M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Samson and Delilah
16 Samson went to Gaza,(A) where he saw a prostitute and went to bed with her. 2 When the Gazites heard that Samson was there, they surrounded the place and waited in ambush for him all that night at the city gate. While they were waiting quietly,[a] they said, “Let us wait until dawn; then we will kill him.” 3 But Samson stayed in bed until midnight when he got up, took hold of the doors of the city gate along with the two gateposts, and pulled them out, bar and all. He put them on his shoulders and took them to the top of the mountain overlooking Hebron.
4 Some time later, he fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the Sorek Valley. 5 The Philistine leaders(B) went to her and said, “Persuade him to tell you[b] where his great strength comes from, so we can overpower him, tie him up, and make him helpless. Each of us will then give you 1,100 pieces of silver.”
6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me, where does your great strength come from? How could someone tie you up and make you helpless?”
7 Samson told her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become weak and be like any other man.”
8 The Philistine leaders brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him up with them. 9 While the men in ambush were waiting in her room, she called out to him, “Samson, the Philistines are here!”[c] But he snapped the bowstrings as a strand of yarn snaps when it touches fire. The secret of his strength remained unknown.
10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have mocked me and told me lies! Won’t you please tell me how you can be tied up?”
11 He told her, “If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used,(C) I will become weak and be like any other man.”
12 Delilah took new ropes, tied him up with them, and shouted, “Samson, the Philistines are here!”[d] But while the men in ambush were waiting in her room, he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.
13 Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have mocked me all along and told me lies! Tell me how you can be tied up.”
He told her, “If you weave the seven braids on my head with the web of a loom—”[e]
14 She fastened the braids with a pin and called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are here!”[f] He awoke from his sleep and pulled out the pin, with the loom and the web.
15 “How can you say, ‘I love you,’”(D) she told him, “when your heart is not with me? This is the third time you have mocked me and not told me what makes your strength so great!”
16 Because she nagged him day after day and pleaded with him until she wore him out,[g] 17 he told her the whole truth and said to her, “My hair has never been cut,[h] because I am a Nazirite(E) to God from birth. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become weak and be like any other man.”
18 When Delilah realized that he had told her the whole truth, she sent this message to the Philistine leaders: “Come one more time, for he has told me the whole truth.” The Philistine leaders came to her and brought the money with them.
19 Then she let him fall asleep on her lap and called a man to shave off the seven braids on his head. In this way, she made him helpless,[i] and his strength left him. 20 Then she cried, “Samson, the Philistines are here!”[j] When he awoke from his sleep, he said, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.(F)
Samson’s Defeat and Death
21 The Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles, and he was forced to grind grain in the prison. 22 But his hair began to grow back after it had been shaved.
23 Now the Philistine leaders gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon.(G) They rejoiced and said:
Our god has handed over
our enemy Samson to us.
24 When the people saw him, they praised their god(H) and said:
Our god has handed over to us
our enemy who destroyed our land
and who multiplied our dead.
25 When they were drunk,[k] they said, “Bring Samson here to entertain us.” So they brought Samson from prison, and he entertained them. They had him stand between the pillars.
26 Samson said to the young man who was leading him by the hand, “Lead me where I can feel the pillars supporting the temple, so I can lean against them.” 27 The temple was full of men and women; all the leaders of the Philistines were there, and about 3,000 men and women were on the roof watching Samson entertain them. 28 He called out to the Lord: “Lord God, please remember me.(I) Strengthen me, God, just once more. With one act of vengeance, let me pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 Samson took hold of the two middle pillars supporting the temple and leaned against them, one on his right hand and the other on his left. 30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” He pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the leaders and all the people in it. And the dead he killed at his death were more than those he had killed in his life.
31 Then his brothers and his father’s family came down, carried him back, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. So he judged Israel 20 years.
Paul in Macedonia
20 After the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, and after saying good-bye, departed to go to Macedonia.(A) 2 And when he had passed through those areas and exhorted them at length, he came to Greece 3 and stayed three months. When he was about to set sail for Syria, a plot was devised against him by the Jews, so a decision was made to go back through Macedonia.(B) 4 He was accompanied[a] by Sopater son of Pyrrhus[b] from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy,(C) and Tychicus(D) and Trophimus(E) from Asia. 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas,(F) 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread.(G) In five days we reached them at Troas, where we spent seven days.
Eutychus Revived at Troas
7 On the first day of the week, we[c] assembled to break bread.(H) Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he extended his message until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were assembled, 9 and a young man named Eutychus was sitting on a window sill and sank into a deep sleep as Paul kept on speaking. When he was overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, embraced him, and said, “Don’t be alarmed, for his life is in him!”(I) 11 After going upstairs, breaking the bread, and eating, Paul conversed a considerable time until dawn. Then he left. 12 They brought the boy home alive and were greatly comforted.
From Troas to Miletus
13 Then we went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there. For these were his instructions, since he himself was going by land. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15 Sailing from there, the next day we arrived off Chios. The following day we crossed over to Samos, and[d] the day after, we came to Miletus.(J) 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so he would not have to spend time in Asia, because he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, for the day of Pentecost.(K)
Farewell Address to the Ephesian Elders
17 Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time(L)— 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and with the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews(M)— 20 and that I did not shrink back from proclaiming to you anything that was profitable or from teaching it to you in public and from house to house. 21 I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God(N) and faith in our Lord Jesus.(O)
22 “And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in my spirit,[e] not knowing what I will encounter there,(P) 23 except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me.(Q) 24 But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course[f] and the ministry(R) I received from the Lord Jesus,(S) to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.
25 “And now I know that none of you will ever see my face again—everyone I went about preaching the kingdom to. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent[g] of everyone’s blood,(T) 27 for I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole plan of God.(U) 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock(V) that the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers,(W) to shepherd the church of God,[h] which He purchased with His own blood.(X) 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 And men will rise up from your own number with deviant doctrines to lure the disciples into following them.(Y) 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears.(Z)
32 “And now[i] I commit you to God and to the message of His grace,(AA) which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance(AB) among all who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.(AC) 34 You yourselves know that these hands have provided for my needs and for those who were with me.(AD) 35 In every way I’ve shown you that by laboring like this, it is necessary to help the weak and to keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, for He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36 After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them.(AE) 37 There was a great deal of weeping by everyone. They embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 grieving most of all over his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.(AF)
Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles
29 This is the text of the letter(A) that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders of the exiles, the priests, the prophets, and all the people Nebuchadnezzar(B) had deported from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 This was after King Jeconiah,[a](C) the queen mother, the court officials, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metalsmiths had left Jerusalem. 3 The letter was sent by Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah(D) whom Zedekiah king of Judah had sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. The letter stated:
4 This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and live in them.(E) Plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters to men in marriage so that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease. 7 Seek the welfare of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf,(F) for when it has prosperity, you will prosper.”
8 For this is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Don’t let your prophets who are among you(G) and your diviners deceive you,(H) and don’t listen to the dreams you elicit from them, 9 for they are prophesying falsely to you in My name. I have not sent them.”(I) This is the Lord’s declaration.
10 For this is what the Lord says: “When 70 years for Babylon are complete,(J) I will attend to you and will confirm My promise concerning you to restore you to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you”(K)—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.(L) 13 You will seek Me(M) and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes[b](N) and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place I deported you from.”(O)
15 You have said, “The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon!” 16 But this is what the Lord says concerning the king sitting on David’s throne and concerning all the people living in this city—that is, concerning your brothers who did not go with you into exile. 17 This is what the Lord of Hosts says: “I am about to send against them sword, famine, and plague(P) and will make them like rotten figs that are inedible because they are so bad. 18 I will pursue them with sword, famine, and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth—a curse and a desolation, an object of scorn and a disgrace among all the nations where I have banished them.(Q) 19 I will do this because they have not listened to My words”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“that I sent to them with My servants the prophets time and time again.[c](R) And you too have not listened.” This is the Lord’s declaration.
20 Hear the word of the Lord, all you exiles I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon.(S) 21 This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says to Ahab son of Kolaiah and to Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, the ones prophesying a lie to you in My name:(T) “I am about to hand them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will kill them before your very eyes. 22 Based on what happens to them, all the exiles of Judah who are in Babylon will create a curse(U) that says, ‘May the Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire!’(V) 23 because they have committed an outrage(W) in Israel by committing adultery with their neighbors’ wives and have spoken a lie in My name, which I did not command them. I am He who knows, and I am a witness.” This is the Lord’s declaration.
24 To Shemaiah the Nehelamite you are to say, 25 “This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: You[d] in your own name have sent out letters to all the people of Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah(X) son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests, saying: 26 ‘The Lord has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada the priest to be the chief officer(Y) in the temple of the Lord, responsible for every madman(Z) who acts like a prophet. You must confine him in the stocks(AA) and an iron collar. 27 So now, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who has been acting like a prophet among you?(AB) 28 For he has sent word to us in Babylon, claiming, “The exile will be long. Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce.”’”(AC)
29 Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet.
A Message about Shemaiah
30 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 31 “Send a message to all the exiles, saying: This is what the Lord says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Because Shemaiah prophesied to you, though I did not send him, and made you trust a lie,(AD) 32 this is what the Lord says: I am about to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. There will not be even one of his descendants living among these people,(AE) nor will any ever see the good that I will bring to My people”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“for he has preached rebellion against the Lord.”(AF)
Jesus Faces Pilate
15 As(A) soon as it was morning, the chief priests had a meeting with the elders,(B) scribes,(C) and the whole Sanhedrin.(D) After tying Jesus up, they led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate.(E)
2 So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King(F) of the Jews?”(G)
He answered him, “You have said it.”[a]
3 And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things. 4 Then Pilate(H) questioned Him again, “Are You not answering anything? Look how many things they are accusing You of!” 5 But Jesus still did not answer anything, so Pilate was amazed.
Jesus or Barabbas
6 At(I) the festival(J) it was Pilate’s(K) custom to release for the people a prisoner they requested. 7 There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder(L) during the rebellion.(M) 8 The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom. 9 So Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the King(N) of the Jews(O) for you?” 10 For he knew it was because of envy(P) that the chief priests had handed Him over. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead.
12 Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”
13 Again they shouted, “Crucify Him!”
14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why? What has He done wrong?”
But they shouted, “Crucify Him!” all the more.
15 Then, willing to gratify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. And after having Jesus flogged,[b] he handed Him over to be crucified.
Mocked by the Military
16 Then(Q) the soldiers led Him away into the courtyard (that is, headquarters(R)) and called the whole company together. 17 They dressed Him in a purple(S) robe, twisted together a crown(T) of thorns, and put it on Him. 18 And they began to salute Him, “Hail,(U) King(V) of the Jews!” 19 They kept hitting Him on the head with a reed and spitting on Him. Getting down on their knees,(W) they were paying Him homage. 20 When they had mocked(X) Him, they stripped Him of the purple robe, put His clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.
Crucified between Two Criminals
21 They(Y) forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus’ cross.(Z) He was Simon, a Cyrenian,(AA) the father of Alexander and Rufus.(AB) 22 And(AC) they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Skull Place(AD)). 23 They tried to give Him wine(AE) mixed with myrrh,(AF) but He did not take it. 24 Then they crucified Him and divided His clothes, casting lots(AG) for them to decide what each would get. 25 Now it was nine in the morning[c] when they crucified Him. 26 The inscription of the charge written against Him was:
27 They(AJ) crucified two criminals[d](AK) with Him, one on His right and one on His left. [28 So the Scripture was fulfilled that says: And He was counted among outlaws.][e](AL)[f] 29 Those(AM) who passed by were yelling insults(AN) at[g] Him, shaking their heads,(AO) and saying, “Ha! The One who would demolish the sanctuary and build it in three days,(AP) 30 save Yourself by coming down from the cross!”(AQ) 31 In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes(AR) were mocking Him to one another and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself! 32 Let the Messiah,(AS) the King(AT) of Israel,(AU) come down now from the cross,(AV) so that we may see and believe.”(AW) Even those who were crucified with Him were taunting Him.
The Death of Jesus
33 When(AX) it was noon,[h] darkness came over the whole land[i] until three in the afternoon.[j](AY) 34 And at three[k] Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá[l] sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”(AZ)[m]
35 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “Look, He’s calling for Elijah!” 36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, offered Him a drink,(BA) and said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take Him down!”
37 But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last. 38 Then the curtain(BB) of the sanctuary[n] was split in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion, who was standing opposite Him, saw the way He[o] breathed His last, he said, “This man really was God’s Son!”[p](BC)
40 There(BD) were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene,(BE) Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When He was in Galilee,(BF) they would follow Him and help Him. Many other women had come up with Him to Jerusalem.(BG)
The Burial of Jesus
42 When(BH) it was already evening, because it was preparation day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forward(BI) to the kingdom of God,(BJ) came and boldly went in to Pilate(BK) and asked for Jesus’ body.(BL) 44 Pilate was surprised that He was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him whether He had already died. 45 When he found out from the centurion, he gave the corpse to Joseph. 46 After he bought some fine linen, he took Him down and wrapped Him in the linen. Then he placed Him in a tomb(BM) cut out of the rock, and rolled a stone(BN) against the entrance to the tomb. 47 Now(BO) Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where He was placed.
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