M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
15 2 The practices of Absalom to aspire to the kingdom. 14 David and his flee. 31 David’s prayer. 34 Hushai is sent to Absalom to discover his counsel.
1 After this, Absalom [a]prepared him chariots, and horses, and fifty men to [b]run before him.
2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood hard by the entering in of the gate: and every man that had any [c]matter, and came to the king for judgment, him did Absalom call unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he answered, Thy servant is of one of the [d]tribes of Israel.
3 Then Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and righteous, but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
4 Absalom said moreover, [e]Oh that I were made Judge in the land, that every man which hath any matter of controversy, might come to me, that I might do him justice.
5 And when any man came near to him, and did him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel, that came to the King for judgment: so Absalom [f]stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 ¶ And after [g]forty years, Absalom said unto the King, I pray thee, let me go to Hebron, and render my vow which I have vowed unto the Lord.
8 For thy servant vowed a vow when I remained at Geshur, in Aram, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, I will [h]serve the Lord.
9 And the King said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
10 ¶ Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, When ye hear the sound of the trumpet, ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
11 ¶ And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were [i]called: and they went in their simplicity, knowing nothing.
12 Also Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite David’s counselor, from his city Giloh, while he offered sacrifices: and the treason was great: for the people [j]increased still with Absalom.
13 ¶ Then came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are turned after Absalom.
14 Then David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Up, and let us flee: for we shall not escape from [k]Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he come suddenly and take us, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15 And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, thy servants are ready to do according to all that my lord the king shall [l]appoint.
16 So the king departed and all his household [m]after him, and the king left ten concubines to keep the house.
17 And the king went forth and all the people after him, and tarried in a [n]place [o]far off.
18 And all his servants went about him, and all the [p]Cherethites and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, even six hundred men which were come after him from Gath, went before the king.
19 Then said the King to [q]Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore comest thou also with us? Return and abide with the King, for thou art a stranger, depart thou therefore to thy place.
20 Thou camest yesterday, and should I cause thee to wander today and go with us? I will go whither I can: therefore return thou, and carry again thy [r]brethren: mercy and [s]truth be with thee.
21 And Ittai answered the King, and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there surely will thy servant be.
22 Then David said to Ittai, Come, and go forward. And Ittai the Gittite went, and all his men, and all the children that were with him.
23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and [t]all the people went forward, but the King passed over the brook Kidron: and all the people went over toward the way of the wilderness.
24 ¶ And lo, Zadok also was there, and all the Levites with him, [u]bearing the Ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the Ark of God: and Abiathar went [v]up until the people were all come out of the city.
25 Then the King said unto Zadok, Carry the Ark of God again into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and the [w]Tabernacle thereof.
26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee, behold, [x]here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good in his eyes.
27 The King said again unto Zadok the Priest, Art not thou a (A)Seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you: to wit, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 Behold, I will tarry in the fields of the wilderness, until there come some word from you to be told me.
29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the Ark of God again to Jerusalem, and they tarried there.
30 And David went up the mount of olives, and wept as he went up, and had his head [y]covered, and went barefooted: and all the people that was with him, had every man his head covered, and as they went up, they wept.
31 Then one told David, saying, Ahithophel is one of them that have conspired with Absalom: and David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the [z]counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
32 ¶ Then David came to the top of the mount where he worshipped God: and behold, Hushai the Archite came against him with his coat torn, and having earth upon his head.
33 Unto whom David said, If thou go with me, thou shalt be a burthen unto me.
34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy [aa]servant, O King (as I have been in time past thy father’s servant, so will I now be thy servant) then thou mayest bring me the counsel of Ahithophel to nought.
35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the Priests? therefore whatsoever thou shalt hear out of the King’s house, thou shalt show to Zadok and Abiathar the Priests.
36 Behold, there are with them their two sons: Ahimaaz Zadok’s son, and Jonathan Abiathar’s son: by them also shall ye send me everything that ye can hear.
37 So Hushai David’s friend went into the city: and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
8 1 He exhorteth them by the example of the Macedonians, 9 and also even of Christ himself, 14 to be liberal towards the saints: 16 for which purpose, he showeth that Titus, 18 and another brother came unto them.
1 We [a]do you also to wit, brethren, of the [b]grace of God bestowed upon the Churches of Macedonia.
2 Because in [c]great trial of affliction their joy abounded, and their most extreme poverty abounded unto their rich liberality.
3 For to their power (I bear record) yea, and beyond their power they were [d]willing.
4 And prayed us with great instance that we would receive the [e]grace, and fellowship of the ministering which is toward the Saints.
5 [f]And this they did, not as we looked for: but gave their own selves, first to the Lord, and after unto us by the will of God,
6 That we should exhort Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also accomplish the same grace among you also.
7 Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith and word, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love towards us, even so see that ye abound in this grace also.
8 [g]This say I not by commandment, but because of the [h]diligence of others: therefore prove I the [i]naturalness of your love.
9 [j]For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he being rich, for your sakes became poor, that ye through his poverty might be made rich.
10 [k]And I show my mind herein: for this is expedient for you, which have begun not to do only, but also to [l]will, a year ago.
11 Now therefore perform to do it also, that as there was a readiness to will, even so ye may perform it of that which ye have.
12 [m]For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13 [n]Neither is it that other men should be eased and you grieved: But upon [o]like condition, at this time your abundance supplieth their lack:
14 That also their abundance may be for your lack, that there may be equality.
15 As it is written, (A)He that gathered much, had nothing over, and he that gathered little, had not the less.
16 [p]And thanks be unto God, which had put in the heart of Titus the same care for you.
17 Because he accepted the exhortation, yea, he was so careful that of his own accord he went unto you.
18 And we have sent also with him the brother, whose praise is [q]in the Gospel throughout all the Churches.
19 (And not so only, but is also chosen of the Churches to be a fellow in our journey, concerning this [r]grace that is ministered by us unto the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your prompt mind.)
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this [s]abundance that is ministered by us,
21 (B)Providing for honest things, not only before the Lord, but also before men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have ofttimes proved to be diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, for the great confidence, which I have in you.
23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my fellow and helper to you-ward: or of our [t]brethren, they are messengers of the Churches, and the [u]glory of Christ.
24 Wherefore show toward them, and before the [v]Churches the proof of your love, and of the rejoicing that we have of you.
22 1 Jerusalem is reproved for cruelty. 25 Of the wicked doctrine of the false prophets and priests, and of their unsatiable covetousness. 26 The tyranny of rulers. 29 The wickedness of the people.
1 Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2 Now thou son of man, wilt thou [a]judge, wilt thou judge this bloody city? wilt thou show her all her abominations?
3 Then say, Thus saith the Lord God, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her [b]time may come, and maketh idols against [c]herself, to pollute herself.
4 Thou hast offended in thy blood, that thou hast shed, and hast polluted thyself in thine idols, which thou hast made, and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come unto thy term: therefore have I made thee a reproach to the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.
5 Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art vile in [d]name and sore in affliction.
6 Behold, the princes of Israel everyone in thee was ready to his power, to shed blood.
7 In thee have they despised father and mother: in the midst of thee [e]have they oppressed the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.
8 Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast polluted my Sabbaths.
9 In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: in thee are they that eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit abomination.
10 (A)In thee have they discovered their fathers’ shame: in thee have they vexed her that was polluted in her flowers.
11 And everyone (B)hath committed abomination with his neighbor’s wife, and everyone hath wickedly defiled his daughter-in-law, and in thee hath every man forced his own sister, even his father’s daughter.
12 In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood: thou hast taken usury and the increase, and thou hast defrauded thy neighbors by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God.
13 Behold, therefore I have [f]smitten mine hands upon thy covetousness, that thou hast used, and upon the blood, which hath been in the midst of thee.
14 Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands [g]be strong, in the days that I shall have to do with thee? I the Lord have spoken it, and will do it.
15 And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will cause thy [h]filthiness to cease from thee.
16 And thou shalt take thine [i]inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.
17 ¶ And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
18 Son of man, the house of Israel is unto me as [j]dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead in the midst of the furnace: they are even the dross of silver.
19 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Because ye are all as dross, behold, therefore I will gather you in the midst of Jerusalem.
20 As they gather silver and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it to melt it, so will I gather you in mine anger and in my wrath, and will put you there [k]and melt you.
21 I will gather you, I say, and blow the fire of my wrath upon you, and you shall be melted in the midst thereof.
22 As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof, and ye shall know that I the Lord have poured out my wrath upon you.
23 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
24 Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land, that is unclean, [l]and not rained upon in the day of wrath.
25 There is a conspiracy [m]of her prophets in the midst thereof like a roaring lion, ravening the prey: they have devoured souls: they have taken the riches and precious things: they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.
26 Her Priests have broken my Law, and have defiled mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither discerned between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their [n]eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
27 Her princes in (C)the midst thereof are like wolves, ravening the prey to shed blood, and to destroy souls for their own covetous lucre.
28 And her [o]prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanities, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord had not spoken.
29 The people of the land have violently oppressed by spoiling and robbing, and have vexed the poor and the needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger against right.
30 And I sought for a man among them, that should [p]make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them, and consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own ways have I rendered upon their heads, saith the Lord God.
69 1 The complaints, prayers, fervent zeal and great anguish of David is set forth as a figure of Christ and all his members. 21 The malicious cruelty of the enemies. 22 And their punishment also. 26 Where Judas and such traitors are accursed. 30 He gathereth courage in his affliction, and offereth praises unto God, 32 Which are more acceptable than all sacrifices: whereof all the afflicted may take comfort. 35 Finally, he doth provoke all creatures to praises, prophesying of the kingdom of Christ, and the preservation of the Church, where all the faithful, 27 And their seed shall dwell forever.
To him that excelleth upon [a]Shoshannim. A Psalm of David.
1 Save me, O God: for the [b]waters are entered even to my soul.
2 I stick fast in the deep mire, where no [c]stay is: I am come into deep waters, and the streams run over me.
3 I am weary of crying: my throat is dry: mine [d]eyes fail, while I wait for my God.
4 They that hate me without a cause, are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, and are mine enemies [e]falsely, are mighty, so that I restored that which I [f]took not.
5 O God, thou knowest my [g]foolishness, and my faults are not hid from thee.
6 Let not them that trust in thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for [h]me: let not those that seek thee, be confounded through me, O God of Israel.
7 For thy sake have I suffered reproof: shame hath covered my face.
8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, even an alien unto my mother’s sons.
9 [i]For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me, and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee, are fallen upon me.
10 I [j]wept and my soul fasted, but that was to my reproof.
11 I put on a sack also: and I became a proverb unto them.
12 They that [k]sat in the gate, spake of me, and the drunkards sang of me.
13 But Lord, I make my prayer unto thee in an [l]acceptable time, even in the multitude of thy mercy: O God, hear me in the truth of thy salvation.
14 Deliver me out of the mire, that I sink not: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the [m]deep waters.
15 Let not the water flood drown me, neither let the deep swallow me up: and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
16 Hear me, O Lord, for thy loving-kindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
17 And [n]hide not thy face from thy servant, for I am in trouble; make haste and hear me.
18 Draw near unto my soul and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.
19 Thou hast known my reproof and my shame, and my dishonor: all mine [o]adversaries are before thee.
20 Rebuke hath broken mine heart, and I am full of heaviness, and [p]I looked for some to have pity on me, but there was none: and for comforters, but I found none.
21 For they gave me gall in my meat, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
22 Let their [q]table be a snare before them, and their prosperity their ruin.
23 Let their eyes be blinded that they see not: and make their [r]loins always to tremble.
24 Pour out thine anger upon them, and let thy wrathful displeasure take them.
25 Let their [s]habitation be void, and let none dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him, whom thou hast smitten: and they add unto the sorrow of them, whom thou hast wounded.
27 Lay [t]iniquity upon their iniquity, and let them not come into thy righteousness.
28 Let them be put out of the [u]book of life, neither let them be written with the righteous.
29 When I am poor and in heaviness, thine help, O God, shall exalt me.
30 I will praise the Name of God with a song, and magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This also shall please the Lord better than a [v]young bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
32 The humble shall see this, and they that seek God shall be glad, and your heart shall live.
33 For the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not his [w]prisoners.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him: the seas and all that moveth in them.
35 For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah, that men may dwell there and have it in possession.
36 The [x]seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.
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