M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Judah’s King Manasseh
33 Manasseh was twelve years old(A) when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. 2 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, imitating the detestable practices of the nations that the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.(B) 3 He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had torn down(C) and reestablished the altars for the Baals. He made Asherah poles, and he bowed in worship to all the stars in the sky and served them. 4 He built altars(D) in the Lord’s temple, where the Lord had said, “Jerusalem is where my name will remain forever.”(E) 5 He built altars to all the stars in the sky in both courtyards(F) of the Lord’s temple. 6 He passed his sons through the fire in Ben Hinnom Valley.(G) He practiced witchcraft, divination, and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists.(H) He did a huge amount of evil in the Lord’s sight, angering him.
7 Manasseh(I) set up a carved image of the idol, which he had made, in God’s temple(J) that God had spoken about to David and his son Solomon: “I will establish my name forever[a](K) in this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.(L) 8 I will never again remove the feet of the Israelites from the land where I stationed your[b](M) ancestors,(N) if only they will be careful to do all I have commanded them through Moses—all the law, statutes, and judgments.” 9 So Manasseh caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to stray so that they did worse evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.
Manasseh’s Repentance
10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they didn’t listen.(O) 11 So he brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria. They captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.(P) 12 When he was in distress, he sought the favor of the Lord his God and earnestly humbled himself(Q) before the God of his ancestors. 13 He prayed to him, and the Lord was receptive to his prayer. He granted his request(R) and brought him back to Jerusalem, to his kingdom. So Manasseh came to know that the Lord is God.(S)
14 After this, he built the outer wall of the city of David from west of Gihon(T) in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate;(U) he brought it around Ophel,(V) and he heightened it considerably. He also placed military commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah.
15 He removed the foreign gods and the idol(W) from the Lord’s temple, along with all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the Lord’s temple and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside the city. 16 He built[c] the altar of the Lord and offered fellowship and thanksgiving sacrifices on it. Then he told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. 17 However, the people still sacrificed at the high places,(X) but only to the Lord their God.
Manasseh’s Death
18 The rest of the events(Y) of Manasseh’s reign, along with his prayer(Z) to his God and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, are written in the Events of Israel’s Kings. 19 His prayer and how God was receptive to his prayer, and all his sin and unfaithfulness and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and carved images before he humbled himself, they are written in the Events of Hozai. 20 Manasseh rested with his ancestors, and he was buried in his own house. His son Amon became king in his place.
Judah’s King Amon
21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. 22 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, just as his father Manasseh had done.(AA) Amon sacrificed to all the carved images that his father Manasseh had made, and he served them. 23 But he did not humble himself before the Lord like his father Manasseh humbled himself;(AB) instead, Amon increased his guilt.
24 So his servants conspired against him and put him to death(AC) in his own house. 25 The common people[d] killed all who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place.
Celebration in Heaven
19 After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude(A) in heaven, saying,
Hallelujah!(B)
Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,(C)
2 because his judgments are true[a] and righteous,(D)
because he has judged the notorious prostitute(E)
who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality;
and he has avenged the blood of his servants
that was on her hands.(F)
3 A second time they said,
Hallelujah!
Her smoke ascends forever and ever!(G)
4 Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God,(H) who is seated on the throne, saying,
Amen! Hallelujah!(I)
5 A voice came from the throne, saying,
Praise our God,
all his servants, and the ones who fear him,
both small and great!(J)
6 Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters,(K) and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying,
Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty,
reigns!(L)
7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory,(M)
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has prepared herself.(N)
8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.(O)
For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.(P)
9 Then he[b] said to me,(Q) “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast(R) of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.”(S) 10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t do that!(T) I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who hold firmly to the testimony of Jesus.(U) Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit[c] of prophecy.”
The Rider on a White Horse
11 Then I saw heaven opened,(V) and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True,(W) and with justice he judges and makes war.(X) 12 His eyes were like a fiery flame,(Y) and many crowns[d] were on his head.(Z) He had a name written that no one knows except himself.(AA) 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood,(AB) and his name is called the Word of God.(AC) 14 The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. 15 A sharp[e] sword(AD) came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it.(AE) He will rule[f] them with an iron rod.(AF) He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God,(AG) the Almighty. 16 And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.(AH)
The Beast and Its Armies Defeated
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military commanders, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.”(AI)
19 Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies(AJ) gathered together to wage war(AK) against the rider on the horse and against his army. 20 But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with it the false prophet, who had performed the signs in its presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image with these signs.(AL) Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.(AM) 21 The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds ate their fill of their flesh.
The Lord’s Love for Israel
1 A pronouncement:(A)
The word of the Lord(B) to Israel through(C) Malachi.[a]
2 “I have loved you,”(D) says the Lord.
Yet you ask, “How have you loved us?”
“Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” (E) This is the Lord’s declaration. “Even so, I loved Jacob, 3 but I hated Esau.(F) I turned his mountains into a wasteland, and gave his inheritance to the desert jackals.”(G)
4 Though Edom says, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild[b] the ruins,” the Lord of Armies says this: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called a wicked country(H) and the people the Lord has cursed[c] forever.(I) 5 Your own eyes will see this, and you yourselves will say, ‘The Lord is great, even beyond[d] the borders of Israel.’(J)
Disobedience of the Priests
6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of me?(K) says the Lord of Armies to you priests, who despise my name.”
Yet you ask, “How have we despised your name?”
7 “By presenting defiled food on my altar.”
“How have we defiled you?” you ask.(L)
When you say, “The Lord’s table is contemptible.”(M)
8 “When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong?(N) Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the Lord of Armies. 9 “And now plead for God’s favor. Will he be gracious to us?(O) Since this has come from your hands, will he show any of you favor?” (P) asks the Lord of Armies. 10 “I wish one of you would shut the temple doors,(Q) so that you would no longer kindle a useless fire on my altar!(R) I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Armies, “and I will accept(S) no offering from your hands.(T)
11 “My name will be great among the nations,(U) from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense[e] and pure offerings will be presented in my name in every place because my name will be great among the nations,”[f] says the Lord of Armies.
12 “But you are profaning it(V) when you say, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled, and its product, its food, is contemptible.’ 13 You also say, ‘Look, what a nuisance!’ And you scorn[g] it,”[h](W) says the Lord of Armies. “You bring stolen,[i](X) lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that from your hands?” asks the Lord.
14 “The deceiver is cursed who has an acceptable male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord.(Y) For I am a great King,” says the Lord of Armies, “and my name will be feared among the nations.
Jesus Betrayed
18 After(A) Jesus had said these things, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. 2 Judas,(B) who betrayed(C) him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas took a company of soldiers and some officials[a] from the chief priests and the Pharisees(D) and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
4 Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to him,(E) went out and said to them, “Who is it that you’re seeking?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.
“I am he,”(F) Jesus told them.
Judas, who betrayed him, was also standing with them. 6 When Jesus told them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.
7 Then he asked them again, “Who is it that you’re seeking?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
8 “I told you I am he,” Jesus replied. “So if you’re looking for me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill(G) the words he had said: “I have not lost one of those you have given me.”(H)
10 Then Simon(I) Peter,(J) who had a sword,(K) drew it, struck the high priest’s(L) servant, and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11 At that, Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword away! Am I not to drink the cup(M) the Father has given me?”
Jesus Arrested and Taken to Annas
12 Then the company of soldiers, the commander, and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13 First they led him to Annas,(N) since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas,(O) who was high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better for one man to die for the people.(P)
Peter Denies Jesus
15 Simon Peter(Q) was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. 16 But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.
17 Then the servant girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?”
“I am not,” he said. 18 Now the servants and the officials had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.
Jesus before Annas
19 The high priest(R) questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.
20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered him. “I have always taught in the synagogue(S) and in the temple,(T) where all the Jews gather, and I haven’t spoken anything in secret. 21 Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.”
22 When he had said these things, one of the officials standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”
23 “If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence[b] about the wrong; but if rightly,(U) why do you hit me?” 24 Then(V) Annas(W) sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter Denies Jesus Twice More
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”
He denied it and said, “I am not.”
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 27 Peter denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed.(X)
Jesus before Pilate
28 Then(Y) they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters.(Z) It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover.
29 So Pilate(AA) came out to them and said, “What charge(AB) do you bring against this man?”
30 They answered him, “If this man weren’t a criminal,[c] we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate told them, “You take him and judge him according to your law.”
“It’s not legal for us to put anyone to death,” the Jews declared. 32 They said this so that Jesus’s words might be fulfilled indicating what kind of death he was going to die.(AC)
33 Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (AD)
34 Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about me?”
35 “I’m not a Jew, am I?” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”
36 “My kingdom(AE) is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world,(AF) my servants(AG) would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is,[d] my kingdom is not from here.”(AH)
37 “You are a king then?” Pilate asked.
“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world(AI) for this: to testify(AJ) to the truth.(AK) Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
38 “What is truth?” said Pilate.
Jesus or Barabbas
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no grounds(AL) for charging him. 39 You(AM) have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”
40 They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” (AN) Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.[e](AO)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.