M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
20 1 The Israelites assemble at Mizpah, to whom the Levite declareth his wrong. 13 They sent for them that aid the villain. 45 The Israelites are twice overcome, 46 And at length get the victory.
1 Then (A)all the children of Israel went out, and the Congregation was gathered together as [a]one man, from Dan to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the [b]Lord in Mizpah.
2 And the [c]chief of all the people, and all the tribes of Israel assembled in the Congregation of the people of God four hundred thousand footmen that [d]drew sword.
3 (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpah) Then, the children of Israel [e]said, How is this wickedness committed?
4 And the same Levite, the woman’s husband that was slain, answered and said, I came unto Gibeah that is in Benjamin with my concubine to lodge,
5 And the [f]men of Gibeah arose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, thinking to have slain me, and have forced my concubine that she is dead.
6 Then I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent [g]her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed abomination and villainy in Israel.
7 Behold, ye are all children of Israel, give your advice, and counsel herein.
8 Then all the people arose as one man, saying, There shall not a man of us go to his tent, neither any turn into his [h]house.
9 But now this is that thing which we will do to Gibeah: we will go up by lot against it.
10 And we will take ten men of the hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of the thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand to bring [i]victual for the people, that they may do (when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin) according to all the villainy, that it hath done in Israel.
11 ¶ So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.
12 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the [j]tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is committed among you?
13 Now therefore deliver us those wicked men which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel: but the children of Benjamin [k]would not obey the voice of their brethren the children of Israel.
14 But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to come out and fight against the children of Israel.
15 ¶ And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time, out of the cities, six and twenty thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.
16 Of all this people were seven hundred chosen men, being (B)left handed: all these could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not fail.
17 ¶ Also the men of Israel beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword, even all men of war.
18 And the children of Israel arose, and went up [l]to the house of God, and asked of God, saying, Which of us shall go up first to fight against the children of Benjamin? and the Lord said, Judah shall be first.
19 Then the children of Israel arose up early and camped against Gibeah.
20 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them beside Gibeah.
21 And the children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and slew down to the ground of the Israelites that day [m]two and twenty thousand men.
22 And the people, the men of Israel plucked up their hearts, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put them in array the first day.
23 (For the children of Israel had gone up and wept before the Lord unto the evening, and had asked of the Lord, saying, Shall I go again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brethren? and the Lord said, Go up against them.)
24 ¶ Then the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.
25 Also the second day Benjamin came forth to meet them out of Gibeah, and slew down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men: [n]all they could handle the sword.
26 Then all the children of Israel went up, and all the people came also unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day unto the evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
27 And the children of Israel asked the Lord (for [o]there was the Ark of the Covenant of God in those days,
28 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron [p]stood before it at that time) saying, Shall I yet go anymore to battle against the children of Benjamin my brethren, or shall I cease? And the Lord said, Go up: for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.
29 And Israel set men to lie in wait roundabout Gibeah.
30 And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.
31 Then the children of Benjamin coming out against the people, were [q]drawn from the city: and they began to smite of the people and kill as at other times, even by the ways in the field (whereof one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah) upon a thirty men of Israel.
32 (For the children of Benjamin said, They are fallen before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee and pluck them away from the city unto the [r]highways.)
33 And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baal Tamar: and the men that lay in wait of the Israelites came forth of their place, even out of the meadows of Geba,
34 And they came over against Gibeah, ten thousand chosen men of all Israel, and the battle was sore: for they knew not that the [s]evil was near them.
35 ¶ And the Lord smote Benjamin before Israel, and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites the same day five and twenty thousand and an hundred men: all they could handle the sword.
36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were stricken down: for the men of Israel [t]gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted to the men that lay in wait, which they had laid beside Gibeah.
37 And they that lay in wait hasted, and brake forth toward Gibeah, and the ambushment [u]drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.
38 Also the men of Israel had appointed a certain time with the ambushments, that they should make a great flame and smoke arise up out of the city.
39 And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to [v]smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are stricken down before us, as in the first battle.
40 But when the flame began to rise out of the city as a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked back, and behold, the flame of the city began to ascend up to heaven.
41 Then the men of Israel turned [w]again, and the men of Benjamin were astonished: for they saw that evil was near unto them.
42 Therefore they fled before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them: also they which came out of the cities, slew them [x]among them.
43 Thus they compassed the Benjamites about, and [y]chased them at ease, and overran them, even over against Gibeah on the East side.
44 And there were slain of Benjamin eighteen thousand men, which were all men of war.
45 And they turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and the Israelites [z]gleaned of them by the way five thousand men, and pursued after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them,
46 So that all that were slain that day of Benjamin, were [aa]five and twenty thousand men that drew sword, which were all men of war.
47 (C)But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months.
48 Then the men of Israel turned unto the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, from the men of the city unto the beasts, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the [ab]cities that they could come by.
24 2 Tertullus accuseth Paul: 10 He answereth for himself: 21 He preacheth Christ to the governor and his wife. 26 Felix hopeth, but in vain, to receive a bribe, 27 who going from his office, leaveth Paul in prison.
1 Now [a]after five days, Ananias the high Priest came down with the Elders, and with Tertullus a certain orator, which appeared before the governor against Paul.
2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that we have obtained great quietness [b]through thee, and that many [c]worthy things are done unto this nation through thy providence,
3 We acknowledge it wholly, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thanks.
4 But that I be not tedious unto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldest hear us of thy courtesy a few words.
5 Certainly we have found this man a [d]pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a [e]chief maintainer of the sect of the [f]Nazarenes:
6 And hath gone about to pollute the Temple: therefore we took him, and would have judged him according to our Law:
7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him out of our hands,
8 Commanding his accusers to come to thee: of whom thou mayest (if thou wilt inquire) know all these things whereof we accuse him.
9 And the Jews likewise [g]affirmed, saying that it was so.
10 [h]Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him that he should speak, answered, I do the more gladly answer for myself, forasmuch as I know that [i]thou hast been oft many years a judge unto this nation,
11 Seeing that thou mayest know, that there are but twelve days since I came up to worship in Jerusalem.
12 And they neither found me in the Temple, disputing with any man, neither making uproar among the people, neither in the Synagogues, nor in the city.
13 Neither can they [j]prove the things, whereof they now accuse me.
14 [k]But this I confess unto thee, that after the way (which they call [l]heresy) so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets,
15 And have hope towards God, that the resurrection of the dead, which they themselves look for also, shall be both of just and unjust.
16 And herein I endeavor myself to have always a clear conscience toward God and toward men.
17 [m]Now after many years, I came and brought alms to my nation and offerings,
18 At [n]what time, certain Jews of [o]Asia found me purified in the Temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
19 Who ought to have been present before thee, and accuse me, if they had ought against me.
20 Or let these themselves say, if they have found any unjust thing in me, while I stood in the [p]Council,
21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Of the resurrection of the dead am I accused of you this day.
22 [q]Now when Felix heard these things, he deferred them, and said, When I shall more [r]perfectly know the things which concern this way, by the coming of Lysias the chief Captain, I will decide your matter.
23 [s]Then he commanded a Centurion to keep Paul, and that he should have ease, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister unto him, or to come unto him.
24 ¶ And after certain days, came Felix with his wife [t]Drusilla, which was a Jewess, and he called forth Paul, and heard him of the faith in Christ.
25 And as he disputed of righteousness and temperance, and of the judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time, and when I have convenient time, I will call for thee.
26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
27 [u]When two years were expired, Porcius Festus came into Felix’s room, and Felix willing to [v]get favor of the Jews, left Paul bound.
34 1 He threateneth that the city, and the King Zedekiah shall be given into the hands of the king of Babylon. 11 He rebuketh their cruelty toward their servants.
1 The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord (when [a]Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel, and all his host, and all the kingdoms of the earth, that were under the power of his hand, and all people fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cites thereof) saying,
2 Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Go, and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord, behold, (A)I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babel, and he shall burn it with fire,
3 And thou shall not escape out of his hand, but shalt surely be taken, and delivered into his hand, and thine eyes shall behold the face of the king of Babel, and he shall speak with thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babel.
4 Yet hear the word of the Lord, O Zedekiah king of Judah, thus saith the Lord of thee, Thou shalt not die by the sword,
5 But thou shalt die in [b]peace: and according to the burning for thy fathers the former kings which were before thee, so shall they burn odors for thee, and they shall lament thee, saying, Oh [c]Lord: for I have pronounced the word, saith the Lord.
6 Then Jeremiah the Prophet spake all these words unto Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem,
7 (When the King of Babel’s host fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah, that were left, even against Lachish, and against Azekah: for these strong cities remained of the cities of Judah)
8 This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people, which were at Jerusalem, [d]to proclaim liberty unto them,
9 That every man should let his [e]servant go free, and every man his handmaid, which was an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, and that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.
10 Now when all the princes, and all the people which was agreed to the covenant, heard that everyone should let his servant go free, and everyone his handmaid, and that none should serve themselves of them anymore, they obeyed and let them go.
11 But afterward they [f]repented and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and held them in subjection as servants and handmaids.
12 Therefore the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
13 Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I made a covenant with your fathers, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of [g]servants, saying,
14 (B)At the term of seven years, let ye go every man his brother an Hebrew which hath been sold unto thee: and when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee: but your fathers obeyed me not, neither inclined their ears.
15 And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight in proclaiming liberty, every man to his neighbor, and ye had made a covenant before me in [h]the house, whereupon my Name is called.
16 But ye repented, and polluted my Name: for ye have caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and hold them in subjection to be unto you as servants and as handmaids.
17 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Ye have not obeyed me, in proclaiming freedom every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbor: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to [i]the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine, and I will make you a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
18 And I will give those men that have broken my Covenant, and have not kept the words of the Covenant, which they had made before me, when they [j]cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof,
19 The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the Eunuchs, and the Priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf,
20 I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hands of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth.
21 And Zedekiah king of Judah, and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babel’s host, which [k]are gone up from you.
22 Behold, I will command, saith the Lord, and cause them to return to this city, and they shall fight against it, and take it and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah desolate without an inhabitant.
5 David oppressed with the cruelty of his enemies, and fearing greater dangers, calleth to God for succor, showing how requisite it is that God should punish the malice of his adversaries. 7 After, being assured of prosperous success, he conceiveth comfort, 12 concluding, that when God shall deliver him, others also shall be partakers of the same mercies.
To him that excelleth upon [a]Nehiloth. A Psalm of David.
1 Hear my words, O Lord: understand my [b]meditation.
2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my king and my God: for unto thee do I pray.
3 Hear my voice in the morning, O Lord: for in the morning will I direct me unto thee, and I will [c]wait.
4 For thou art not a God that loveth [d]wickedness, neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5 [e]The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: for thou hatest all them that work iniquity.
6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak lies: the Lord will abhor the bloody man and deceitful.
7 But I [f]will come into thine house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thine holy Temple.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, [g]because of mine enemies: make thy way plain before my face.
9 For no constancy is in their mouth: within they are very corruption: their (A)throat is an open sepulcher, and they flatter with their tongue.
10 Destroy them, O God, [h]let them [i]fall from their counsels: cast them out for the multitude of their iniquities, because they have rebelled against thee.
11 And [j]let all them that trust in thee, rejoice and triumph forever, and cover thou them: and let them that love thy name, rejoice in thee.
12 For thou Lord, wilt [k]bless the righteous, and with favor [l]wilt compass him, as with a shield.
6 When David by his sins had provoked God’s wrath, and now felt not only his hand against him, but also conceived the horrors of death everlasting, he desireth forgiveness. 6 Bewailing that if God took him away in his indignation, he should lack occasion to praise him as he was wont to do while he was among men. 9 Then suddenly feeling God’s mercy, he sharply rebuketh his enemies which rejoiced in his affliction.
To him that excelleth on Neginoth, upon the eight tune. A Psalm of David.
1 O Lord, (B)[m]rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chastise me in thy wrath.
2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord heal me, for my [n]bones are vexed.
3 [o]My soul is also sore troubled: but Lord, how long wilt thou delay?
4 Return, O Lord: deliver my soul: save me for thy mercy’s sake.
5 For in [p]death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall praise thee?
6 I fainted in my mourning: I cause my bed every night to swim, and water my couch with my tears.
7 [q]Mine eye is dimmed for despite, and sunk in because of all mine enemies.
8 [r]Away from me all ye workers of iniquity: for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.
9 The Lord hath heard my petition: the Lord will receive my prayer.
10 All mine enemies shall be confounded and sore vexed: they shall be turned back, and put to shame [s]suddenly.
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