M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Ordinances for the People
21 “Now these are the (A)ordinances which you are to set before them:
2 “If you buy (B)a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment. 3 If he comes [a]alone, he shall go out [b]alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall go out [c]alone. 5 But (C)if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to [d]God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently.
7 “(D)If a man sells his daughter as a female slave, she is not to [e]go free (E)as the male slaves [f]do. 8 If she is [g]displeasing in the eyes of her master [h]who designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He does not have authority to sell her to a foreign people because of his [i]unfairness to her. 9 If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters. 10 If he takes to himself another woman, he may not reduce her [j]food, her clothing, or (F)her conjugal rights. 11 If he will not do these three things for her, then she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.
Personal Injuries
12 “(G)He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. 13 (H)But [k]if he did not lie in wait for him, but (I)God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee. 14 (J)If, however, a man acts presumptuously toward his neighbor, so as to kill him craftily, you are to take him even from My altar, that he may die.
15 “He who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
16 “(K)He who [l]kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his [m]possession, shall surely be put to death.
17 “(L)He who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
18 “If men have a quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but [n]remains in bed, 19 if he gets up and walks around outside on his staff, then he who struck him shall go unpunished; he shall only pay for his [o]loss of time, and [p]shall take care of him until he is completely healed.
20 “If a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod and he dies [q]at his hand, he shall [r]be punished. 21 If, however, he [s]survives a day or two, no vengeance shall be taken; (M)for he is his [t]property.
22 “If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that [u]she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband [v]may demand of him, and he shall (N)pay [w]as the judges decide. 23 But if there is any further injury, (O)then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, 24 (P)eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, [x]bruise for bruise.
26 “If a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave, and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye. 27 And if he [y]knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, he shall let him go free on account of his tooth.
28 “If an ox gores a man or a woman [z]to death, (Q)the ox shall surely be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall go unpunished. 29 If, however, an ox was previously in the habit of goring and its owner has been warned, yet he does not confine it and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death. 30 If a ransom is [aa]demanded of him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is [ab]demanded of him. 31 Whether it gores a son or [ac]a daughter, it shall be done to him according to [ad]the same rule. 32 If the ox gores a male or female slave, [ae]the owner shall give his or her master (R)thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
33 “If a man opens a pit, or [af]digs a pit and does not cover it over, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit shall make restitution; he shall [ag]give money to its owner, and the dead animal shall become his.
35 “If one man’s ox hurts another’s so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and divide its price equally; and also they shall divide the dead ox. 36 Or if it is known that the ox was previously in the habit of goring, yet its owner has not confined it, he shall surely pay ox for ox, and the dead animal shall become his.
The Resurrection
24 (A)But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of (B)the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, (C)two men suddenly (D)stood near them in dazzling clothing; 5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6 He is not here, but He (E)has [a]risen. Remember how He spoke to you (F)while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that (G)the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” 8 And (H)they remembered His words, 9 and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now they were (I)Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to (J)the apostles. 11 But these words appeared [b]to them as nonsense, and they (K)would not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and (L)ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he *saw the linen wrappings [c]only; and he went away (M)to his home, marveling at what had happened.
The Road to Emmaus
13 And behold, (N)two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was [d]about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But (O)their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You [e]the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about (P)Jesus the Nazarene, who was a (Q)prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our (R)rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to (S)redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 22 But also some women among us amazed us. (T)When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that (U)the prophets have spoken! 26 (V)Was it not necessary for the [f]Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning [g]with (W)Moses and [h]with all the (X)prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
28 And they approached the village where they were going, and (Y)He acted as though He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day [i]is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and (Z)blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their (AA)eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from [j]their sight. 32 They said to one another, “[k]Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He (AB)was [l]explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and (AC)found gathered together the eleven and (AD)those who were with them, 34 saying, “(AE)The Lord has really risen and (AF)has appeared to Simon.” 35 They began to relate [m]their experiences on the road and how (AG)He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
Other Appearances
36 While they were telling these things, (AH)He Himself stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing (AI)a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your [n]hearts? 39 (AJ)See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; (AK)touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 While they still [o](AL)could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “(AM)Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; 43 and He took it and (AN)ate it before them.
44 Now He said to them, “(AO)These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the (AP)Law of Moses and the Prophets and (AQ)the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He (AR)opened their [p]minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “(AS)Thus it is written, that the [q]Christ would suffer and (AT)rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that (AU)repentance [r]for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed [s]in His name to (AV)all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are (AW)witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, (AX)I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but (AY)you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
The Ascension
50 And He led them out as far as (AZ)Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple [t]praising God.
God Speaks of Nature and Its Beings
39 “Do you know the time the [a](A)mountain goats give birth?
Do you observe the calving of the (B)deer?
2 “Can you count the months they fulfill,
Or do you know the time they give birth?
3 “They kneel down, they bring forth their young,
They get rid of their labor pains.
4 “Their offspring become strong, they grow up in the open field;
They leave and do not return to them.
5 “Who sent out the (C)wild donkey free?
And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,
6 To whom I gave (D)the wilderness for a home
And the salt land for his dwelling place?
7 “He scorns the tumult of the city,
The shoutings of the driver he does not hear.
8 “He explores the mountains for his pasture
And searches after every green thing.
9 “Will the (E)wild ox consent to serve you,
Or will he spend the night at your manger?
10 “Can you bind the wild ox in a furrow with [b]ropes,
Or will he harrow the valleys after you?
11 “Will you trust him because his strength is great
And leave your labor to him?
12 “Will you have faith in him that he will return your [c]grain
And gather it from your threshing floor?
13 “The ostriches’ wings flap joyously
With the pinion and plumage of [d]love,
14 For she abandons her eggs to the earth
And warms them in the dust,
15 And she forgets that a foot may crush [e]them,
Or that a wild beast may trample [f]them.
16 “She treats her young (F)cruelly, as if they were not hers;
Though her labor be in vain, she is [g]unconcerned;
17 Because God has made her forget wisdom,
And has not given her a share of understanding.
18 “When she lifts herself [h]on high,
She laughs at the horse and his rider.
19 “Do you give the horse his might?
Do you clothe his neck with a mane?
20 “Do you make him (G)leap like the locust?
His majestic (H)snorting is terrible.
21 “[i]He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
He (I)goes out to meet the weapons.
22 “He laughs at fear and is not dismayed;
And he does not turn back from the sword.
23 “The quiver rattles against him,
The flashing spear and javelin.
24 “With shaking and rage he [j]races over the ground,
And he does not stand still at the voice of the trumpet.
25 “As often as the trumpet sounds he says, ‘Aha!’
And he scents the battle from afar,
And the thunder of the captains and the war cry.
26 “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars,
Stretching his wings toward the south?
27 “Is it at your [k]command that the eagle mounts up
And makes (J)his nest on high?
28 “On the cliff he dwells and lodges,
Upon the rocky crag, an inaccessible place.
29 “From there he (K)spies out food;
His eyes see it from afar.
30 “His young ones also suck up blood;
And (L)where the slain are, there is he.”
God Gives Most
9 For (A)it is superfluous for me to write to you about this (B)ministry to the [a]saints; 2 for I know your readiness, of which I (C)boast about you to the (D)Macedonians, namely, that (E)Achaia has been prepared since (F)last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I have sent the brethren, in order that our (G)boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, (H)as I was saying, you may be prepared; 4 otherwise if any (I)Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you—will be put to shame by this confidence. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the (J)brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised [b](K)bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a [c](L)bountiful gift and not [d](M)affected by covetousness.
6 Now this I say, (N)he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows [e]bountifully will also reap [f]bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not (O)grudgingly or under compulsion, for (P)God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And (Q)God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written,
10 Now He who supplies (S)seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and (T)increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be (U)enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing (V)thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying (W)the needs of the [h]saints, but is also overflowing (X)through many thanksgivings to God. 13 Because of the proof given by this (Y)ministry, they will (Z)glorify God for your obedience to your (AA)confession of the (AB)gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your [i]contribution to them and to all, 14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 (AC)Thanks be to God for His indescribable (AD)gift!
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