M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Ark Comes Into Jerusalem
6 Now David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, 30,000. 2 Then David and all the people who were with him arose and set out from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name[a], the very Name of Adonai-Tzva’ot who is enthroned between the cheruvim. 3 So they loaded the ark of God on a new cart and carried it out of the house of Abinadab that was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, drove the new cart 4 as they brought it from the house of Abinadab (which was on the hill) with the ark of God, and Ahio was walking in front of the ark.
5 Meanwhile David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating before Adonai with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, lyres, tambourines, three-stringed instruments and cymbals[b]. 6 But when they reached the threshing floor of Nahon, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and grasped it, for the oxen had stumbled. 7 Then the anger of Adonai was kindled against Uzzah. God struck him down there for his irreverence, so that he died there beside the ark of God. 8 David was upset because of Adonai’s outburst against Uzzah. That place is called Perez-uzzah[c] to this day.
9 So David was frightened of Adonai that day. Then he said, “How can the ark of Adonai come to me?” 10 David was unwilling to move the ark of Adonai to him, to the City of David; instead, David diverted it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 So the ark of Adonai remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months; meanwhile Adonai blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.
12 Then it was reported to King David saying, “Adonai has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought the ark of God up from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with joy. 13 Now when the bearers of the ark of Adonai had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14 Meanwhile, David was dancing before Adonai with all his might while he was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of Adonai with shouting and with the sound of the shofar. 16 But as the ark of Adonai entered the city of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before Adonai, so she despised him in her heart.
17 They brought in the ark of Adonai and set it in its place in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before Adonai. 18 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the Name of Adonai-Tzva’ot. 19 Then he distributed to all the people—to the whole multitude of Israel, men and women alike—to everyone a loaf of bread, a cake made in a pan and a raisin cake. Then all the people departed, each to his home.
20 David returned to bless his own household. But Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel distinguished himself today, when he uncovered himself today in the eyes of the slave girls of his subjects, as any vulgar fellow would shamelessly uncover himself!”
21 “It was before Adonai,” David said to Michal, “who chose me instead of your father and all his household, appointing me ruler over the people of Adonai, over Israel! So I danced Before Adonai, 22 and will dishonor myself even more than this, and will be low in my own eyes. Yet in the eyes of the slave girls whom you mentioned, I will be honored.” 23 So Saul’s daughter Michal had no children to the day of her death.
Collection for Jerusalem and Final Greetings
16 Now concerning the collection for the kedoshim, as I directed Messiah’s communities in Galatia, you do likewise. 2 On the first day of the week, let each of you set something aside, saving up whatever is gained, so no collections take place when I come. 3 Then whenever I arrive, I will send whomever you approve with letters of introduction to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it is advisable for me to go also, they will go with me.
5 But I will come to you after I have passed through Macedonia—for I am passing through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey—wherever I go. 7 For I do not wish to see you now just in passing—for I hope to stay on with you for a while, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Shavuot, 9 for a great door has opened wide for me, though many are in opposition.
10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you—for he is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. 11 No one, then, should treat him with disrespect. But set him on his way in shalom, so that he might come to me; for I am expecting him, along with the brothers.
12 Now about our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers and sisters, and he was quite unwilling to come now—but he will come when he has an opportunity.
13 Be on the alert! Stand firm in the faith! Be men of courage! Be strong! [a] 14 Let all that you do be done in love.
15 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters (you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves in service to the kedoshim), 16 also to submit to people such as these, and to everyone working together and laboring. 17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, for they made up for your absence. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.
19 Messiah’s communities in Asia[b] greet you. Aquila and Prisca[c] greet you warmly in the Lord, with the community that meets in their house. 20 All the brothers and sisters greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 This greeting is in my own hand—Paul’s. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be cursed. Marana, tha! Our Lord, come![d]
23 The grace of the Lord Yeshua be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Messiah Yeshua.
14 Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. 2 The word of Adonai came to me saying: 3 “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts. They have put the stumbling block of their iniquity right before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? 4 Therefore speak to them, and say to them, thus says Adonai Elohim: ‘Every man from the house of Israel who sets up idols in his heart and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity right before his face, and then comes to the prophet—I, Adonai, will answer him as he comes with the multitude of his idols, 5 so I may take hold of the house of Israel in their hearts. For they have all become estranged from Me through their idols.’”
6 Therefore say to the house of Israel, thus says Adonai Elohim: “Return, turn away from your idols; turn your faces from all your abominations. 7 For anyone from the house of Israel or the outsiders who dwell in Israel who breaks himself away from Me takes idols into his heart, puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me through him—I, Adonai, will answer him Myself. 8 I will set My face against that man. I will make him a sign and a proverb and cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am Adonai.
9 “When the prophet is deceived and speaks a word, I, Adonai, have deceived that prophet. I will stretch out My hand against him. I will destroy him from among My people Israel. 10 They will bear their punishment—the punishment of the prophet will be the same as the punishment of the inquirer— 11 so that the house of Israel will not wander again from Me or defile themselves again with all their transgressions. They will be My people and I will be their God.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
12 The word of Adonai came to me saying, 13 “Son of man, suppose a land sins against Me by trespassing grievously and I stretch out My hand over it, break off its staff of bread, send famine upon it and cut it off from man and beast. 14 Even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—be in it, they would only deliver their own souls by their righteousness.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
15 “If I cause evil beasts to pass through the land and they ravage it and make it a wasteland, so that no one would pass through because of the beasts, 16 even if these three men were in it, as I live, says Adonai, they will not deliver sons or daughters. They would only deliver themselves, but the land will be desolate. 17 Or if I bring a sword on that land and say: ‘Let the sword go through the land,’ so that I cut off man and beast from it; 18 though these three men were in it, as I live, says Adonai, they will not deliver sons or daughters, for they will only deliver themselves.
19 “Or, suppose I were to send a plague to that land and pour out My fury upon it in blood, to cut off man and beast from it. 20 Even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, as I live, says Adonai, they would not deliver either a son or a daughter. They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.”
21 For thus Adonai says: “How much more if I send My four dreadful judgments against Jerusalem—the sword, the famine, the evil beasts and the plague—to cut man and beast off from it. 22 Yet behold, survivors would remain in it who would be brought out, both sons and daughters. Behold, when they come to you and you see their ways and their deeds, you would be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought against Jerusalem, all that I have brought on it. 23 They would comfort you when you see their ways and their deeds. So you will know that I had not done all that I had done without cause.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
Betrayal by a Friend
Psalm 55
1 For the music director, on stringed instruments, a contemplative song of David.
2 Give ear, O God, to my prayer
and do not ignore my plea for help.
3 Listen to me and answer me.
I am restless in my complaint and moan—
4 because of the voice of the enemy,
because of the pressure of the wicked.
For they thrust trouble on me,
and in anger bear a grudge against me.
5 My heart shudders within me
and the terrors of death sweep over me.
6 Fear and trembling come upon me
and horror has overwhelmed me.
7 So I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and find rest.
8 Surely I would flee far away.
I would stay in the wilderness. Selah
9 I would hurry to my shelter
from the rushing wind of the storm.”
10 Lord, confuse and confound their speech,
for I see violence and strife in the city.
11 Day and night they make the rounds on her walls.
Iniquity and mischief are within her.
12 Ruins are in her midst.
Oppression and deceit never leave her square.
13 For if it were an enemy taunting me,
I could endure it.
If my foe was exalting himself over me,
I could hide from him.
14 But it is you, a man like me—
my companion and my close friend!
15 Together we enjoyed great fellowship.
We used to walk with the throng in the House of God.
16 Let desolation come upon them,
let them go down alive into Sheol—
for evil is in their dwelling, among them.
17 As for me, I will call on God,
and Adonai will save me.
18 Evening, morning and noon, I complain and moan,
then He hears my voice.
19 He will redeem my soul in shalom from the battle against me.
For many are striving with me.
20 God will hear and humble them
—yes, the One enthroned of old. Selah
Nothing changes—they do not fear God.
21 My companion put forth his hands against those at peace with him,
as he violates his covenant.
22 Smoother than butter was his speech,
yet war was in his heart.
His words were softer than oil,
yet they were drawn swords.
23 Cast your burden on Adonai, and He will sustain you.[a]
He will never let the righteous be shaken.
24 But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction.
Bloodthirsty, deceitful men will not live out half their days.
But I—I will trust in You.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.