M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Solomon Reigns
23 (A)Now when David [a]reached old age, (B)he made his son Solomon king over Israel. 2 And he gathered together all the leaders of Israel with the priests and the Levites.
Offices of the Levites
3 (C)The Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward, and (D)their number by [b]census of men was 38,000. 4 Of these, 24,000 were (E)to oversee the work of the house of the Lord; and 6,000 were (F)officers and judges, 5 and 4,000 were gatekeepers, and (G)4,000 were praising the Lord with the instruments which [c]David made for giving praise. 6 David divided them into divisions (H)according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Gershonites
7 Of the Gershonites were [d]Ladan and Shimei. 8 The sons of Ladan were Jehiel the first and Zetham and Joel, three. 9 The sons of Shimei were Shelomoth and Haziel and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers’ households of Ladan. 10 The sons of Shimei were Jahath, [e]Zina, Jeush and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. 11 Jahath was the first and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they became a father’s household, one [f]class.
Kohathites
12 The sons of Kohath were four: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. 13 (I)The sons of Amram were Aaron and Moses. And (J)Aaron was set apart to sanctify him as most holy, he and his sons forever, (K)to burn incense before the Lord, to minister to Him and to bless in His name forever. 14 But as for (L)Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi. 15 The sons of Moses were Gershom and Eliezer. 16 The [g]son of Gershom was [h]Shebuel the chief. 17 The [i]son of Eliezer was Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. 18 The [j]son of Izhar was [k]Shelomith the chief. 19 The sons of Hebron were Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth. 20 The sons of Uzziel were Micah the first and Isshiah the second.
Merarites
21 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli were Eleazar and Kish. 22 Eleazar died and had no sons, but daughters only, so their brothers, the sons of Kish, took them as wives. 23 The sons of Mushi were three: Mahli, Eder and Jeremoth.
Duties Revised
24 (M)These were the sons of Levi according to their fathers’ households, even the heads of the fathers’ households of those of them who were [l]counted, in the number of names by their [m]census, doing the work for the service of the house of the Lord, (N)from twenty years old and upward. 25 For David said, “The Lord God of Israel (O)has given rest to His people, and He dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26 Also, (P)the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its utensils for its service.” 27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward. 28 For their office is [n]to assist the sons of Aaron with the service of the house of the Lord, in the courts and in the chambers and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God, 29 (Q)and with the showbread, and (R)the fine flour for a grain offering, and unleavened wafers, or (S)what is baked in the pan or (T)what is well-mixed, and (U)all measures of volume and size. 30 They are to stand every morning to thank and to praise the Lord, and likewise at evening, 31 and to offer all burnt offerings to the Lord, (V)on the sabbaths, the new moons and (W)the fixed festivals in the number set by the ordinance concerning them, continually before the Lord. 32 Thus (X)they are to keep charge of the tent of meeting, and charge of the holy place, and (Y)charge of the sons of Aaron their [o]relatives, for the service of the house of the Lord.
Keep Fervent in Your Love
4 Therefore, since (A)Christ has [a]suffered in the flesh, (B)arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because (C)he who has [b]suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 (D)so as to live (E)the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the (F)will of God. 3 For (G)the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, [c](H)having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and [d]abominable idolatries. 4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of (I)dissipation, and they (J)malign you; 5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge (K)the living and the dead. 6 For (L)the gospel has for this purpose been [e]preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
7 (M)The end of all things [f]is near; therefore, (N)be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of [g]prayer. 8 Above all, (O)keep fervent in your love for one another, because (P)love covers a multitude of sins. 9 (Q)Be hospitable to one another without (R)complaint. 10 (S)As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good (T)stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 (U)Whoever speaks, is to do so [h]as one who is speaking the (V)utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving [i](W)by the strength which God supplies; so that (X)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, (Y)to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Share the Sufferings of Christ
12 (Z)Beloved, do not be surprised at the (AA)fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you (AB)share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the (AC)revelation of His glory (AD)you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled [j](AE)for the name of Christ, (AF)you are blessed, (AG)because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that (AH)none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a [k](AI)troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a (AJ)Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to (AK)glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment (AL)to begin [l]with (AM)the household of God; and if it (AN)begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those (AO)who do not obey the (AP)gospel of God? 18 (AQ)And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, [m]what will become of the (AR)godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to (AS)the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
Woe to Oppressors
2 Woe to those who (A)scheme iniquity,
Who work out evil on their beds!
[a](B)When morning comes, they do it,
For it is in the (C)power of their hands.
2 They (D)covet fields and then (E)seize them,
And houses, and take them away.
They [b](F)rob a man and his house,
A man and his inheritance.
3 Therefore thus says the Lord,
“Behold, I am (G)planning against this (H)family a calamity
From which you (I)cannot remove your necks;
And you will not walk (J)haughtily,
For it will be an (K)evil time.
4 “On that day they will (L)take up against you a [c]taunt
And [d](M)utter a bitter lamentation and say,
‘We are completely (N)destroyed!
He exchanges the portion of my people;
How He removes it from me!
To the apostate He (O)apportions our fields.’
5 “Therefore you will have no one [e](P)stretching a measuring line
For you by lot in the assembly of the Lord.
6 ‘(Q)Do not [f]speak out,’ so they [g]speak out.
But if [h]they do (R)not [i]speak out concerning these things,
(S)Reproaches will not be turned back.
7 “Is it being said, O house of Jacob:
‘Is the Spirit of the Lord (T)impatient?
Are these His doings?’
Do not My words (U)do good
To the one (V)walking uprightly?
8 “[j]Recently My people have arisen as an (W)enemy—
You (X)strip the [k]robe off the garment
From (Y)unsuspecting passers-by,
From those returned from war.
9 “The women of My people you (Z)evict,
Each one from her pleasant house.
From her children you take My (AA)splendor forever.
10 “Arise and go,
For this is no place (AB)of rest
Because of the (AC)uncleanness that brings on destruction,
A painful destruction.
11 “If a man walking after wind and (AD)falsehood
Had told lies and said,
‘I will [l]speak out to you concerning (AE)wine and liquor,’
He would be [m]spokesman to (AF)this people.
12 “I will surely (AG)assemble all of you, Jacob,
I will surely gather the (AH)remnant of Israel.
I will put them together like sheep in the fold;
Like a flock in the midst of its pasture
They will be noisy with men.
13 “The breaker goes up before them;
They break out, pass through the gate and go out by it.
So their king goes on before them,
And the Lord at their head.”
Instruction about Prayer
11 It happened that while [a]Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 And He said to them, “(A)When you pray, say:
‘[b]Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 ‘Give us (B)each day our [c]daily bread.
4 ‘And forgive us our sins,
For we ourselves also forgive everyone who (C)is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
5 Then He said to them, “[d]Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children [e]and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet (D)because of his [f]persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9 “So I say to you, [g](E)ask, and it will be given to you; [h]seek, and you will find; [i]knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11 Now [j]suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a [k]fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13 (F)If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your [l]heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
Pharisees’ Blasphemy
14 (G)And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute; when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons (H)by (I)Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” 16 Others, [m]to test Him, (J)were demanding of Him a [n]sign from heaven. 17 (K)But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “[o]Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against [p]itself falls. 18 If (L)Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by (M)Beelzebul. 19 And if I by (N)Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges. 20 But if I cast out demons by the (O)finger of God, then (P)the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When [q]a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are [r]undisturbed. 22 But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder. 23 (Q)He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.
24 “(R)When the unclean spirit goes out of [s]a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”
27 While [t]Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “(S)Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.” 28 But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are (T)those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
The Sign of Jonah
29 As the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “(U)This generation is a wicked generation; it (V)seeks for a [u]sign, and yet no [v]sign will be given to it but the [w]sign of Jonah. 30 For just as (W)Jonah became a [x]sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The (X)Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because (Y)they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
33 “(Z)No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 (AA)The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is [y]clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is [z]bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness. 36 If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays.”
Woes upon the Pharisees
37 Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee *asked Him to have lunch with him; and He went in, and reclined at the table. 38 When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first [aa](AB)ceremonially washed before the [ab]meal. 39 But (AC)the Lord said to him, “Now (AD)you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but [ac]inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness. 40 (AE)You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But (AF)give that which is within as charity, and [ad]then all things are (AG)clean for you.
42 “(AH)But woe to you Pharisees! For you (AI)pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you (AJ)love the chief seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places. 44 (AK)Woe to you! For you are like [ae]concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it.”
45 One of the [af](AL)lawyers *said to Him in reply, “Teacher, when You say this, You insult us too.” 46 But He said, “Woe to you (AM)lawyers as well! For (AN)you weigh men down with burdens hard to bear, [ag]while you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 (AO)Woe to you! For you build the [ah]tombs of the prophets, and it was your fathers who killed them. 48 So you are witnesses and approve the deeds of your fathers; because it was they who killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 For this reason also (AP)the wisdom of God said, ‘(AQ)I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will [ai]persecute, 50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed (AR)since the foundation of the world, may be [aj]charged against this generation, 51 from (AS)the blood of Abel to (AT)the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the house of God; yes, I tell you, it shall be [ak]charged against this generation.’ 52 Woe to you [al](AU)lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; (AV)you yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering.”
53 When He left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile and to question Him closely on many subjects, 54 (AW)plotting against Him (AX)to catch [am]Him in something He might say.
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