M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Offering Sacrifices
17 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to Aaron, his sons and all the people of Israel. Tell them: ‘This is what the Lord has commanded: 3 An Israelite might sacrifice an ox, a lamb or a goat. He might kill it inside the camp or outside it. 4 But he should have brought the animal to the entrance to the Meeting Tent. He should have given the animal as a gift to the Lord. If he didn’t, he is guilty of killing. He must be separated from his people. 5 This rule is so people will bring their sacrifices to the Lord. They have been sacrificing in the open fields. But they must bring those animals to the Lord at the entrance of the Meeting Tent. They must bring them to the priest and offer them as fellowship offerings. 6 Then the priest will sprinkle the blood from those animals on the Lord’s altar. It is near the entrance to the Meeting Tent. And the priest will burn the fat from those animals on the altar. This smell will be pleasing to the Lord. 7 They must not offer any more sacrifices to their goat idols. They have chased after those other gods. In that way they have acted like prostitutes. These rules will continue for people from now on.’
8 “Tell the people this: ‘Someone might offer a burnt offering or sacrifice. He might be a citizen of Israel. Or he might be a traveler or foreigner living with you. 9 That person must take his sacrifice to the entrance to the Meeting Tent. There he may offer it to the Lord. If he does not do this, he must be separated from his people.
10 “‘I will be against anyone who eats blood. It does not matter if it is a citizen of Israel or a foreigner living with you. I will separate that person from his people. 11 This is because the life of the body is in the blood. And I have given you rules for pouring that blood on the altar. You must do this to remove your sins so you will belong to the Lord. It is the blood that removes the sins from your life so you will belong to the Lord. 12 So I tell the people of Israel this: “None of you may eat blood. And no foreigner living among you may eat blood.”
13 “‘Someone may catch a wild animal or bird that can be eaten. The person may be a citizen of Israel or a foreigner living among you. He must pour the blood on the ground and cover it with dirt. 14 This is because if blood is still in the meat, the animal’s life is still in it. So I give this command to the people of Israel: “Don’t eat meat that still has blood in it. Anyone who eats blood must be separated from his people.”
15 “‘Someone may eat an animal that died by itself. Or he may eat an animal that was killed by another animal. The person may be a citizen of Israel or a foreigner living among you. If he eats the animal, he will be unclean until evening. He must wash his clothes and whole body with water. 16 If he does not wash his clothes and bathe his body, he will be guilty of sin.’”
A Prayer for the King
For the director of music. A song of David.
20 May the Lord answer you in times of trouble.
May the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from his Temple.
May he support you from Mount Zion.
3 May he remember all your offerings.
May he accept all your sacrifices. Selah
4 May he give you what you want.
May all your plans succeed.
5 We will shout for joy when you succeed.
We will raise a flag in the name of our God.
May the Lord give you all that you ask for.
6 Now I know the Lord helps his appointed king.
He answers him from his holy heaven.
He saves him with his strong right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, others in horses.
But we trust the Lord our God.
8 They are overwhelmed and defeated.
But we march forward and win.
9 Lord, save the king!
Answer us when we call for help.
Thanksgiving for the King
For the director of music. A song of David.
21 Lord, the king rejoices because of your strength.
He is so happy when you save him!
2 You gave the king what he wanted.
You did not refuse what he asked for. Selah
3 You put good things before him.
You placed a gold crown on his head.
4 He asked you for life.
And you gave it to him.
His years go on and on.
5 He has great glory because you gave him victories.
You gave him honor and praise.
6 You always gave him blessings.
You made him glad because you were with him.
7 The king truly trusts the Lord.
Because God Most High always loves him,
he will not be overwhelmed.
8 Your hand is against all your enemies.
Those who hate you will feel your power.
9 When you appear, you will burn them like wood in a furnace.
In your anger you will eat them up.
Your fire will burn them up.
10 You will destroy their families from the earth.
Their children will not live.
11 They made evil plans against you.
But their traps won’t work.
12 You will make them turn their backs
when you aim your arrows at them.
13 Be supreme, Lord, in your power.
We sing and praise your greatness.
Wise Words of King Lemuel
31 These are the words of King Lemuel. This is the message his mother taught him:
2 “My son, I gave birth to you.
You are the son I prayed for.
3 Don’t waste your strength on women.
Don’t waste your time on those who ruin kings.
4 “Kings should not drink wine, Lemuel.
Rulers should not desire beer.
5 If they drink, they might forget the law.
They might keep the needy from getting their rights.
6 Give beer to people who are dying.
And give wine to those who are sad.
7 Let them drink and forget their need.
Then they won’t remember their misery anymore.
8 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Defend the rights of all those who have nothing.
9 Speak up and judge fairly.
Defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
The Good Wife
10 It is hard to find an excellent wife.
She is worth more than rubies.
11 Her husband trusts her completely.
With her, he has everything he needs.
12 She does him good and not harm
for as long as she lives.
13 She looks for wool and linen.
She likes to work with her hands.
14 She is like a trader’s ship.
She goes far to get food.
15 She gets up while it is still dark.
She prepares food for her family.
She also feeds her servant girls.
16 She looks at a field and buys it.
With money she has earned, she plants a vineyard.
17 She does her work with energy.
Her arms are strong.
18 She makes sure that what she makes is good.
She works by her lamp late into the night.
19 She makes thread with her hands
and weaves her own cloth.
20 She welcomes the poor.
She helps the needy.
21 She does not worry about her family when it snows.
They all have fine clothes to keep them warm.
22 She makes coverings for her bed.
Her clothes are made of linen and other expensive material.
23 Her husband is recognized at the city meetings.
He makes decisions as one of the leaders of the land.
24 She makes linen clothes and sells them.
She provides belts to the merchants.
25 She is strong and is respected by the people.
She looks forward to the future with joy.
26 She speaks wise words.
And she teaches others to be kind.
27 She watches over her family.
And she is always busy.
28 Her children bless her.
Her husband also praises her.
29 He says, “There are many excellent wives,
but you are better than all of them.”
30 Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you.
But a woman who respects the Lord should be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned.
She should be openly praised for what she has done.
Some Rules for Men and Women
2 First, I tell you to pray for all people. Ask God for the things people need, and be thankful to him. 2 You should pray for kings and for all who have authority. Pray for the leaders so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives—lives full of worship and respect for God. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior. 4 God wants all people to be saved. And he wants everyone to know the truth. 5 There is only one God. And there is only one way that people can reach God. That way is through Jesus Christ, who is also a man. 6 Jesus gave himself to pay for the sins of all people. Jesus is proof that God wants all people to be saved. And that proof came at the right time. 7 That is why I was chosen to tell the Good News and was chosen to be an apostle. (I am telling the truth. I am not lying.) I was chosen to teach the non-Jewish people to believe and to know the truth.
8 I want men everywhere to pray. These men who lift up their hands in prayer must be holy. They must not be men who become angry and have arguments.
9 I also want women to wear clothes that are right for them. They should dress with respect and right thinking. They should not use fancy braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes to make themselves beautiful. 10 But they should make themselves beautiful by doing good deeds. Women who say they worship God should make themselves beautiful in that way.
11 A woman should learn by listening quietly and being fully ready to obey. 12 I do not allow a woman to teach a man or to have authority over a man. She must remain silent. 13 For Adam was made first; Eve was made later. 14 Also, Adam was not the one who was tricked by the devil. It was the woman who was tricked and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through having children. They will be saved if they continue in faith, love, holiness, and self-control.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.