M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Hezekiah Purifies the Temple(A)
29 Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he ·ruled [reigned] twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 2 Hezekiah did what ·the Lord said was right [L was pleasing/proper in the eyes/sight of the Lord], just as his ·ancestor [father] David had done.
3 Hezekiah opened the doors of the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord and ·repaired [restored] them in the first month of the first year he was king. 4 Hezekiah brought in the priests and Levites and gathered them in the ·courtyard [square] on the east side of the ·Temple [L house]. 5 Hezekiah said, “Listen to me, Levites. ·Make yourselves ready for the Lord’s service [Consecrate/Purify/Sanctify yourselves], and ·make holy [consecrate/purify/sanctify] the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord, the God of your ·ancestors [fathers]. Remove from the ·Temple [L house] everything that makes it ·impure [defiled; ritually unclean]. 6 Our ·ancestors [fathers] were unfaithful to God and did ·what the Lord said was wrong [L evil in the Lord’s sight/eyes]. They ·left [abandoned; forsook] the Lord and ·stopped worshiping at [L turned their faces away from] the ·Temple [L house] where he lives. They ·rejected [L turned their backs on] him. 7 They shut the doors of the ·porch [portico; vestibule; entry room] of the ·Temple [L house], and ·they let the fire go out in [put/snuffed out] the lamps. They stopped burning incense and offering burnt offerings in the ·holy place to [sanctuary of] the God of Israel. 8 So the Lord became very angry with the people of Judah and Jerusalem, and he ·punished them. Other people are frightened and shocked by what he did to them. So they ·insult the people of Judah. You know these things are true […made them an object of dread/terror, horror, and ridicule/L hissing, as you can see with your own eyes]. 9 That is why our ·ancestors [fathers] ·were killed in battle [L have fallen by the sword] and our sons, daughters, and wives ·were [are] taken captive. 10 Now I, Hezekiah, ·have decided [intend] to make an ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with the Lord, the God of Israel, so ·he will not be angry with us anymore [L his burning anger will turn away from us]. 11 My sons, don’t ·waste any more time [be negligent now]. The Lord chose you to stand ·before him [in his presence], to ·serve [minister to] him, to be his ·servants [ministers], and to burn incense to him.”
12 ·These are [Then] the Levites ·who started to work [L rose]. From the Kohathite ·family [clan] there were Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah. From the Merarite ·family [clan] there were Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel. From the Gershonite ·family [clan] there were Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah. 13 From Elizaphan’s ·family [clan] there were Shimri and Jeiel. From Asaph’s ·family [clan] there were Zechariah and Mattaniah. 14 From Heman’s ·family [clan] there were Jehiel and Shimei. From Jeduthun’s ·family [clan] there were Shemaiah and Uzziel [5:12].
15 These Levites gathered their brothers together and ·made themselves holy [consecrated/purified/sanctified themselves]. Then they went into the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord to purify it. They obeyed the king’s command that had come from the Lord. 16 When the priests went into the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord to ·purify [cleanse] it, they took out all the ·unclean [defiled; C ritually] things they found in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord and put them in the ·Temple [L house] courtyard. Then the Levites took these things out to the Kidron Valley. 17 Beginning on the first day of the first month, they ·made holy [consecrated; purified; sanctified] the ·Temple [L house]. On the eighth day of the month, they came to the ·porch [portico; vestibule; entry room] of the ·Temple [L house], and for eight more days they ·made holy [consecrated; purified; sanctified] the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. So they finished on the sixteenth day of the first month.
18 Then they went to King Hezekiah and said, “We have ·purified [cleansed] the entire ·Temple [L house] of the Lord, the altar for burnt offerings and its ·utensils [equipment], and the table for the ·holy bread [T showbread] and all its ·utensils [equipment]. 19 When Ahaz was king, he was unfaithful to God and ·removed some things [discarded some utensils/equipment]. But we have ·put them back [prepared] and ·made them holy [consecrated/purified/sanctified them] for the Lord. They are now in front of the Lord’s altar.”
20 Early the next morning King Hezekiah ·gathered [assembled] the ·leaders [officials] of the city and went up to the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. 21 They brought seven ·bulls [oxen], seven ·male sheep [rams], seven lambs, and seven male goats. These animals were an ·offering to remove the sin of the people and [sin offering for] the kingdom ·of [or and for] Judah and ·to make [for] the ·Temple [sanctuary]. King Hezekiah commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to ·offer [sacrifice] these animals on the Lord’s altar. 22 So the priests ·killed [slaughtered] the ·bulls [oxen] and sprinkled their blood on the altar. They ·killed [slaughtered] the ·sheep [rams] and sprinkled their blood on the altar. Then they ·killed [slaughtered] the lambs and sprinkled their blood on the altar. 23 Then the priests brought the male goats for the sin offering before the king and the people there. After the king and the people ·put [laid] their hands on the goats, 24 the priests ·killed [slaughtered] them. They ·made an offering [sprinkled/presented their blood] on the altar to ·remove the sins of the Israelites [atone for all Israel]. The king had said that the burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] and ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] should be made for all Israel.
25 King Hezekiah ·put [stationed; positioned] the Levites in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres, as David, Gad, and Nathan had commanded. (Gad was the king’s ·seer [prophet], and Nathan was a prophet.) This command came from the Lord through his prophets. 26 So the Levites stood ready with David’s musical instruments, and the priests with their trumpets.
27 Then Hezekiah gave the order to ·sacrifice [offer] the burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] on the altar. When the burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] began, the singing to the Lord also began. The trumpets were blown, and the musical instruments of David king of Israel were played. 28 ·All the people [The entire assembly] worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters ·blew their trumpets [sounded] until the burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] was finished.
29 When the sacrifices were completed, King Hezekiah and everyone with him bowed down and worshiped. 30 King Hezekiah and his ·officers [officials] ordered the Levites to ·praise [sing praises to] the Lord, using the words David and Asaph the ·seer [prophet] had used. So they praised God with ·joy [gladness] and bowed down and worshiped.
31 Then Hezekiah said, “Now that you people of Judah have ·given [consecrated; dedicated] yourselves to the Lord, come near to the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. Bring sacrifices and ·offerings, to show thanks to him [or thank offerings].” So the people brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and anyone who was willing also brought burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17]. 32 For burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] they brought a total of seventy ·bulls [oxen], one hundred ·male sheep [rams], and two hundred lambs; all these animals were sacrificed as burnt offerings to the Lord. 33 The ·holy [consecrated] offerings totaled six hundred ·bulls [oxen] and three thousand sheep and goats. 34 There were not enough priests to skin all the animals for the burnt offerings. So their ·relatives [brothers] the Levites helped them until the work was finished and other priests could be ·made holy [consecrated; purified; sanctified]. The Levites had been more careful to ·make themselves holy [consecrate/purify/sanctify themselves] than the priests. 35 There were many burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] along with the fat of ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [Lev. 3:1] and drink offerings. So the service in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord ·began again [was established/restored]. 36 And Hezekiah and the people ·were very happy [rejoiced] that God had made it happen so quickly for his people.
The Last Troubles
15 Then I saw another ·wonder [sign; miracle; portent] in heaven that was great and amazing. There were seven angels bringing seven ·disasters [plagues]. These are the last ·disasters [plagues], because ·after [or in] them, God’s ·anger [wrath] is ·finished [completed; ended].
2 I saw what looked like a sea of glass [1 Kin. 7:23–26; Ezek. 1:22] mixed with fire [19:20; 20:10]. All of those who had ·won the victory over [conquered] the beast and his ·idol [image] and over the number of his name [13:17] were standing by the sea of glass. They had harps ·that God had given them [L of/from God]. 3 They sang the song of Moses [Ex. 15:1; Deut. 31:30], the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:
“·You do great and wonderful things [L Great and marvelous/amazing are your works; Ps. 111:2],
Lord God ·Almighty [All-powerful].
·Everything the Lord does is [L Your ways are] ·right [just] and true [Ps. 145:17],
King of the nations.[a]
4 ·Everyone will respect you [L Who will not fear you…?], Lord [Jer. 10:7],
and ·will honor you [L honor/glorify your name].
[L Because; For] Only you are holy.
All the nations will come
and worship [L before] you [Ps. 86:9–10],
because the right things you have done
are now made known [Deut. 32:4].”
5 After ·this [L these things] I saw that the temple (the ·Tent [Tabernacle] of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Covenant Law]) in heaven was opened. 6 And the seven angels bringing the seven ·disasters [plagues] came out of the temple. They were dressed in ·clean [pure], ·shining [bright] linen and wore golden ·bands [sashes] tied around their chests [C garments worn by priests]. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the ·anger [wrath] of God, who lives forever and ever. 8 The temple was filled with smoke [C smoke often symbolizes the presence of God; Ex. 40:34–38] from the glory and the power of God, and no one could enter the temple until the seven ·disasters [plagues] of the seven angels were ·finished [completed; ended; C accomplished their purpose].
11 Lebanon, open your ·gates [doors]
so fire may ·burn [consume; devour] your cedar trees.
2 ·Cry [Wail], pine trees, because the cedar has fallen,
because the ·tall [majestic; glorious] trees are ruined.
·Cry [Wail], oaks in Bashan,
because the ·mighty [thick; dense] forest has been cut down [C trees probably symbolize wicked rulers].
3 Listen to the shepherds ·crying [wailing]
because their ·rich pastures [or glory; magnificence] are destroyed.
Listen to the lions roaring
because the ·lovely land [lush thicket] of the Jordan River is ruined.
The Two Shepherds
4 This is what the Lord my God says: “·Feed [Shepherd] the flock that are ·about to be killed [set aside for slaughter]. 5 Their buyers ·kill [slaughter] them and ·are not punished [are not held liable; or feel no remorse]. Those who sell them say, ‘·Praise [Blessed be] the Lord, I am rich.’ Even the shepherds don’t ·feel sorry for [have compassion on; or spare] their sheep. 6 I don’t ·feel sorry [have compassion] anymore for the ·people [inhabitants] of this country,” says the Lord. “I will let everyone ·be under the power [L fall into the hand] of his neighbor and king. They will ·bring trouble to [devastate] the country, and I will not save anyone from ·them [L their hand].”
7 So I ·fed [shepherded] the flock ·about to be killed [marked for slaughter], particularly the ·weakest [oppressed] ones. Then I took two ·sticks [staffs]; I called one ·Pleasant [or Favor] and the other Union, and I ·fed [shepherded] the flock. 8 In one month I got rid of three shepherds. The flock ·did not pay attention to [or detested; loathed] me, and I ·got impatient [grew weary] with them. 9 I said, “I will no longer ·take care of you like a shepherd [shepherd you]. Let those that are dying die, and let those that are ·to be destroyed be destroyed [perishing perish]. Let those that are left eat ·each other [L the flesh of his neighbor].”
10 Then I broke the ·stick [staff] named ·Pleasant [or Favor] to ·break [revoke] the ·agreement [covenant; treaty] God made with all the ·nations [peoples]. 11 That day it was ·broken [revoked]. The ·weak [oppressed] ones in the flock who were watching me knew this ·message was from [L was the word of] the Lord.
12 Then I said, “If ·you want [it seems right to you; L it is good in your eyes] to pay me, pay me. If not, ·then don’t [keep it].” So they ·paid [weighed out to] me thirty pieces of silver [Ex. 21:32; Matt. 26:15].
13 The Lord said to me, “Throw the money to the potter.” ·That is how little they thought I was worth […this magnificent price at which they valued me”; C sarcastic, since the sum was about the cost of a slave]. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord [Matt. 27:9, 10].
14 Then I broke the second ·stick [staff], named Union, to break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
15 Then the Lord said to me, “·Get the things used by a foolish shepherd again, 16 because [L look; T behold] I am going to ·get [raise up] a new shepherd for the country. He will not care for the ·dying sheep [lost; perishing], or look for the young ones, or heal the injured ones, or feed the healthy. But he will ·eat [devour the flesh of] the ·best [fat] sheep and tear off their hoofs.
17 “·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] the ·useless [worthless] shepherd
who abandoned the flock.
A sword will strike his arm and his right eye.
His arm will ·lose all its strength [wither away],
and his right eye will go blind.”
Jesus Comforts His Followers
14 Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. ·Trust [Believe] in God, and ·trust [believe] in me [or You trust/believe in God, trust/believe also in me]. 2 There are many ·rooms [places to live] in my Father’s house [C heaven, metaphorically portrayed as a great palace]; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 ·After [L And if] I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going[a] [C because they know Jesus; 14:6].”
5 Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. So how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am ·the way, and the truth, and the life [or the one true way to have life]. ·The only way to the Father is through me [L No one comes to the Father except through me]. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father, too. ·But now [or From now on] you do know him, and you have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father. That is all we need.”
9 Jesus answered, “I have been with you ·a long time now [all this time; for so long]. Do you still not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. So why do you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say to you don’t come ·from me [on my own authority], but the Father ·lives [remains; abides] in me and does his own work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or believe because of ·the miracles I have done [L the works themselves]. 12 ·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly, I say to you], whoever believes in me will do the same things that I do. Those who believe will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. [C They will do greater things because all believers—not just Jesus—will have the Holy Spirit living in them and empowering them.] 13 And if you ask for anything in my name [C asking “in my name” means acknowledging that Jesus is the mediator between God and human beings; the name represents the person], I will do it for you so that ·the Father’s glory will be shown [L the Father might be glorified] ·through [or in] the Son. 14 If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
15 “·If you love me, you will obey my commands [or If you love me, obey my commands; C this may be either a declaration or a command]. 16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another ·Helper [Counselor; Advocate; C the Holy Spirit] to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot ·accept [receive] him, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he ·lives [remains; abides] with you and he will be ·in [or among] you.
18 “I will not leave you all alone like orphans [C orphans had little or no support in ancient society]; I will ·come back [L come] to you. 19 In a little while the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live, too. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and that you are in me and I am in you. 21 Those who ·know [L have] my commands and ·obey [keep] them are the ones who love me, and my Father will love those who love me. I will love them and will ·show [reveal] myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot [C probably Judas son of James; Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13]) said, “But, Lord, ·why do [how is it that; what has happened that] you plan to ·show [reveal] yourself to us and not to the rest of the world?”
23 Jesus answered, “If people love me, they will ·obey my teaching [L keep my word]. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Those who do not love me do not ·obey my teaching [L keep my words]. This ·teaching [word] that you hear is not really mine; it is from my Father, who sent me.
25 “I have told you all these things while I ·am [remain; abide] with you. 26 But the ·Helper [Counselor; Advocate; see 14:15] will teach you ·everything [all things] and will ·cause you to remember [remind you of] all that I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name.
27 “I leave you peace [C the Greek word for “peace” reflects the Hebrew shalom, a typical Hebrew farewell; but Jesus’ peace, in the sense of wholeness, is also a characteristic of the messianic kingdom]; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world does. So don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going, but I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you should ·be happy [rejoice] that I am going back to the Father, because he is greater than I am. 29 I have told you this now, before it happens, so that when it happens, you will believe [13:19]. 30 I will not talk with you much longer, because the ·ruler [prince] of this world [C Satan] is coming. He has ·no power [no claim/hold; L nothing] over me, 31 but the world must know that I love the Father, so I do ·exactly what [just as] the Father ·told [commanded] me to do [C go to the cross].
“·Come now [L Get up; Rise up], let us go.
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