M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Penalty Offering
7 “‘These are the ·teachings [laws; instructions] about the ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering [5:14–6:7], which is most holy: 2 The ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering must be ·killed [slaughtered] where the whole burnt offering is ·killed [slaughtered; ch. 1]. Then the priest must ·sprinkle [dash] its blood on all sides of the altar. 3 He must offer all the fat from the ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering—the fat tail, the fat that covers the inner organs, 4 both kidneys with the fat that is on them near the ·lower back muscle [loins], and the ·best part [appendage] of the liver, which is to be removed with the kidneys. 5 The priest must ·burn [L turn into smoke] all these things on the altar as an offering made by fire to the Lord. It is a ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering. 6 Any male in a priest’s family may eat it. It is most holy, so it must be eaten in a holy place.
7 “‘The ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering [5:14–6:7] is like the ·sin [or purification] offering [4:3] in that the ·teachings [laws; instructions] are the same for both. The priest who ·offers the sacrifice to remove sins [makes atonement with it] will ·get the meat for food [L have it]. 8 The priest who offers the burnt offering [ch. 1] may also have the skin from it. 9 Every ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [2:1] that is baked in an oven, cooked on a griddle, or baked in a dish belongs to the priest who offers it. 10 Every ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [2:1], either dry or mixed with oil, belongs to the priests, and ·all priests [L sons of Aaron] will share alike.
The Fellowship Offering
11 “‘These are the ·teachings [laws; instructions] about the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] a person may offer to the Lord: 12 If he brings the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] to show his thanks, he should also bring loaves of bread made without ·yeast [leaven] that are mixed with oil, wafers made without ·yeast [leaven] that have oil poured over them, and loaves of ·fine [choice] flour that are ·mixed [or soaked] with oil. 13 He must also offer loaves of bread made with ·yeast [leaven] along with his ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1], which he gives to show thanks. 14 One of each kind of ·offering [gift] will be for the Lord; it will be given to the priest who ·sprinkles [dashes] the blood of the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering. 15 When the fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] is given to thank the Lord, the meat from it must be eaten the same day it is offered; none of it must be left until morning.
16 “‘If a person brings a ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] ·just to give a gift to God [as a freewill offering] or because of a ·special promise to him [votive offering; C in fulfillment of a vow], the sacrifice should be eaten the same day he offers it. If there is any left, it may be eaten the next day. 17 If any meat from this sacrifice is left on the third day, it must be burned ·up [L with fire]. 18 Any meat of the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering eaten on the third day will not be accepted, nor will the sacrifice count for the person who offered it. It ·will become unclean [is an abomination], and anyone who eats the meat will be guilty of sin.
19 “‘People must not eat meat that touches anything unclean [C in a ritual sense]; they must burn this meat with fire. Anyone who is clean may eat other meat. 20 But if anyone is unclean and eats the meat from the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] that belongs to the Lord, he must be cut off from his people.
21 “‘If anyone touches something unclean [C in a ritual sense]—uncleanness that comes from people, from an animal, or from some ·hated thing [or swarming creature]—touching it will make him unclean. If he then eats meat from the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] that belongs to the Lord, he must be cut off from his people.’”
22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell the ·people [L sons; children] of Israel: ‘You must not eat any of the fat from cattle, sheep, or goats [3:17]. 24 If an animal is found dead or torn by wild animals, you may use its fat for other things, but you must not eat it. 25 If someone eats fat from an animal offering made by fire to the Lord, he must be cut off from his people. 26 No matter where you live, you must not eat blood from any bird or animal. 27 Anyone who eats blood must be cut off from his people [3:17].’”
The Priests’ Share
28 The Lord said to Moses, 29 “Tell the ·people [L sons; children] of Israel: ‘If someone brings a ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] to the Lord, he must give part of it as his sacrifice to the Lord. 30 He must carry that part of the gift in his own hands as an offering made by fire to the Lord. He must bring the fat and the breast of the animal to the priest, to be presented to the Lord as ·the priests’ share [L an elevation offering]. 31 Then the priest must ·burn [L turn into smoke] the fat on the altar, but the breast of the animal will belong to Aaron and ·the priests [L his sons]. 32 You must also give the right thigh from the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1] to the priest as a ·gift [L elevation offering]; 33 it will belong to the ·priest [L son of Aaron] who offers the blood and fat of the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering. 34 I have taken the breast and the thigh from the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [3:1] of the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel], and I have given these parts to Aaron and ·the priests [L his sons] as ·their share for all time [an eternal regulation] from the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel].’”
35 This is the portion that belongs to Aaron and his sons from the offerings made by fire to the Lord. They were given this share on the day they were presented to the Lord as priests. 36 On the day ·the Lord appointed the priests [L he anointed them], he commanded Israel to give this share to them, and it is ·to be given to the priests as their share [L an eternal regulation] ·from now on [L throughout their generations].
37 These are the ·teachings [laws; instructions] about the whole burnt offering, the ·grain [gift; tribute] offering [2:1], the ·sin [or purification; 4:3] offering, the ·penalty [guilt; reparation] offering [5:14–6:7], the offering for ·the appointment of priests [ordination], and the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [3:1]. 38 The Lord ·gave these teachings to [L commanded] Moses on Mount Sinai on the day he commanded the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] to bring their ·offerings [gifts] to the Lord in the Sinai ·Desert [Wilderness].
A Prayer for Fairness
A shiggaion [C a musical or literary term of uncertain meaning] of David which he sang to the Lord about Cush, from the tribe of Benjamin [C an unknown person, but the tribe of Benjamin, Saul’s tribe, resisted David’s kingship at first; 2 Sam. 3–4].
7 Lord my God, I ·trust in you for protection [find refuge in you].
·Save [Rescue; T Deliver] me and rescue me
from those who are ·chasing [pursuing] me.
2 Otherwise, like a lion they will tear me apart.
They will ·rip me to pieces [or drag me away], and no one can ·save [rescue; T deliver] me.
3 Lord my God, what have I done?
Have my hands done something ·wrong [to make me guilty]?
4 Have I done wrong to ·my friend [L the one at peace with me]
or stolen without reason from my enemy?
5 If I have, let my enemy ·chase [pursue] me and ·capture [overtake] me.
Let him trample ·me [L my life] into the ·dust [earth]
and ·bury me [L lay my honor] in the ground. ·
6 Lord, rise up in your anger;
·stand up [L lift yourself up] against my enemies’ ·anger [fury].
·Get up [Wake up], ·my God [or for me], and ·demand fairness [insist on/L command judgment].
7 Gather the ·nations [L assembly/congregations of the peoples] around you
and ·rule [or take a seat over; L return] them from ·above [on high].
8 Lord, judge the people.
Lord, ·defend [judge] me ·because I am right [according to my righteousness],
·because I have done no wrong [according to my innocence].
9 God, you ·do what is right [are righteous].
You ·know [L test] our ·thoughts [L hearts/minds] and ·feelings [L kidneys; C the seat of emotions in Hebrew thought].
Stop those wicked actions done by evil people,
and ·help [establish] those who ·do what is right [are righteous].
10 God ·protects me like a [is my] shield;
he saves those whose hearts ·are right [have integrity].
11 God ·judges by what is right [is a righteous judge],
and God is ·always ready to punish the wicked [L angry every day].
12 If they do not ·change their lives [repent],
God will sharpen his sword;
he will string his bow and take aim.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he has made his flaming arrows.
14 There are people who ·think up [L conceive] evil
and ·plan [L are pregnant with] ·trouble [malice] and ·tell [L give birth to] lies.
15 They dig a ·hole [pit] ·to trap others [L and dig it deep],
but they will fall into it themselves.
16 ·They will get themselves into trouble [L Their trouble/malice will return to their head];
the violence they cause will ·hurt only themselves [L come down on their heads; Prov. 26:27; Matt. 26:52].
17 I praise the Lord ·because he does what is right [according to his righteousness].
I sing praises to the Lord Most High.
The Lord’s Greatness
For the director of music. On the gittith [C perhaps a musical term or instrument]. A psalm of David.
8 Lord our Lord,
·Your name is the most wonderful name [L How majestic is your name] in all the earth [Ex. 3:14–15]!
·It brings you praise [L You have set your splendor/glory] in heaven above [Rom. 1:20].
2 ·You have taught children and babies
to sing praises to you [L Out of the mouth of babies and infants you have established/founded strength]
because of your enemies.
And so you silence your enemies
and those who try to get ·even [revenge].
3 I look at your heavens,
·which you made with [L the work of] your fingers.
I see the moon and stars,
which you ·created [L established; Gen. 1:17–18].
4 ·But why are people even important to you [L What are people that you remember them]?
Why do you take care of ·human beings [L the son of man]?
5 You made them a little lower than ·the angels [or God]
and crowned them with glory and honor [Gen. 1:26–27].
6 You ·put them in charge of [give them rule over] ·everything you made [L the work of your hands].
You put all things under their ·control [L feet; Heb. 2:6–8]:
7 all the sheep, the cattle,
and the ·wild animals [L beasts of the field],
8 the birds in the ·sky [heavens],
the fish in the sea,
and everything that ·lives under water [L passes/travels on the paths of the sea; Gen. 1:28; 9:1–3].
9 Lord our Lord,
·your name is the most wonderful [L how majestic is your] name in all the earth!
22 ·Being respected [L A good name/reputation] is more important than having great riches.
·To be well thought of [High esteem] is better than silver or gold [Eccl. 7:1].
2 The rich and the poor ·are alike [have a common bond]
in that the Lord made them all.
3 The ·wise [prudent] see ·danger [evil; trouble] ahead and avoid it,
but fools ·keep going [go straight to it] and ·get into trouble [or are punished].
4 ·Respecting [Fearing] the Lord [1:7] and ·not being proud [humility]
will bring you wealth, honor, and life.
5 Evil people’s lives are like paths covered with thorns and ·traps [nets].
People who guard themselves ·don’t have such problems [L stay far from them].
6 Train children ·to live the right way [L in their/or his path; C referring either to children or to God],
and when they are old, they will not ·stray [depart] from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor,
and borrowers are ·servants [slaves] to lenders.
8 Those who ·plan [L sow] ·evil [injustice] will ·receive [L reap; harvest] ·trouble [evil; Matt. 26:52].
·Their cruel anger [L The rod of their fury] will come to an end.
9 Generous people ·will be blessed [or he will bless],
because they share their food with the poor.
10 ·Get rid of [Banish; Drive out] the ·one who makes fun of wisdom [mocker].
Then ·fighting [conflict], ·quarrels [judgments], and ·insults [shame] will stop.
11 Whoever loves pure ·thoughts [L hearts] and kind ·words [L lips]
will have even the king as a friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord guard knowledge,
but he ·destroys [frustrates] ·false words [L the words of the untrustworthy/faithless].
13 The lazy person says, “There’s a lion outside!
I might get killed out in the ·street [middle of the public square]!”
14 The ·words [L mouth] of ·an unfaithful wife [L the strange woman] are like a deep ·trap [pit].
Those who make the Lord angry will ·get caught by them [L fall in it].
15 ·Every child is full of foolishness [L Stupidity/Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child],
but ·punishment can get rid of it [L the rod of discipline drives it far from them].
16 Whoever gets rich by ·mistreating [oppressing] the poor,
and gives presents to the wealthy, will become poor.
Other Wise Sayings
17 ·Listen carefully to [L Incline/Bend your ear and hear] ·what wise people say [L the words of the wise];
·pay attention to [set your heart on] what I am teaching you.
18 It will be ·good [pleasant] to ·keep these things in mind [L guard them in your innermost being]
so that you ·are ready to repeat them [L have them ready on your lips].
19 I am teaching them to you now
so that you will put your trust in the Lord.
20 I have written ·thirty [or excellent] sayings for you,
which give knowledge and good advice.
21 I am teaching you true and reliable words
so that you can give true answers to anyone who ·asks [L sends you].
22 Do not ·abuse [L steal from] poor people because they are poor,
and do not ·take away the rights of [oppress] the needy in ·court [L the gate].
23 The Lord will ·defend them in court [accuse their accusers]
and will ·take the life of those who take away their rights [L press/squeeze the life out of those who press/squeeze them; Ex. 22:21–23; 23:6; Deut. 24:14–15].
24 Don’t make friends with ·quick-tempered people [people controlled by anger]
or ·spend time [associate] with those who have bad tempers.
25 If you do, you will ·be like them [learn their ways].
Then you will ·be in real danger [L get yourself trapped].
26 Don’t ·promise [L shake hands] to pay what someone else owes,
and don’t guarantee anyone’s loan.
27 If you cannot pay the loan,
·your own bed may [L why should your own bed…?] be taken right out from under you.
28 Don’t move an ·old stone that marks a border [an ancient boundary marker; Deut. 19:14; 27:17; Job 24:2; Hos. 5:10; C borders were marked by carved stones],
because those stones were set up by your ancestors.
29 Do you see people ·skilled [or diligent] in their work?
They will work for kings, not for ·ordinary [obscure] people.
1 From Paul, Silas [Acts 15:22, 40], and Timothy [Acts 16:1–5; 1 Cor. 16:10–11; Phil. 2:19–24; 1 and 2 Timothy].
To the church in Thessalonica [L of the Thessalonians; C a city in Macedonia, present-day northern Greece], the church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace to you.
The Faith of the Thessalonians
2 We always thank God for all of you and mention you when we pray. 3 We continually recall before God our Father ·the things you have done because of your faith [L your work of/from faith], ·the work you have done because of your love [L your labor of/from love] and your ·continuing strength because of your hope [L endurance of/from hope] in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Brothers and sisters, God loves you, and we know he has chosen you, 5 because the ·Good News [Gospel] we brought to you came not only with words, but with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with ·sure knowledge that it is true [great conviction]. You know how we lived when we were with you ·in order to help you [for your sake]. 6 And you became ·like us and like [imitators of us and of] the Lord. You ·suffered much [experienced many trials/much persecution], but still you accepted the teaching with the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit. 7 So you became an ·example to [model for] all the believers in Macedonia [C the Roman province in which Thessalonica was located, present-day northern Greece] and Achaia [C present-day southern Greece]. 8 And the Lord’s ·teaching [message; word] ·spread [rang out; sounded forth] from you not only into Macedonia and Achaia, but now your faith in God has ·become known [gone forth] everywhere. So we do not need to say anything about it. 9 ·People everywhere [L For they themselves] are ·telling [reporting; announcing] about the way you ·accepted [welcomed] us when we were there with you. They tell how you ·stopped worshiping idols [L turned to God from idols] to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom God raised from the dead. He is Jesus, who ·saves [rescues; delivers] us from ·God’s angry judgment that is sure to come [L the coming wrath].
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