M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Ark of the Covenant
37 Bezalel made the Ark of the Covenant of acacia wood. The Ark of the Covenant was 45 inches long, 27 inches wide and 27 inches high. 2 He covered the inside and outside of the Ark of the Covenant with pure gold. Then he put a gold strip around it. 3 He made four gold rings for it and attached them to its four feet. There were two rings on each side. 4 Then he made poles of acacia wood and covered them with gold. 5 He put the poles through the rings on each side of the Ark of the Covenant to carry it. 6 Then he made a lid of pure gold. It was 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. 7 Then Bezalel hammered gold to make two creatures with wings. He attached them to each end of the lid. 8 He made one creature with wings on one end of the lid. He made the other creature with wings on the other end. He attached them to the lid so that it would be one piece. 9 The creatures’ wings were spread out over the lid. The creatures faced each other across the lid.
The Table
10 Then he made the table of acacia wood. The table was 36 inches long, 18 inches wide and 27 inches high. 11 He covered the table with pure gold. He put a gold strip around it. 12 Then he made a frame 3 inches high that stood up all around the edge. He put a gold strip around the frame. 13 Then he made four gold rings for the table. He attached them to the four corners of the table, where the four legs were. 14 The rings were put close to the frame around the top of the table. The rings held the poles that were used to carry the table. 15 The poles for carrying the table were made of acacia wood. They were covered with gold. 16 Then he made of pure gold all the things that were used on the table: the plates, bowls, cups and jars used for pouring the drink offerings.
The Lampstand
17 Then he made the lampstand of pure gold. He hammered out its base and stand. Its flower-like cups, buds and petals were joined together in one piece with the base and stand. 18 There were three branches on one side of the lampstand and three branches on the other. 19 Each branch had three cups shaped like almond flowers. Each cup had a bud and a petal. 20 There were four more cups shaped like almond flowers on the lampstand itself. Each cup had its buds and petals. 21 Three pairs of branches went out from the lampstand. A bud was under the place where each pair was attached to the lampstand. 22 The buds, branches and lampstand were all one piece of pure, hammered gold. 23 He made seven pure gold lamps for this lampstand. Then he made pure gold wick trimmers and trays. 24 He used about 75 pounds of pure gold to make the lampstand and all the things that go with it.
The Altar for Burning Incense
25 Then he made the altar of incense of acacia wood. The altar was square. It was 18 inches long, 18 inches wide and 36 inches high. Each corner stuck out like a horn. Each corner was joined into one piece with the altar. 26 He covered the top and all the sides and the corners with pure gold. Then he put gold trim around the altar. 27 He made two gold rings and put them below the trim on opposite sides of the altar. These rings held the poles for carrying the altar. 28 He made the poles of acacia wood and covered them with gold.
29 Then he made the holy olive oil for appointing the priests. He also made the pure, sweet-smelling incense. He made them like a person who mixes perfumes.
16 “I have told you these things to keep you from giving up. 2 People will put you out of their synagogues. Yes, the time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering service to God. 3 They will do this because they have not known the Father and they have not known me. 4 I have told you these things now. So when the time comes, you will remember that I warned you.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
“I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you then. 5 Now I am going back to the One who sent me. But none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Your hearts are filled with sadness because I have told you these things. 7 But I tell you the truth. It is better for you that I go away. When I go away I will send the Helper[a] to you. If I do not go away, then the Helper will not come. 8 When the Helper comes, he will prove to the people of the world the truth about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment. 9 He will prove to them about sin, because they don’t believe in me. 10 He will prove to them that I am right with God, because I am going to the Father. You will not see me anymore. 11 And the Helper will prove to them the truth about judgment, because the ruler of this world is already judged.
12 “I have many more things to say to you, but they are too much for you now. 13 But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you into all truth. He will not speak his own words. He will speak only what he hears and will tell you what is to come. 14 The Spirit of truth will bring glory to me. He will take what I have to say and tell it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take what I have to say and tell it to you.
Sadness Will Become Happiness
16 “After a little while you will not see me. And then after a little while you will see me again.”
17 Some of the followers said to each other, “What does Jesus mean when he says, ‘After a little while you will not see me, and then after a little while you will see me again’? And what does he mean when he says, ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They also asked, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
19 Jesus saw that the followers wanted to ask him about this. So Jesus said to the followers, “Are you asking each other what I meant when I said, ‘After a little while you will not see me. And then after a little while you will see me again’? 20 I tell you the truth. You will cry and be sad, but the world will be happy. You will be sad, but your sadness will become joy. 21 When a woman gives birth to a baby, she has pain, because her time has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain. She forgets because she is so happy that a child has been born into the world. 22 It is the same with you. Now you are sad. But I will see you again and you will be happy. And no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will not ask me for anything. I tell you the truth. My Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. 24 You have never asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive. And your joy will be the fullest joy.
Victory over the World
25 “I have told you these things, using words that hide the meaning. But the time will come when I will not use words like that to tell you things. I will speak to you in plain words about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask the Father for things in my name. I am saying that I will not need to ask the Father for you. 27 No! The Father himself loves you. He loves you because you have loved me. And he loves you because you have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
29 Then the followers of Jesus said, “You are speaking clearly to us now. You are not using words that are hard to understand. 30 We can see now that you know all things. You can answer a person’s question even before he asks it. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
31 Jesus answered, “So now you believe? 32 Listen to me. A time is coming when you will be scattered. Each of you will be scattered to your own home. That time is now here. You will leave me. I will be alone. But I am never really alone. Why? Because the Father is with me.
33 “I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have defeated the world!”
13 A wise son takes his father’s advice.
But a person who makes fun of wisdom won’t listen to correction.
2 A person will be rewarded for what he says.
But those who can’t be trusted want only violence.
3 Whoever is careful about what he says protects his life.
But anyone who speaks without thinking will be ruined.
4 The lazy person will not get what he wants.
But a hard worker gets everything he wants.
5 Good people hate what is false.
But wicked people do shameful and disgraceful things.
6 Doing what is right protects the honest person.
But evil ruins the sinner.
7 Some people pretend to be rich but really have nothing.
Other people pretend to be poor but really are wealthy.
8 A rich man may have to pay a ransom for his life.
But a poor person will never have to face such a danger.
9 Good people will live long like bright flames.
But the wicked will die like a flame going out.
10 Pride leads to arguments.
But those who take advice are wise.
11 Money that comes easily disappears quickly.
But money that is gathered little by little will slowly grow.
12 It is sad when you don’t get what you hoped for.
But when wishes come true, it’s like eating fruit from the tree of life.
13 Whoever rejects what he is taught will pay for it.
But whoever does what he is told will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of a wise person gives life.
It is like a fountain of water that can save people from death.
15 People with good understanding will be liked.
But the lives of those who are not trustworthy are hard.
16 Every wise person acts with good sense.
But a foolish person shows how foolish he is.
17 A wicked messenger brings nothing but trouble.
But a trustworthy one makes everything right.
18 A person who refuses correction will end up poor and disgraced.
But a person who accepts correction will be honored.
19 It is so good when wishes come true.
But foolish people still refuse to stop doing evil.
20 Whoever spends time with wise people will become wise.
But whoever makes friends with fools will suffer.
21 Trouble always comes to sinners.
But good people enjoy success.
22 Good people’s wealth will be inherited by their grandchildren.
And a sinner’s wealth will be saved for good people.
23 A poor man’s field might have plenty of food.
But unfair people steal it from him.
24 If a person does not punish his children, he does not love them.
But the person who loves his children is careful to correct them.
25 Good people have enough to eat.
But the wicked will go hungry.
Children and Parents
6 Children, obey your parents the way the Lord wants. This is the right thing to do. 2 The command says, “Honor your father and mother.”[a] This is the first command that has a promise with it. 3 The promise is: “Then everything will be well with you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”[b]
4 Fathers, do not make your children angry, but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord.
Slaves and Masters
5 Slaves, obey your masters here on earth with fear and respect. And do that with a heart that is true, just as you obey Christ. 6 You must do more than obey your masters to please them only while they are watching you. You must obey them as you are obeying Christ. With all your heart you must do what God wants. 7 Do your work, and be happy to do it. Work as if you were serving the Lord, not as if you were serving only men. 8 Remember that the Lord will give a reward to everyone, slave or free, for doing good.
9 Masters, in the same way, be good to your slaves. Do not say things to scare them. You know that the One who is your Master and their Master is in heaven. And that Master treats everyone alike.
Wear the Full Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power. 11 Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s evil tricks. 12 Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. 13 That is why you need to get God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing. 14 So stand strong, with the belt of truth tied around your waist. And on your chest wear the protection of right living. 15 And on your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong. 16 And also use the shield of faith. With that you can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One. 17 Accept God’s salvation to be your helmet. And take the sword of the Spirit—that sword is the teaching of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers, and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. Never give up. Always pray for all God’s people.
19 Also pray for me. Pray that when I speak, God will give me words so that I can tell the secret truth of the Good News without fear. 20 I have the work of speaking that Good News. I am doing that now, here in prison. Pray that when I preach the Good News I will speak without fear, as I should.
Final Greetings
21 I am sending to you Tychicus, our brother whom we love. He is a faithful servant of the Lord’s work. He will tell you everything that is happening with me. Then you will know how I am and what I am doing. 22 That is why I am sending him. I want you to know how we are. I am sending him to encourage you.
23 Peace and love with faith to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 God’s grace to all of you who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love that never ends.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.