M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Queen of Sheba
9 The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame,(A) so she came to test Solomon with difficult questions at Jerusalem with a very large entourage, with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and spoke with him about everything that was on her mind. 2 So Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for Solomon to explain to her. 3 When the queen of Sheba observed Solomon’s wisdom, the palace he had built, 4 the food at his table, his servants’ residence, his attendants’ service and their attire, his cupbearers and their attire, and the burnt offerings he offered at the Lord’s temple, it took her breath away.
5 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and about your wisdom is true. 6 But I didn’t believe their reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, I was not even told half of your great wisdom! You far exceed the report I heard. 7 How happy are your men.[a](B) How happy are these servants of yours, who always stand in your presence hearing your wisdom. 8 Blessed be the Lord your God! He delighted in you and put you on his throne as king for the Lord your God.(C) Because your God loved Israel enough to establish them forever, he has set you over them as king to carry out justice and righteousness.”(D)
9 Then she gave the king four and a half tons[b] of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There never were such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 10 In addition, Hiram’s servants and Solomon’s servants who brought gold from Ophir(E) also brought algum wood and precious stones. 11 The king made the algum wood into walkways for the Lord’s temple and for the king’s palace and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.
12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba her every desire, whatever she asked—far more than she had brought the king. Then she, along with her servants, returned to her own country.
Solomon’s Wealth
13 The weight of gold that came to Solomon(F) annually was twenty-five tons,[c] 14 besides what was brought by the merchants and traders. All the Arabian kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.
15 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; 15 pounds[d] of hammered gold went into each shield. 16 He made three hundred small shields of hammered gold; 7½ pounds[e] of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.(G)
17 The king also made a large ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold. 18 The throne had six steps; there was a footstool covered in gold for the throne, armrests on either side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests. 19 Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps, one at each end. Nothing like it had ever been made in any other kingdom.
20 All of King Solomon’s drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, since it was considered as nothing in Solomon’s time, 21 for the king’s ships kept going to Tarshish(H) with Hiram’s servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.[f]
22 King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the world in riches and wisdom.(I) 23 All the kings of the world wanted an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 24 Each of them would bring his own gift—items[g] of silver and gold, clothing, weapons,[h][i] spices, and horses and mules—as an annual tribute.
25 Solomon(J) had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.(K) He stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 26 He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines and as far as the border of Egypt.(L) 27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar as abundant as sycamore in the Judean foothills. 28 They were bringing horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all the countries.
Solomon’s Death
29 The remaining events(M) of Solomon’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the Events of the Prophet Nathan, the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and the Visions of the Seer Iddo concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat.(N) 30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years. 31 Solomon rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of his father David.(O) His son Rehoboam became king in his place.
Greeting
1 Jude,(A) a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James:
To those who are the called,(B) loved[a](C) by God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.(D)
2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.(E)
Jude’s Purpose in Writing
3 Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share,(F) I found it necessary to write, appealing to you to contend for the faith(G) that was delivered(H) to the saints once for all. 4 For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago,[b](I) have come in by stealth;(J) they are ungodly,(K) turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying(L) Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.
Apostates: Past and Present
5 Now I want to remind you, although you came to know all these things once and for all, that Jesus[c] saved a people out of Egypt and later destroyed those who did not believe;(M) 6 and the angels(N) who did not keep their own position but abandoned their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deep darkness for the judgment on the great day. 7 Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah(O) and the surrounding towns committed sexual immorality and perversions,[d] and serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.(P)
8 In the same way these people—relying on their dreams—defile their flesh, reject authority, and slander glorious ones.(Q) 9 Yet when Michael(R) the archangel(S) was disputing with the devil(T) in an argument about Moses’s(U) body, he did not dare utter a slanderous condemnation against him but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these people blaspheme anything they do not understand. And what they do understand by instinct—like irrational animals—by these things they are destroyed. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain,(V) have plunged into Balaam’s error(W) for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion.(X)
The Apostates’ Doom
12 These people are dangerous reefs[e] at your love feasts(Y) as they eat with you without reverence. They are shepherds who only look after themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds;(Z) trees in late autumn—fruitless, twice dead and uprooted. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars(AA) for whom the blackness of darkness(AB) is reserved forever.(AC)
14 It was about these that Enoch,(AD) in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: “Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones(AE) 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly(AF) concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.” 16 These people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires;(AG) their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering(AH) people for their own advantage.
17 But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They told you, “In the end time(AI) there will be scoffers(AJ) living according to their own ungodly desires.” 19 These people create divisions and are worldly,(AK) not having the Spirit.
Exhortation and Benediction
20 But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,(AL) 21 keep yourselves in the love of God,(AM) waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. 22 Have mercy on those who waver; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire;(AN) have mercy on others but with fear,(AO) hating(AP) even the garment(AQ) defiled by the flesh.
24 Now to him(AR) who is able to protect you from stumbling(AS) and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish(AT) and with great joy, 25 to the only(AU) God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,[f] be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time,[g] now and forever. Amen.
1 The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah,(A) in the days of Josiah(B) son of Amon,(C) king of Judah.
The Great Day of the Lord
2 I will completely sweep away everything
from the face of the earth(D)—
this is the Lord’s declaration.
3 I will sweep away people and animals;(E)
I will sweep away the birds of the sky
and the fish of the sea,
and the ruins[a] along with the wicked.(F)
I will cut off mankind
from the face of the earth.
This is the Lord’s declaration.
4 I will stretch out my hand(G) against Judah
and against all the residents of Jerusalem.
I will cut off every vestige of Baal(H)
from this place,
the names of the pagan priests(I)
along with the priests;
5 those who bow in worship on the rooftops(J)
to the stars in the sky;
those who bow and pledge loyalty to the Lord(K)
but also pledge loyalty to Milcom;[b](L)
6 and those who turn back from following the Lord,
who do not seek the Lord or inquire of him.
7 Be silent in the presence of the Lord God,(M)
for the day of the Lord is near.(N)
Indeed, the Lord has prepared a sacrifice;(O)
he has consecrated his guests.(P)
8 On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice
I will punish the officials, the king’s sons,
and all who are dressed in foreign clothing.
9 On that day(Q) I will punish
all who skip over the threshold,[c](R)
who fill their master’s house
with violence and deceit.
10 On that day—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
there will be an outcry from the Fish Gate,(S)
a wailing from the Second District,(T)
and a loud crashing from the hills.
11 Wail, you residents of the Hollow,[d]
for all the merchants[e] will be silenced;
all those loaded with silver will be cut off.
12 And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps
and punish those who settle down comfortably,[f](U)
who say to themselves:
The Lord will do nothing—good or bad.(V)
13 Their wealth will become plunder
and their houses a ruin.
They will build houses but never live in them,
plant vineyards but never drink their wine.(W)
14 The great day of the Lord is near,(X)
near and rapidly approaching.
Listen, the day of the Lord—
then the warrior’s cry is bitter.
15 That day is a day of wrath,
a day of trouble and distress,
a day of destruction and desolation,
a day of darkness(Y) and gloom,
a day of clouds and total darkness,(Z)
16 a day of ram’s horn and battle cry
against the fortified cities,
and against the high corner towers.
17 I will bring distress on mankind,
and they will walk like the blind(AA)
because they have sinned against the Lord.
Their blood will be poured out like dust
and their flesh like dung.
18 Their silver and their gold
will be unable to rescue them
on the day of the Lord’s wrath.(AB)
The whole earth will be consumed
by the fire of his jealousy,(AC)
for he will make a complete,
yes, a horrifying end
of all the inhabitants of the earth.
Jesus Faces Pilate
23 Then(A) their whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes(B) to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”
3 So Pilate asked him,(C) “Are you the king of the Jews?” (D)
He answered him, “You say so.”[a]
4 Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds(E) for charging this man.”
5 But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people,(F) teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee(G) where he started even to here.”
Jesus Faces Herod Antipas
6 When Pilate(H) heard this,[b] he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 Finding that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,(I) who was also in Jerusalem during those days. 8 Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle[c] performed by him. 9 So he kept asking him questions, but Jesus did not answer him.(J) 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked(K) him, dressed him in bright clothing,(L) and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Herod and Pilate became friends.[d](M) Previously, they had been enemies.
Jesus or Barabbas
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,(N) 14 and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people.(O) But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds(P) to charge this man with those things you accuse him of. 15 Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will have him whipped[e](Q) and then release him.”[f]
18 Then(R) they all cried out together, “Take this man away!(S) Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus,(T) Pilate addressed them again, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong?(U) I have found in him no grounds(V) for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”
23 But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices[g] won out. 24 So(W) Pilate decided to grant their demand(X) 25 and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.(Y)
The Way to the Cross
26 As(Z) they led him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian,(AA) who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross(AB) on him to carry behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him.(AC) 28 But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem,(AD) do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. 29 Look, the days are coming(AE) when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’(AF) 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ [h](AG) 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”(AH)
Crucified Between Two Criminals
32 Two others—criminals(AI)—were also led away to be executed with him. 33 When(AJ) they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father,(AK) forgive(AL) them, because they do not know what they are doing.”[i](AM) And they divided his clothes and cast lots.(AN)
35 The(AO) people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing:(AP) “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” (AQ) 36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine(AR) 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,(AS) save yourself!”
38 An inscription was above him:[j] This Is the King of the Jews.
39 Then(AT) one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at[k] him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God,(AU) since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”(AV) 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me[l](AW) when you come into your kingdom.”(AX)
43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”(AY)
The Death of Jesus
44 It(AZ) was now about noon,[m] and darkness came over the whole land[n] until three,[o] 45 because the sun’s light failed.[p] The curtain(BA) of the sanctuary was split down the middle. 46 And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.”[q](BB) Saying this, he breathed his last.
47 When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify(BC) God, saying, “This man really was righteous!” [r] 48 All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests.(BD) 49 But(BE) all who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance,(BF) watching these things.
The Burial of Jesus
50 There(BG) was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, 51 who had not agreed with their plan(BH) and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God.(BI) 52 He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. 53 Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed.[s](BJ) 54 It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.[t] 55 The women(BK) who had come with him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how his body was placed. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.(BL) And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.(BM)
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