M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Spirit of God Comes upon Balaam
24 And Balaam saw that it was good in the eyes of Yahweh to bless Israel, so he did not go as at other times to [a]encounter (A)omens, but he set his face toward the (B)wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and (C)the Spirit of God came upon him. 3 Then he took up his [b]discourse and said,
“(D)The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
And the oracle of the man whose eye is uncovered;
4 The oracle of him who (E)hears the [c]words of God,
Who beholds the (F)vision of [d]the Almighty,
Falling down, yet having his eyes opened,
5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob,
Your dwellings, O Israel!
6 Like [e]valleys that stretch out,
Like gardens beside the river,
Like (G)aloes planted by Yahweh,
Like (H)cedars beside the waters.
7 Water will flow from his buckets,
And his seed will be by many waters,
And his king shall be lifted up higher than (I)Agag,
(J)And his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 (K)God brings him out of Egypt,
He is for him like the horns of the wild ox.
(L)He will devour the nations who are his adversaries,
And will gnaw their bones in pieces,
And [f]shatter them with his (M)arrows.
9 (N)He [g]crouches, he lies down as a lion,
And as a [h]lion, who [i]dares rouse him?
(O)Blessed is everyone who blesses you,
And cursed is everyone who curses you.”
10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his [j]hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have blessed them repeatedly these three times! 11 So now, [k]flee to your place. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, Yahweh has held you back from honor.” 12 And Balaam said to Balak, “(P)Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying, 13 ‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything to trespass the [l]command of Yahweh, either good or bad, (Q)of my own [m]accord. (R)What Yahweh speaks, that I will speak’? 14 So now, behold, (S)I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the last days.”
Oracle of Balaam
15 Then he took up his discourse and said,
“(T)The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
And the oracle of the man whose eye is uncovered,
16 The oracle of him who hears the [n]words of God,
And knows the knowledge of the [o]Most High,
Who beholds the vision of the [p]Almighty,
Falling down, yet having his eyes opened.
17 I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near;
A star shall come forth from Jacob,
(U)A scepter shall rise from Israel,
(V)And shall crush through the [q]forehead of Moab,
And [r]tear down all the sons of [s]Sheth.
18 (W)And Edom shall be a possession,
(X)Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession,
While Israel performs valiantly.
19 And one from Jacob shall have dominion,
And will make the survivor perish from the city.”
20 Then he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said,
21 Then he looked at the (Z)Kenite and took up his discourse and said,
“Your habitation is enduring,
And your nest is set in the cliff.
22 Nevertheless Kain will be consumed;
How long will (AA)Asshur [u]keep you captive?”
23 Then he took up his discourse and said,
“Woe, who can live except when God has ordained it?
24 But ships shall come from the coast of (AB)Kittim,
And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict (AC)Eber;
(AD)So they also will come to destruction.”
25 Then Balaam arose and went and returned to (AE)his place, and Balak also went his way.
Come and See the Works of God
For the choir director. A Song. A Psalm.
66 (A)Make a loud shout to God, all the earth;
2 Sing praise for the (B)glory of His name;
Establish His (C)praise as glorious.
3 Say to God, “How [a](D)fearsome are Your works!
Because of the abundance of Your strength Your enemies will [b](E)cower before You.
4 (F)All the earth will worship You,
And will (G)sing praises to You;
They will sing praises to Your name.” [c]Selah.
5 (H)Come and see the works of God,
Who is (I)fearsome in His deeds toward the sons of men.
6 He (J)turned the sea into dry land;
They passed through (K)the river on foot;
There let us (L)be glad in Him!
7 He (M)rules by His might forever;
His (N)eyes keep watch on the nations;
Let not the rebellious (O)exalt themselves. Selah.
8 Bless our God, O peoples,
And [d](P)make the sound of His praise heard,
9 Who [e](Q)establishes us among the living
And (R)does not allow our feet to stumble.
10 For You have (S)tested us, O God;
You have (T)refined us as silver is refined.
11 You (U)brought us into the net;
You established an oppressive burden upon our loins.
12 You made men (V)ride over our heads;
We went through (W)fire and through water,
Yet You (X)brought us out into a place of abundance.
13 I shall (Y)come into Your house with burnt offerings;
I shall (Z)pay You my vows,
14 Which my lips uttered
And my mouth spoke when I was (AA)in distress.
15 I shall (AB)offer to You burnt offerings of fat beasts,
With the smoke of (AC)rams;
I shall make an offering of [f]bulls with male goats. Selah.
16 (AD)Come and hear, all who [g]fear God,
And I will (AE)recount what He has done for my soul.
17 I called out to Him with my mouth,
And [h]He was (AF)exalted with my tongue.
18 If I [i](AG)see wickedness in my heart,
The (AH)Lord [j]will not [k]hear;
19 But certainly (AI)God has heard;
He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.
20 (AJ)Blessed be God,
Who (AK)has not turned away my prayer
Nor His lovingkindness from me.
Cause Your Face to Shine upon Us
For the choir director. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.
67 God be gracious to us and (AL)bless us,
And (AM)cause His face to shine [l]upon us— [m]Selah.
2 That (AN)Your way may be known on the earth,
(AO)Your salvation among all nations.
3 Let the (AP)peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
4 Let the (AQ)nations be glad and sing for joy;
For You will (AR)judge the peoples with uprightness
And (AS)lead the nations on the earth. Selah.
5 Let the (AT)peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
6 The (AU)earth has yielded its produce;
God, our God, (AV)blesses us.
7 God blesses us,
[n]That (AW)all the ends of the earth may fear Him.
Israel’s Restoration and Dominion
14 When Yahweh will (A)have compassion on Jacob and again (B)choose Israel, and [a]put them in their own land, then (C)sojourners will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob. 2 And the peoples will take them along and bring them to their place, and the (D)house of Israel will possess them as an inheritance in the land of Yahweh (E)for their male and female slaves; and [b]they will take their captors captive and will have dominion over their taskmasters.
3 And it will be in the day when Yahweh gives you (F)rest from your pain and turmoil and harsh slavery in which you have been enslaved, 4 that you will (G)take up this [c]taunt against the king of Babylon, and say,
“How (H)the taskmaster has ceased,
And how [d]fury has ceased!
5 Yahweh has broken the staff of the wicked,
The scepter of rulers
6 (I)Which used to strike the peoples in fury with unceasing strokes,
Which had dominion over the nations in anger with unrestrained persecution.
7 The whole earth is at rest and is quiet;
They (J)break forth into shouts of joy.
8 Even the (K)cypress trees are glad over you, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying,
‘Since you were laid low, no tree cutter comes up against us.’
9 (L)Sheol from beneath trembles excitedly over you to meet you when you come;
It wakens for you the [e]spirits of the dead, all the [f]leaders of the earth;
It raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones.
10 (M)They will all answer and say to you,
‘Even you have been made weak as we,
You have become like us.
11 Your (N)pride and the music of your harps
Have been brought down to Sheol;
Maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you
And worms are your covering.’
12 How you have (O)fallen from heaven,
O [g](P)star of the morning, son of the dawn!
You have been cut down to the earth,
You who have weakened the nations!
13 But you said in your heart,
‘I will (Q)ascend to heaven;
I will (R)raise my throne above the stars of God,
And I will sit on the mount of assembly
In the recesses of the north.
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
(S)I will make myself like the Most High.’
15 Nevertheless you (T)will be brought down to Sheol,
To the recesses of the pit.
16 Those who see you will gaze at you,
They will [h]carefully consider you, saying,
‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
Who caused kingdoms to quake,
17 Who made the world like a (U)wilderness
And pulled down its cities,
Who (V)did not [i]allow his prisoners to go home?’
18 All the kings of the nations lie in glory,
Each in his own [j]place.
19 But you have been (W)cast out of your grave
Like an abhorred branch,
[k]Clothed with those killed who are pierced with a sword,
Who go down to the stones of the (X)pit
Like a (Y)trampled corpse.
20 You will not be united with them in burial,
Because you have ruined your country,
You have killed your people.
May the (Z)seed of evildoers not be called upon forever.
21 Prepare for his sons a place of slaughter
Because of the (AA)iniquity of their fathers.
They must not arise and take possession of the earth
And fill the face of the world with cities.”
22 “I will rise up against them,” declares Yahweh of hosts, “and will cut off from Babylon (AB)name and remnant, (AC)offspring and posterity,” declares Yahweh. 23 “I will also make it a possession for the (AD)hedgehog and swamps of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of [l](AE)destruction,” declares Yahweh of hosts.
Yahweh’s Plan to Break Assyrian Rule
24 Yahweh of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, (AF)just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have counseled so it will stand, 25 to (AG)break Assyria in My land, and I will trod him down on My mountains. Then his (AH)yoke will be removed from them and his burden removed from their shoulder. 26 This is the (AI)counsel that is counseled against the whole earth; and this is the (AJ)hand that is stretched out against all the nations. 27 For (AK)Yahweh of hosts has counseled, and who can thwart it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?”
An Oracle Concerning Philistia
28 In the (AL)year that King Ahaz died this [m](AM)oracle came:
29 “Do not be glad, O (AN)Philistia, all of you,
Because the rod that (AO)struck you is broken;
For from the serpent’s root a (AP)viper will come out,
And its fruit will be a (AQ)flying fiery serpent.
30 [n]And the foremost (AR)of the poor will eat,
And the needy will lie down in security;
I will put to death your root with (AS)famine,
And it will kill off your remnant.
31 Wail, O (AT)gate; cry, O city;
[o]Melt away, O (AU)Philistia, all of you;
For smoke comes from the (AV)north,
And (AW)there is no straggler in his ranks.
32 How then will one answer the (AX)messengers of the nation?
That (AY)Yahweh has founded Zion,
And (AZ)the afflicted of His people will take refuge in it.”
As Living Stones, God’s Chosen Family
2 Therefore, (A)laying aside all [a]malice and all deceit and [b]hypocrisy and [c]envy and all [d](B)slander, 2 (C)like newborn babies, long for the [e](D)pure [f]milk of the word, so that by it you may (E)grow [g]in respect to salvation, 3 if you have (F)tasted [h](G)the kindness of the [i]Lord.
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been (H)rejected by men, but is [j]choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 (I)you also, as living stones, [k]are being built up as a (J)spiritual house for a holy (K)priesthood, to (L)offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in [l]Scripture:
“(M)Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a (N)precious corner stone,
And he who believes upon [m]Him will not be put to shame.”
7 (O)This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
8 and,
“(R)A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”
(S)They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, (T)and to this stumbling they were also appointed.
9 But you are (U)a chosen family, a royal (V)priesthood, a (W)holy nation, (X)a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you (Y)out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 (Z)for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 (AA)Beloved, (AB)I urge you as (AC)sojourners and exiles to abstain from (AD)fleshly lusts which wage (AE)war against the soul, 12 (AF)by keeping your conduct excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing which they (AG)slander you as evildoers, they may [n]because of your good works, as they observe them, (AH)glorify God (AI)in the day of [o]visitation.
Be Subject to Authority
13 (AJ)Be subject for the sake of the Lord to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent [p]by him (AK)for the punishment of evildoers and the (AL)praise of those who do good. 15 For [q](AM)such is the will of God that by doing good you may (AN)silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Act as (AO)free people, and [r]do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as (AP)slaves of God. 17 (AQ)Honor all people, (AR)love the [s]brethren, (AS)fear God, (AT)honor the [t]king.
18 (AU)Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to those who are good and (AV)considerate, but also to those who are [u]crooked. 19 For this finds [v]favor, if for the sake of (AW)conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unrighteously. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure? But if (AX)when you do good and suffer for it, you endure, this finds favor with God.
Christ, Our Example
21 For to this (AY)you have been called, (AZ)since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you (BA)an example that you should follow in His steps, 22 who (BB)did no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 who being (BC)reviled, was not reviling in return; while suffering, He was uttering no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously. 24 Who Himself [w](BD)bore our sins in His body on the (BE)tree, so that (BF)having died to [x]sin, we might live to righteousness; (BG)by His [y]wounds you were (BH)healed. 25 For you were (BI)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the (BJ)Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
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