M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
14 1-2 And the Lord gave Moses these regulations concerning a person whose leprosy disappears:
3 “The priest shall go out of the camp to examine him. If the priest sees that the leprosy is gone, 4 he shall require two living birds of a kind permitted for food, and shall take some cedar wood, a scarlet string, and some hyssop branches, to be used for the purification ceremony of the one who is healed. 5 The priest shall then order one of the birds killed in an earthenware pot held above running water. 6 The other bird, still living, shall be dipped in the blood, along with the cedar wood, the scarlet thread, and the hyssop branch. 7 Then the priest shall sprinkle the blood seven times upon the man cured of his leprosy, and the priest shall pronounce him cured, and shall let the living bird fly into the open field.
8 “Then the man who is cured shall wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and bathe himself, and return to live inside the camp; however, he must stay outside his tent for seven days. 9 The seventh day he shall again shave all the hair from his head, beard, and eyebrows, and wash his clothes and bathe, and shall then be declared fully cured of his leprosy.
10 “The next day, the eighth day, he shall take two male lambs without physical defect, one yearling ewe-lamb without physical defect, ten quarts of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil, and a pint of olive oil; 11 then the priest who examines him shall place the man and his offerings before the Lord at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 12 The priest shall take one of the lambs and the pint of olive oil and offer them to the Lord as a guilt offering by the gesture of waving them before the altar. 13 Then he shall kill the lamb at the place where sin offerings and burnt offerings are killed, there at the Tabernacle; this guilt offering shall then be given to the priest for food, as in the case of a sin offering. It is a most holy offering. 14 The priest shall take the blood from this guilt offering and smear some of it upon the tip of the right ear of the man being cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the big toe of his right foot.
15 “Then the priest shall take the olive oil and pour it into the palm of his left hand, 16 and dip his right finger into it, and sprinkle it with his finger seven times before the Lord. 17 Some of the oil remaining in his left hand shall then be placed by the priest upon the tip of the man’s right ear and the thumb of his right hand and the big toe of his right foot—just as he did with the blood of the guilt offering. 18 The remainder of the oil in his hand shall be used to anoint the man’s head. Thus the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord.
19 “Then the priest must offer the sin offering and again[a] perform the rite of atonement for the person being cleansed from his leprosy; and afterwards the priest shall kill the burnt offering, 20 and offer it along with the grain offering upon the altar, making atonement for the man, who shall then be pronounced finally cleansed.
21 “If he is so poor that he cannot afford two lambs, then he shall bring only one, a male lamb for the guilt offering, to be presented to the Lord in the rite of atonement by waving it before the altar; and only three quarts of fine white flour, mixed with olive oil, for a grain offering, and a pint of olive oil.
22 “He shall also bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons—whichever he is able to afford—and use one of the pair for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. 23 He shall bring them to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle on the eighth day, for his ceremony of cleansing before the Lord. 24 The priest shall take the lamb for the guilt offering, and the pint of oil, and wave them before the altar as a gesture of offering to the Lord. 25 Then he shall kill the lamb for the guilt offering and smear some of its blood upon the tip of the man’s right ear—the man on whose behalf the ceremony is being performed—and upon the thumb of his right hand and upon the big toe of his right foot.
26 “The priest shall then pour the olive oil into the palm of his own left hand, 27 and with his right finger he is to sprinkle some of it seven times before the Lord. 28 Then he must put some of the olive oil from his hand upon the tip of the man’s right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the big toe of his right foot, just as he did with the blood of the guilt offering. 29 The remaining oil in his hand shall be placed upon the head of the man being cleansed, to make atonement for him before the Lord.
30 “Then he must offer the two turtledoves or two young pigeons (whichever pair he is able to afford). 31 One of the pair is for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, to be sacrificed along with the grain offering; and the priest shall make atonement for the man before the Lord.”
32 These, then, are the laws concerning those who are cleansed of leprosy but are not able to bring the sacrifices normally required for the ceremony of cleansing.
33-34 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “When you arrive in the land of Canaan which I have given you, and I place leprosy in some house there, 35 then the owner of the house shall come and report to the priest, ‘It seems to me that there may be leprosy in my house!’
36 “The priest shall order the house to be emptied before he examines it, so that everything in the house will not be declared contaminated if he decides that there is leprosy there. 37 If he finds greenish or reddish streaks in the walls of the house which seem to be beneath the surface of the wall, 38 he shall close up the house for seven days, 39 and return the seventh day to look at it again. If the spots have spread in the wall, 40 then the priest shall order the removal of the spotted section of wall, and the material must be thrown into a defiled place outside the city. 41 Then he shall order the inside walls of the house scraped thoroughly and the scrapings dumped in a defiled place outside the city. 42 Other stones shall be brought to replace those that have been removed, new mortar used, and the house replastered.
43 “But if the spots appear again, 44 the priest shall come again and look, and if he sees that the spots have spread, it is leprosy, and the house is defiled. 45 Then he shall order the destruction of the house—all its stones, timbers, and mortar shall be carried out of the city to a defiled place. 46 Anyone entering the house while it is closed shall be defiled until evening. 47 Anyone who lies down or eats in the house shall wash his clothing.
48 “But if, when the priest comes again to look, the spots have not reappeared after the fresh plastering, then he will pronounce the house cleansed and declare the leprosy gone. 49 He shall also perform the ceremony of cleansing, using two birds, cedar wood, scarlet thread, and hyssop branches. 50 He shall kill one of the birds over fresh water in an earthenware bowl, 51-52 and dip the cedar wood, hyssop branch, and scarlet thread, as well as the living bird, into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water, and shall sprinkle the house seven times. In this way the house shall be cleansed. 53 Then he shall let the live bird fly away into an open field outside the city. This is the method for making atonement for the house and cleansing it.”
54 These, then, are the laws concerning the various places where leprosy may appear: 55 in a garment or in a house, 56 or in any swelling in one’s skin, or a scab from a burn, or a bright spot. 57 In this way you will know whether or not it is actually leprosy. That is why these laws are given.
17 I am pleading for your help, O Lord; for I have been honest and have done what is right, and you must listen to my earnest cry! 2 Publicly acquit me, Lord, for you are always fair. 3 You have tested me and seen that I am good. You have come even in the night and found nothing amiss and know that I have told the truth. 4 I have followed your commands and have not gone along with cruel and evil men. 5 My feet have not slipped from your paths.
6 Why am I praying like this? Because I know you will answer me, O God! Yes, listen as I pray. 7 Show me your strong love in wonderful ways, O Savior of all those seeking your help against their foes. 8 Protect me as you would the pupil of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings as you hover over me.
9 My enemies encircle me with murder in their eyes. 10 They are pitiless and arrogant. Listen to their boasting. 11 They close in upon me and are ready to throw me to the ground. 12 They are like lions eager to tear me apart, like young lions hiding and waiting their chance.
13-14 Lord, arise and stand against them. Push them back! Come and save me from these men of the world whose only concern is earthly gain—these men whom you have filled with your treasures so that their children and grandchildren are rich and prosperous.
15 But as for me, my contentment is not in wealth but in seeing you and knowing all is well between us. And when I awake in heaven, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see you face-to-face.
28 The wicked flee when no one is chasing them! But the godly are bold as lions!
2 When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily; but with honest, sensible leaders there is stability.
3 When a poor man oppresses those even poorer, he is like an unexpected flood sweeping away their last hope.
4 To complain about the law is to praise wickedness. To obey the law is to fight evil.
5 Evil men don’t understand the importance of justice, but those who follow the Lord are much concerned about it.
6 Better to be poor and honest than rich and a cheater.
7 Young men who are wise obey the law; a son who is a member of a lawless gang is a shame to his father.
8 Income from exploiting the poor will end up in the hands of someone who pities them.
9 God doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who flout the law.
10 A curse on those who lead astray the godly. But men who encourage the upright to do good shall be given a worthwhile reward.
11 Rich men are conceited, but their real poverty is evident to the poor.
12 When the godly are successful, everyone is glad. When the wicked succeed, everyone is sad.
13 A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.
14 Blessed is the man who reveres God, but the man who doesn’t care is headed for serious trouble.
15 A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor as a lion or bear attacking them.
16 Only a stupid prince will oppress his people, but a king will have a long reign if he hates dishonesty and bribes.
17 A murderer’s conscience will drive him into hell. Don’t stop him!
18 Good men will be rescued from harm, but cheaters will be destroyed.
19 Hard work brings prosperity; playing around brings poverty.
20 The man who wants to do right will get a rich reward. But the man who wants to get rich quick will quickly fail.
21 Giving preferred treatment to rich people is a clear case of selling one’s soul for a piece of bread.
22 Trying to get rich quick is evil and leads to poverty.
23 In the end, people appreciate frankness more than flattery.
24 A man who robs his parents and says, “What’s wrong with that?” is no better than a murderer.
25 Greed causes fighting; trusting God leads to prosperity.
26 A man is a fool to trust himself! But those who use God’s wisdom are safe.
27 If you give to the poor, your needs will be supplied! But a curse upon those who close their eyes to poverty.
28 When the wicked prosper, good men go away; when the wicked meet disaster, good men return.
2 1-2 And now, what about the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to meet him? Please don’t be upset and excited, dear brothers, by the rumor that this day of the Lord has already begun. If you hear of people having visions and special messages from God about this, or letters that are supposed to have come from me, don’t believe them. 3 Don’t be carried away and deceived regardless of what they say.
For that day will not come until two things happen: first, there will be a time of great rebellion against God, and then the man of rebellion will come—the son of hell. 4 He will defy every god there is and tear down every other object of adoration and worship. He will go in and sit as God in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. 5 Don’t you remember that I told you this when I was with you? 6 And you know what is keeping him from being here already; for he can come only when his time is ready.
7 As for the work this man of rebellion and hell will do when he comes, it is already going on,[a] but he himself will not come until the one who is holding him back steps out of the way. 8 Then this wicked one will appear, whom the Lord Jesus will burn up with the breath of his mouth and destroy by his presence when he returns. 9 This man of sin will come as Satan’s tool, full of satanic power, and will trick everyone with strange demonstrations, and will do great miracles. 10 He will completely fool those who are on their way to hell because they have said no to the Truth; they have refused to believe it and love it and let it save them, 11 so God will allow them to believe lies with all their hearts, 12 and all of them will be justly judged for believing falsehood, refusing the Truth, and enjoying their sins.
13 But we must forever give thanks to God for you, our brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose from the very first to give you salvation,[b] cleansing you by the work of the Holy Spirit and by your trusting in the Truth. 14 Through us he told you the Good News. Through us he called you to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 With all these things in mind, dear brothers, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the truth that we taught you in our letters and during the time we were with you.
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and hope, which we don’t deserve, 17 comfort your hearts with all comfort, and help you in every good thing you say and do.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.