M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Ahab Takes Possession of Naboth’s Vineyard
21 Now it happened after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in (A)Jezreel beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 And Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “(B)Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden because it is close beside my house, and I will give you a better vineyard than it in its place; if it is good in your sight, I will give you the price of [a]it in money.” 3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “Yahweh forbid me (C)that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” 4 (D)So Ahab came into his house sullen and enraged because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and ate no [b]food.
5 But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “How is it that your spirit is so sullen that you are not eating [c]food?” 6 So he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you a vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’” 7 And Jezebel his wife said to him, “(E)Do you now exercise kingship over Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be merry; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
8 (F)So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to (G)the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city. 9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, “Call for a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; 10 and seat two (H)vile men before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘(I)You [d]cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and (J)stone him so that he will die.”
11 So the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them, just as it was written in the letters which she had sent them. 12 They (K)called for a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people. 13 Then the two vile men came in and sat before him; and the vile men testified against him, against Naboth, before the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” (L)So they took him outside the city and stoned him with stones and he died. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.”
15 Now it happened that when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” 16 Now it happened that when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
Yahweh Speaks Against Ahab
17 Then the word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, (M)who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth where he has gone down to take possession of it. 19 And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “(N)Have you murdered and also taken possession?”’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “(O)In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth the dogs will lick up your blood, even yours.”’”
20 And Ahab said to Elijah, “(P)Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he [e]answered, “I have found you, (Q)because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of Yahweh. 21 Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and (R)will utterly sweep you away, and will cut off from Ahab every [f]male, both bond and free in Israel; 22 and (S)I will make your house (T)like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and because you (U)have made Israel sin. 23 Of Jezebel also has Yahweh spoken, saying, ‘(V)The dogs will eat Jezebel in the [g]district of Jezreel.’ 24 (W)The one belonging to Ahab, who dies in the city, the dogs will eat, and the one who dies in the field the birds of the sky will eat.”
Ahab Humbles Himself
25 (X)Surely there was no one who sold himself to do what is evil in the sight of Yahweh like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. 26 (Y)And he acted very abominably in following idols, (Z)according to all that the Amorites had done, whom Yahweh dispossessed before the sons of Israel.
27 Now it happened when Ahab heard these words, that (AA)he tore his clothes and put [h]on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about [i]despondently. 28 Then the word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days, but I will bring the evil upon his house (AB)in his son’s days.”
Sanctification and Love
4 (A)Finally then, (B)brothers, we ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us as to how you ought to [a](C)walk and (D)please God (just as you actually do [b]walk), that you (E)excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you (F)abstain from [c]sexual immorality; 4 that (G)each of you know how to [d]possess his own [e](H)vessel in sanctification and (I)honor, 5 not in [f](J)lustful passion, like the Gentiles who (K)do not know God; 6 and that no man transgress and (L)defraud his brother (M)in the matter because (N)the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also (O)told you before and solemnly warned you. 7 For (P)God did not call us to (Q)impurity, but [g]in sanctification. 8 Consequently, he who sets this aside is not setting aside man but the God who (R)gives His Holy Spirit to you.
9 Now concerning (S)love of the brothers, you (T)have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are (U)taught by God to love one another, 10 for indeed (V)you do practice it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to (W)excel still more, 11 and to make it your ambition (X)to lead a quiet life and (Y)attend to your own business and (Z)work with your hands, just as we commanded you, 12 so that you will (AA)walk properly toward (AB)outsiders and [h](AC)not be in any need.
The Dead in Christ Will Rise
13 But (AD)we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who (AE)are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do (AF)the rest who have (AG)no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, (AH)even so God will bring with Him (AI)those who have fallen asleep [i]in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you (AJ)by the word of the Lord, that (AK)we who are alive [j]and remain until (AL)the coming of the Lord, will not precede (AM)those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord (AN)Himself (AO)will descend from heaven with a [k](AP)shout, with the voice of (AQ)the archangel and with the (AR)trumpet of God, and (AS)the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then (AT)we who are alive [l]and remain will be (AU)caught up together with them (AV)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always (AW)be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Image
3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an (A)image of gold, the height of which was [a]sixty cubits and its width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the (B)province of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble the (C)satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they were standing before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then the herald loudly called out: “To you it is said, (D)O peoples, nations, and men of every tongue, 5 that at the time you (E)hear the sound of the horn, flute, [b]lyre, [c]trigon, [d]psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. 6 But whoever does not fall down and worship shall [e]immediately be (F)cast into the midst of a (G)furnace of blazing fire.” 7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, [f]lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and men of every tongue fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
We Will Not Serve Your Gods
8 For this reason at that time certain (H)Chaldeans came near and [g](I)brought charges against the Jews. 9 They answered and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: “(J)O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have (K)made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, [h]lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, is to (L)fall down and worship the golden image. 11 But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have (M)appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men, O king, do not pay attention to you; they do not serve your gods and do not worship the golden image which you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in (N)rage and wrath said to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you are not serving (O)my gods and do not worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready, (P)at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, [i]lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, then you shall fall down and worship the image that I have made. But if you do not worship, you will [j]immediately be (Q)cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and (R)what god is there who can save you out of my hands?”
16 (S)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to respond to you with an answer concerning this matter. 17 [k]If it be so, our (T)God whom we serve is able to save us from the furnace of blazing fire; [l]and (U)He will save us out of your hand, O king. 18 (V)But if not, (W)let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods, and we will not worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Daniel’s Friends Delivered
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with (X)wrath, and the image of his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He answered and said to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he said to certain mighty men of valor who were in his military [m]host to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 Then these men were tied up in their [n](Y)trousers, their [o]coats, their caps, and their other clothes and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 22 For this reason, because the king’s word was [p](Z)urgent and the furnace had been heated to an extraordinary degree, the flame of the fire killed those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, (AA)fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and hurriedly stood up; he answered and said to his high officials, “Was it not three men we cast tied up into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “Certainly, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “Look! I see four men loosed and (AB)walking about in the midst of the fire [q]without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the (AC)gods!” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he answered and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the (AD)Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (AE)came out of the midst of the fire. 27 Then the (AF)satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the (AG)fire had no power over [r]the bodies of these men, nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their [s](AH)trousers [t]damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the (AI)God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has (AJ)sent His angel and saved His servants who put their (AK)trust in Him, [u]violating the king’s word, and gave up their bodies so as (AL)not to serve and not to worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I (AM)make a decree that any people, nation, or tongue that says anything offensive against the God of (AN)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their (AO)houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is (AP)no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” 30 Then the king (AQ)caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to succeed in the province of Babylon.
BOOK 5
Yahweh Saves in Times of Trouble
107 Oh (A)give thanks to Yahweh, for (B)He is good,
For His lovingkindness endures forever.
2 Let (C)the redeemed of Yahweh say so,
Whom He has (D)redeemed from the hand of the adversary
3 And (E)gathered from the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the [a]south.
4 They (F)wandered in the wilderness along the way of the wasteland;
They did not find an inhabited (G)city.
5 Hungry [b]and thirsty,
Their (H)soul fainted within them.
6 Then they (I)cried out to Yahweh in their trouble;
He delivered them out of their distresses.
7 He led them by a [c](J)straight way,
To go to (K)an inhabited city.
8 (L)Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His lovingkindness,
And for His wondrous deeds to the sons of men!
9 For He has (M)satisfied the [d]thirsty soul,
And the (N)hungry soul He has filled with what is good.
10 There were those who (O)inhabited darkness and the shadow of death,
(P)Prisoners in affliction and irons,
11 Because they had (Q)rebelled against the words of God
And (R)spurned the (S)counsel of the Most High.
12 So He subdued their heart with labor;
They stumbled and there was (T)none to help.
13 Then they (U)cried out to Yahweh in their trouble;
He saved them out of their distresses.
14 He (V)brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death
And (W)broke their bands apart.
15 (X)Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His lovingkindness,
And for His wondrous deeds to the sons of men!
16 For He has (Y)shattered the doors of bronze
And cut through the bars of iron.
17 [e]Ignorant fools, because of their way of transgression,
And (Z)because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
18 Their (AA)soul abhorred all kinds of food,
And they (AB)reached the (AC)gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to Yahweh in their trouble;
He saved them out of their distresses.
20 He (AD)sent His word and (AE)healed them,
And (AF)provided them escape from their [f]destructions.
21 (AG)Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His lovingkindness,
And for His wondrous deeds to the sons of men!
22 Let them also offer (AH)sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And (AI)recount His works with joyful singing.
23 Those who (AJ)go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on many waters;
24 They have seen the works of Yahweh,
And His wondrous deeds in the deep.
25 He (AK)spoke and set up a (AL)stormy wind,
Which (AM)raised up the waves [g]of the sea.
26 They went up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;
Their soul (AN)melted away in the [h]calamity.
27 They staggered and (AO)swayed like a drunken man,
And all their wisdom was swallowed up.
28 Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
29 He (AP)caused the storm to stand still,
So that its waves were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they were quiet,
So He led them to their desired haven.
31 (AQ)Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His lovingkindness,
And for His (AR)wondrous deeds to the sons of men!
32 Let them (AS)exalt Him also (AT)in the assembly of the people,
And (AU)praise Him at the seat of the elders.
33 He [i](AV)makes rivers into a [j]wilderness
And springs of water into a thirsty ground;
34 A (AW)fruitful land into a (AX)salt waste,
Because of the evil of those who inhabited it.
35 He (AY)makes a wilderness into a pool of water
And a dry land into springs of water;
36 And there He causes the hungry to inhabit,
So that they may establish (AZ)an inhabited city,
37 And sow fields and (BA)plant vineyards,
And produce a fruitful harvest.
38 Also He blesses them and they (BB)multiply greatly,
And He (BC)does not let their cattle decrease.
39 But when they (BD)decrease and are (BE)bowed down
Through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40 He (BF)pours contempt upon nobles
And (BG)makes them wander (BH)in a pathless void.
41 But He (BI)sets the needy [k]securely on high away from affliction,
And (BJ)makes his families like a flock.
42 The (BK)upright see it and are glad;
But all (BL)unrighteousness shuts its mouth.
43 Who is (BM)wise? Let him keep these things,
And carefully consider the (BN)lovingkindnesses of Yahweh.
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