M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Brothers Are Brought Back
44 (A)Then he commanded his house steward, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. 2 Put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his money for the grain.” And he did [a]as Joseph had told him. 3 [b]As soon as it was light, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys. 4 They had just gone out of (B)the city, and were not far off, when Joseph said to his house steward, “Up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? 5 Is not this the one from which my lord drinks and which he indeed uses for (C)divination? You have done wrong in doing this.’”
6 So he overtook them and spoke these words to them. 7 They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing. 8 Behold, (D)the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks we have brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 9 (E)With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s (F)slaves.” 10 So he said, “Now let it also be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and the rest of you shall be innocent.” 11 Then they hurried, each man lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. 12 He searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest, and (G)the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they (H)tore their clothes, and when each man loaded his donkey, they returned to (I)the city.
14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there, and (J)they fell to the ground before him. 15 Joseph said to them, “What is this deed that you have done? Do you not know that such a man as I can indeed practice (K)divination?” 16 So Judah said, “What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? And how can we justify ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s (L)slaves, both we and the one in whose [c]possession the cup has been found.” 17 But he said, “Far be it from me to do this. The man in whose [d]possession the cup has been found, he shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.”
18 Then Judah approached him, and said, “Oh my lord, may your servant please speak a word in my lord’s ears, and [e](M)do not be angry with your servant; for (N)you are equal to Pharaoh. 19 (O)My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ 20 We said to my lord, ‘We have an old father and (P)a little child of his old age. Now (Q)his brother is dead, so he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.’ 21 Then you said to your servants, ‘(R)Bring him down to me that I may set my eyes on him.’ 22 But we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, [f]his father would die.’ 23 You said to your servants, however, ‘(S)Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’ 24 Thus it came about when we went up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 (T)Our father said, ‘Go back, buy us a little food.’ 26 But we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 Your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that (U)my wife bore me two sons; 28 and the one went out from me, and (V)I said, “Surely he is torn in pieces,” and I have not seen him since. 29 If you take this one also from [g]me, and harm befalls him, you will (W)bring my gray hair down to Sheol in [h]sorrow.’ 30 Now, therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since [i](X)his life is bound up in the lad’s life, 31 when he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die. Thus your servants will (Y)bring the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow. 32 For your servant (Z)became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then [j]let me bear the blame before my father forever.’ 33 Now, therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. 34 For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me—for fear that I see the evil that would [k]overtake my father?”
Death Plot and Anointing
14 (A)Now (B)the Passover and Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes (C)were seeking how to seize Him by stealth and kill Him; 2 for they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise there might be a riot of the people.”
3 (D)While He was in (E)Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very (F)costly perfume of pure [a]nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head. 4 But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? 5 For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred [b]denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. 7 For you always have (G)the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. 8 She has done what she could; (H)she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. 9 Truly I say to you, (I)wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
10 (J)Then Judas Iscariot, (K)who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to [c]betray Him to them. 11 They were glad when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.
The Last Passover
12 (L)On the first day of (M)Unleavened Bread, when [d]the Passover lamb was being (N)sacrificed, His disciples *said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 13 And He *sent two of His disciples and *said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him; 14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is My (O)guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 15 And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; prepare for us there.” 16 The disciples went out and came to the city, and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
17 (P)When it was evening He *came with the twelve. 18 As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will [e]betray Me—[f]one who is eating with Me.” 19 They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one, “Surely not I?” 20 And He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, [g]one who dips with Me in the bowl. 21 For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man [h]by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good [i]for that man if he had not been born.”
The Lord’s Supper
22 (Q)While they were eating, He took some bread, and [j]after a (R)blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” 23 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My (S)blood of the (T)covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
26 (U)After singing a hymn, they went out to (V)the Mount of Olives.
27 (W)And Jesus *said to them, “You will all [k]fall away, because it is written, ‘(X)I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’ 28 But after I have been raised, (Y)I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 29 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may [l]fall away, yet I will not.” 30 And Jesus *said to him, “Truly I say to you, that [m](Z)this very night, before (AA)a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.” 31 But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing also.
Jesus in Gethsemane
32 (AB)They *came to a place named Gethsemane; and He *said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” 33 And He *took with Him Peter and [n]James and John, and began to be very (AC)distressed and troubled. 34 And He *said to them, “(AD)My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” 35 And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, (AE)the hour might [o]pass Him by. 36 And He was saying, “(AF)Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; (AG)yet not what I will, but what You will.” 37 And He *came and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 (AH)Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Again He went away and prayed, saying the same [p]words. 40 And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. 41 And He *came the third time, and *said to them, “[q]Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; (AI)the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being [r]betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”
Betrayal and Arrest
43 (AJ)Immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, *came up [s]accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away [t]under guard.” 45 After coming, Judas immediately went to Him, saying, “(AK)Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 46 They laid hands on Him and seized Him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and [u]cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a robber? 49 Every day I was with you (AL)in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.” 50 And they all left Him and fled.
51 A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they *seized him. 52 But he [v]pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.
Jesus before His Accusers
53 (AM)They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes *gathered together. 54 Peter had followed Him at a distance, (AN)right into (AO)the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the [w]officers and (AP)warming himself at the [x]fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole [y](AQ)Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. 56 For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. 57 Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘(AR)I will destroy this [z]temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” 59 Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. 60 The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not answer? [aa]What is it that these men are testifying against You?” 61 (AS)But He kept silent and did not answer. (AT)Again the high priest was questioning Him, and [ab]saying to Him, “Are You [ac]the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see (AU)the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and (AV)coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 (AW)Tearing his clothes, the high priest *said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the (AX)blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. 65 Some began to (AY)spit at Him, and [ad](AZ)to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “(BA)Prophesy!” And the officers [ae]received Him with [af]slaps in the face.
Peter’s Denials
66 (BB)As Peter was below in (BC)the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest *came, 67 and seeing Peter (BD)warming himself, she looked at him and *said, “You also were with Jesus the (BE)Nazarene.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he (BF)went out onto the [ag]porch.[ah] 69 The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This is one of them!” 70 But again (BG)he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, (BH)for you are a Galilean too.” 71 But he began to [ai]curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!” 72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before (BI)a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” [aj]And he began to weep.
Job Despairs of God’s Dealings
10 “[a](A)I loathe my own life;
I will give full vent to (B)my complaint;
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 “I will say to God, ‘(C)Do not condemn me;
Let me know why You contend with me.
3 ‘Is it [b]right for You indeed to (D)oppress,
To reject (E)the labor of Your hands,
And [c]to look favorably on (F)the schemes of the wicked?
4 ‘Have You eyes of flesh?
Or do You (G)see as a man sees?
5 ‘Are Your days as the days of a mortal,
Or (H)Your years as man’s years,
6 That (I)You should seek for my guilt
And search after my sin?
7 ‘According to Your knowledge (J)I am indeed not guilty,
Yet there is (K)no deliverance from Your hand.
8 ‘(L)Your hands fashioned and made me [d]altogether,
(M)And would You destroy me?
9 ‘Remember now, that You have made me as (N)clay;
And would You (O)turn me into dust again?
10 ‘Did You not pour me out like milk
And curdle me like cheese;
11 Clothe me with skin and flesh,
And knit me together with bones and sinews?
12 ‘You have (P)granted me life and lovingkindness;
And Your care has preserved my spirit.
13 ‘Yet (Q)these things You have concealed in Your heart;
I know that this is within You:
14 If I sin, then You would (R)take note of me,
And (S)would not acquit me of my guilt.
15 ‘If (T)I am wicked, woe to me!
And (U)if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head.
I am sated with disgrace and [e]conscious of my misery.
16 ‘Should my head be lifted up, (V)You would hunt me like a lion;
And again You would show Your (W)power against me.
17 ‘You renew (X)Your witnesses against me
And increase Your anger toward me;
[f](Y)Hardship after hardship is with me.
18 ‘(Z)Why then have You brought me out of the womb?
Would that I had died and no eye had seen me!
19 ‘I should have been as though I had not been,
Carried from womb to tomb.’
20 “Would He not let (AA)my few days alone?
[g](AB)Withdraw from me that I may have a little cheer
21 Before I go—(AC)and I shall not return—
(AD)To the land of darkness and (AE)deep shadow,
22 The land of utter gloom as darkness itself,
Of deep shadow without order,
And which shines as the darkness.”
Principles of Conscience
14 Now (A)accept the one who is (B)weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. 2 (C)One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is (D)weak eats vegetables only. 3 The one who eats is not to (E)regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to (F)judge the one who eats, for God has (G)accepted him. 4 (H)Who are you to judge the [a]servant of another? To his own [b]master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 (I)One person [c]regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be (J)fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, [d]does so for the Lord, for he (K)gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. 7 For not one of us (L)lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore (M)whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end (N)Christ died and lived again, that He might be (O)Lord both of the dead and of the living.
10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you (P)regard your brother with contempt? For (Q)we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written,
“(R)As I live, says the Lord, (S)every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall [e]give praise to God.”
12 So then (T)each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us not (U)judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—(V)not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. 14 I know and am convinced [f]in the Lord Jesus that (W)nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who (X)thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer (Y)walking according to love. (Z)Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore (AA)do not let what is for you a good thing be [g]spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God (AB)is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and (AC)peace and (AD)joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way (AE)serves Christ is (AF)acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then [h]we (AG)pursue the things which make for peace and the (AH)building up of one another. 20 (AI)Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. (AJ)All things indeed are clean, but (AK)they are evil for the man who eats [i]and gives offense. 21 (AL)It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. 22 The faith which you have, have [j]as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who (AM)does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But (AN)he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.