcised. Then, since he will be like a ·citizen [native] of Israel, he may share in the meal. But a man who is not circumcised may not eat the Passover meal. 49 The same ·rules [laws; instructions] apply to ·an Israelite born in the country [the native] or to a ·foreigner [sojourner, wanderer; resident alien] living there.”
50 So all the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] did just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 On that same day the Lord led the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] out of Egypt by their ·divisions [hosts; 12:17].
A Lost Sheep, a Lost Coin(A)
15 The tax collectors [C who were despised because they worked for the Roman rulers and were notorious for corruption and extortion] and sinners all ·came [drew near] to listen to Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the ·teachers of the law [scribes] began to ·complain [murmur; grumble]: “Look, this man ·welcomes [associates with; receives] sinners and even eats with them [C indicating social acceptance].”
3 ·Then [So] Jesus told them this ·story [parable]: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep but loses one of them. ·Then he will [L Won’t he…?] leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the ·open field [wilderness; desert] and go out and look for the lost sheep until he finds it. 5 And when he finds it, he ·happily [joyfully] puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. He calls ·to [together] his friends and neighbors and says, ‘·Be happy [Rejoice] with me because I found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, I tell you there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who ·changes his heart and life [repents], than over ninety-nine ·good [righteous; C self-righteous] people who don’t need to ·change [repent].
8 “[L Or] Suppose a woman has ten silver coins [C Greek: drachmas; each equal to about a day’s wage], but loses one. ·She will [Won’t she…?] light a lamp, sweep the house, and ·look [search] carefully for the coin until she finds it. 9 And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbors and say, ‘·Be happy [Rejoice] with me because I have found the ·coin [L drachma] that I lost.’ 10 In the same way, [L I tell you] there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner ·changes his heart and life [repents].”
The Son Who Left Home
11 Then Jesus said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the ·property [estate; C his inheritance].’ So the father divided the ·property [wealth; assets; L life] between his two sons. 13 ·Then [Some time later; L After not many days] the younger son gathered up all that was his and traveled ·far away to another [to a distant] country. There he ·wasted [squandered; scattered] his money in ·foolish [wild; reckless] living. 14 After he had spent everything, a time came when there was ·no food anywhere [L a severe famine] in the country, and the son ·was poor and hungry [L began to be in need]. 15 So he ·got a job with [hired himself out to] one of the citizens there who sent the son into the fields to feed pigs [C degrading work, since pigs were ritually unclean and detestable animals to Jews]. 16 The son was so hungry that he wanted to ·eat [or fill his stomach with] the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 When he ·realized what he was doing [came to his senses; L came to himself], he thought, ‘All of my father’s ·servants [hired workers] have ·plenty of [more than enough; abundant] ·food [bread]. But I am here, ·almost dying [perishing] with hunger. 18 I will ·leave and return [get up and go] to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against ·God [L heaven; C Jews often used “heaven” for “God” out of reverence for the divine Name] and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son, but ·let me be [make me] like one of your ·servants [hired workers].”’ 20 So the son left and went to his father.
“While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt ·sorry [compassion] for his son. So the father ran to him [C an undignified act for a family patriarch; evidence of his unrestrained love] and hugged and kissed him. 21 The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against ·God [L heaven; v. 18] and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[a] 22 But the father said to his ·servants [slaves], ‘Hurry! Bring the ·best clothes [L first/best robe; C either the father’s own, or a ceremonial robe for an honored guest] and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger [C probably a signet ring indicating sonship and authority; Gen. 41:42] and sandals on his feet [C slaves went barefoot]. 23 And get our ·fat [fattened; C prepared for slaughter] calf and kill it [C people only occasionally ate meat; such a large animal indicates a major celebration] so we can have a feast and celebrate. 24 My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “The older son was in the field, and as he came closer to the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. 26 So he ·called to [summoned] one of the [household] servants and asked what all this meant. 27 The servant said, ‘Your brother has come back, and your father killed the ·fat [fattened; v. 23] calf, because your brother came home ·safely [healthy; safe and sound].’ 28 The older son was angry and ·would not [had no desire to] go in to the feast. So his father went out and ·begged [urged; encouraged] him to come in. 29 But the older son ·said to [answered] his father, ‘[L Look; T Behold] I have served you like a slave for many years and have ·always obeyed [never disobeyed; L never neglected] your commands. But you never gave me even a young goat to ·have at a feast [celebrate] with my friends. 30 But ·your other son [L this son of yours], who ·wasted [squandered; devoured] ·all your money [your property; L your life] on prostitutes, comes home, and you kill the fat [fattened; v. 23] calf for him!’ 31 The father said to him, ‘·Son [Child], you ·are always with [or have always stood by] me, and all that I have is yours. 32 [L But] We had to celebrate and ·be happy [rejoice] because ·your brother [L this brother of yours; v. 30] was dead, but ·now he is alive [has come back to life]. He was lost, but now he is found.’”
30 “But now those who are younger than I
·make fun of [laugh at] me.
I would ·not have even [L have disdained to] let their fathers
sit with my sheep dogs.
2 What use did I have for their strength
since they had lost their ·strength [vigor] to work [C vv. 2–8 describe the young men who torment Job]?
3 They were thin from hunger
and ·wandered the dry and ruined land at night [or they gnawed the desert on the brink of desolation and destruction].
4 They ·gathered desert plants [plucked mallow] among the brush
and ·ate [or warmed themselves on] the root of the broom tree.
5 They were ·forced to live away [driven out] from people;
people shouted at them as if they were thieves.
6 They lived ·in dried-up streambeds [on the slopes of the wadis],
in ·caves, and among the rocks [dusty and rocky holes].
7 They howled like animals among the bushes
and huddled together ·in [or under] the brush.
8 They are ·worthless people without names [disreputable children of fools]
and were ·forced to leave the land [L whipped off the land/earth].
9 “Now ·they make fun of me with songs [I am the object of their melodious taunts];
my name is a ·joke [byword] among them.
10 They hate me and ·stay far away [keep their distance] from me,
but they do not mind spitting in my face.
11 God has ·taken away my strength [L loosened my bowstring] and ·made me suffer [humiliated me],
so they ·attack me with all their anger [L have removed all restraint before me].
12 On my right side they rise up like a mob.
They ·lay traps for my feet [L take my feet out from under me]
and ·prepare to attack me [L build up paths for my calamity].
13 They ·break [tear] up my road
and ·work to destroy me [or they profit from my ruin],
and ·no one helps me [or they need no help].
14 They come at me as if through a ·hole in the wall [wide breech],
and they roll in among the ruins.
15 Great fears ·overwhelm [or transform] me.
They blow my honor away as if by a great wind,
and my ·safety [or hope of rescue] disappears like a cloud.
16 “Now my life is ·almost over [L poured out in me];
my days are full of suffering.
17 At night my bones ache;
gnawing pains ·never stop [or do not let me lie down to sleep].
18 In his great power ·God [L he] grabs hold of my clothing
and ·chokes me with [or seizes me by] the collar of my coat.
19 He throws me into the mud,
and I become like dirt and ashes.
20 “I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer;
I stand up, but you just look at me.
21 You have turned on me ·without mercy [with cruelty];
with your powerful hand you ·attacked [L hate] me.
22 You snatched me up and ·threw me into [L made me ride] the wind
and ·tossed me about [made me reel] in the storm.
23 I know you will bring me down to death,
to the ·place where all living people must go [L house appointed for all the living].
24 “Surely no one would hurt [or Should not one send his hand out to help…?] those who are ruined
when they cry for help in their time of trouble.
25 ·I cried [L Do I not cry…?] for those ·who were in trouble [whose day was hard];
·I have been very sad [L don’t I have pity…?] for ·poor [needy] people.
26 But when I hoped for ·good [or the best], only ·evil [or the worst] came to me;
when I ·looked [waited] for light, darkness came.
27 ·I never stop being upset [L My insides are brought to a boil and not stilled];
days of ·suffering [affliction] are ahead of me.
28 ·I have turned black, but not by the sun [or I walk around mourning, without passion].
I stand up in public and cry for help.
29 I have become a brother to ·wild dogs [jackals]
and a friend to ·ostriches [or eagle owls; C animals that live in the desolate wilderness].
30 My skin has become black and peels off,
as my ·body [L bones] burns with ·fever [heat].
31 My ·harp [lyre] is tuned to sing a sad song,
and my ·flute [reed pipe] is tuned to moaning.
The Gift for Other Believers
16 Now ·I will write about [or concerning your question about; L concerning; 7:1; 8:1; 12:1] the collection of money for ·God’s people [T the saints; 2 Cor. 8—9; Rom. 15:25–28]. Do the same thing I told the Galatian churches to do [C Galatia was a Roman province in present-day central Turkey where Paul started churches on his first missionary journey (Acts 13—14)]: 2 On the first day of every week [C Sunday], each one of you should put aside money ·as you have been blessed [or what you can afford; L whatever one prospers]. Save it up so you will not have to collect money after I come. 3 When I arrive, I will send ·with letters of introduction whomever you approve [or whomever you authorize with your letters] to take your gift to Jerusalem. 4 And if it seems ·good [appropriate; advisable; or worthwhile] for me to go also, they will go along with me.
Paul’s Plans
5 I will come to you after I go through Macedonia—for I am planning to go through Macedonia [C the northern part of present-day Greece; Acts 19:21; 20:1, 2; 2 Cor. 1:15–16]. 6 Perhaps I will stay with you for a time or even all winter. Then you can help me on my trip, wherever I go. 7 [L For] I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to stay a longer time with you if the Lord allows it. 8 But I will stay at Ephesus [C a prominent city in the Roman province of Asia, present-day western Turkey; Acts 19] until Pentecost [C the Jewish festival held on the fiftieth day after Passover (late spring)], 9 because a ·good opportunity for a great and growing work has been given [L great and effective door (of opportunity) has opened up] to me now. And there are many ·people working against me [opponents; adversaries].
10 If Timothy comes to you, see to it that ·he has nothing to fear with you [or you put him at ease; you don’t intimidate him], because he is working for the Lord just as I am. 11 So none of you should treat Timothy ·as unimportant [or with contempt], but ·help [send] him on his trip in peace so that he can come back to me. I am expecting him to come with the ·brothers [other believers].
12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers. He did not at all want to come now; he will come when he has the opportunity.
Paul Ends His Letter
13 Be ·alert [watchful; on your guard]. ·Continue strong [Stand firm] in the faith. ·Have courage [or Act like men (ready for battle)], and be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
15 You know that the ·family [household] of Stephanas were the ·first believers in [L firstfruits of] Achaia [C southern Greece] and that they have given themselves to the service of ·God’s people [T the saints]. I ask you, brothers and sisters, 16 to ·follow the leading of [or submit to the authority of] people like these and anyone else who ·works and serves with them [or works hard in our common task].
17 I ·am happy [rejoice] that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come. ·You are not here, but they have filled your place [or They have supplied the help you could not]. 18 [L For] They have refreshed my spirit and yours. You should ·recognize the value of [or give recognition to] people like these.
19 The churches in Asia [C the Roman province, in present-day Turkey] send greetings to you. Aquila and Priscilla [Acts 18:2–3, 18, 26] greet you in the Lord, as does the church that meets in their house. 20 All the brothers and sisters here send greetings. Greet each other with a holy kiss.
21 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand [C the rest of the letter was evidently dictated to a scribe, called an amanuensis; see Rom. 16:22].
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be ·separated from God—lost forever [L anathema]!
·Come, O Lord [L Maranatha; C Aramaic phrase meaning either “Our Lord, Come!” or “Our Lord has come”]!
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.[a]
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