M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Parashat Metzora
Purification of One with Tza’arat
14 Then Adonai spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “This is the Torah of the one with tza’arat in the day of his cleansing. He should be brought to the kohen, [a] 3 and the kohen is to go to the outside of the camp. The kohen is to examine him, and behold, if the mark of tza’arat is healed in one with tza’arat, 4 then the kohen is to command that two clean living birds, cedar wood, scarlet and hyssop be brought for the one being cleansed. 5 The kohen should command them to kill one of the birds in a clay pot over living water. 6 As for the living bird, he is to take it, the cedar wood, the scarlet and the hyssop, and dip them with the living bird into the blood of the bird that was killed over the living water. 7 He is to sprinkle on the one being cleansed from the tza’arat seven times and pronounce him clean, then release the living bird over the open field.
8 “The one to be cleansed must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water. Then he should be clean. After that he may come into the camp, but is to dwell outside his tent for seven days. 9 Then on the seventh day, he is to shave all his hair from his head, his beard, and his eyebrows—he must shave off all his hair. He is to wash his clothes, and bathe his body in water. Then he will be clean.
10 “On the eighth day he is to take two male lambs without blemish, a one-year-old ewe lamb without blemish, three tenths of a pint of fine flour as a grain offering, mingled with oil, and a pint of oil. 11 The kohen who cleanses him is to set the man who to be cleansed along with those items before Adonai, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. 12 The kohen should then take one of the male lambs, and offer it for a trespass offering, with the pint of oil, and wave them as a wave offering before Adonai.
13 “Then he is to slaughter the male lamb in the place where they slaughter the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the Sanctuary area. For the sin offering like the trespass offering belongs to the kohen. It is most holy. 14 Then the kohen is to take some of the blood of the trespass offering and dab it on the tip of the right ear of the one being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 15 The kohen should then take some of the pint of oil and pour it into the palm of his own left hand. 16 He is to dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand and sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before Adonai. 17 Then the kohen should dab some of the rest of the oil that is in his hand on the tip of the right ear of the one being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the trespass offering. 18 From what remains of the oil that is in his hand, the kohen is to dab on the head of the one being cleansed. In this way the kohen will make atonement for him before Adonai.
19 “The kohen should offer the sin offering and make atonement for the one being cleansed because of his uncleanness. Afterward he is to slaughter the burnt offering. 20 Then the kohen is to present the burnt offering along with the grain offering on the altar. So the kohen should make atonement for him, and he will be clean.
21 “If he is poor and cannot afford so much, then he should take one male lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, plus one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mingled with oil for a grain offering, a pint of oil, 22 two turtledoves or two young pigeons, such as he is able to afford. The one should be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.
23 “On the eighth day he is to bring them to the kohen for his cleansing, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting before Adonai. 24 The kohen is to take the lamb of the trespass offering and the pint of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before Adonai. 25 He is to slaughter the lamb of the trespass offering. The kohen is to take some of the blood of the trespass offering and dab it on the tip of the right ear of the one being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 26 The kohen should then pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand. 27 He is to sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before Adonai. 28 Then the kohen is to dab some of the oil that is in his hand on the tip of the right ear of the one being cleansed, also on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the place of the blood of the trespass offering. 29 The rest of the oil that is in his hand the kohen is to dab on the head of the one being cleansed, to make atonement for him before Adonai. 30 He is to offer one of the turtledoves or the young pigeons, from what his hand can afford, 31 the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the grain offering. The kohen should make atonement for him being cleansed before Adonai.”
32 This is the Torah for one on who is the mark of tza’arat, who is not able to afford the sacrifice for his cleansing.
Purification of a House
33 Adonai spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying: 34 “Suppose you have come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put a mark of tza’arat in a house in the land you possess. 35 Then the one who owns the house should come and tell the kohen, saying: ‘Something like a mark has appeared in my house.’ 36 The kohen is to order the house emptied before he goes in to examine the mark, so that nothing in the house might be made unclean. Then afterward the kohen is to enter to inspect the house. 37 He is to examine the mark, and behold, if the mark is in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, and appears deeper than the wall, 38 then the kohen is to go out of the house to the door and close up the house for seven days. 39 Then the kohen is to come again on the seventh day, and behold, if the mark has spread in the walls of the house, 40 then the kohen is to command that they take out the stones which are marked and throw them into an unclean place outside of the city. 41 He should also have the inside of the house scraped all throughout, and they are to dump the mortar that they scraped off outside of the city into an unclean place. 42 They may then take other stones and put them in the place of those stones. Likewise he can take other mortar, and plaster the house.
43 “But suppose the contamination returns, breaking out in the house, after he has pulled out the stones and after he has scraped the house, and it has been re-plastered. 44 Then the kohen is to go examine, and behold, if the plague has spread within the house, it is a destructive mildew inside. It is unclean. 45 He is to break down the house, its stones, its timber, along with all the house’s mortar, and carry them out of the city into an unclean place.
46 “Moreover, whoever goes into the house while it is shut up will be unclean until the evening. 47 The one who lies down in the house must wash his clothes, and he who eats in the house must wash his clothes too.
48 “But if the kohen comes in, inspects it, and behold, the plague has not spread within the house after it was re-plastered, then he should pronounce the house clean, because the contamination is healed. 49 In order to cleanse the house he is to take two birds, cedar wood, scarlet and hyssop. 50 He is to kill one of the birds in a clay pot over living water. 51 Then he is to take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet and the living bird, and dip them into the blood of the slain bird as well as the living water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 He should cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, with the living water, with the living bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop and the scarlet. 53 But he is to let the living bird go out of the city into the open field. So he is to make atonement for the house, and it will be clean.”
54 This is the Torah for any mark of tza’arat—even for a scab, 55 or the tza’arat in a garment or for a house 56 or for a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot— 57 to teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean.
This is the Torah of tza’arat.
A Plea for Vindication
Psalm 17
1 A prayer of David.
Hear, Adonai, a just plea, listen to my cry!
Give ear to my prayer—from lips with no deceit.
2 From Your presence comes my vindication.
Your eyes see what is right.
3 You have examined my heart.
You searched me at night.
Though You test me, You find nothing.
I resolved that my mouth will not sin.
4 As for the deeds of mankind—
by the word of Your lips
I have kept out of the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have kept on Your paths.
My feet have not slipped.
6 I called upon You, O God,
for You will answer me.
Incline Your ear to me,
hear my speech.
7 Be wonderful with Your lovingkindness,
O Savior of those taking refuge at Your right hand
from those rising up against them.
8 Protect me like the pupil of the eye.
Hide me in the shadow of Your wings,
9 from the wicked who attack me—
my enemies, who surround me.
10 Their callous heart they shut tight.
With their mouth they speak proudly.
11 Our steps are now surrounded.
They set their eyes to throw us down to the ground,
12 like a lion eager to tear to pieces,
like a young lion crouching in cover.
13 Arise, Adonai! Confront him!
Make him bow down!
Deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword,
14 from men, with Your hand, Adonai,
from men of the world whose portion is in this life.
You fill their belly with Your treasure
—with plenty of children—
and leave their surplus to their babes.
15 I in righteousness will behold Your face!
When I awake,
I will be satisfied with Your likeness.
Confidence, Discernment, Integrity
28 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2 When a country is in rebellion, it has many rulers,
but a man of discernment and knowledge maintains order.
3 A poor man who oppresses the weak
is like pounding rain without food.
4 Those who forsake Torah praise the wicked,
but those who keep Torah stir them up.
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek Adonai understand it fully.
6 Better the poor who walks in his integrity
than the rich whose ways are crooked.
7 He who keeps Torah is a discerning son,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8 Whoever increases his wealth by exorbitant interest,
gathers it for one kinder to the poor.
9 One who turns his ear from hearing Torah
—even his prayer is an abomination.
10 One who leads the upright astray along an evil path
will fall into his own pit,
but the blameless will inherit good.
11 A rich person is wise in his own eyes,
but a discerning poor person sees through him.
12 When the righteous triumph there is great glory,
but when the wicked rise to power, people hide.
13 One who covers up his transgressions will not prosper,
but whoever confesses and forsakes them finds mercy.
14 Blessed is one who is always cautious,
but whoever hardens his heart will fall into trouble.
15 Like a roaring lion or a prowling bear
is a wicked ruler over helpless people.
16 An oppressive leader lacks judgment.
One who hates unjust gain will prolong his life.
17 A man tormented by the guilt of murder
flees to the Pit—let no one support him.
18 Whoever walks blamelessly will be safe,
but whoever is perverse in his ways will fall suddenly.
Wisdom About Finances
19 Whoever works his land will be satisfied with food,
but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
20 A faithful man will have many blessings,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good—
yet for a piece of bread a man may do wrong.
22 A stingy man[a] chases after riches,
but does not know that poverty will overtake him.
23 One who rebukes a man will in the end find more favor
than one with a flattering tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, “It’s not a crime,”
is a partner to him who destroys.
25 A greedy soul stirs up strife,
but one who trusts in Adonai prospers.
26 Whoever trusts in his own heart is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will escape.
27 One who gives to the poor will not lack,
but one who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
28 When the wicked rise to power, people hide,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.
The Man of Lawlessness
2 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, concerning the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah and our gathering together to Him, 2 not to get shaken out of your mind or disturbed—either by a spirit or a word or a letter as if through us—as though the Day of the Lord[a] has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way, for the Day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the one destined to be destroyed. [b] 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in the Temple of God, proclaiming himself that he is God.[c]
5 Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what now holds back, for him to be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already operating; only there is one who holds back just now, until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Yeshua will slay him with the breath of His mouth and wipe him out with the appearance of His coming. [d] 9 The coming of the lawless one is connected to the activity of satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with every kind of wicked deception toward those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a delusional force, to lead them to believe what is false, [e] 12 so that they may be judged—all those who did not believe the truth but delighted in wickedness.[f]
Firstfruits of Salvation
13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits for salvation[g] through sanctification by the Ruach and belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this salvation through our proclaiming the Good News, for you to gain the glory of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by our letter.
16 Now may our Lord Yeshua the Messiah Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17 comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good deed and word.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.