M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
David’s Last Song
23 Now these are the last words of David.
David the son of Jesse declares,
(A)The man who was raised on high declares,
(B)The anointed of the God of Jacob,
And the sweet psalmist of Israel,
2 “(C)The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me,
And His word was on my tongue.
3 “The God of Israel said,
(D)The Rock of Israel spoke to me,
‘(E)He who rules over men righteously,
(F)Who rules in the fear of God,
4 (G)Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises,
A morning without clouds,
When the tender grass springs out of the earth,
Through sunshine after rain.’
5 “Truly is not my house so with God?
For (H)He has made an everlasting covenant with me,
Ordered in all things, and secured;
For all my salvation and all my desire,
Will He not indeed make it grow?
6 “(I)But the worthless, every one of them will be thrust away like thorns,
Because they cannot be taken in hand;
7 But the man who touches them
Must be [a]armed with iron and the shaft of a spear,
And (J)they will be completely burned with fire in their [b]place.”
His Mighty Men
8 (K)These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the [c]captains, he was called Adino the Eznite, because of eight hundred slain by him at one time; 9 and after him was Eleazar the son of (L)Dodo the (M)Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they [d]defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had [e]withdrawn. 10 (N)He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and [f]clung to the sword, and (O)the Lord brought about a great [g]victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain.
11 Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a (P)Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered [h]into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and (Q)the Lord brought about a great [i]victory.
13 Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in the harvest time to the (R)cave of Adullam, while the troop of the Philistines was camping in (S)the valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then (T)in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 (U)David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” 16 (V)So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but (W)poured it out to the Lord; 17 and he said, “Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this. (X)Shall I drink the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.
18 (Y)Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was (Z)chief of the [j]thirty. And he swung his spear against three hundred [k]and killed them, and had a name as well as the three. 19 He was most honored of the thirty, therefore he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the three.
20 Then (AA)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of (AB)Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, [l]killed the [m]two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. 21 He [n]killed an Egyptian, [o]an impressive man. Now the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things (AC)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name as well as the three mighty men. 23 He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David appointed him over his guard.
24 (AD)Asahel the brother of Joab was among the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 (AE)Shammah the (AF)Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the (AG)Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the (AH)Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the (AI)Netophathite, 29 (AJ)Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of (AK)Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah a (AL)Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of (AM)Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the (AN)Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the (AO)Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 (AP)Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of (AQ)the Maacathite, (AR)Eliam the son of (AS)Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 (AT)Hezro the (AU)Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of (AV)Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the (AW)Beerothite, armor bearers of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira the (AX)Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 (AY)Uriah the Hittite; thirty-seven in all.
Faith Brings Righteousness
3 [a]You foolish (A)Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ (B)was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of [b]the Law, or by [c](C)hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun [d]by the Spirit, are you now [e]being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you [f]suffer so many things in vain—(D)if indeed it was in vain? 5 So then, does He who (E)provides you with the Spirit and (F)works [g]miracles among you, do it by the works of [h]the Law, or by [i](G)hearing with faith?
6 [j]Even so (H)Abraham (I)believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. 7 Therefore, [k]be sure that (J)it is those who are of faith who are (K)sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God [l]would justify the [m]Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “(L)All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then (M)those who are of faith are blessed with [n]Abraham, the believer.
10 For as many as are of the works of [o]the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “(N)Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.” 11 Now that (O)no one is justified [p]by [q]the Law before God is evident; for, “[r](P)The righteous man shall live by faith.” 12 [s]However, the Law is not [t]of faith; on the contrary, “(Q)He who practices them shall live [u]by them.” 13 Christ (R)redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “(S)Cursed is everyone who hangs on (T)a [v]tree”— 14 in order that (U)in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might [w]come to the Gentiles, so that we (V)would receive (W)the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Intent of the Law
15 (X)Brethren, (Y)I speak [x]in terms of human relations: (Z)even though it is only a man’s [y]covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds [z]conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken (AA)to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “(AB)And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came (AC)four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For (AD)if the inheritance is [aa]based on law, it is no longer [ab]based on a promise; but (AE)God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
19 (AF)Why the Law then? It was added [ac]because of transgressions, having been (AG)ordained through angels (AH)by the [ad]agency of a mediator, until (AI)the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now (AJ)a mediator is not [ae]for one party only; whereas God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? (AK)May it never be! For (AL)if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness [af]would indeed have been [ag]based on law. 22 But the Scripture has (AM)shut up [ah]everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, (AN)being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our (AO)tutor to lead us to Christ, so that (AP)we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a [ai](AQ)tutor. 26 For you are all (AR)sons of God through faith in (AS)Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were (AT)baptized into Christ have (AU)clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 (AV)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is [aj]neither male nor female; for (AW)you are all one in (AX)Christ Jesus. 29 And if (AY)you [ak]belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s [al]descendants, heirs according to (AZ)promise.
Lament over Egypt
30 The word of the Lord came again to me saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord [a]God,
“(A)Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’
3 “For the day is near,
Even (B)the day of the Lord is near;
It will be a day of (C)clouds,
A time of doom for the nations.
4 “A sword will come upon Egypt,
And anguish will be in [b]Ethiopia;
When the slain fall in Egypt,
They (D)take away her [c]wealth,
And her foundations are torn down.
5 [d]Ethiopia, Put, Lud, all [e](E)Arabia, [f]Libya and the [g]people of the land [h]that is in league will fall with them by the sword.”
6 ‘Thus says the Lord,
“Indeed, those who support (F)Egypt will fall
And the pride of her power will come down;
From Migdol to Syene
They will fall within her by the sword,”
Declares the Lord God.
7 “They will be desolate
In the (G)midst of the desolated lands;
And her cities will be
In the midst of the devastated cities.
8 “And they will (H)know that I am the Lord,
When I set a (I)fire in Egypt
And all her helpers are broken.
9 On that day (J)messengers will go forth from Me in ships to frighten (K)secure [i]Ethiopia; and (L)anguish will be on them as on the day of Egypt; for behold, it comes!”
10 ‘Thus says the Lord God,
“(M)I will also make the [j]hordes of Egypt cease
By the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
11 “He and his people with him,
(N)The most ruthless of the nations,
Will be brought in to destroy the land;
And they will draw their swords against Egypt
And fill the land with the slain.
12 “Moreover, I will make the (O)Nile canals dry
And (P)sell the land into the hands of evil men.
And I will make the land desolate
And [k]all that is in it,
By the hand of strangers; I the Lord have spoken.”
13 ‘Thus says the Lord God,
“I will also (Q)destroy the idols
And make the [l]images cease from [m](R)Memphis.
And there will no longer be a prince in the land of Egypt;
And I will put fear in the land of Egypt.
14 “I will make (S)Pathros desolate,
Set a fire in (T)Zoan
And execute judgments on [n](U)Thebes.
15 “I will pour out My wrath on [o]Sin,
The stronghold of Egypt;
I will also cut off the hordes of [p]Thebes.
16 “I will set a fire in Egypt;
[q]Sin will writhe in anguish,
[r]Thebes will be breached
And [s]Memphis will have [t]distresses daily.
17 “The young men of [u](V)On and of Pi-beseth
Will fall by the sword,
And [v]the women will go into captivity.
18 “In (W)Tehaphnehes the day will [w]be (X)dark
When I (Y)break there the yoke bars of Egypt.
Then the pride of her power will cease in her;
A cloud will cover her,
And her daughters will go into captivity.
19 “Thus I will (Z)execute judgments on Egypt,
And they will know that I am the Lord.”’”
Victory for Babylon
20 In the (AA)eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh of the month, the word of the Lord came to me saying, 21 “Son of man, I have (AB)broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, behold, it has not been (AC)bound up [x]for healing [y]or wrapped with a bandage, that it may be strong to hold the sword. 22 Therefore thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I am (AD)against Pharaoh king of Egypt and will break his arms, both the strong and the (AE)broken; and I will make the sword (AF)fall from his hand. 23 I will (AG)scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the lands. 24 For I will (AH)strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put (AI)My sword in his hand; and I will break the arms of Pharaoh, so that he will groan before him with the groanings of a wounded man. 25 Thus I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I put My sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he (AJ)stretches it out against the land of Egypt. 26 When I scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the lands, then they will know that I am the Lord.’”
38 But He, being (A)compassionate, [a](B)forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them;
And often He [b](C)restrained His anger
And did not arouse all His wrath.
39 Thus (D)He remembered that they were but (E)flesh,
A [c](F)wind that passes and does not return.
40 How often they (G)rebelled against Him in the wilderness
And (H)grieved Him in the (I)desert!
41 Again and again they [d](J)tempted God,
And pained the (K)Holy One of Israel.
42 They (L)did not remember (M)His [e]power,
The day when He (N)redeemed them from the adversary,
43 When He performed His (O)signs in Egypt
And His (P)marvels in the field of Zoan,
44 And (Q)turned their rivers to blood,
And their streams, they could not drink.
45 He sent among them swarms of (R)flies which devoured them,
And (S)frogs which destroyed them.
46 He gave also their crops to the (T)grasshopper
And the product of their labor to the (U)locust.
47 He [f]destroyed their vines with (V)hailstones
And their sycamore trees with frost.
48 He gave over their (W)cattle also to the hailstones
And their herds to bolts of lightning.
49 He (X)sent upon them His burning anger,
Fury and indignation and trouble,
[g]A band of destroying angels.
50 He leveled a path for His anger;
He did not spare their soul from death,
But (Y)gave over their life to the plague,
51 And (Z)smote all the firstborn in Egypt,
The (AA)first issue of their virility in the tents of (AB)Ham.
52 But He (AC)led forth His own people like sheep
And guided them in the wilderness (AD)like a flock;
53 He led them (AE)safely, so that they did not fear;
But (AF)the sea engulfed their enemies.
54 So (AG)He brought them to His holy [h]land,
To this [i](AH)hill country (AI)which His right hand had gained.
55 He also (AJ)drove out the nations before them
And (AK)apportioned them for an inheritance by measurement,
And made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents.
56 Yet they [j](AL)tempted and (AM)rebelled against the Most High God
And did not keep His testimonies,
57 But turned back and (AN)acted treacherously like their fathers;
They (AO)turned aside like a treacherous bow.
58 For they (AP)provoked Him with their (AQ)high places
And (AR)aroused His jealousy with their (AS)graven images.
59 When God heard, He [k]was filled with (AT)wrath
And greatly (AU)abhorred Israel;
60 So that He (AV)abandoned the (AW)dwelling place at Shiloh,
The tent [l]which He had pitched among men,
61 And gave up His (AX)strength to captivity
And His glory (AY)into the hand of the adversary.
62 He also (AZ)delivered His people to the sword,
And [m]was filled with wrath at His inheritance.
63 (BA)Fire devoured [n]His young men,
And [o]His (BB)virgins had no wedding songs.
64 [p]His (BC)priests fell by the sword,
And [q]His (BD)widows could not weep.
65 Then the Lord (BE)awoke as if from sleep,
Like a (BF)warrior [r]overcome by wine.
66 He [s](BG)drove His adversaries backward;
He put on them an everlasting reproach.
67 He also (BH)rejected the tent of Joseph,
And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
68 But chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount (BI)Zion which He loved.
69 And He (BJ)built His sanctuary like the heights,
Like the earth which He has founded forever.
70 He also (BK)chose David His servant
And took him from the sheepfolds;
71 From [t](BL)the care of the [u]ewes (BM)with suckling lambs He brought him
To (BN)shepherd Jacob His people,
And Israel (BO)His inheritance.
72 So he shepherded them according to the (BP)integrity of his heart,
And guided them with his skillful hands.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.