M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Chapter 17
David and Goliath. 1 The Philistines assembled their armies, and they were gathered at Socoh in Judah. They were camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim. 2 Saul and the Israelites gathered together and camped in the Valley of Elah. They arranged themselves in order for battle against the Philistines. 3 The Philistines stood on one side of a mountain, and Israel stood on the mountainside facing them, with the valley in between them.
4 Then a champion named Goliath of Gath came forth out of the camp of the Philistines. He was six cubits and a span high.[a] 5 He wore a bronze helmet on his head, and he wore armor, a coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 On his legs he wore bronze leg armor, and he had a bronze javelin slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of the spear weighed six hundred iron shekels. His shield-bearer walked before him.
8 He stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, “Why do you not come out arrayed in battle line? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will become your slaves. But if I defeat and kill him, then you will be our slaves and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel today. Give me a man so that we can fight each other.”
11 When Saul and all of Israel heard what the Philistine said, they were dismayed and terrified.
12 David Arrives in the Camp.[b] Now David was the son of Jesse from Bethlehem in Judah, an Ephrathite. He had eight sons, and in Saul’s days he was already old and well on in years. 13 Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul into battle. The names of the three sons who had gone into battle were: Eliab, the oldest, Abinadab, the second oldest, and Shammah, the next oldest. 14 David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul. 15 David went back and forth to Saul in order to tend to his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.
16 For forty days, each morning and each evening, the Philistine presented himself.
17 Jesse said to David, his son, “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers. Rush this out to your brothers’ camp. 18 Also take along these ten cheeses for the commander of their group of one thousand. See how your brothers are faring, and bring back news from them.”
19 They and Saul and all of the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah fighting against the Philistines. 20 David rose early the next morning, left the sheep with someone to tend them, took the things and left as Jesse had instructed him. He came to the outskirts of the camp just as the army was going forth into battle, shouting their war cries. 21 Israel and the Philistines were lined up for battle, one army facing the other. 22 David left his things in the care of the keeper of supplies. He ran to the battle line and came to his brothers whom he greeted.
23 As he was talking with them, Goliath of Gath, the champion of the Philistines, came forth from the Philistine lines, and he shouted the same taunt, and David heard it. 24 When all the Israelites saw the man, they ran away from him in great fear.
25 Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? Surely he comes out to defy Israel. The king will give a great reward to the man who kills him. He will even give him his daughter in marriage, and he will exempt his father’s family from taxes in Israel.”
26 David spoke to the men who were standing by him saying, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”[c] 27 The people answered him saying something like, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.”
28 When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking to the men, Eliab became very angry at David. He said, “Why have you come down here? With whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know about your pride and the wickedness of your heart, for you only came down here to see the battle.” 29 David answered, “What have I done now? Was it not just a question?”
30 Then he turned away from him and spoke to another man, asking the same thing. The people answered him the same way they had before. 31 When the words that David had spoken were heard, they were repeated to Saul who summoned him.
32 David Accepts the Challenge. David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of him. Your servant will go out and fight with this Philistine.” 33 Saul said to David, “You cannot go out against the Philistine and fight with him. You are only a boy, and he has been a warrior since he was young.” 34 David said to Saul, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear would come and carry a lamb away from the flock, 35 I would chase after it and strike it and rescue it from out of its mouth. When it would rise up against me, I would seize it by its fur and strike and kill it. 36 Your servant has killed lion and bear. This uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them because he has defied the army of the living God.” 37 David continued, “The Lord who has delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me out of the hands of this Philistine.” Saul then said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”
38 David Prepares for the Encounter. Saul dressed David in his own armor. He put a bronze helmet on his head and covered him with a coat of mail. 39 David fastened his sword over his armor, and he tried to walk around in it, but he was not used to it. David said to Saul, “No! I cannot walk in these, because I am not used to them.” David then took them off.
40 He took his staff in his hand, and he chose five smooth stones from out of the stream. He put them in a pouch in his shepherd’s bag, and with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.
41 David’s Victory. Meanwhile, the Philistine drew nearer to David, his shield-bearer preceding him. 42 The Philistine looked David over, and he held him in contempt, for he was only a youth, ruddy, and handsome. 43 The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come out to me with sticks?” The Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine said to David, “Come over to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.” 45 David said to the Philistine, “You are coming against me with sword, spear, and javelin. I am coming against you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 The Lord will deliver you into my hands today. I will strike you down and take off your head. Today I will give the bodies of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field. Thus, everyone on the earth will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All of those who are gathered in assembly here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you over into our hands.”
48 When the Philistine got up and approached David, David ran quickly to meet the Philistine in battle. 49 David reached into his bag and pulled out a stone. He launched it with the sling and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sunk into his forehead, and he fell face first to the earth.
50 David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone. David struck down the Philistine and killed him, even without carrying a sword in his hand. 51 David ran over to the Philistine and stood over him. He took hold of his sword and drew it out from the sheath. He killed the Philistine and cut off his head with it.
The Philistines Flee. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52 The men of Israel and Judah rose up and shouted. They pursued the Philistines until they arrived at the entrance to Gath and the gates of Ekron. The Philistines who had been struck down were all along the Shaaraim road even up to Gath and Ekron. 53 When the Israelites returned from chasing after the Philistines, they plundered their tents. 54 David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, and he placed his armor in his tent.[d]
55 David Is Presented to Saul. When Saul watched David go forth against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Whose son is this young man?” Abner answered, “As surely as you live, I do not know.” 56 The king said, “Ask around whose son this young man is.” 57 When David returned after having killed the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head in his hand. 58 Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” David answered, “Your servant is the son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite.”
Chapter 15
Patience and Self-Denial. 1 Those of us who are strong must resolve to put up with the failings of the weak and not please ourselves. 2 Each of us must consider his neighbor’s good for the purpose of building him up. 3 Even Christ never sought to please himself, but, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen upon me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that by perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we may continue to have hope.
5 May the God of perseverance and encouragement grant that you may live in harmony with one another, following in the example of Jesus Christ, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God’s Fidelity and Mercy.[a] 7 Therefore, accept one another for the glory of God, just as Christ has accepted you. 8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant of the circumcised to manifest God’s truthfulness by confirming the promises given to the patriarchs 9 and so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
“Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles
and sing praises to your name.”
10 And again it says:
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”[b]
11 Further it adds:
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples praise him.”
12 And again Isaiah asserts:
“The root of Jesse shall come,
the one who will arise to rule the Gentiles;
the Gentiles will hope in him.”[c]
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may grow rich in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Epilogue[d]
14 Apostle to the Gentiles.[e] Brethren, I myself am convinced that you yourselves are immersed in goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. 15 Nevertheless, I have written to you rather boldly to refresh your memory in some respects because of the grace given to me by God. 16 He has appointed me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, in order that the Gentiles might become an acceptable offering consecrated by the Holy Spirit.
17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to glory in my service of God. 18 I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to lead the Gentiles to obedience to God by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God.
So from Jerusalem[f] and the surrounding area, even as far as Illyricum, I have completed the preaching of the gospel of Christ. 20 Moreover, I have always striven to preach the gospel of Christ where the name of Christ is not known, not wanting to build on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written:
“Those who have never been told of him shall see,
and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”
22 Paul’s Plans for Traveling—Even to Spain.[g] That is why I have so often been prevented from coming to you. 23 But now, since there is nothing more to keep me in these regions, and since for a good many years I have desired to visit you, 24 I hope to see you when I am on my way to Spain. Then, after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can send me on my way there.
25 Presently, however, I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia[h] have resolved to make a contribution for the benefit of the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do so, and indeed they are indebted to them, for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they owe it to them to share their material blessings with them.
28 Therefore, when I have completed this task and have delivered the fruit of their generosity to them, I will set out for Spain and visit you along the way. 29 And I am sure that when I come, I shall do so with the full measure of the blessing of Christ.
30 Therefore, I exhort you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my labors by praying to God for me 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there. 32 In that way, I can come to you in joy, if God so wills, and be refreshed together with you. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Chapter 2
The Judgment of the Lord
1 Behold how the Lord in his anger
has enveloped in darkness the daughter of Zion.
He has hurled down from heaven to earth
the glory of Israel,
without any sign of regard for his footstool
on the day of his anger.
2 Without mercy, the Lord has destroyed
all the dwellings of Jacob.
In his wrath he has torn down
the fortresses of the daughter of Judah.
He has thrown to the ground in dishonor
the kingdom and its rulers.
3 In his fierce anger he broke off
all the strength of Israel.
He withdrew the protection of his right hand
at the approach of the enemy.
He blazed against Jacob like a flaming fire
that consumes everything in its path.
4 Like an enemy he bent his bow,
with his right hand prepared for action.
Like a foe he slew all those
in whom he once took great pride.
He poured forth his fury like fire
over the tent of the daughter of Zion.
5 The Lord has become an enemy;[a]
he has annihilated Israel.
He has destroyed all its palaces
and left all its strongholds in ruins.
For the daughter of Judah
he has multiplied mourning and lamentation.
6 He has laid waste his dwelling like a garden
and destroyed his tabernacle.
The Lord has erased in Zion
every memory of festivals and Sabbaths.
In his fierce anger he has treated with contempt
king and priest alike.
7 The Lord has rejected his altar
and abandoned his sanctuary.
He has delivered the walls of her palaces
into the power of the enemy
who raised a clamor in the house of the Lord
as on a festival day.
8 The Lord was determined to destroy
the walls of the daughter of Zion.
He marked off its boundaries with a measuring line
and did not relent in his purpose.
He caused both wall and rampart to lament;
together they crumbled to the ground.
9 The bars of her gates have been shattered,
and the gates themselves have sunk into the ground.
Her king and her princes are in exile among the Gentiles;
there is no instruction any longer from priests,
and her prophets have not received
any vision from the Lord.[b]
10 The elders of the daughter of Zion
sit on the ground in silence.
They have strewn dust on their heads
and wrapped themselves in sackcloth.
The maidens of Jerusalem
bow their heads to the ground.
11 My eyes are exhausted from weeping,
and torment afflicts my innermost being.
My gall is poured out on the earth
because of the destruction of my people,
as children and infants faint
in the streets of the city.
12 They keep crying out to their mothers,
“Where is there bread and something to drink?”
as they faint like the wounded
in the streets of the city,
and breathe their last
in their mothers’ arms.
13 To what can I liken you or compare you,
O daughter of Jerusalem?
What can I do to rescue and comfort you,
O virgin daughter of Zion?
Your ruin is as vast as the sea.
Who can heal you?
14 The visions that your prophets revealed to you
were false and worthless.
They did not lay bare your guilt
so that you might reverse your fortunes.
The visions they proclaimed to you
were erroneous and deceptive.[c]
15 All those who pass by
clap their hands at you.
They hiss and wag their heads
at the daughter of Jerusalem,
“Is this the city once described as perfect in beauty,
the joy of the whole world?”
16 All your enemies do not hesitate
to open their mouths against you.
They hiss and gnash their teeth;
they cry out, “We have devoured her!
This is the day we longed for;
at last we have seen it.”
17 The Lord has done what he planned;
he has carried out his threat.
As he decreed from days of old,
he has destroyed without pity.
He has permitted the enemy to rejoice over you
and exalted the strength of your foes.
18 Cry out to the Lord,
O wall of the daughter of Zion.
Let your tears flow like a torrent
both day and night.
Allow yourself no respite;
give your eyes no rest.
19 Arise and cry out during the night
at the beginning of every watch.[d]
Pour out your heart like water
in the presence of the Lord.
Lift up your hands to him
for the lives of your children
who are fainting from hunger
at the corner of every street.
20 Look, O Lord, and consider:
whom have you ever treated in this fashion?
Should women eat their little ones,
the children to whom they gave birth?
Should priest and prophet be killed
in the sanctuary of the Lord?
21 The young and the old are lying dead
on the ground in the streets.
My young women and my young men
have fallen by the sword.
On the day of your anger you have slain them,
slaughtering them without pity.
22 As if it were for a day of festival,
you summoned my enemies from every side.
On the day of the Lord’s anger
no one escaped and no one survived.
All those whom I bore and reared
my enemy has completely annihilated.
Psalm 33[a]
Praise of God’s Providence
1 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Give thanks to the Lord on the harp;
offer praise to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;[b]
play skillfully on the strings with joyful shouts.
4 [c]For the word of the Lord is true,
and he is faithful in everything he does.
5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is filled with his kindness.
6 The heavens were made by the word[d] of the Lord,
and all their host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea as in a bowl;[e]
he places the deep in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world revere him.[f]
9 [g]For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The Lord thwarts the plans of nations
and frustrates the designs of peoples.
11 But the plan of the Lord remains forever,
the designs of his heart for all generations.
12 [h]Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.[i]
13 [j]The Lord gazes down from heaven
and beholds the entire human race.
14 From his royal throne
he watches all who dwell on the earth.
15 He who has fashioned the hearts of them all
observes everything they do.
16 A king is not saved by a large army,
nor is a warrior delivered by great strength.
17 A horse offers false hope for victory;
despite its power it cannot save.
18 [k]But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those who trust in his kindness,
19 to deliver them from death
and to preserve their lives in time of famine.
20 [l]Our soul waits in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 Our hearts rejoice in him
because we trust in his holy name.
22 O Lord, let your kindness rest upon us,
for we have placed our hope in you.
Copyright © 2019 by Catholic Book Publishing Corp. All rights reserved.