M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Concubine and the Levite
19 In those days there was no king in Israel; there was a man, a Levite, who dwelled as a foreigner[a] in the remote areas of the hill country of Ephraim. And he took for himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. 2 But his concubine felt repugnance toward him,[b] and she left him and went to her father’s house, to Bethlehem in Judah; she was there some four months. 3 So her husband set out, and he went after her to speak tenderly to her,[c] to bring her back. He took with him his servant and a pair of donkeys. And she brought him to her father’s house, and the father of the young woman saw him and was glad to meet him. 4 His father-in-law, the young woman’s father, urged him to stay with him three days; and they ate and drank, and they spent the night there. 5 On the fourth day, they rose early in the morning, and he prepared to go, but the father of the young woman said to his son-in-law, “Refresh yourself[d] with a bit of food, and afterward you may go.” 6 So the two of them sat and ate and drank together, and the father of the young woman said to the man, “Please, agree to spend the night and enjoy yourself.”[e] 7 The man got up to go, but his father-in-law urged him, and he returned and spent the night there. 8 On the fifth day he rose early in the morning to go, and the father of the young woman said, “Please, enjoy yourself,”[f] and they lingered until the day declined, and the two of them ate. 9 And the man got up to go—he, his concubine, and his servant—but his father-in-law, the father of the young woman, said to him, “Please, the day has worn on to evening; please, spend the night, the day has drawn to a close. Spend the night here and enjoy yourself.[g] You can rise early tomorrow for your journey and go to your home.”[h]
10 But the man was not willing to spend the night, and he got up and went; and he arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). He had with him a pair of saddled donkeys and his concubine. 11 They were near Jebus, and the day was far spent,[i] and the servant said to his master, “Please, come, let us turn aside to this city of the Jebusites,[j] and let us spend the night in it.” 12 But his master said to him, “We will not turn aside to the city of foreigners,[k] who are not from the Israelites;[l] we will cross over up to Gibeah.” 13 And he said to his servant, “Come, let us approach one of these places; we will spend the night in Gibeah or in Ramah.” 14 So they crossed over and went their way, and the sun went down on them beside Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. 15 And they turned aside there to enter and to spend the night at Gibeah. And they went and sat in the open square of the city, but no one took them in to spend the night.[m]
16 Then behold, an old man was coming from his work from the field in the evening, and the man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he was dwelling as a foreigner[n] in Gibeah. (The people of the place were descendants[o] of Benjamin.) 17 And the old man raised his eyes and saw the traveler in the open square of the city, and he said, “Where are you going, and from where do you come?” 18 And he said to him, “We are crossing over from Bethlehem in Judah up to the remote areas of the hill country of Ephraim, where I am from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, but now I am going to Yahweh’s house,[p] but no one took me in to spend the night.[q] 19 There is both straw and fodder for our donkeys, and also bread and wine for me, for your servant,[r] and for the young man who is with your servant; there is no lack of anything.” 20 And the old man said, “Peace to you. I will take care of your needs; however, you must not spend the night in the open square.” 21 So he brought him to his house, and he fed the donkeys; they washed their feet, ate, and drank.
22 While they were enjoying themselves,[s] behold, the men of the city, the perverse lot,[t] surrounded the house, pounding on the door. And they said to the old man, the owner of the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so that we may have sex with him.”[u] 23 So the man, the owner of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not act wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this disgraceful thing. 24 Here is my virgin daughter and his concubine. Please, let me bring them out; do violence to them,[v] and do to them whatever you please.[w] Do not do this disgraceful thing to this man.” 25 But the men were not willing to listen to him, and the man seized his concubine and brought her out to them; and they had intercourse with her, and they abused her all night until the morning; they let her go at the approach of dawn. 26 And the woman came as the morning appeared, and she fell at the entrance of the man’s house where her master was, until daylight.[x]
27 In the morning her master got up, and he opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his journey, and behold, his concubine was falling[y] at the entrance of the house, with her hand on the threshold. 28 And he said to her, “Get up, let us go,” but there was no answer. So he put her on the donkey, and the man got up and went to his place. 29 When he entered his house he took a knife, and he grasped his concubine and cut her into twelve pieces; and he sent her throughout the whole territory of Israel. 30 All who saw it said, “Nothing like this has ever been since the Israelites[z] went up from the land of Egypt until this day. Take note of it, consider it, and speak up.”
Paul Before the Sanhedrin
23 And looking intently at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, “Men and brothers, I have lived my life in all good conscience before God to this day.” 2 So the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike his mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! And are you sitting there judging me according to the law, and acting contrary to the law do you order me to be struck?” 4 And those who stood nearby said, “Are you reviling the high priest of God?” 5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”[a]
6 Now when[b] Paul realized that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, “Men and brothers! I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!” 7 And when[c] he said this, a dispute developed between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angel or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) 9 And there was loud shouting, and some of the scribes from the party of the Pharisees stood up and[d] contended sharply, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man! But what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 And when[e] the dispute became severe, the military tribune, fearing lest Paul be torn apart by them, ordered the detachment to go down, take him away from their midst, and bring him[f] into the barracks.[g] 11 And the next night the Lord stood by him and[h] said, “Have courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
A Conspiracy to Kill Paul
12 And when it[i] was day, the Jews made a conspiracy and[j] bound themselves under a curse, saying they would[k] neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 Now there were more than forty who had made this conspiracy, 14 who went to the chief priests and the elders and[l] said, “We have bound ourselves under a curse to partake of nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Therefore, now you along with the Sanhedrin explain to the military tribune that he should bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine more accurately the things concerning him. And we are ready to do away with him before he comes near.”
16 But when[m] the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, he came and entered into the barracks[n] and[o] reported it[p] to Paul. 17 So Paul called one of the centurions and[q] said, “Bring this young man to the military tribune, because he has something to report to him.” 18 So he took him and[r] brought him[s] to the military tribune and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and[t] asked me[u] to bring this young man to you because he[v] has something to tell you.” 19 And the military tribune, taking hold of his hand and withdrawing privately, asked, “What is it that you have to report to me?” 20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you that you bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him. 21 You therefore do not be persuaded by them, because more than forty men of their number[w] are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have done away with him. And now they are ready, waiting for you to agree.”[x] 22 So the military tribune sent the young man away, directing him,[y] “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”
23 And he summoned two of the centurions and[z] said, “Make ready from the third hour of the night two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen,[aa] in order that they may proceed as far as Caesarea. 24 And provide mounts so that they can put Paul on them and[ab] bring him[ac] safely to Felix the governor.” 25 He wrote[ad] a letter that had this form:[ae]
26 Claudius Lysias.
To his excellency Governor Felix.
Greetings!
27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I[af] came upon them[ag] with the detachment and[ah] rescued him,[ai] because I[aj] learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And because I[ak] wanted to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him[al] down to their Sanhedrin.[am] 29 I found he[an] was accused concerning controversial questions of their law, but having no charge deserving death or imprisonment. 30 And when it[ao] was made known to me there would be a plot against the man, I sent him[ap] to you immediately, also ordering his[aq] accusers to speak against him[ar] before you.
31 Therefore the soldiers, in accordance with their orders,[as] took Paul and[at] brought him[au] to Antipatris during the night. 32 And on the next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and[av] they returned to the barracks.[aw] 33 The horsemen,[ax] when they[ay] came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, also presented Paul to him. 34 So after[az] reading the letter[ba] and asking what province he was from, and learning that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be guarded in the praetorium[bb] of Herod.
The Fortunes of Judah and Israel Will Be Restored
33 And the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah a second time while he was still held back in the courtyard of the guard, saying,[a] 2 “Thus says Yahweh who made the earth,[b] Yahweh who formed it to establish it, Yahweh is his name: 3 ‘Call to me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great things and inaccessible things that you have not known.’ 4 For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, that were torn down to make a defense against the siege ramps and against the sword: 5 ‘They are coming to fight against the Chaldeans, and to fill them with the corpses of the people whom I will strike in my anger and in my wrath, for whom I have hidden my face from this city because of all their wickedness. 6 Look, I am going to bring healing and health to it, and I will heal them, and I will reveal to them abundance of peace and reliability. 7 And I will restore the fortunes[c] of Judah and the fortunes[d] of Israel, and I will rebuild them as in the beginning. 8 And I will cleanse them from all their guilt that they sinned against me, and I will forgive all their iniquities that they sinned against me, and that they rebelled against me. 9 And it will be to me a name of jubilation, a praise, and a glory before all the nations of the earth, who will hear all the good that I will do for them, and they will fear,[e] and they will tremble because of all the good, and because of all the prosperity that I will provide for it.’
10 “Thus says Yahweh: ‘Again will be heard in this place, of which you are saying, “It is a waste, without[f] people and without[g] animals,”[h] in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without[i] people and without[j] inhabitants[k] and without[l] animals,[m] 11 the voice of jubilation, and the voice of joy, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voices[n] of those who say, “Praise Yahweh of hosts, for Yahweh is good, for his loyal love is forever,”[o] the voices of those who bring thank offerings[p] to the house of Yahweh, for I will restore the fortunes[q] of the land as in the beginning,’ says Yahweh. 12 Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Again there will be in this waste place, without[r] people and animals,[s] and in all its towns, pasture for shepherds allowing their flock to lie down. 13 In the towns of the hill country, in the towns of the Shephelah, and in the towns of the Negev, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the surroundings of Jerusalem, and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hands of the counter,’ says Yahweh.
14 ‘Look, days are coming,’ declares[t] Yahweh, ‘and I will fulfill the good promise[u] that I promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. 15 In those days and in that time I will make a branch of righteousness sprout for David, and he will execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely,[v] and this is what they shall call it: “Yahweh is our righteousness.”’ 17 For thus says Yahweh: ‘A man who sits on the throne of the house of Israel will not be cut off for David. 18 And for the priests, a man from the Levites who offers burnt offerings[w] and who burns grain offerings[x] and who brings sacrifices[y] will not be cut off before me[z] forever.’”[aa]
19 And the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying,[ab] 20 “Thus says Yahweh: ‘If you could break my covenant with the day, and my covenant with the night, so that day and night would not come at their time, 21 then my covenant could be broken with David my servant, from having[ac] a son who could rule on his throne, and with the Levites, the priests, my ministers. 22 As the host of heaven cannot be counted, and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will make numerous the offspring of David my servant and the Levites who minister to me.’” 23 And the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying,[ad] 24 “Have you not seen how these people speak, saying,[ae] ‘The two clans[af] whom Yahweh chose, he has also rejected them’? Thus they spurn my people from being a nation before them[ag] any longer. 25 Thus says Yahweh: ‘If my covenant with day and with night, the regulations of heaven and earth, I had not established, 26 then the offspring of Jacob and David my servant I would reject, from choosing rulers from his offspring over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for I will restore their fortunes[ah] and I will have compassion on them.’”
A Call to Yahweh in Distress
A psalm of David at his fleeing from the presence of Absalom, his son.[a]
3 Yahweh, how many are my enemies;
many are rising against me.
2 Many are saying about my soul,
“There is no deliverance for him from[b] God. Selah[c]
3 But[d] you, Yahweh, are a shield around me,
my glory and the one who lifts up my head.
4 With my voice I call to Yahweh
and he answers me from his holy hill.[e] Selah
5 I lay down and slept;
I woke up because Yahweh sustains me.
6 I am not afraid of the ten thousands of people
who all around have set themselves against me.
7 Rise up, O Yahweh; deliver me, O my God;
for you strike all my enemies on the cheek.
The teeth of the wicked you break.
8 To Yahweh belongs deliverance;
may your blessing be over your people. Selah
Safety in Yahweh
For the music director; with stringed instruments. A psalm of David.[f]
4 When I call, answer me, O God of my righteousness.[g]
In trouble deliver me.[h]
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
2 O sons of man, how long will my honor[i] be a disgrace?
How long will you love vanity?
How long will you seek lies?[j] Selah
3 But know that Yahweh has set apart[k] for himself the faithful one.[l]
Yahweh hears when I call to him.
4 Be disturbed but do not sin.
Commune in your heart[m] on your bed and be silent. Selah
5 Offer correct sacrifices,[n]
and trust in[o] Yahweh.
6 Many are saying, “Who will show us something good?”
Lift up over[p] us the light of your face, O Yahweh.
7 You have put gladness in my heart
more than when[q] their grain and their wine abound.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep at once,[r]
for you alone, O Yahweh, make me dwell safely.
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