M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Josiah Succeeds Amon in Judah
34 (A)Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. 2 (B)He did right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left. 3 For in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to (C)seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began (D)to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, the carved images and the molten images. 4 They tore down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and (E)the incense altars that were high above them he chopped down; also the Asherim, the carved images and the molten images he broke in pieces and (F)ground to powder and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 Then (G)he burned the bones of the priests on their altars and purged Judah and Jerusalem. 6 (H)In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, even as far as Naphtali, in their surrounding ruins, 7 he also tore down the altars and (I)beat the Asherim and the carved images into powder, and chopped down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.
Josiah Repairs the Temple
8 (J)Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah (K)an official of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God. 9 They came to (L)Hilkiah the high priest and delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the [a]doorkeepers, had collected [b]from (M)Manasseh and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 Then they gave it into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of the Lord, and the workmen who were working in the house of the Lord [c]used it to restore and repair the house. 11 They in turn gave it to the carpenters and to the builders to buy quarried stone and timber for couplings and to make beams for the houses (N)which the kings of Judah had let go to ruin. 12 (O)The men did the work faithfully with foremen over them to supervise: Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites of the sons of Merari, Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites, and (P)the Levites, all who were skillful with musical instruments. 13 They were also over (Q)the burden bearers, and supervised all the workmen from job to job; and some of the Levites were scribes and officials and gatekeepers.
Hilkiah Discovers Lost Book of the Law
14 When they were bringing out the money which had been brought into the house of the Lord, (R)Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of the Lord given by Moses. 15 Hilkiah responded and said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan. 16 Then Shaphan brought the book to the king and [d]reported further word to the king, saying, “Everything that was [e]entrusted to your servants they are doing. 17 They have also emptied out the money which was found in the house of the Lord, and have delivered it into the hands of the supervisors and the workmen.” 18 Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, “Hilkiah the priest gave me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
19 When the king heard (S)the words of the law, (T)he tore his clothes. 20 Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, [f]Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 21 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book which has been found; for (U)great is the wrath of the Lord which is poured out on us because our fathers have not observed the word of the Lord, to do according to all that is written in this book.”
Huldah, the Prophetess, Speaks
22 So Hilkiah and those whom the king [g]had told went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of [h]Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her regarding this. 23 She said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, 24 thus says the Lord, “Behold, (V)I am bringing evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all (W)the curses written in the book which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25 (X)Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place and it shall not be quenched.”’ 26 But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus you will say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel regarding the words which you have heard, 27 (Y)Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the Lord. 28 Behold, I will gather you to your fathers and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, so your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.”’” And they brought back word to the king.
29 (Z)Then the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 The king went up to the house of the Lord and (AA)all the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites and all the people, from the greatest to the least; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the Lord.
Josiah’s Good Reign
31 Then the king (AB)stood in his place and (AC)made a covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant written in this book. 32 Moreover, he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand with him. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. 33 Josiah (AD)removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve the Lord their God. Throughout his [i]lifetime they did not turn from following the Lord God of their fathers.
Satan Bound
20 Then I saw (A)an angel coming down from heaven, holding the (B)key of the abyss and a great chain [a]in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the (C)dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and (D)bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the (E)abyss, and shut it and (F)sealed it over him, so that he would (G)not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
4 Then I saw (H)thrones, and (I)they sat on them, and (J)judgment was given to them. And I saw (K)the souls of those who had been beheaded because of [b]their (L)testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not (M)worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the (N)mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they (O)came to life and (P)reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. (Q)This is the first resurrection. 6 (R)Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the (S)second death has no power, but they will be (T)priests of God and of Christ and will (U)reign with Him for a thousand years.
Satan Freed, Doomed
7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be (V)released from his prison, 8 and will come out to (W)deceive the nations which are in the (X)four corners of the earth, (Y)Gog and Magog, to (Z)gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the (AA)sand of the [c]seashore. 9 And they (AB)came up on the [d]broad plain of the earth and surrounded the (AC)camp of the [e]saints and the (AD)beloved city, and (AE)fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And (AF)the devil who (AG)deceived them was thrown into the (AH)lake of fire and [f]brimstone, where the (AI)beast and the (AJ)false prophet are also; and they will be (AK)tormented day and night forever and ever.
Judgment at the Throne of God
11 Then I saw a great white (AL)throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose [g]presence (AM)earth and heaven fled away, and (AN)no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the (AO)great and the small, standing before the throne, and [h](AP)books were opened; and another [i]book was opened, which is (AQ)the book of life; and the dead (AR)were judged from the things which were written in the [j]books, (AS)according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and (AT)death and Hades (AU)gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them (AV)according to their deeds. 14 Then (AW)death and Hades were thrown into (AX)the lake of fire. This is the (AY)second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if [k]anyone’s name was not found written in (AZ)the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Priests to Be Disciplined
2 “And now this commandment is for you, O priests. 2 If you do (A)not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the Lord of hosts, “then I will send the (B)curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have (C)cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart. 3 Behold, I am going to (D)rebuke your [a]offspring, and I will (E)spread [b]refuse on your faces, the [c]refuse of your (F)feasts; and you will be taken away [d]with it. 4 Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, [e]that My (G)covenant may [f]continue with Levi,” says the Lord of hosts. 5 “My covenant with him was one of life and (H)peace, and I gave them to him as an object of [g]reverence; so he [h](I)revered Me and stood in awe of My name. 6 [i](J)True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked (K)with Me in peace and uprightness, and he (L)turned many back from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should preserve (M)knowledge, and [j]men should (N)seek [k]instruction from his mouth; for he is the (O)messenger of the Lord of hosts. 8 But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to (P)stumble [l]by the instruction; you have [m](Q)corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of hosts. 9 “So (R)I also have made you despised and (S)abased [n]before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing (T)partiality in the [o]instruction.
Sin in the Family
10 “Do we not all have (U)one father? (V)Has not one God created us? Why do we deal (W)treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the (X)covenant of our fathers? 11 Judah has dealt (Y)treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has (Z)profaned the sanctuary of the Lord [p]which He loves and has married the daughter of a foreign god. 12 As for the man who does this, may the (AA)Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who awakes and answers, or who (AB)presents [q]an offering to the Lord of hosts.
13 “This is [r]another thing you do: you cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and with groaning, because He (AC)no longer regards the [s]offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. 14 Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’ Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the (AD)wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt (AE)treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 [t]But not one has (AF)done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And [u]what did that one do while he was seeking a (AG)godly [v]offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal (AH)treacherously against the wife of your youth. 16 For [w]I hate [x](AI)divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “and [y]him who covers his garment with [z](AJ)wrong,” says the Lord of hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”
17 You have (AK)wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, “How have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “(AL)Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He (AM)delights in them,” or, “(AN)Where is the God of (AO)justice?”
The Crown of Thorns
19 Pilate then took Jesus and [a](A)scourged Him. 2 (B)And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; 3 and they began to come up to Him and say, “(C)Hail, King of the Jews!” and to (D)give Him slaps in the face. 4 Pilate (E)came out again and *said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that (F)I find no guilt in Him.” 5 Jesus then came out, (G)wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate *said to them, “Behold, the Man!” 6 So when the chief priests and the (H)officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate *said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for (I)I find no guilt in Him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “(J)We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He (K)made Himself out to be the Son of God.”
8 Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; 9 and he (L)entered into the [b]Praetorium again and *said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But (M)Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate *said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” 11 Jesus answered, “(N)You would have no authority [c]over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason (O)he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” 12 As a result of this Pilate [d]made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “(P)If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king [e]opposes Caesar.”
13 Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and (Q)sat down on the judgment seat at a place called [f]The Pavement, but (R)in [g]Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was (S)the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the [h](T)sixth hour. And he *said to the Jews, “Behold, (U)your King!” 15 So they cried out, “(V)Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate *said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
The Crucifixion
16 So he then (W)handed Him over to them to be crucified.
17 (X)They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, [i](Y)bearing His own cross, to the place called (Z)the Place of a Skull, which is called (AA)in [j]Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him, and with Him (AB)two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “(AC)JESUS THE NAZARENE, (AD)THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 20 Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written (AE)in [k]Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘(AF)The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am (AG)King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “(AH)What I have written I have written.”
23 Then (AI)the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made (AJ)four parts, a part to every soldier and also the [l]tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven [m]in one piece. 24 So they said to one another, “(AK)Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; (AL)this was to fulfill the Scripture: “They (AM)divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast [n]lots.” 25 Therefore the soldiers did these things.
(AN)But standing by the cross of Jesus were (AO)His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and (AP)Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus then saw His mother, and (AQ)the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He *said to His mother, “(AR)Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then He *said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into (AS)his own household.
28 After this, Jesus, (AT)knowing that all things had already been accomplished, (AU)to fulfill the Scripture, *said, “(AV)I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so (AW)they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “(AX)It is finished!” And He bowed His head and (AY)gave up His spirit.
Care of the Body of Jesus
31 Then the Jews, because it was (AZ)the day of preparation, so that (BA)the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath ([o]for that Sabbath was a (BB)high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was (BC)crucified with Him; 33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately (BD)blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has (BE)testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For these things came to pass (BF)to fulfill the Scripture, “(BG)Not a bone of Him shall be [p]broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “(BH)They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”
38 (BI)After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a (BJ)secret one for (BK)fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. 39 (BL)Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, (BM)bringing a [q]mixture of (BN)myrrh and aloes, about a (BO)hundred [r]pounds weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and (BP)bound it in (BQ)linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a (BR)new tomb (BS)in which no one had yet been laid. 42 Therefore because of the Jewish day of (BT)preparation, since the tomb was (BU)nearby, they laid Jesus there.
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