M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Absalom Slain
18 Then David [a]numbered the people who were with him and (A)set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 David sent the people out, (B)one third under the [b]command of Joab, one third under the [c]command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the [d]command of (C)Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will surely go out with you also.” 3 But the people said, “(D)You should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But [e]you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.” 4 Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So (E)the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. 5 The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And (F)all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning Absalom.
6 Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in (G)the forest of Ephraim. 7 The people of Israel were [f]defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men. 8 For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And (H)his head caught fast in the oak, so he was [g]left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going. 10 When a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11 Then Joab said to the man who had told him, “Now behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 The man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for (I)in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘[h]Protect for me the young man Absalom!’ 13 Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and (J)there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.” 14 Then Joab said, “I will not [i]waste time here with you.” (K)So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the [j]midst of the oak. 15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.
16 Then (L)Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people. 17 They took Absalom and cast him into [k]a deep pit in the forest and (M)erected over him a very great heap of stones. And (N)all Israel fled, each to his tent. 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and (O)set up for himself a pillar which is in (P)the King’s Valley, for he said, “(Q)I have no son [l]to preserve my name.” So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
David Is Grief-stricken
19 Then (R)Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king news (S)that the Lord has [m]freed him from the hand of his enemies.” 20 But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day; however, you shall carry no news today because the king’s son is dead.” 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. 22 Now Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since (T)you will have no reward for going?” 23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed up the Cushite.
24 Now (U)David was sitting between the two gates; and (V)the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself. 25 The watchman called and told the king. And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer. 26 Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man running by himself.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” 27 The watchman said, “I [n]think the running of the first one (W)is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “(X)This is a good man and comes with good news.”
28 Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “[o]All is well.” And (Y)he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “(Z)Blessed is the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.” 29 The king said, “(AA)Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but (AB)I did not know what it was.” 30 Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
31 Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for (AC)the Lord has [p]freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” 32 Then the king said to the Cushite, “(AD)Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “(AE)Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!”
33 [q]The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “(AF)O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! (AG)Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
Paul Defends His Apostleship
11 I wish that you would (A)bear with me in a little (B)foolishness; but [a]indeed you are bearing with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I (C)betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might (D)present you as a pure virgin. 3 But I am afraid that, as the (E)serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 4 For if [b]one comes and preaches (F)another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a (G)different spirit which you have not received, or a (H)different gospel which you have not accepted, you (I)bear this (J)beautifully. 5 For I consider myself (K)not in the least inferior to the [c]most eminent apostles. 6 But even if I am (L)unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in (M)knowledge; in fact, in every way we have (N)made this evident to you in all things.
7 Or (O)did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the (P)gospel of God to you (Q)without charge? 8 I robbed other churches by (R)taking wages from them to serve you; 9 and when I was present with you and was in need, I was (S)not a burden to anyone; for when (T)the brethren came from (U)Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from (V)being a burden to you, [d]and will continue to do so. 10 (W)As the truth of Christ is in me, (X)this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of (Y)Achaia. 11 Why? (Z)Because I do not love you? (AA)God knows I do!
12 But what I am doing I will continue to do, (AB)so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be [e]regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. 13 For such men are (AC)false apostles, (AD)deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even (AE)Satan disguises himself as an (AF)angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, (AG)whose end will be according to their deeds.
16 (AH)Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. 17 What I am saying, I am not saying [f](AI)as the Lord would, but as (AJ)in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Since (AK)many boast (AL)according to the flesh, I will boast also. 19 For you, (AM)being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. 20 For you tolerate it if anyone (AN)enslaves you, anyone (AO)devours you, anyone (AP)takes advantage of you, anyone (AQ)exalts himself, anyone (AR)hits you in the face. 21 To my (AS)shame I must say that we have been (AT)weak by comparison.
But in whatever respect anyone else (AU)is bold—I (AV)speak in foolishness—I am just as bold myself. 22 Are they (AW)Hebrews? (AX)So am I. Are they (AY)Israelites? (AZ)So am I. Are they [g](BA)descendants of Abraham? (BB)So am I. 23 Are they (BC)servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in [h](BD)far more labors, in [i](BE)far more imprisonments, [j](BF)beaten times without number, often in (BG)danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews (BH)thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was (BI)beaten with rods, once I was (BJ)stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my (BK)countrymen, dangers from the (BL)Gentiles, dangers in the (BM)city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among (BN)false brethren; 27 I have been in (BO)labor and hardship, [k]through many sleepless nights, in (BP)hunger and thirst, often (BQ)without food, in cold and [l](BR)exposure. 28 Apart from such [m]external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for (BS)all the churches. 29 Who is (BT)weak without my being weak? Who is [n]led into sin [o]without my intense concern?
30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my (BU)weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, (BV)He who is blessed forever, (BW)knows that I am not lying. 32 In (BX)Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was (BY)guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, 33 and I was let down in a basket (BZ)through a window [p]in the wall, and so escaped his hands.
Judgment on Gentile Nations—Ammon
25 And the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face toward the (A)sons of Ammon and prophesy against them, 3 and say to the sons of Ammon, ‘Hear the word of the Lord [a]God! Thus says the Lord God, “Because you said, ‘(B)Aha!’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into exile, 4 therefore, behold, I am going to give you to the (C)sons of the east for a possession, and they will set their encampments among you and make their dwellings among you; they will (D)eat your fruit and drink your milk. 5 I will make (E)Rabbah a pasture for camels and the sons of Ammon a resting place for flocks. Thus you will know that I am the Lord.” 6 For thus says the Lord God, “Because you have (F)clapped your hands and stamped your feet and (G)rejoiced with all the scorn of your soul against the land of Israel, 7 therefore, behold, I have (H)stretched out My hand against you and I will give you for (I)spoil to the nations. And I will (J)cut you off from the peoples and (K)make you perish from the lands; I will destroy you. Thus you will (L)know that I am the Lord.”
Moab
8 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Because (M)Moab and Seir say, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the nations,’ 9 therefore, behold, I am going to [b]deprive the flank of Moab of its cities, of its cities which are on its [c]frontiers, the glory of the land, (N)Beth-jeshimoth, (O)Baal-meon and (P)Kiriathaim, 10 and I will give it for a possession along with the sons of Ammon to the (Q)sons of the east, so that the sons of Ammon will not be remembered among the nations. 11 Thus I will execute judgments on Moab, and they will know that I am the Lord.”
Edom
12 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Because (R)Edom has acted against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has incurred grievous guilt, and avenged themselves upon them,” 13 therefore thus says the Lord God, “I will also (S)stretch out My hand against Edom and (T)cut off man and beast from it. And I will lay it waste; from (U)Teman even to (V)Dedan they will fall by the sword. 14 (W)I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel. Therefore, they will act in Edom (X)according to My anger and according to My wrath; thus they will know My vengeance,” declares the Lord God.
Philistia
15 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Because the Philistines have acted in (Y)revenge and have taken vengeance with scorn of soul to destroy with everlasting enmity,” 16 therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will (Z)stretch out My hand against the Philistines, even cut off the (AA)Cherethites and destroy the remnant of the seacoast. 17 I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes; and they will (AB)know that I am the Lord when I lay My vengeance on them.”’”
BOOK 3
The End of the Wicked Contrasted with That of the Righteous.
A Psalm of Asaph.
73 Surely God is (A)good to Israel,
To those who are (B)pure in heart!
2 But as for me, (C)my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps [a]had almost slipped.
3 For I was (D)envious of the [b]arrogant
As I saw the (E)prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pains in their death,
And their [c]body is fat.
5 They are (F)not [d]in trouble as other [e]men,
Nor are they (G)plagued [f]like mankind.
6 Therefore pride is (H)their necklace;
The (I)garment of violence covers them.
7 Their eye [g]bulges from (J)fatness;
The imaginations of their heart [h]run riot.
8 They (K)mock and [i]wickedly speak of oppression;
They (L)speak from on high.
9 They have (M)set their mouth [j]against the heavens,
And their tongue [k]parades through the earth.
10 Therefore [l]his people return to this place,
And waters of (N)abundance are [m]drunk by them.
11 They say, “(O)How does God know?
And is there knowledge [n]with the Most High?”
12 Behold, (P)these are the wicked;
And always (Q)at ease, they have increased in wealth.
13 Surely (R)in vain I have [o]kept my heart pure
And (S)washed my hands in innocence;
14 For I have been stricken (T)all day long
And [p](U)chastened every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
Behold, I would have betrayed the (V)generation of Your children.
16 When I (W)pondered to understand this,
It was [q]troublesome in my sight
17 Until I came into the [r](X)sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their (Y)end.
18 Surely You set them in (Z)slippery places;
You cast them down to [s](AA)destruction.
19 How they are [t](AB)destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by (AC)sudden terrors!
20 Like a (AD)dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when (AE)aroused, You will (AF)despise their [u]form.
21 When my (AG)heart was embittered
And I was (AH)pierced [v]within,
22 Then I was (AI)senseless and ignorant;
I was like [w]a (AJ)beast [x]before You.
23 Nevertheless (AK)I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
24 With Your counsel You will (AL)guide me,
And afterward (AM)receive me [y]to glory.
25 (AN)Whom have I in heaven but You?
And [z]besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
26 My (AO)flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the [aa]strength of my heart and my (AP)portion forever.
27 For, behold, (AQ)those who are far from You will (AR)perish;
You have [ab]destroyed all those who [ac](AS)are unfaithful to You.
28 But as for me, (AT)the nearness of God is my good;
I have made the Lord [ad]God my (AU)refuge,
That I may (AV)tell of all Your works.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.