M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Solomon’s Later Building Projects
8 At the end of twenty years(A) during which Solomon had built the Lord’s temple and his own palace— 2 Solomon had rebuilt the cities Hiram[a] gave him and settled Israelites there— 3 Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and seized it. 4 He built Tadmor in the wilderness along with all the storage cities that he built in Hamath. 5 He built Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon(B)—fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars(C)— 6 Baalath, all the storage cities that belonged to Solomon, all the chariot cities, the cavalry cities, and everything Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, or anywhere else in the land of his dominion.
7 As for all the peoples who remained of the Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not from Israel(D)— 8 their descendants who remained in the land after them, those the Israelites had not completely destroyed—Solomon imposed forced labor on them; it is this way today.(E) 9 But Solomon did not consign the Israelites to be slaves for his work; they were soldiers, commanders of his captains, and commanders of his chariots and his cavalry. 10 These were King Solomon’s deputies: 250 who supervised the people.
11 Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh from the city of David to the house he had built for her,(F) for he said, “My wife must not live in the house[b] of King David of Israel because the places the ark of the Lord has come into are holy.”
Public Worship Established at the Temple
12 At that time(G) Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord on the Lord’s altar he had made in front of the portico.(H) 13 He followed the daily requirement(I) for offerings according to the commandment of Moses(J) for Sabbaths, New Moons, and the three annual appointed festivals: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Shelters.(K) 14 According to the ordinances of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests over their service,(L) of the Levites over their responsibilities to offer praise and to minister before the priests following the daily requirement,(M) and of the gatekeepers by their divisions with respect to each temple gate,(N) for this had been the command of David, the man of God.(O) 15 They did not turn aside from the king’s command regarding the priests and the Levites concerning any matter or concerning the treasuries.(P) 16 All of Solomon’s work was carried out from the day the foundation was laid for the Lord’s temple until it was finished. So the Lord’s temple was completed.
Solomon’s Fleet
17 At that time(Q) Solomon went to Ezion-geber and to Eloth(R) on the seashore in the land of Edom. 18 So Hiram[c] sent ships to him by his servants along with crews of experienced seamen. They went with Solomon’s servants to Ophir, took from there seventeen tons[d] of gold, and delivered it to King Solomon.(S)
Greeting
1 The elder:(A)
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.(B)
2 Dear friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and are in good health,(C) just as your whole life is going well.[a] 3 For I was very glad when fellow believers came and testified(D) to your fidelity to the truth—how you are walking in truth.(E) 4 I have no greater joy(F) than this: to hear that my children(G) are walking in truth.
Gaius Commended
5 Dear friend, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, especially when they are strangers. 6 They have testified to your love before the church.(H) You will do well to send them on their journey(I) in a manner worthy of God,(J) 7 since they set out for the sake of the Name,(K) accepting nothing from pagans.[b](L) 8 Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can be coworkers with the truth.
Diotrephes and Demetrius
9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them,(M) does not receive our authority.(N) 10 This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering(O) us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome fellow believers, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil,(P) but what is good. The one who does good is of God;(Q) the one who does evil has not seen God.(R) 12 Everyone speaks well of Demetrius—even the truth itself. And we also speak well of him, and you know(S) that our testimony is true.(T)
Farewell
13 I have many things to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
15 Peace to you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.
Habakkuk’s Third Prayer
3 A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk. According to Shigionoth.[a](A)
2 Lord, I have heard the report about you;
Lord, I stand in awe of your deeds.(B)
Revive your work in these years;
make it known in these years.
In your wrath remember mercy!(C)
3 God comes from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran.(D)Selah
His splendor covers the heavens,
and the earth is full of his praise.(E)
4 His brilliance is like light;
rays are flashing from his hand.
This is where his power is hidden.
5 Plague goes before him,
and pestilence follows in his steps.
6 He stands and shakes[b] the earth;(F)
he looks and startles the nations.
The age-old mountains break apart;
the ancient hills sink down.(G)
His pathways are ancient.(H)
7 I see the tents of Cushan[c] in distress;
the tent curtains of the land of Midian tremble.
8 Are you angry at the rivers, Lord?
Is your wrath against the rivers?
Or is your fury against the sea
when you ride on your horses,
your victorious chariot?(I)
9 You took the sheath from your bow;
the arrows are ready[d] to be used with an oath.[e](J)Selah
You split the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains see you and shudder;(K)
a downpour of water sweeps by.
The deep roars with its voice(L)
and lifts its waves[f] high.
11 Sun and moon stand still in their lofty residence,(M)
at the flash of your flying arrows,
at the brightness of your shining spear.
12 You march across the earth with indignation;
you trample down the nations in wrath.(N)
13 You come out to save your people,(O)
to save your anointed.[g]
You crush the leader of the house of the wicked
and strip him from foot[h] to neck.Selah
14 You pierce his head
with his own spears;
his warriors storm out to scatter us,
gloating as if ready to secretly devour the weak.
15 You tread the sea with your horses,
stirring up the vast water.(P)
Habakkuk’s Confidence in God Expressed
16 I heard, and I trembled within;(Q)
my lips quivered at the sound.
Rottenness entered my bones;
I trembled where I stood.
Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress(R)
to come against the people invading us.
17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there is no fruit on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though the flocks disappear from the pen
and there are no herds in the stalls,
18 yet I will celebrate in the Lord;
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!(S)
19 The Lord my Lord is my strength;(T)
he makes my feet like those of a deer(U)
and enables me to walk on mountain heights!(V)
For the choir director: on[i] stringed instruments.
The Plot to Kill Jesus
22 The(A) Festival of Unleavened Bread,(B) which is called Passover,(C) was approaching. 2 The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put him to death,(D) because they were afraid of the people.(E)
3 Then(F) Satan entered Judas,(G) called Iscariot,(H) who was numbered among the Twelve. 4 He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police(I) how he could hand him over(J) to them. 5 They were glad and agreed to give him silver.[a] 6 So he accepted the offer and started looking for a good opportunity to betray him to them when the crowd was not present.
Preparation for Passover
7 Then(K) the Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.(L) 8 Jesus sent Peter and John,(M) saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”
9 “Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him.
10 “Listen,” he said to them, “when you’ve entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters. 11 Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12 Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs.(N) Make the preparations there.”
13 So they went and found it just as he had told them,(O) and they prepared the Passover.
The First Lord’s Supper
14 When(P) the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again[b] until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”(Q) 17 Then he took a cup,(R) and after giving thanks,(S) he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body,(T) which is given for you. Do this in remembrance (U) of me.”
20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant(V) in my blood,(W) which is poured out for you.[c] 21 But(X) look, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me.(Y) 22 For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined,(Z) but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”
23 So they began to argue(AA) among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do it.
The Dispute over Greatness
24 Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest.(AB) 25 But he said to them,(AC) “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called[d] ‘Benefactors.’ 26 It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest,(AD) and whoever leads, like the one serving. 27 For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.(AE) 28 You are those who stood by me in my trials.(AF) 29 I bestow on you a kingdom,(AG) just as my Father bestowed one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.(AH) And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.(AI)
Peter’s Denial Predicted
31 “Simon, Simon,[e] look out. Satan(AJ) has asked to sift you[f] like wheat.(AK) 32 But I have prayed(AL) for you[g] that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen(AM) your brothers.”
33 “Lord,”(AN) he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”
34 “I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until[h] you deny three times that you know me.”
Be Ready for Trouble
35 He also said to them, “When I sent you out(AO) without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Not a thing,” they said.
36 Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one. 37 For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in me: [i] And he was counted among the lawless.[j](AP) Yes, what is written about me is coming to its fulfillment.”(AQ)
38 “Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.”
“That is enough!” he told them.
The Prayer in the Garden
39 He went out and made his way(AR) as usual(AS) to the Mount of Olives,(AT) and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place,(AU) he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.”(AV) 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray,(AW) 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup(AX) away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
43 Then an angel from heaven(AY) appeared to him, strengthening him. 44 Being in anguish,(AZ) he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.[k] 45 When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t fall into temptation.”
Judas’s Betrayal of Jesus
47 While(BA) he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” 50 Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.
51 But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And touching his ear, he healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal?[l] 53 Every day while I was with you in the temple,(BB) you never laid a hand on me. But this is your hour(BC) —and the dominion of darkness.”(BD)
Peter Denies His Lord
54 They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter(BE) was following at a distance. 55 They(BF) lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard(BG) and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. 56 When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.”
57 But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.”
58 After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter said.
59 About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter.(BH) So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”(BI) 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Jesus Mocked and Beaten
63 The men who were holding Jesus started mocking and beating him.(BJ) 64 After blindfolding him, they kept[m] asking, “Prophesy! Who was it that hit you?” 65 And they were saying many other blasphemous(BK) things to him.
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
66 When daylight came,(BL) the elders[n] of the people, both the chief priests and the scribes,(BM) convened and brought him before their Sanhedrin.(BN) 67 They said,(BO) “If you are the Messiah, tell us.”
But he said to them, “If I do tell you, you will not believe. 68 And if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”(BP)
70 They all asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” (BQ)
And he said to them, “You say that I am.”(BR)
71 “Why do we need any more testimony,” they said, “since we’ve heard it ourselves from his mouth?”
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