M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
People of Jerusalem
9 So all Israel was enrolled by genealogies; and behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And (A)Judah was carried away into exile to Babylon for their unfaithfulness.
2 (B)Now the first who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites and (C)the [a]temple servants. 3 Some of the sons of Judah, of the sons of Benjamin and of the sons of Ephraim and Manasseh lived in (D)Jerusalem: 4 Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, from the sons of Perez the (E)son of Judah. 5 From the Shilonites were Asaiah the firstborn and his sons. 6 From the sons of Zerah were Jeuel and their [b]relatives, 690 of them. 7 From the sons of Benjamin were Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah, 8 and Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah; 9 and their relatives according to their generations, (F)956. All these were heads of fathers’ households according to their fathers’ houses.
10 (G)From the priests were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, 11 and [c]Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, (H)the chief officer of the house of God; 12 and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer; 13 and their relatives, heads of their fathers’ households, 1,760 very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.
14 (I)Of the Levites were Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; 15 and Bakbakkar, Heresh and Galal and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of [d]Zichri, the son of Asaph, 16 and [e]Obadiah the son of [f]Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
17 Now the gatekeepers were [g]Shallum and Akkub and Talmon and Ahiman and their relatives (Shallum the chief 18 being stationed until now at (J)the king’s gate to the east). These were the gatekeepers for the camp of the sons of Levi. 19 Shallum the son of Kore, the son of [h]Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives of his father’s house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent; and their fathers had been over the camp of the Lord, keepers of the entrance. 20 (K)Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them previously, and the Lord was with him. 21 (L)Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the entrance of the tent of meeting. 22 All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds were 212. These were enrolled by genealogy in their villages, (M)whom David and Samuel the seer appointed (N)in their office of trust. 23 So they and their sons [i]had charge of the gates of the house of the Lord, even the house of the tent, as guards. 24 The gatekeepers were [j]on the four sides, to the east, west, north and south. 25 Their relatives in their villages (O)were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with [k]them; 26 for the four chief gatekeepers who were Levites, were in an office of trust, and were over the chambers and over the treasuries in the house of God. 27 They spent the night around the house of God, (P)because the watch was [l]committed to them; and they were [m]in charge of opening it morning by morning.
28 Now some of them [n]had charge of the utensils of service, for [o]they counted them when they brought them in and when they took them out. 29 Some of them also were appointed over the furniture and over all the utensils of the sanctuary and (Q)over the fine flour and the wine and the oil and the frankincense and the spices. 30 Some of (R)the sons of the priests prepared the mixing of the spices. 31 Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had (S)the [p]responsibility over the things which were baked in pans. 32 Some of their relatives of the sons of the Kohathites (T)were over the showbread to prepare it every sabbath.
33 Now these are (U)the singers, heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, who lived in the chambers of the temple free from other service; for they were [q]engaged (V)in their work day and night. 34 These were heads of fathers’ households of the Levites according to their generations, chief men, [r]who lived in Jerusalem.
Ancestry and Descendants of Saul
35 (W)In Gibeon Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived, and his wife’s name was Maacah, 36 and his firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah and Mikloth. 38 Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. And they also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem opposite their other relatives. 39 (X)Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of Saul, and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal. 40 The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal became the father of Micah. 41 The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tahrea (Y)and Ahaz. 42 Ahaz became the father of Jarah, and Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza, 43 and Moza became the father of Binea and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 44 Azel had six sons whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru and Ishmael and Sheariah and Obadiah and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.
Defeat and Death of Saul and His Sons
10 (Z)Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines closely pursued Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan, [s](AA)Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The battle became heavy against Saul, and the archers [t]overtook him; and he was wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised will come and abuse me.” But his armor bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. (AB)Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it. 5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword and died. 6 (AC)Thus Saul died with his three sons, and all those of his house died together.
7 When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.
8 It came about the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 (AD)So they stripped him and took his head and his armor and sent messengers around the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armor in the house of their gods and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.
Jabesh-gilead’s Tribute to Saul
11 When all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 (AE)all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh, and they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
13 (AF)So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the Lord, because of the word of the Lord which he did not keep; and also (AG)because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, 14 and did not inquire of the Lord. Therefore He killed him and (AH)turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.
Jesus, the Example
12 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also (A)lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us (B)run with (C)endurance the race that is set before us, 2 [a]fixing our eyes on Jesus, the [b](D)author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him (E)endured the cross, (F)despising the shame, and has (G)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For (H)consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary [c](I)and lose heart.
A Father’s Discipline
4 (J)You have not yet resisted [d](K)to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
“(L)My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
Nor (M)faint when you are reproved by Him;
6 (N)For those (O)whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
And He scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you endure; (P)God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, (Q)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had [e]earthly fathers to discipline us, and we (R)respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to (S)the Father of [f]spirits, and (T)live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, (U)so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline (V)for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the (W)peaceful fruit of righteousness.
12 Therefore, [g](X)strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and (Y)make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather (Z)be healed.
14 (AA)Pursue peace with all men, and the (AB)sanctification without which no one will (AC)see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one (AD)comes short of the grace of God; that no (AE)root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be (AF)defiled; 16 that there be no (AG)immoral or (AH)godless person like Esau, (AI)who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that even afterwards, (AJ)when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
Contrast of Sinai and Zion
18 (AK)For you have not come to (AL)a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the (AM)blast of a trumpet and the (AN)sound of words which sound was such that those who heard (AO)begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear the command, “(AP)If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “(AQ)I am full of fear and trembling.” 22 But (AR)you have come to Mount Zion and to (AS)the city of (AT)the living God, (AU)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to (AV)myriads of [h]angels, 23 to the general assembly and (AW)church of the firstborn who (AX)are enrolled in heaven, and to God, (AY)the Judge of all, and to the (AZ)spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the (BA)mediator of a new covenant, and to the (BB)sprinkled blood, which speaks better than (BC)the blood of Abel.
The Unshaken Kingdom
25 (BD)See to it that you do not refuse Him who is (BE)speaking. For (BF)if those did not escape when they (BG)refused him who (BH)warned them on earth, [i]much less will we escape who turn away from Him who (BI)warns from heaven. 26 And (BJ)His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “(BK)Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes (BL)the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a (BM)kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us [j]show gratitude, by which we may (BN)offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for (BO)our God is a consuming fire.
“Those at Ease in Zion”
6 (A)Woe to those who are at ease in Zion
And to those who feel secure in the mountain of Samaria,
The (B)distinguished men of the foremost of nations,
To whom the house of Israel comes.
2 Go over to (C)Calneh and look,
And go from there to (D)Hamath the great,
Then go down to (E)Gath of the Philistines.
Are [a]they better than these kingdoms,
Or is their territory greater than yours?
3 Do you (F)put off the day of calamity,
And would you (G)bring near the seat of violence?
4 Those who recline on beds of ivory
And sprawl on their (H)couches,
And (I)eat lambs from the flock
And calves from the midst of the stall,
5 Who improvise to the sound of the harp,
And like David have [b]composed (J)songs for themselves,
6 Who (K)drink wine from [c]sacrificial bowls
While they anoint themselves with the finest of oils,
Yet they have not (L)grieved over the ruin of Joseph.
7 Therefore, they will now (M)go into exile at the head of the exiles,
And the (N)sprawlers’ [d]banqueting will [e]pass away.
8 The Lord [f]God has (O)sworn by Himself, the Lord God of hosts has declared:
“I (P)loathe the arrogance of Jacob,
And [g]detest his (Q)citadels;
Therefore I will (R)deliver up the city and [h]all it contains.”
9 And it will be, if (S)ten men are left in one house, they will die. 10 Then one’s [i]uncle, or his [j](T)undertaker, will lift him up to carry out his bones from the house, and he will say to the one who is in the innermost part of the house, “Is anyone else with you?” And that one will say, “No one.” Then he will [k]answer, “(U)Keep quiet. For [l]the name of the Lord is (V)not to be mentioned.” 11 For behold, the Lord is going to (W)command that the (X)great house be smashed to pieces and the small house to fragments.
12 Do horses run on rocks?
Or does one plow [m]them with oxen?
Yet you have turned (Y)justice into poison
And the fruit of righteousness into [n]wormwood,
13 You who rejoice in [o](Z)Lodebar,
[p]And say, “Have we not (AA)by our own strength taken [q]Karnaim for ourselves?”
14 “For behold, (AB)I am going to raise up a nation against you,
O house of Israel,” declares the Lord God of hosts,
“And they will afflict you from the (AC)entrance of Hamath
To the (AD)brook of the Arabah.”
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 Now [a]at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to (A)the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was (B)filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And [b]how has it happened to me, that the mother of (C)my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And (D)blessed is she who [c]believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her [d]by the Lord.”
The Magnificat
46 And Mary said:
“(E)My soul [e](F)exalts the Lord,
47 And (G)my spirit has rejoiced in (H)God my Savior.
48 “For (I)He has had regard for the humble state of His [f]bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me (J)blessed.
49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
50 “(K)And His mercy is [g]upon generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
51 “(L)He has done [h]mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the [i]thoughts of their heart.
52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has (M)exalted those who were humble.
53 “(N)He has filled the hungry with good things;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.
54 “He has given help to Israel His servant,
[j]In remembrance of His mercy,
55 (O)As He spoke to our fathers,
(P)To Abraham and his [k]descendants forever.”
56 And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.
John Is Born
57 Now the time [l]had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had [m](Q)displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.
59 And it happened that on (R)the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, [n]after his father. 60 But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but (S)he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” 62 And they (T)made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “(U)His name is John.” And they were all astonished. 64 (V)And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. 65 Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all (W)the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For (X)the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.
Zacharias’s Prophecy
67 And his father Zacharias (Y)was filled with the Holy Spirit, and (Z)prophesied, saying:
68 “(AA)Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited us and accomplished (AB)redemption for His people,
69 And has raised up a (AC)horn of salvation for us
In the house of David (AD)His servant—
70 (AE)As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets (AF)from of old—
71 [o](AG)Salvation (AH)from our enemies,
And from the hand of all who hate us;
72 (AI)To show mercy toward our fathers,
(AJ)And to remember His holy covenant,
73 (AK)The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
75 (AL)In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
76 “And you, child, will be called the (AM)prophet of (AN)the Most High;
For you will go on (AO)before the Lord to (AP)prepare His ways;
77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
[p]By (AQ)the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which (AR)the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
79 (AS)To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the (AT)way of peace.”
80 (AU)And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.