M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Israel’s King Joram
3 Joram son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria during the eighteenth year of Judah’s King Jehoshaphat and reigned 12 years.(A) 2 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, but not like his father and mother,(B) for he removed the sacred pillar of Baal his father had made. 3 Nevertheless, Joram clung to the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.(C) He did not turn away from them.
Moab’s Rebellion against Israel
4 King Mesha of Moab(D) was a sheep breeder. He used to pay(E) the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams,(F) 5 but when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.(G) 6 So King Joram marched out from Samaria at that time and mobilized all Israel. 7 Then he sent a message to King Jehoshaphat(H) of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me.(I) Will you go with me to fight against Moab?”
Jehoshaphat said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”(J) 8 Then he asked, “Which route should we take?”
Joram replied, “The route of the Wilderness of Edom.”
9 So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom(K) set out. After they had traveled their indirect route for seven days, they had no water for the army or their animals.
10 Then the king of Israel said, “Oh no, the Lord has summoned three kings, only to hand them over to Moab.”
11 But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord here? Let’s inquire of Yahweh through him.”(L)
One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat,(M) who used to pour water on Elijah’s hands, is here.”
12 Jehoshaphat affirmed, “The Lord’s words are with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went to him.(N)
13 However, Elisha said to King Joram of Israel, “We have nothing in common. Go to the prophets of your father and your mother!”(O)
But the king of Israel replied, “No, because it is the Lord who has summoned these three kings to hand them over to Moab.”
14 Elisha responded, “As the Lord of Hosts lives,(P) I stand before Him. If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah,(Q) I would not look at you; I wouldn’t take notice of you. 15 Now, bring me a musician.”(R)
While the musician played,(S) the Lord’s hand(T) came on Elisha. 16 Then he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Dig ditch after ditch in this wadi.’ 17 For the Lord says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the wadi will be filled with water,(U) and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ 18 This is easy in the Lord’s sight.(V) He will also hand Moab over to you.(W) 19 Then you must attack every fortified city and every choice city. You must cut down every good tree and stop up every spring of water. You must ruin every good piece of land with stones.”
20 About the time for the grain offering(X) the next morning, water suddenly came from the direction of Edom and filled the land.
21 All Moab had heard that the kings(Y) had come up to fight against them. So all who could bear arms, from the youngest to the oldest, were summoned and took their stand at the border. 22 When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water, and the Moabites saw that the water across from them was red like blood.(Z) 23 “This is blood!” they exclaimed. “The kings(AA) have clashed swords and killed each other. So, to the spoil, Moab!”
24 However, when the Moabites came to Israel’s camp, the Israelites attacked them, and they fled from them. So Israel went into the land and struck down the Moabites. 25 They destroyed the cities, and each of them threw stones to cover every good piece of land. They stopped up every spring of water and cut down every good tree. In the end, only the buildings of Kir-hareseth(AB) were left. Then men with slings surrounded the city and attacked it.
26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took 700 swordsmen with him to try to break through to the king of Edom,(AC) but they could not do it. 27 So he took his firstborn son,(AD) who was to become king in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. Great wrath was on the Israelites, and they withdrew from him and returned to their land.
Pray for Us
3 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you,(A) 2 and that we may be delivered(B) from wicked and evil men, for not all have faith.[a] 3 But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen and guard you from the evil one.(C) 4 We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do what we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.(D)
Warning against Irresponsible Behavior
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name(E) of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother(F) who walks irresponsibly and not according to the tradition(G) received(H) from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you must imitate(I) us: We were not irresponsible among you; 8 we did not eat(J) anyone’s food[b] free of charge;(K) instead, we labored(L) and struggled,(M) working(N) night and day, so that we would not be a burden(O) to any of you. 9 It is not that we don’t have the right(P) to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate(Q) us. 10 In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.”(R) 11 For we hear that there are some among you who walk irresponsibly, not working at all, but interfering with the work of others.(S) 12 Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ that quietly working, they may eat their own food.[c] 13 Brothers, do not grow weary(T) in doing good.
14 And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don’t associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet don’t treat him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
Final Greetings
16 May the Lord of peace(U) Himself give you peace always in every way.(V) The Lord be with all of you.(W) 17 This greeting is in my own hand(X)—Paul. This is a sign in every letter; this is how I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts
7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind(A) as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream,(B) and here is the summary[a] of his account. 2 Daniel said, “In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven(C) stirred up the great sea. 3 Four huge beasts(D) came up from the sea,(E) each different from the other.
4 “The first was like a lion(F) but had eagle’s wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind.
5 “Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear.(G) It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.’
6 “While I was watching, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard(H) with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads(I) and was given authority to rule.
7 “While I was watching in the night visions, a fourth beast(J) appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had 10 horns.(K)
8 “While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn,(L) a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. There were eyes in this horn like a man’s, and it had a mouth that spoke arrogantly.(M)
The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man
9 “As I kept watching,
thrones were set in place,(N)
and the Ancient of Days took His seat.
His clothing was white like snow,(O)
and the hair of His head like whitest wool.(P)
His throne was flaming fire;(Q)
its wheels were blazing fire.(R)
10 A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from His presence.
Thousands upon thousands(S) served Him;
ten thousand times ten thousand(T) stood before Him.
The court was convened,(U)
and the books were opened.(V)
11 “I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire.(W) 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their authority to rule was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.(X) 13 I continued watching in the night visions,
and I saw One like a son of man(Y)
coming with the clouds of heaven.(Z)
He approached the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before Him.
14 He was given authority to rule,(AA)
and glory, and a kingdom;
so that those of every people,
nation, and language(AB)
should serve(AC) Him.
His dominion is an everlasting(AD) dominion
that will not pass away,
and His kingdom is one
that will not be destroyed.
Interpretation of the Vision
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was deeply distressed within me,[b] and the visions in my mind terrified me.(AE) 16 I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him(AF) the true meaning of all this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things:(AG) 17 ‘These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.’(AH)
19 “Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast,(AI) the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the 10 horns(AJ) on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell—the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly,(AK) and that was more visible than the others. 21 As I was watching, this horn waged war(AL) against the holy ones and was prevailing over them 22 until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment(AM) was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.
23 “This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. 24 The 10 horns(AN) are 10 kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings. 25 He will speak words against the Most High(AO) and oppress[c] the holy ones(AP) of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals[d] and laws,(AQ) and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.[e](AR) 26 But the court will convene,(AS) and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever.(AT) 27 The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom,(AU) and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’
28 “This is the end of the interpretation. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly,(AV) and my face turned pale,[f] but I kept the matter to myself.”(AW)
Psalm 114
God’s Deliverance of Israel
1 When Israel came out of Egypt—
the house of Jacob from a people
who spoke a foreign language(A)—
2 Judah became His sanctuary,
Israel, His dominion.(B)
3 The sea looked and fled;(C)
the Jordan turned back.(D)
4 The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills, like lambs.(E)
5 Why was it, sea, that you fled?
Jordan, that you turned back?(F)
6 Mountains, that you skipped like rams?
Hills, like lambs?(G)
7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,(H)
8 who turned the rock into a pool of water,
the flint into a spring of water.(I)
Psalm 115
Glory to God Alone
1 Not to us, Yahweh, not to us,
but to Your name give glory
because of Your faithful love, because of Your truth.(J)
2 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”(K)
3 Our God is in heaven
and does whatever He pleases.(L)
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.(M)
5 They have mouths but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.(N)
7 They have hands but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk.(O)
They cannot make a sound with their throats.(P)
8 Those who make them are[a] just like them,
as are all who trust in them.(Q)
9 Israel,[b] trust in the Lord!(R)
He is their help and shield.(S)
10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord!(T)
He is their help and shield.(U)
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!(V)
He is their help and shield.
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us.
He will bless the house of Israel;
He will bless the house of Aaron;(W)
13 He will bless those who fear the Lord—
small and great alike.(X)
14 May the Lord add to your numbers,
both yours and your children’s.(Y)
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.(Z)
16 The heavens are the Lord’s,[c]
but the earth He has given to the human race.(AA)
17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord,
nor any of those descending into the silence of death.(AB)
18 But we will praise the Lord,
both now and forever.(AC)
Hallelujah!
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