M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
24 2 Abraham causeth his servant to swear to take a wife for Isaac in his own kindred. 12 The servant prayeth to God. 33 His fidelity toward his master. 50 The friends of Rebekah commit the matter to God. 58 They ask her consent, and she agreeth.
1 Now Abraham was old, and [a]stricken in years, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 Therefore Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, which had the rule over all that he had, (A)[b]Put now thine hand under my thigh,
3 And I will make thee [c]swear by the Lord God of the heaven, and God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell:
4 But thou shalt go unto my [d]country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
5 And the servant said to him, What if the woman will not come with me to this land? shall I bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
6 To whom Abraham answered, Beware that thou bring not my son [e]thither again.
7 ¶ The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land where I was born, and that spake unto me, and that swear unto me, saying, (B)Unto thy seed will I give this land, he shall send his Angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
8 Nevertheless if the woman will not follow thee, then shalt thou be [f]discharged of this mine oath: only bring not my son thither again.
9 Then the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him for this matter.
10 ¶ So the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed: (for he had all his master’s goods in his hand:) and so he arose, and went to [g]Aram Naharaim, unto the [h]city of Nahor.
11 And he made his camels to [i]lie down without the city by a well of water, at eventide about the time that the women come out to draw water.
12 And he said, O [j]Lord God of my master Abraham, I beseech thee, [k]send me good speed this day, and show mercy unto my master Abraham.
13 Lo, I stand by the well of water while the men’s daughters of this city come out to draw water.
14 [l]Grant therefore that the maid, to whom I say: Bow down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink: if she say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: may be she that thou hast ordained for thy servant Isaac: and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed mercy on my master.
15 ¶ And now yet he had left speaking, behold, [m]Rebekah came out, the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah the wife of Nahor Abraham’s brother, and her Pitcher upon her shoulder.
16 (And the maid was very fair to look upon, a virgin and unknown of man) and she [n]went down to the well, and filled her pitcher and came up.
17 Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me drink, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher.
18 And she said, Drink [o]sir: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand and gave him drink.
19 And when she had given him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also until they [p]have drunken enough.
20 And she poured out her pitcher into the trough speedily, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels.
21 So the man wondered at her, and held his peace, to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 And when the camels had left drinking, the man took a golden [q][r]abillement of [s]half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands, of ten shekels weight of gold:
23 And he said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee, Is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?
24 Then she said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah whom she bare unto Nahor.
25 Moreover she said unto him, We have litter also and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
26 And the man bowed himself and worshipped the Lord,
27 And said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, which hath not withdrawn his mercy [t]and his truth from my master: for when I was in the way, the Lord brought me to my master’s brethren’s house.
28 And the maid ran and told them of her mother’s house according to these words.
29 ¶ Now Rebekah had a brother called Laban, and Laban ran unto the man to the well.
30 For when he had seen the earrings and bracelets in his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus said the man unto me, then he went to the man, and lo, [u]he stood by the camels at the well.
31 And he said, Come in thou blessed of the Lord: wherefore standest thou without, seeing I have prepared the house, and room for the camels?
32 ¶ Then the man came into the house, and [v]he unsaddled the [w]camels, and brought litter and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s feet that were with him.
33 Afterward the meat was set before him: but he said, I [x]will not eat, until I have said my message. And he said: Speak on.
34 Then he said, I am Abraham’s servant,
35 And the Lord hath [y]blessed my master wonderfully, that he is become great: for he hath given him sheep, and beeves, and silver, and gold, and men servants, and maid servants, and camels, and asses.
36 And Sarah my master’s wife hath borne a son to my master, when she was old, and unto him hath he given all that he hath.
37 Now my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the [z]Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
38 But thou shalt go unto my [aa]father’s house and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.
39 Then I said unto my master, What if the woman will not follow me?
40 Who answered me, The Lord, before who I walk, will send his Angel with thee, and prosper thy journey, and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred and my father’s house.
41 Then shalt thou be discharged of [ab]mine oath, when thou comest to my kindred: and if they give thee not one, thou shalt be free from mine oath.
42 So I came this day to the well, and said, O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if thou now prosper my [ac]journey which I go,
43 Behold, (C)I stand by the well of water when a virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink,
44 And she said to me, Drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels, let her be the wife, which the Lord hath [ad]prepared for thy master’s son.
45 And before I had made an end of speaking in mine [ae]heart, behold, Rebekah came forth and her pitcher on her shoulder, and she went down to the well, and drew water. Then I said unto her, Give me drink, I pray thee.
46 And she made haste, and took down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also. So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also.
47 Then I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she answered, The daughter of Bethuel Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bare unto him. Then I put the abillement upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands:
48 [af]And I bowed down and worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, which had brought me the [ag]right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter unto his son.
49 Now therefore, if ye will deal [ah]mercifully and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me, that I may turn me to the [ai]right hand or to the left.
50 Then answered Laban and Bethuel, and said, [aj]This thing is proceeded of the Lord: we cannot therefore say unto thee, neither evil nor good.
51 Behold, Rebekah is [ak]before thee, take her and go, that she may be thy master’s son’s wife, even as the Lord hath [al]said.
52 And when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself toward the earth unto the Lord.
53 Then the servant took forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave to Rebekah: also unto her brother and to her mother he gave gifts.
54 Afterward they did eat and drink, both he, and the men that were with him, and tarried all night, and when they rose up in the morning, he said, (D)Let me depart unto my master.
55 Then her brother and her mother answered, Let the maid abide with us, at the least [am]ten days: then shall she go.
56 But he said unto them, Hinder you me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my journey: send me away, that I may go to my master.
57 Then they said, We will call the maid, and ask [an]her consent.
58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her: Wilt thou go with this man? And [ao]she answered, I will go.
59 So they let Rebekah their sister go, and her nurse, with Abraham’s servant and his men.
60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, grow into thousand thousand’s, and thy seed possess the [ap]gate of his enemies.
61 ¶ Then Rebekah arose, and her maids, and rode upon the camels, and followed the man, and the servant took Rebekah and departed.
62 Now Isaac came from the way of (E)Beer Lahai Roi, (for he dwelt in the South country.)
63 And Isaac went out to [aq]pray in the field toward the evening: who lift up his eyes and looked, and behold, the camels came.
64 Also Rebekah lift up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted down from the camel.
65 (For she had said to the servant, Who is yonder man, that cometh in the field to meet us? and the servant had said, It is my master) So she took [ar]a veil, and covered her.
66 And the servant told Isaac all things, that he had done.
67 Afterward Isaac brought her into the tent, of Sarah his mother, and he took Rebekah, and she was his wife, and he loved her: So Isaac was [as]comforted after his mother’s death.
23 2 How the Scribes teaching the people the Law of Moses, behave themselves. 5 Their Phylacteries, and Fringes. 7 Greetings. 8 We are brethren. 9 The Father. 10 The servant. 13 To shut the kingdom of heaven. 14 To devour widow’s houses. 15 A Proselyte. 16 To swear by the Temple. 23 To tithe mint. 25 To cleanse the outside of the cup. 27 Painted sepulchers. 33 Serpents, vipers. 37 The Hen.
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 [a]Saying, The (A)Scribes and the Pharisees [b]sit in Moses’ seat.
3 [c]All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do: but after their works do not: for they say, and do not.
4 (B)[d]For they bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 [e]All their works they do for to be seen of men: for they make their [f]phylacteries broad, and make long [g]the (C)fringes of their garments,
6 (D)And love the chief place at feasts, and to have the chief seats in the [h]assemblies,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, [i]Rabbi.
8 (E)[j]But be not ye [k]called, Rabbi: for [l]one is your doctor, to wit, Christ, and all ye are brethren.
9 And (F)call no man your [m]father upon the earth: for there is but one, your father which is in heaven.
10 Be not called [n]doctors: for one is your doctor, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you, let him be your servant.
12 (G)For whosoever [o]will exalt himself, shall be brought low: and whosoever will humble himself, shall be exalted.
13 ¶ [p]Woe therefore be unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, [q]hypocrites, because ye shut up the kingdom of heaven before men: for ye yourselves go not in, neither suffer ye them that would [r]enter, to come in.
14 (H)[s]Woe be unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: for ye devour widows’ houses, even [t]under a color of long prayers: wherefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe be unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: for ye compass sea and [u]land to make one of your profession: and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell, than you yourselves.
16 Woe be unto you blind guides, which say, Whosoever sweareth by the Temple, it is nothing: but whosoever sweareth by the gold of the Temple, he [v]offendeth.
17 Ye fools and blind, Whether is greater, the gold, or the Temple that [w]sanctifieth the gold?
18 And whosoever sweareth by the altar, it is nothing: but whosoever sweareth by the offering that is upon it, offendeth.
19 Ye fools and blind, whether is greater, the offering, or the altar which sanctifieth the offering?
20 Whosoever therefore sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
21 (I)And whosoever sweareth by the Temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
22 (J)And he that sweareth by heaven, sweareth by the [x]throne of God, and by him that sitteth theron.
23 ¶ (K)[y]Woe be to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: for ye tithe mint, and anise, and cummin, and leave the weightier matters of the law, as judgment, and mercy and [z]fidelity. These ought ye to have done, and not to have left the other.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 ¶ [aa]Woe be to you, (L)Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: for ye make clean the utter side of the cup, and of the platter: but within they are full of bribery and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe be to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: for ye are like unto whited tombs, which appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and all filthiness.
28 So are ye also: for outward ye appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 (M)[ab]Woe be unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: for ye build the tombs of the Prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous,
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in the blood of the Prophets.
31 So then ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them that murdered the Prophets.
32 [ac]Fulfill ye also the measure of your fathers.
33 O serpents, the generation of vipers, how should ye escape the damnation of [ad]hell!
34 [ae]Wherefore behold, I send unto you Prophets, and wise men, and Scribes, and of them ye shall kill and crucify: and of them shall ye scourge in your Synagogues, and persecute from city to city,
35 [af]That upon you may come all the righteous blood that was shed upon the earth, (N)from the blood of Abel the righteous, unto the blood of Zechariah the son of [ag]Berechiah, (O)whom ye slew between the Temple and the altar.
36 Verily I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this generation.
37 (P)[ah]Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the Prophets, and stonest them which are sent to thee, how often would I have [ai]gathered thy children together, as the hen gathered her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your habitation shall be left unto you desolate.
39 For I say unto you, ye shall not see me henceforth till that ye say, Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
13 1 The Law is read. 3 They separate from them all strangers. 15 Nehemiah reproveth them that break the Sabbath. 30 An ordinance to serve God.
1 And on that day they did read in the book of Moses, in the audience of the people, and it was found written therein, that the Ammonite, and the Moabite (A)should not enter into the Congregation of God,
2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, (B)but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: and our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3 Now when they had heard the Law, they separated from Israel [a]all those that were mixed.
4 ¶ And before [b]this had the Priest Eliashib the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, being [c]kinsman to Tobiah:
5 And he had made him a great chamber, and there had they aforetime laid the offerings, the incense, and the vessels, and the tithes of corn, of wine, and of oil (appointed for the Levites, and the singers, and the porters) and the offerings of the Priests.
6 But in all this time was not I in Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of [d]Artachshashta King of Babel, came I unto the King, and [e]after certain days I obtained of the King.
7 And when I was come to Jerusalem, I understood [f]the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in that he had made him a chamber in the court of the house of God,
8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the vessels of the house of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9 And I commanded them to cleanse the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God with the meat offering and the incense.
10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given, and that everyone was fled to his land, even the Levites and singers that executed the work.
11 Then reproved I the rulers and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I assembled them, and set them in their place.
12 Then brought all Judah the tithes of corn and of wine, and of oil unto the treasures.
13 And I made treasurers over the treasures, Shelemiah the Priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah, and under their hand Hanan the son of Zaccur the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
14 Remember me, O my God, herein, and wipe not out my [g]kindness that I have showed on the house of my God, and on the offices thereof.
15 In those days saw I in Judah them, that trod wine presses on the Sabbath, and that brought in sheaves, and which laded asses also with wine, grapes, and figs, and all burdens, and brought them into Jerusalem upon the Sabbath day: and [h]I protested to them in the day that they sold vittles.
16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish and all wares, and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of Judah even in Jerusalem.
17 Then reproved I the rulers of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and break the Sabbath day?
18 Did not your fathers [i]thus, and our God brought all this plague upon us, and upon this city? yet ye increase the wrath upon Israel, in breaking the Sabbath.
19 And when the gates of Jerusalem began to be [j]dark before the Sabbath, I commanded to shut the gates, and charged, that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath, and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day.
20 So the chapmen and merchants of all merchandise remained once or twice all night without Jerusalem.
21 And I protested among them, and said unto them, Why tarry ye all night about the wall? If ye do it once again, I will lay hands upon you. From that time came they no more on the Sabbath.
22 ¶ And I said unto the Levites, that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and [k]keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and pardon me according to thy great mercy.
23 In those days also I saw Jews that married wives of [l]Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab.
24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, and according to the language of the one people, and of the other people.
25 Then I reproved them, and [m]cursed them, and smote certain of them, and pulled off their hair, and took an oath of them by God, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, neither shall ye take of their daughters unto your sons nor for yourselves.
26 (C)Did not Solomon the king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no King like him: for he was (D)beloved of his God, and God had made him King over Israel: (E)yet strange women caused him to sin.
27 Shall we then obey unto you, to do all this great evil, and to transgress against our God, even to marry strange wives?
28 And one of the sons of Joiada the son of Eliashib the high Priest was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite: but I chased him from me.
29 Remember them, O my God, that [n]defile the Priesthood, and the covenant of the Priesthood, and of the Levites.
30 Then cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the Priests and of the Levites, every one in his office,
31 And for the offering of the wood at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, [o]in goodness.
23 1 As Paul pleadeth his cause, 2 Ananias commandeth them to smite him. 7 Dissension among his accusers. 11 God encourageth him. 14 The Jews laying wait for Paul, 17 is declared unto the chief captain. 24 He sendeth him to Felix the Governor.
1 And [a]Paul beheld earnestly the Council, and said, Men and brethren, I have in all good conscience served God until this day.
2 [b]Then the high Priest Ananias commanded them that stood by, to smite him on the mouth.
3 [c]Then said Paul to him, God [d]will smite thee, thou [e]whited wall: for thou sittest to judge me according to the Law, and [f]transgressing the Law, commandest thou me to be smitten?
4 And they that stood by, said, Revilest thou God’s high Priest?
5 [g]Then said Paul, I knew not brethren, that he was the high Priest: for it is written, (A)Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
6 [h]But when Paul perceived that the one part were of the Sadducees, and the other of the Pharisees, he cried in the Council, Men and brethren, (B)I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: I am accused of the hope and resurrection of the dead.
7 [i]And when he had said this, there was a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, so that the multitude was divided.
8 (C)[j]For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither [k]Angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 [l]Then there was a great cry: and the [m]Scribes of the Pharisees’ part rose up, and strove, saying, We find none evil in this man: but if a spirit or an Angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
10 [n]And when there was a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and take him from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
11 Now the night following, the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good courage, Paul, for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
12 [o]And when the day was come, certain of the Jews made an assembly, and bound themselves [p]with a curse, saying, that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 And they were more than forty, which had made this conspiracy.
14 And they came to the chief Priests and Elders, and said, We have bound ourselves with a solemn curse, that we will eat nothing, until we have slain Paul.
15 Now therefore, [q]ye and the Council, signify to the chief captain, that he bring him forth unto you tomorrow, as though you would know something more perfectly of him, and we, or ever he come near will be ready to kill him.
16 But when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their laying await, he went, and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
17 [r]And Paul called one of the Centurions unto him, and said, Take this young man hence unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to show him.
18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, which hath something to say unto thee.
19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went apart with him alone, and asked him, What hast thou to show me?
20 And he said, The Jews have conspired to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring forth Paul tomorrow into the Council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly:
21 But let them not persuade thee: for there lie in wait for him of them, more than forty men, which have bound themselves with a curse, that they will neither eat nor drink, till they have killed him: and now are they ready, and wait for thy promise.
22 [s]The chief captain then let the young man depart, after he had charged him to utter it to no man, that he had [t]showed him these things.
23 And he called unto him two certain Centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers, that they may go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and two hundred with darts, at the third hour of the night:
24 And let them make ready an horse, that Paul being set on, may be brought safe unto Felix the governor.
25 And he wrote an Epistle in this manner:
26 [u]Claudius Lysias unto the most noble governor Felix sendeth greeting.
27 As this man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them, I came upon them with a garrison, and rescued him, perceiving that he was a Roman.
28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their Council.
29 There I perceived that he was accused of questions of their Law, but had no crime worthy of death, or of bonds.
30 And when it was showed me, how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent him straightway to thee, and commanded his accusers to speak before thee the things that they had against him. Farewell.
31 Then the soldiers as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris,
32 And the next day, they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned into the Castle.
33 Now when they came to Caesarea, they delivered the Epistle to the governor, and presented Paul also unto him.
34 So when the Governor had read it, he asked of what province he was: and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,
35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers also are come, and commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
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