M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Ten Commandments
20 Then God spoke all these words, saying,
2 “(A)I am the Lord your God, (B)who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of [a]slavery.
3 “(C)You shall have no other (D)gods [b]before Me.
4 “(E)You shall not make for yourself [c]an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 (F)You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a (G)jealous God, (H)visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing lovingkindness to (I)thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
7 “(J)You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not [d]leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
8 “Remember (K)the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 (L)Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it (M)you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who [e]stays with you. 11 (N)For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “(O)Honor your father and your mother, that your (P)days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.
13 “(Q)You shall not murder.
14 “(R)You shall not commit adultery.
15 “(S)You shall not steal.
16 “(T)You shall not bear false witness against your (U)neighbor.
17 “(V)You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; (W)you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 (X)All the people perceived the [f]thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. 19 (Y)Then they said to Moses, “Speak [g]to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak [h]to us, or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “(Z)Do not be afraid; for God has come in order (AA)to test you, and in order that (AB)the fear of Him may [i]remain with you, so that you may not sin.” 21 So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached (AC)the thick cloud where God was.
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘You yourselves have seen that (AD)I have spoken [j]to you from heaven. 23 (AE)You shall not make other gods besides Me; (AF)gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves. 24 You shall make (AG)an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your (AH)burnt offerings and your (AI)peace offerings, (AJ)your sheep and your oxen; in every place (AK)where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stone for Me, (AL)you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you will profane it. 26 And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, so that (AM)your nakedness will not be exposed on it.’
Jesus before Pilate
23 Then the whole body of them got up and (A)brought Him before Pilate. 2 (B)And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man (C)misleading our nation and (D)forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is [a]Christ, a King.” 3 So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “(E)It is as you say.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “(F)I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, (G)starting from Galilee even as far as this place.”
6 When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to (H)Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem [b]at that time.
Jesus before Herod
8 Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for (I)he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some [c]sign performed by Him. 9 And he questioned Him [d]at some length; but (J)He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. 11 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, (K)dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 Now (L)Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.
Pilate Seeks Jesus’ Release
13 Pilate summoned the chief priests and the (M)rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who (N)incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I (O)have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. 15 No, nor has (P)Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. 16 Therefore I will (Q)punish Him and release Him.” 17 [[e]Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]
18 But they cried out all together, saying, “(R)Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!” 19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.) 20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21 but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22 And he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will (S)punish Him and release Him.” 23 But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. 24 And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. 25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.
Simon Bears the Cross
26 (T)When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of (U)Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.
27 And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were [f](V)mourning and lamenting Him. 28 But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘(W)Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to (X)say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things [g]when the tree is green, what will happen [h]when it is dry?”
32 (Y)Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.
The Crucifixion
33 (Z)When they came to the place called [i]The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 [j]But Jesus was saying, “(AA)Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (AB)And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. 35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the (AC)rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; (AD)let Him save Himself if this is the [k]Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, (AE)offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “(AF)If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “(AG)THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
39 (AH)One of the criminals who were hanged there was [l]hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the [m]Christ? (AI)Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving [n]what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come [o]in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in (AJ)Paradise.”
44 (AK)It was now about [p](AL)the sixth hour, and darkness [q]fell over the whole land until [r]the ninth hour, 45 [s]because the sun was obscured; and (AM)the veil of the temple was torn [t]in two. 46 And Jesus, (AN)crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, (AO)into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. 47 (AP)Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began (AQ)praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was [u]innocent.” 48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, [v](AR)beating their breasts. 49 (AS)And all His acquaintances and (AT)the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.
Jesus Is Buried
50 (AU)And a man named Joseph, who was a (AV)member of the Council, a good and righteous man 51 (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was (AW)waiting for the kingdom of God; 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. 54 It was (AX)the [w]preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to [x]begin. 55 Now (AY)the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and (AZ)prepared spices and perfumes.
And (BA)on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
God Speaks Now to Job
38 Then the Lord (A)answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
2 “Who is this that (B)darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
3 “Now (C)gird up your loins like a man,
And (D)I will ask you, and you instruct Me!
4 “Where were you (E)when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you [a]have understanding,
5 Who set its (F)measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the line on it?
6 “On what (G)were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together
And all the (H)sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or who (I)enclosed the sea with doors
When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;
9 When I made a cloud its garment
And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 And I [b](J)placed boundaries on it
And set a bolt and doors,
11 And I said, ‘Thus far you shall come, but no farther;
And here shall your proud waves stop’?
God’s Mighty Power
12 “Have you [c]ever in your life commanded the morning,
And caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of (K)the ends of the earth,
And (L)the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 “It is changed like clay under the seal;
And they stand forth like a garment.
15 “(M)From the wicked their light is withheld,
And the (N)uplifted arm is broken.
16 “Have you entered into (O)the springs of the sea
Or walked [d]in the recesses of the deep?
17 “Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
Or have you seen the gates of (P)deep darkness?
18 “Have you understood the [e]expanse of (Q)the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all this.
19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light?
And darkness, where is its place,
20 That you may take it to (R)its territory
And that you may discern the paths to its [f]home?
21 “You know, for (S)you were born then,
And the number of your days is great!
22 “Have you entered the storehouses (T)of the snow,
Or have you seen the storehouses of the (U)hail,
23 Which I have reserved for the time of distress,
For the day of war and battle?
24 “Where is the way that (V)the light is divided,
Or the east wind scattered on the earth?
25 “Who has cleft a channel for the flood,
Or a way for the thunderbolt,
26 To bring (W)rain on a land without [g]people,
On a desert without a man in it,
27 To (X)satisfy the waste and desolate land
And to make the [h]seeds of grass to sprout?
28 “Has (Y)the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 “From whose womb has come the (Z)ice?
And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?
30 “Water [i]becomes hard like stone,
And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.
31 “Can you bind the chains of the (AA)Pleiades,
Or loose the cords of Orion?
32 “Can you lead forth a [j]constellation in its season,
And guide the Bear with her [k]satellites?
33 “Do you know the (AB)ordinances of the heavens,
Or fix their rule over the earth?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
So that an (AC)abundance of water will cover you?
35 “Can you (AD)send forth lightnings that they may go
And say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 “Who has (AE)put wisdom in the innermost being
Or given (AF)understanding to the [l]mind?
37 “Who can count the clouds by wisdom,
Or (AG)tip the water jars of the heavens,
38 When the dust hardens into a mass
And the clods stick together?
Great Generosity
8 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been (A)given in the churches of (B)Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the (C)wealth of their liberality. 3 For I testify that (D)according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, 4 begging us with much urging for the (E)favor [a]of participation in the [b](F)support of the [c]saints, 5 and this, not as we had [d]expected, but they first (G)gave themselves to the Lord and to us by (H)the will of God. 6 So we (I)urged (J)Titus that as he had previously (K)made a beginning, so he would also complete in you (L)this gracious work as well.
7 But just as you (M)abound (N)in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the [e]love we inspired in you, see that you (O)abound in this gracious work also. 8 I (P)am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. 9 For you know (Q)the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that (R)though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 10 I (S)give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin (T)a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. 11 But now finish [f]doing it also, so that just as there was the (U)readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. 12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable (V)according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality— 14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for (W)their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for (X)your need, that there may be equality; 15 as it is written, “(Y)He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
16 But (Z)thanks be to God who (AA)puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of (AB)Titus. 17 For he not only accepted our (AC)appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord. 18 We have sent along with him (AD)the brother whose fame in the things of the (AE)gospel has spread through (AF)all the churches; 19 (AG)and not only this, but he has also been (AH)appointed by the churches to travel with us in (AI)this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our (AJ)readiness, 20 [g]taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; 21 for we (AK)have regard for what is honorable, not only in (AL)the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for (AM)Titus, he is my (AN)partner and fellow worker [h]among you; as for our (AO)brethren, they are [i](AP)messengers of the churches, (AQ)a glory to Christ. 24 Therefore [j]openly before the churches, [k]show them the proof of your love and of our (AR)reason for boasting about you.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.