M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Tribes East of the Jordan
32 The ·people [L sons; descendants] of Reuben and ·Gad [L the sons/descendants of Gad] had large flocks and herds. When they saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were good for the animals, 2 they came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the ·people [community; assembly; congregation].
6 Moses told the ·people of Gad [L sons/descendants of Gad] and ·Reuben [L the sons/descendants of Reuben], “Shall your brothers go to war while you stay ·behind [L here]? 7 ·You will [L Why should you…?] discourage the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] from going over to the land the Lord has given them. 8 Your ·ancestors [fathers] did the same thing. I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look at the land. 9 They went as far as the ·Valley of [Wadi] Eshcol, and when they saw the land, they discouraged the hearts of the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] from going into the land the Lord had given them. 10 The Lord became very angry that day and ·made this promise [swore]: 11 ‘None of the people who came from Egypt and who are twenty years old or older will see the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These people have not ·followed me [or been loyal to me] completely. 12 Only Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun ·followed [or were loyal to] the Lord completely [chs. 13–14].’
13 “The Lord was angry with Israel, so he made them wander in the ·desert [wilderness] for forty years. Finally all the ·people [generation] who had ·sinned against [L done evil in the eyes/sight of] the Lord died, 14 and now you ·are acting [L have risen up] just like your ·ancestors [fathers]! You sinful people are making the Lord even more angry with Israel. 15 If you quit following him, it will add to their stay in the ·desert [wilderness], and you will destroy all these people.”
16 Then ·the Reubenites and Gadites [L they] came up to Moses and said, “We will build ·pens for our animals [sheepfolds for our flocks] and cities for our children here. 17 Then our children will be in strong, walled cities, safe from the people who live in this land. Then we will prepare for war. We will help the other ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] get their land, 18 and we will not return home until every Israelite has ·received his land [inherited their inheritance]. 19 We won’t ·take [inherit] any of the land west of the Jordan River; our ·part of the land [inheritance] is east of the Jordan.”
20 So Moses told them, “You must do these things. You must go before the Lord into battle 21 and cross the Jordan River armed, until the Lord ·forces out [dispossesses] the enemy. 22 After the Lord helps us take the land, you may return home. You will ·have done your duty to [be free of your obligation; be innnocent before] the Lord and Israel, and you may have this land as ·your own [L a possession before the Lord].
23 “But if you don’t do these things, you will be sinning against the Lord; know for sure that ·you will be punished for your sin [L your sin will find you]. 24 Build cities for your children and ·pens for your animals [sheepfolds for your flocks], but then you must do what you ·promised [said].”
25 The ·Gadites [L sons/descendants of Gad] and ·Reubenites [L the sons/descendants of Reuben] said to Moses, “We are your servants, and we will do what you, our ·master [lord], command. 26 Our children, wives, and all our cattle will stay in the cities of Gilead, 27 but we, your servants, will prepare for battle. We will go over and fight for the Lord, as you, our ·master [lord], have said.”
28 So Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the leaders of the clans of the tribes of ·Israel [L sons/T children of Israel]. 29 Moses said to them, “If the ·Gadites [L sons/descendants of Gad] and ·Reubenites [L the sons/descendants of Reuben] prepare for battle and cross the Jordan River with you, to go before the Lord and help you take the land, give them the land of Gilead ·for their own [L as a possession]. 30 But if they do not go over armed, they will not receive it; their land will be in Canaan with you.”
31 The ·Gadites [L sons/descendants of Gad] and ·Reubenites [L the sons/descendants of Reuben] answered, “We are your servants, and we will do as the Lord said. 32 We will cross over into Canaan and go before the Lord ready for battle. But ·our land [L the possession of our inheritance] will be ·east of [beyond] the Jordan River.”
33 So Moses gave that land to the tribes of ·Gad [L the sons/descendants of Gad], ·Reuben [L the sons/descendants of Reuben], and ·East [L the half tribe of] Manasseh. (Manasseh was Joseph’s son.) That land had been the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan, as well as all the cities and the land around them.
34 The ·Gadites [L sons/descendants of Gad] rebuilt the cities of Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35 Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36 Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran. These were strong, walled cities. And they built sheep ·pens [folds].
37 The ·Reubenites [L sons/descendants of Reuben] rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 38 Nebo, Baal Meon, and Sibmah. They renamed Nebo and Baal Meon when they rebuilt them.
39 The ·descendants [sons] of Makir son of Manasseh went and captured Gilead and forced out the Amorites who were there. 40 So Moses gave Gilead to the family of Makir son of Manasseh, and they settled there. 41 Jair son of Manasseh went out and captured the ·small towns [villages] there, and he called them the ·Towns of Jair [or Villages of Jair; or Havvoth-jair]. 42 Nobah went and captured Kenath and the small towns around it; then he named it Nobah after himself.
Remembering God’s Help
For the director of music. For Jeduthun [C a Levitical musician; 1 Chr. 16:41–42; 25:1, 6; 2 Chr. 5:12]. A psalm of Asaph [C a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; 1 Chr. 6:39; 15:17; 2 Chr. 5:12].
77 I cry out to God;
I call to God, and he ·will hear [or heard] me.
2 I ·look [sought] for the Lord on the day of ·trouble [L my distress].
All night long I ·reach out my untiring hands [L flow forth my hand and it does not grow weak],
but I ·cannot [refuse to] be comforted.
3 When I remember God, I ·become upset [moan];
when I ·think [reflect; meditate], ·I become afraid [my soul faints]. ·
4 You ·keep my eyes from closing [L grab the eyelids of my eyes].
I am too ·upset [disturbed] to say anything.
5 I keep thinking about the old days,
the years of long ago [C when things were going well].
6 At night I remember my songs.
I ·think [meditate] and ·I ask myself [L my spirit inquires]:
7 “Will the Lord reject us forever?
Will he never be ·kind [favorable] to us again?
8 Is his ·love [loyalty] gone forever?
Has he stopped speaking for all time [C he questions God’s commitment to the covenant]?
9 Has God forgotten ·mercy [compassion]?
Is he too angry to ·pity [have mercy on] us?” ·
10 Then I say, “This is what makes me sad:
·For years the power of God Most High was with us [L The right hand of the God Most High has changed].”
11 I remember what the Lord did;
I remember the ·miracles [wonderful acts] you did long ago.
12 I ·think [mused] about all the things you did
and ·consider [meditated on] your deeds.
13 God, your ways are holy.
·No god [L What god…?] is as great as our God.
14 You are the God who does ·miracles [wonders];
you have ·shown [made known to] people your power.
15 By your ·power [L arm] you have ·saved [redeemed] your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. ·
16 God, the waters saw you;
they saw you and ·became afraid [L writhed];
the deep waters shook with fear.
17 The clouds poured down their rain.
The ·sky [clouds] ·thundered [L gave forth a sound].
Your lightning flashed back and forth like arrows.
18 Your thunder sounded in the whirlwind.
Lightning lit up the world.
The earth trembled and ·shook [quaked].
19 You made a way through the sea
and paths through the ·deep [L many] waters,
but your footprints were not ·seen [revealed].
20 You led your people like a flock
by ·using [L the hand of] Moses and Aaron [Ex. 14–15].
The Lord Will Punish the World
24 ·Look [T Behold]! The Lord will destroy the earth and ·leave it empty [lay it waste];
he will ·ruin [mar; distort] the surface of the land and scatter its ·people [inhabitants].
2 ·At that time the same thing will happen to everyone [L It will be]:
·to common people and priests [L like people, like priest],
·to slaves and masters [L like servant/slave, like master/lord],
·to women slaves and their women masters [L like maidservant, like mistress/queen],
·to sellers and buyers [L like seller, like buyer],
·to those who lend and those who borrow [L like lender, like borrower],
·to bankers and those who owe the bank [L like creditor, like debtor].
3 The earth will be ·completely empty [devastated; laid waste].
The wealth ·will all be taken [plundered],
because the Lord has ·commanded it [spoken this word].
4 The earth will ·dry up [or mourn] and ·die [wither];
the world will ·grow weak [languish] and ·die [wither];
the ·great leaders [or heavens; heights; L highest ones] ·in this land [or of the earth] will ·become weak [languish].
5 The people of the earth have ·ruined [defiled] it,
because they ·do not follow [have violated/transgressed] ·God’s teachings [the laws/instruction; L Torah]
or obey ·God’s laws [statutes; regulations]
or keep ·their agreement with God that was to last forever [the eternal covenant/treaty].
6 So a curse [Deut. 28] will ·destroy [consume; devour] the earth.
The people of the world ·are guilty [must pay for their guilt],
so ·they [L the earth’s inhabitants] will be burned up;
only a few will be left.
7 The new wine ·will be bad [dries up; or mourns], and the grapevines will ·die [wither; or languish].
·People who were happy [Revelers; Merrymakers] will ·be sad [groan; sigh].
8 The ·happy music [joy; mirth] of the tambourines will end.
The happy sounds of ·wild parties [revelry] will stop.
The joyful music from the harps will ·end [cease].
9 People will no longer sing while they drink their wine.
The ·beer [T strong drink; C alcoholic beverage made from grain] will taste bitter to those who drink it.
10 The ruined city ·will be empty [is desolate/broken],
·and people will hide behind closed doors [L every house is shuttered to prevent entering].
11 People in the streets will ·ask [cry out; howl] for wine,
but joy will have turned to ·sadness [gloom; darkness];
all the ·happiness [gladness; rejoicing] ·will have left [is banished/exiled].
12 The city will be left in ruins,
and its gates will be smashed to pieces.
13 This is what will happen all over the earth
and to all the nations.
The earth will be like an olive tree ·after the harvest [L when it is beaten; 17:6]
or like the ·few grapes left on a vine [L gleanings] after harvest.
14 The people raise their voices and shout for joy.
From the ·west [L sea] they ·praise the greatness [shout/cry out for the majesty] of the Lord.
15 [L Therefore] People in the ·east [or morning light; dawn], ·praise [extol; give glory to] the Lord.
People in the ·islands [or coastlands] of the sea,
·praise [extol; give glory to] the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
16 We hear songs from ·every part [the ends/edge] of the earth
·praising God, [or “Glory to…”] the Righteous One.
But I said, “I am ·dying [wasting away]! I am ·dying [wasting away]!
·How terrible it will be for [Woe to] me!
·Traitors turn against people [L Betrayers betray; 21:2];
·with their dishonesty, they turn against people [L Betrayers betray with betrayal].”
17 There are terrors, ·holes [pits], and ·traps [snares]
for the ·people [inhabitants] of the earth.
18 Anyone who tries to ·escape [flee] from the sound of terror
will fall into a ·hole [pit].
Anyone who climbs out of the ·hole [pit]
will be caught in a ·trap [snare].
The ·clouds in the sky will pour out rain [L the floodgates/windows of the heights are opened],
and the foundations of the earth will shake.
19 The earth will be ·broken up [shattered];
the earth will split open;
the earth will shake violently.
20 The earth will ·stumble [stagger; reel] around like someone who is drunk;
it will shake like a ·hut in a storm [L hut].
Its ·sin [transgression; rebellion] is ·like a heavy weight on its back [L heavy upon it];
it will fall and never rise again.
21 ·At that time [L In that day] the Lord will punish
the ·powers [armies; hosts] in the ·sky [or heavens; L heights] above
and the ·rulers [kings] on earth below.
22 They will be gathered together
like prisoners ·thrown into a dungeon [in a pit/cistern];
they will be shut up in prison.
After ·much time [many days] they will be punished.
23 The moon will be ·embarrassed [confounded; dismayed; disgraced; or covered up],
and the sun will be ·ashamed [or darkened; C these great lights will pale in comparison to the Lord’s glory],
because the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] will rule as king
on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
·Jerusalem’s leaders will see his greatness [L …and gloriously before its elders].
Jesus Is Our Helper
2 My ·dear children [L little children; C a term of endearment], I write ·this letter [L these things] to you so you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a ·helper [counselor; advocate; Rom. 8:34] in the presence of the Father—Jesus Christ, ·the One who does what is right [or the Righteous One]. 2 He ·died in our place to take away [is the atoning sacrifice/T propitiation for] our sins [C his death pays the penalty and removes God’s anger from us; 4:10; Rom. 3:25; Heb. 2:17], and not only our sins but the sins of ·all people [L the whole world].
3 We ·can be sure [know] that we know ·God [L him] if we ·obey [keep] his commands. 4 Anyone who says, “I know ·God [L him],” but does not ·obey [keep] ·God’s [L his] commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if someone ·obeys [keeps] ·God’s teaching [L his word], then in that person ·God’s love [or love for God] has ·truly reached its goal [been fulfilled/perfected/completed]. This is how we can be sure we are ·living in God [L in him]: 6 Whoever says that he ·lives [abides; remains] in God must ·live [L walk] as ·Jesus lived [L he walked].
The Command to Love Others
7 ·My dear friends [L Beloved], I am not writing a new command to you but an old command you have had from the beginning [3:23; John 13:34]. It is the ·teaching [L word] you have already heard. 8 But also I am writing a new command to you, ·and you can see its truth in Jesus [L which is true in him] and in you, ·because [or that] the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.
9 Anyone who ·says [claims; C as do the false teachers; see 2:18–19], “I am in the light,” [C following God’s goodness and truthfulness] but hates a brother or sister [C fellow Christian], is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves a brother or sister ·lives [abides; remains] in the light and ·will not cause anyone to stumble in his faith [or he will not stumble in his faith; L there is no cause of stumbling in him; C the “stumbling” may be either by apostasy or sin; John 6:61; 16:1; Rom. 14:13; Rev. 2:14]. 11 But whoever hates a brother or sister is in darkness, ·lives [L walks] in darkness, and does not know where to go, because the darkness has ·made that person blind [L blinded his eyes].
12 I write to you, dear children [2:1],
because your sins are forgiven ·through Christ [L on account of his name; C the name represents the person].
13 I write to you, fathers [C probably senior members of the congregation],
·because [or that] you know the One who existed from the beginning [C Christ; John 1:1].
I write to you, young people,
·because [or that] you have ·defeated [conquered; overcome] the Evil One.
14 I ·write [or have written] to you, children,
·because [or that] you ·know [have come to know] the Father.
I ·write [or have written] to you, fathers,
·because [or that] you ·know [have come to know] the One who existed from the beginning [2:13].
I ·write [or have written] to you, young people,
·because [or that] you are strong;
the ·teaching [L word] of God ·lives [abides; remains] in you,
and you have ·defeated [conquered; overcome] the Evil One.
15 Do not love the world or the things ·in [associated with] the world. If you love the world, the love ·of [or for] the Father is not in you [James 4:4]. 16 [L For] ·These are the ways of [All that is in/associated with] the world: ·wanting to please our sinful selves [L the desire/lust of the flesh], ·wanting the sinful things we see [L the desire/lust of the eyes], and ·being too proud of what we have [L the pride of life/possessions]. None of these come from the Father, but all of them come from the world. 17 The world and ·everything that people want in it [L its desire/lust] are passing away [1 Cor. 7:31], but the person who does ·what God wants [the will of God] ·lives [abides; remains] forever.
Reject the Enemies of Christ
18 My dear children [2:1], ·these are the last days [L it is the last hour; C suggesting urgency, though not claiming the end was near]. [L Just as] You have heard that the ·enemy of Christ [L antichrist] is coming, and now many ·enemies of Christ [L antichrists; C false teachers; 2:22; 2 John 7] are already here. This is how we know that ·these are the last days [L it is the last hour]. 19 ·These enemies of Christ were in our fellowship, but they left us [L They went out from us; C probably to form a rival fellowship]. They never really belonged to us [L But they were not of us]; [L For] if they had been a part of us, they would have ·stayed [remained; abided] with us. But they left, ·and this shows [or so that it would be shown] that none of them really belonged to us.
20 You have the ·gift [L anointing; C probably the Holy Spirit and/or the spiritual gift of the Word of God applied to their hearts; v. 24; 1 Sam. 16:13; Is. 61:1; John 16:13; 2 Cor. 1:21–22] that the Holy One gave you [L from the Holy One; C a reference to God the Father (Ps. 71:22) or more likely Jesus Christ (Mark 1:24; John 6:69)], so you all ·know the truth[a] [or have knowledge; L know]. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth but because you do know the truth. And you know that no lie comes from the truth.
22 Who is the liar? It is the person who ·does not accept [denies; repudiates] Jesus as the ·Christ [Messiah; Anointed One]. This is the ·enemy of Christ [L antichrist]: the person who ·does not accept [denies; repudiates] the Father and ·his [the] Son. 23 Whoever ·does not accept [denies; repudiates] the Son does not have the Father. But whoever ·confesses [acknowledges; accepts] the Son has the Father, too.
24 [L As for you] Be sure you ·continue to follow [abide/remain in] ·the teaching [L what] you heard from the beginning [C when they first became Christians; 1 Tim. 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13; Titus 1:9; 2 Pet. 3:2; Jude 17, 20]. If you ·continue to follow [abide/remain in] what you heard from the beginning, you will [L also; indeed] ·stay [abide; remain] in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is ·what the Son [L the promise which he himself] promised to us—·life forever [eternal life; 1 Tim. 4:8; 2 Tim. 1:1].
26 I ·am writing [or have written] ·this letter [L these things] about those people who are ·trying to lead you the wrong way [deceiving you; leading you astray]. 27 [L As for you] ·Christ gave you a special gift that is still in you [L The anointing that you received from him abides/remains in you; 2:20], so you do not need ·any other teacher [L anyone to teach you; Jer. 31:34]. [L But just as] His ·gift [L anointing] teaches you about everything, and it is true, not false. So ·continue to live in Christ, as his gift taught you [L just as he taught you, abide/remain in him].
28 ·Yes [Now], my dear children [2:1], ·live [abide; remain] in him so that when ·Christ comes back [L he appears/is revealed], we can be ·without fear [confident] and not be ashamed [L of him] ·in his presence [at his coming]. 29 ·Since [If] you know that ·Christ [L he] is righteous, you know that all who ·do right [practice righteousness] ·are God’s children [L have been born of/begotten by him].
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