M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Burials of Jacob and Joseph
50 Then Joseph hugged his father’s face.[a] He wept over him and kissed him. 2 Joseph instructed the physicians in his service[b] to embalm his father, so the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 They took forty days, for that is the full time needed for embalming.[c] The Egyptians mourned for[d] him seventy days.[e]
4 When the days of mourning[f] had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s royal court,[g] “If I have found favor in your sight, please say to Pharaoh,[h] 5 ‘My father made me swear an oath. He said,[i] “I am about to die. Bury me[j] in my tomb that I dug for myself there in the land of Canaan.” Now let me go and bury my father; then I will return.’” 6 So Pharaoh said, “Go and bury your father, just as he made you swear to do.”[k]
7 So Joseph went up to bury his father; all Pharaoh’s officials went with him—the senior courtiers[l] of his household, all the senior officials of the land of Egypt, 8 all Joseph’s household, his brothers, and his father’s household. But they left their little children and their flocks and herds in the land of Goshen. 9 Chariots and horsemen also went up with him, so it was a very large entourage.[m]
10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad[n] on the other side of the Jordan, they mourned there with very great and bitter sorrow.[o] There Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father. 11 When the Canaanites who lived in the land saw them mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a very sad occasion[p] for the Egyptians.” That is why its name was called[q] Abel Mizraim,[r] which is beyond the Jordan.
12 So the sons of Jacob did for him just as he had instructed them. 13 His sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, near Mamre. This is the field Abraham purchased as a burial plot from Ephron the Hittite. 14 After he buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, along with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to bury his father.
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge and wants to repay[s] us in full[t] for all the harm[u] we did to him?” 16 So they sent word[v] to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave these instructions before he died: 17 ‘Tell Joseph this: Please forgive the sin of your brothers and the wrong they did when they treated you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sin of the servants of the God of your father.” When this message was reported to him, Joseph wept.[w] 18 Then his brothers also came and threw themselves down before him; they said, “Here we are; we are your slaves.” 19 But Joseph answered them, “Don’t be afraid. Am[x] I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant to harm me,[y] but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day.[z] 21 So now, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little children.” Then he consoled them and spoke kindly to them.[aa]
22 Joseph lived in Egypt, along with his father’s family.[ab] Joseph lived 110 years. 23 Joseph saw the descendants of Ephraim to the third generation.[ac] He also saw the children of Makir the son of Manasseh; they were given special inheritance rights by Joseph.[ad]
24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to you[ae] and lead you up from this land to the land he swore on oath to give[af] to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” 25 Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He said, “God will surely come to you. Then you must carry my bones up from this place.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of 110. After[ag] they embalmed him, his body[ah] was placed in a coffin in Egypt.
The Ministry of John the Baptist
3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,[a] when Pontius Pilate[b] was governor of Judea, and Herod[c] was tetrarch[d] of Galilee, and his brother Philip[e] was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias[f] was tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood[g] of Annas and Caiaphas, the word[h] of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.[i] 3 He[j] went into all the region around the Jordan River,[k] preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.[l]
4 As it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
“The voice[m] of one shouting in the wilderness:[n]
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make[o] his paths straight.
5 Every valley will be filled,[p]
and every mountain and hill will be brought low,
and the crooked will be made straight,
and the rough ways will be made smooth,
6 and all humanity[q] will see the salvation of God.’”[r]
7 So John[s] said to the crowds[t] that came out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers![u] Who warned you to flee[v] from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce[w] fruit[x] that proves your repentance, and don’t begin to say[y] to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’[z] For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones![aa] 9 Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees,[ab] and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be[ac] cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 So[ad] the crowds were asking[ae] him, “What then should we do?” 11 John[af] answered them,[ag] “The person who has two tunics[ah] must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors[ai] also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He told them, “Collect no more[aj] than you are required to.”[ak] 14 Then some soldiers[al] also asked him, “And as for us—what should we do?”[am] He told them, “Take money from no one by violence[an] or by false accusation,[ao] and be content with your pay.”
15 While the people were filled with anticipation[ap] and they all wondered[aq] whether perhaps John[ar] could be the Christ,[as] 16 John answered them all,[at] “I baptize you with water,[au] but one more powerful than I am is coming—I am not worthy[av] to untie the strap[aw] of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.[ax] 17 His winnowing fork[ay] is in his hand to clean out his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his storehouse,[az] but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire.”[ba]
18 And in this way,[bb] with many other exhortations, John[bc] proclaimed good news to the people. 19 But when John rebuked Herod[bd] the tetrarch[be] because of Herodias, his brother’s wife,[bf] and because of all the evil deeds[bg] that he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked up John in prison.
The Baptism of Jesus
21 Now when[bh] all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. And while he was praying,[bi] the heavens[bj] opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove.[bk] And a voice came from heaven, “You are my one dear Son;[bl] in you I take great delight.”[bm]
The Genealogy of Jesus
23 So[bn] Jesus, when he began his ministry,[bo] was about thirty years old. He was[bp] the son (as was supposed)[bq] of Joseph, the son[br] of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel,[bs] the son of Shealtiel,[bt] the son of Neri,[bu] 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan,[bv] the son of David,[bw] 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala,[bx] the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni,[by] the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah,[bz] the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan,[ca] the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel,[cb] the son of Kenan,[cc] 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.[cd]
Job’s Reply to Eliphaz[a]
16 Then Job replied:
2 “I have heard many things like these before.
What miserable comforters[b] are you all!
3 Will[c] there be an end to your[d] windy words?[e]
Or what provokes[f] you that you answer?[g]
4 I also could speak[h] like you,
if[i] you were in my place;
I could pile up[j] words against you
and I could shake my head at you.[k]
5 But[l] I would strengthen[m] you with my words;[n]
comfort from my lips would bring[o] you relief.
Abandonment by God and Man
6 “But[p] if I speak, my pain is not relieved,[q]
and if I refrain from speaking,
how much[r] of it goes away?
7 Surely now he[s] has worn me out,
you have devastated my entire household.
8 You have seized me,[t]
and it[u] has become a witness;
my leanness[v] has risen up against me
and testifies against me.
9 His[w] anger has torn me[x] and persecuted[y] me;
he has gnashed at me with his teeth;
my adversary locks[z] his eyes on me.
10 People[aa] have opened their mouths against me,
they have struck my cheek in scorn;[ab]
they unite[ac] together against me.
11 God abandons me to evil men,[ad]
and throws[ae] me into the hands of wicked men.
12 I was in peace, and he has shattered me.[af]
He has seized me by the neck and crushed me.[ag]
He has made me his target;
13 his archers[ah] surround me.
Without pity[ai] he pierces[aj] my kidneys
and pours out my gall[ak] on the ground.
14 He breaks through against me, time and time again;[al]
he rushes[am] against me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin,[an]
and buried[ao] my horn[ap] in the dust;
16 my face is reddened[aq] because of weeping,[ar]
and on my eyelids there is a deep darkness,[as]
17 although[at] there is no violence in my hands
and my prayer is pure.
An Appeal to God as Witness
18 “O earth, do not cover my blood,[au]
nor let there be a secret[av] place for my cry.
19 Even now my witness[aw] is in heaven;
my advocate[ax] is on high.
20 My intercessor is my friend[ay]
as my eyes pour out tears[az] to God;
21 and[ba] he contends with God on behalf of man
as a man[bb] pleads[bc] for his friend.
22 For the years that lie ahead are few,[bd]
and then I will go on the way of no return.[be]
17 My spirit is broken,[bf]
my days have faded out,[bg]
the grave[bh] awaits me.
2 Surely mockery[bi] is with me;[bj]
my eyes must dwell on their hostility.[bk]
3 Set my pledge[bl] beside you.
Who else will put up security for me?[bm]
4 Because[bn] you have closed their[bo] minds to understanding,
therefore you will not exalt them.[bp]
5 If a man denounces his friends for personal gain,[bq]
the eyes of his children will fail.
6 He has made me[br] a byword[bs] to people,
I am the one in whose face they spit.[bt]
7 My eyes have grown dim[bu] with grief;
my whole frame[bv] is but a shadow.
8 Upright men are appalled[bw] at this;
the innocent man is troubled[bx] with the godless.
9 But the righteous man holds to his way,
and the one with clean hands grows stronger.[by]
Anticipation of Death
10 “But turn, all of you,[bz] and come[ca] now![cb]
I will not find a wise man among you.
11 My days have passed, my plans[cc] are shattered,
even[cd] the desires[ce] of my heart.
12 These men[cf] change[cg] night into day;
they say,[ch] ‘The light is near
in the face of darkness.’[ci]
13 If[cj] I hope for the grave to be my home,
if I spread out my bed in darkness,
14 if I cry out[ck] to corruption,[cl] ‘You are my father,’
and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’
15 where then[cm] is my hope?
And my hope,[cn] who sees it?
16 Will[co] it[cp] go down to the barred gates[cq] of death?
Will[cr] we descend[cs] together into the dust?”
The Apostles’ Ministry
4 One[a] should think about us this way—as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful. 3 So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord. 5 So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will[b] bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition[c] from God.
6 I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters,[d] so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other. 7 For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not? 8 Already you are satisfied! Already you are rich! You have become kings without us! I wish you had become kings so that we could reign with you! 9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads. 12 We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure, 13 when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now.
A Father’s Warning
14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children. 15 For though you may have 10,000 guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I encourage you, then, be imitators of me. 17 For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ,[e] as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some have become arrogant,[f] as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power. 20 For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline[g] or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
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