M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Jonathan’s Covenant Love for David
18 Now it came to pass, when David had finished speaking to Saul, Jonathan’s soul was knit to David’s soul, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 2 Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan cut a covenant with David, because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan stripped off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, along with his armor: his sword, bow and belt.
Saul’s Jealousy
5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him and had success, so Saul set him over the men of war. It was pleasing in the eyes of all the people as well as in the eyes of Saul’s courtiers. 6 Upon their coming back, upon David’s return from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing in circles to greet King Saul, with timbrels, with joy and with three-stringed instruments. 7 So the women sang one to another, as they were dancing saying,
“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands!”
8 Then Saul became very angry—this saying was evil in his eyes—and he commented, “They’ve ascribed to David ten thousands and to me they’ve ascribed thousands. Now what more does he lack but the kingdom?” 9 So Saul eyed David from that day on.
10 It came about the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, so that he was raving within the palace. While David was playing music with his hand, as he did day by day, Saul had his spear in his hand, 11 and Saul hurled the spear, thinking, “I’ll pin David to the wall!” But David eluded him—twice.
12 Now Saul became afraid of David, because Adonai was with him but had departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from his entourage by appointing him as a captain of a thousand. So David went out and came in before the troops. 14 David had success in all his undertakings, since Adonai was with him. 15 When Saul saw that he had great success, he dreaded him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.
17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab—I give her to you as a wife. Only continue to be my son of valor and fight Adonai’s battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand needn’t be against him—let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
18 But David replied to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” 19 But when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David in marriage, she was given as wife to Adriel the Meholathite instead.
Michal’s Love for David
20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. When they told Saul, the matter pleased him. 21 Saul thought, “I will give her to him, so that she may become a snare to him—and the hand of the Philistines will be against him.” So Saul said to David, “You can still become my son-in-law, even today, with the second one.”
22 Then Saul commanded his courtiers, “Speak with David privately and say, ‘Behold, the king delights in you and all his courtiers love you. So now, become the king’s son-in-law!’” 23 So Saul’s courtiers whispered these words in David’s ears.
But David said, “Is it a light thing to you becoming the king’s son-in-law, considering that I am a poor man and of little account?” 24 Saul’s courtiers reported back to him what David had said.
25 Then Saul said, “Thus you will say to David, ‘The king desires no bridal dowry except 100 foreskins of the Philistines—to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” So Saul schemed to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 When his courtiers told David these words, the word seemed right in David’s eyes to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the days were fulfilled, 27 David had risen, gone with his men and killed 200 Philistine men. Then David brought their foreskins and gave them in full number to the king—to become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife. 28 When Saul saw and realized that Adonai was with David and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29 Saul grew even more afraid of David. Thus Saul became David’s enemy for all days.
30 When the chiefs of the Philistines marched out, as often as they came out, David proved more successful than all of Saul’s officers. So his name became highly esteemed.
Welcome the Apostolic Team
16 Now I recommend to you our sister Phoebe—who is a servant-leader of Messiah’s community at Cenchrea— 2 so you may receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of kedoshim, and help her in whatever matter she may need from you. For she herself has become a patroness of many, including me as well.
3 Greet Prisca[a] and Aquila, my fellow workers in Messiah Yeshua, 4 who risked their own necks for my life. Not only I give them thanks, but also all of Messiah’s communities among the Gentiles. 5 Greet also the community that meets in their house. Greet Epaenetus whom I dearly love, who is the first fruit in Asia[b] for Messiah.
6 Greet Miriam, who has worked hard for you.
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kin and fellow prisoners who are well known[c] among the emissaries. They were in Messiah before me.
8 Greet Ampliatus, whom I dearly love in the Lord.
9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Messiah, and Stachys whom I dearly love.
10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Messiah. Greet those from the household of Aristobulus.
11 Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those from the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.
12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis whom I dearly love, who has worked hard in the Lord.
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother—who was also a mother to me.
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters with them.
15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, also Olympas and all the kedoshim with them.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All of Messiah’s communities greet you. 17 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep your eye on those who are causing divisions and stumbling blocks, contrary to the teaching that you learned. Turn away from them. 18 For such people do not serve our Lord the Messiah, but only their own belly. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 Your obedience has become known to all, so I rejoice over you—but I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil. 20 Now the God of shalom will soon crush satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Yeshua be with you.
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kin.
22 I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.
23 Gaius, host to me and the whole community, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, greets you, and so does brother Quartus.[d]
Closing Blessing
25 Now to the One who is able to strengthen you according to my Good News and the proclamation of Yeshua the Messiah, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages 26 but now is revealed and through the Writings of the Prophets has been made known to all the nations, according to the commandment of the eternal God to bring about obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God, through Yeshua the Messiah, to Him be the glory forever. Amen.
3 I am the strong man who has seen affliction
by the rod of His wrath.
2 He has driven me and made me walk
in darkness and not light.
3 Surely, He has turned His hand against me
again and again all day long.
4 He made my flesh and my skin
waste away, broken my bones.
5 He has besieged me and surrounded me
with bitterness and hardship.
6 He made me dwell in dark places
like those long dead.
7 He has walled me in so I cannot get out.
He made my chain heavy.
8 Even when I cry out and call for help,
He shuts out my prayer.
9 He walled in my ways with hewn stone.
He twisted my paths.
10 He is a lurking bear to me,
a lion in hiding.
11 He turned aside my paths and tore me to pieces.
He has made me desolate.
12 He bent His bow and made me
the target for His arrow.
13 He shot into my kidneys
arrows from His quiver.
14 I have become a laughing stock
to all my people,
their song all day long.
15 He has filled me with bitterness
and made me drink wormwood.
16 He broke my teeth with gravel.
He made me wallow in ashes.
17 My soul has been deprived of shalom,
I have forgotten goodness.
18 So I said, “My endurance has perished,
and my hope from Adonai.”
19 Remember my affliction
my homelessness, bitterness and gall.
20 Whenever I remember,
my soul is downcast within me.
Our Hope—His Faithfulness
21 This I recall to my heart—
therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the mercies of Adonai
we will not be consumed,
for His compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning!
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “Adonai is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in Him.”
25 Adonai is good to those who wait for Him,
to the soul that seeks Him.
26 It is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of Adonai.
27 It is good for a man
to bear the yoke in his youth.
28 Let him sit alone and be silent,
since He has laid it upon him.
29 Let him put his mouth in the dust—
there may yet be hope.
Intercession for Justice
30 Let him offer his cheek
to the one who strikes him.[a]
Let him have his fill of disgrace.
31 For the Lord will not reject forever.
32 For though He has caused grief,
yet He will have compassion
according to His abundant mercies.
33 For He does not afflict from His heart
or grieve the sons of men.
34 To crush under His foot
all the prisoners of the land,
35 to deprive a person of justice
before the face of Elyon,
36 to defraud a person in his lawsuit—
would the Lord not see?
37 Who speaks and it comes to pass
unless the Lord has decreed it?
38 Is it not from the mouth of Elyon
that both calamities and good things proceed?
39 Why should any living person complain
when punished for his sins?
40 Let us examine and test our ways,
and let us return to Adonai.
41 Let us lift up our heart and hands
to God in heaven.
42 We have transgressed and rebelled—
You have not pardoned.
43 You covered Yourself with anger and pursued us.
You have slain without pity.
44 You shrouded Yourself with a cloud
so that no prayer can get through.
45 You have made us scum and refuse
in the midst of the peoples.
46 All our enemies opened their mouth
wide against us.
47 Panic and pitfall have befallen us,
devastation and destruction.
48 Streams of tears run down my eyes
because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49 My eye flows unceasingly,
without stopping,
50 until Adonai looks down
from heaven and sees.
51 My eye torments my soul
because of all the daughters of my city.
52 For no reason, my enemies
hunted me down like a bird.
53 They cut off my life in the Pit,
and cast stones upon me.
54 Waters flowed over my head.
I said, “I have been cut off!”
55 I called on Your Name, Adonai,
from the depths of the Pit.
56 You heard my voice,
“Do not close Your ears to my cry for relief.”
57 You drew near on the day I called to You.
You said, “Do not fear!”
58 Lord, You pled my soul’s case,
You redeemed my life.[b]
59 Adonai, You saw the wrong done to me;
judge my cause!
60 You have seen all their vengefulness,
all their schemes against me.
61 You heard their taunt, Adonai,
all their plots against me.
62 The lips of my assailants and their whispering
are against me all day long.
63 Look at them, sitting or standing,
they mock me in their song.
64 Pay them back what they deserve, Adonai,
according to the work of their hands.
65 Give them a distraught heart.
May Your curse be on them.
66 Pursue them in anger and destroy them
from under the heavens of Adonai.
Taste and See
Psalm 34
1 Of David, when he feigned insanity before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.
2 I will bless Adonai at all times.
His praise is continually in my mouth.
3 My soul boasts in Adonai.
The humble ones hear of it and rejoice.
4 Magnify Adonai with me
and let us exalt His Name together.
5 I sought Adonai, and He answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
6 They who looked to Him were radiant,
and their faces will never be ashamed.
7 This poor man cried, and Adonai heard,
and saved him out of all his troubles.
8 The angel of Adonai encamps around those who fear Him,
and delivers them.
9 Taste and see how good Adonai is.
Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.
10 Fear Adonai, His kedoshim,
For those who fear Him lack nothing.
11 Young lions may lack, and go hungry,
but those who seek Adonai want for no good thing.
12 Come, children, listen to me:
I will teach you the fear of Adonai.
13 Who is the one who delights in life,
and loves to see good days?
14 Keep your tongue from evil,
and your lips from speaking treachery.
15 Depart from evil and do good.
Seek shalom and pursue it.[a]
16 The eyes of Adonai are on the righteous,
and His ears are attentive to their cry.
17 The face of Adonai is against evildoers,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
18 The righteous cry out and Adonai hears,
and delivers them from all their troubles.
19 Adonai is close to the brokenhearted,
and saves those crushed in spirit.
20 Many are the distresses of the righteous,
but Adonai delivers him out of them all.
21 He keeps all his bones—
not one of them is broken.[b]
22 Evil kills the wicked—
those who hate the righteous will be held guilty.
23 Adonai redeems the soul of His servants
—no one who takes refuge in Him will be held guilty.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.