M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Jethro, Moses’ Father-in-law
18 Now (A)Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife (B)Zipporah, after he had sent her away, 3 and her (C)two sons, of whom [a]one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been (D)a [b]sojourner in a foreign land.” 4 [c]The other was named [d](E)Eliezer, for he said, “(F)The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses [e]in the wilderness where he was camped, at (G)the mount of God. 6 He [f]sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” 7 Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and (H)he bowed down and (I)kissed him; and they (J)asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians (K)for Israel’s sake, all the (L)hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how (M)the Lord had delivered them. 9 Jethro rejoiced over all (N)the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, [g]in delivering [h]them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “(O)Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that (P)the Lord is greater than all the gods; [i]indeed, (Q)it was proven when they dealt proudly against [j]the people.” 12 (R)Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat [k]a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
13 It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. 14 Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me (S)to inquire of God. 16 When they have a [l](T)dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.”
Jethro Counsels Moses
17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 (U)You will surely wear out, both yourself and [m]these people who are with you, for the [n]task is too heavy for you; (V)you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to [o]me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. [p]You be the people’s representative before God, and you (W)bring the [q]disputes to God, 20 (X)then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them (Y)the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21 Furthermore, you shall [r]select out of all the people (Z)able men (AA)who fear God, men of truth, those who (AB)hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, [s]of hundreds, [t]of fifties and [u]of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be (AC)that every major [v]dispute they will bring to you, but every minor [w]dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and (AD)they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to [x]endure, and all [y]these people also will go to [z]their place in peace.”
24 So Moses listened [aa]to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose (AE)able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, [ab]of hundreds, [ac]of fifties and [ad]of tens. 26 They judged the people at all times; (AF)the difficult [ae]dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor [af]dispute they themselves would judge. 27 Then Moses [ag](AG)bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land.
The Widow’s Gift
21 (A)And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And He saw a poor widow putting [a]in (B)two [b]small copper coins. 3 And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; 4 for they all out of their [c]surplus put into the [d]offering; but she out of her poverty put in all [e]that she had (C)to live on.”
5 (D)And while some were talking about the temple, that it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive gifts, He said, 6 “As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which (E)there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down.”
7 They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the [f]sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And He said, “See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘(F)I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ (G)Do not go after them. 9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.”
Things to Come
10 Then He continued by saying to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, 11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great [g]signs from heaven.
12 “But before all these things, (H)they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, [h]bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. 13 (I)It will lead to [i]an opportunity for your testimony. 14 (J)So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; 15 for (K)I will give you [j]utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. 16 But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 17 and you will be hated by all because of My name. 18 Yet (L)not a hair of your head will perish. 19 (M)By your endurance you will gain your [k]lives.
20 “But when you see Jerusalem (N)surrounded by armies, then [l]recognize that her desolation is near. 21 Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of [m]the city must leave, and (O)those who are in the country must not enter [n]the city; 22 because these are (P)days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for (Q)there will be great distress upon the [o]land and wrath to this people; 24 and they will fall by (R)the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and (S)Jerusalem will be (T)trampled under foot by the Gentiles until (U)the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Return of Christ
25 “There will be [p]signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the [q]world; for the powers of [r]the heavens will be shaken. 27 (V)Then they will see (W)the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because (X)your redemption is drawing near.”
29 Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and (Y)know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, [s]recognize that (Z)the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I say to you, this [t]generation will not pass away until all things take place. 33 (AA)Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
34 “(AB)Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; 35 for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. 36 But (AC)keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to (AD)stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Now [u]during the day He was (AE)teaching in the temple, but [v](AF)at evening He would go out and spend the night on [w](AG)the mount that is called [x]Olivet. 38 And all the people would get up (AH)early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.
Elihu Speaks of God’s Dealings with Men
36 Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Wait for me a little, and I will show you
That there [a]is yet more to be said in God’s behalf.
3 “I will fetch my knowledge from afar,
And I will ascribe (A)righteousness to my Maker.
4 “For truly (B)my words are not false;
One who is (C)perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty but does not (D)despise any;
He is (E)mighty in strength of understanding.
6 “He does not (F)keep the wicked alive,
But gives justice to (G)the afflicted.
7 “He does not (H)withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But (I)with kings on the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
8 “And if they are bound in fetters,
And are caught in the cords of (J)affliction,
9 Then He declares to them their work
And their transgressions, that they have (K)magnified themselves.
10 “(L)He opens their ear to instruction,
And (M)commands that they return from evil.
11 “If they hear and serve Him,
They will (N)end their days in prosperity
And their years in (O)pleasures.
12 “But if they do not hear, they shall [b]perish (P)by the sword
And they will (Q)die without knowledge.
13 “But the godless in heart lay up anger;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 “[c]They die in youth,
And their life perishes among the (R)cult prostitutes.
15 “He delivers the afflicted in [d]their (S)affliction,
And (T)opens their ear [e]in time of oppression.
16 “Then indeed, He (U)enticed you from the mouth of distress,
Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
And that which was set on your table was full of [f]fatness.
17 “But you were full of (V)judgment on the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 “Beware that (W)wrath does not entice you to scoffing;
And do not let the greatness of the (X)ransom turn you aside.
19 “Will your [g]riches keep you from distress,
Or all the forces of your strength?
20 “Do not long for (Y)the night,
When people [h]vanish in their place.
21 “Be careful, do (Z)not turn to evil,
For you have preferred this to (AA)affliction.
22 “Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a (AB)teacher like Him?
23 “Who has appointed Him His way,
And who has said, ‘(AC)You have done wrong’?
24 “Remember that you should (AD)exalt His work,
Of which men have (AE)sung.
25 “All men have seen it;
Man beholds from afar.
26 “Behold, God is (AF)exalted, and (AG)we do not know Him;
The (AH)number of His years is unsearchable.
27 “For (AI)He draws up the drops of water,
They distill rain from [i]the [j]mist,
28 Which the clouds pour down,
They drip upon man abundantly.
29 “Can anyone understand the (AJ)spreading of the clouds,
The (AK)thundering of His [k]pavilion?
30 “Behold, He spreads His [l]lightning about Him,
And He covers the depths of the sea.
31 “For by these He (AL)judges peoples;
He (AM)gives food in abundance.
32 “He covers His hands with the [m]lightning,
And (AN)commands it to strike the mark.
33 “Its (AO)noise declares [n]His presence;
The cattle also, concerning what is coming up.
Their Ministry Commended
6 And (A)working together with Him, (B)we also urge you not to receive (C)the grace of God in vain— 2 for He says,
“(D)At the acceptable time I listened to you,
And on the day of salvation I helped you.”
Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— 3 (E)giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, 4 but in everything (F)commending ourselves as [a](G)servants of God, (H)in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in (I)beatings, in imprisonments, in (J)tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in (K)hunger, 6 in purity, in (L)knowledge, in (M)patience, in kindness, in the (N)Holy Spirit, in (O)genuine love, 7 in (P)the word of truth, in (Q)the power of God; by (R)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8 by glory and (S)dishonor, by (T)evil report and good report; regarded as (U)deceivers and yet (V)true; 9 as unknown [b]yet well-known, as (W)dying [c]yet behold, (X)we live; as [d]punished [e]yet not put to death, 10 as (Y)sorrowful yet always (Z)rejoicing, as (AA)poor yet making many rich, as (AB)having nothing [f]yet possessing (AC)all things.
11 (AD)Our mouth [g]has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our (AE)heart is opened wide. 12 You are not restrained [h]by us, but (AF)you are restrained in your own [i]affections. 13 Now in a like (AG)exchange—I speak as to (AH)children—open wide to us also.
14 (AI)Do not be [j]bound together with (AJ)unbelievers; for what (AK)partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what (AL)harmony has Christ with [k]Belial, or [l]what has a (AM)believer in common with an (AN)unbeliever? 16 Or (AO)what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are (AP)the temple of (AQ)the living God; just as God said,
“(AR)I will (AS)dwell in them and (AT)walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17 “(AU)Therefore, (AV)come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.
“And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will welcome you.
18 “(AW)And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be (AX)sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.