M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Jacob Speaks Over His Sons
49 Jacob called his sons and said to them:
Gather together so that I can tell you
what will happen to you in the last days.
2 Be assembled and listen, sons of Jacob,
and listen to Israel your father.
3 Reuben, my firstborn are you,
my vigor and firstborn of my power,
endowed with extra dignity,
endowed with extra strength—
4 like water boiling over
you will not have extra,
for you got up into your father’s bed,
when you defiled a maid’s couch.
5 Simeon and Levi are brothers,
instruments of violence are their knives.
6 In their secret counsel
may my soul not enter.
In their contingent may my honor
never be united.
For in their anger they slew men,
and in their self-will they maimed oxen.
7 Cursed be their anger for it was strong
and their rage for it was cruel—
I will disperse them in Jacob,
I will scatter them in Israel.
8 Judah, so you are—
your brothers will praise you:
Your hand will be on your enemies’ neck.
Your father’s sons will bow down to you.
9 A lion’s cub is Judah—
from the prey, my son,
you have gone up.
He crouches, lies down like a lion,
or like a lioness—
who would rouse him?[a]
10 The scepter will not pass from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,[b]
until he to whom it belongs will come.
To him will be the obedience of the peoples.[c]
11 Binding his foal to the vine,
his donkey’s colt to the choice vine,[d]
he washes his garments in wine,
and in the blood of grapes his robe.[e]
12 His eyes are darker than wine,
and teeth that are whiter than milk.
13 Zebulun will dwell by the seashore,
and be by a harbor for ships—
his distant border reaches Sidon.
14 Issachar is a strong-boned donkey,
lying down between two saddlebags.
15 He saw that a resting place was good,
and that the land was pleasant.
He leaned his shoulder to bear a burden,
and became a forced laborer.
16 Dan will judge his people,
as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Let Dan be a serpent beside a road,
a viper beside a path,
who strikes a horse’s heels,
so that its rider falls backward.
18 For your salvation I wait, Adonai!
19 Gad—attackers will attack him,
but he will attack their heels.
20 Asher—rich is his food—
he will provide delicacies fit for a king.
21 Naphtali is a doe let loose,
who offers words of beauty.
22 A fruitful son is Joseph,
a fruitful son beside a spring—
daughters walk along a wall.
23 The archers were bitter and shot arrows
and were hostile towards him.
24 Yet his bow was always filled,
and his arms quick-moving—
by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob.
From there a Shepherd,
the Stone of Israel,[f]
25 from the God of your father
who helps you,
and Shaddai who blesses you,
with blessings of heavens above,
blessings of the deep that lies below,
blessings of breasts and womb.
26 The blessings of your father surpassed
the blessings of the ancient mountains,
the desire of the everlasting hills.
May they be upon Joseph’s head,
upon the crown of the one set apart from his brothers.
27 Benjamin is a ravening wolf—
in the morning he devours spoils,
and in the evening divides plunder.
28 These are the tribes of Israel, twelve in all, and this is what their father spoke to them. He blessed them, each one he blessed with a suitable blessing. 29 Then he charged them and said to them, “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, that is next to Mamre in the land of Canaan—the field that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite as a property for burial. 31 There they buried Abraham and his wife Sarah. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, and there I buried Leah. 32 The field was purchased along with the cave in it from the sons of Het.”
33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, then breathed his last and was gathered to his peoples.
Yeshua’s Birth in Bethlehem
2 Now it happened in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the world’s inhabitants. 2 This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 Everyone was traveling to be registered in his own city.
4 Now Joseph also went up from the Galilee, out of the town of Natzeret to Judah, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David. [a] 5 He went to register with Miriam, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.
6 But while they were there, the time came for her to give birth— 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped Him in strips of cloth and set Him down in a manger, since there was no room for them in the inn.
Shepherds Witness Angelic Praises
8 Now there were shepherds in the same region, living out in the fields and guarding their flock at night. 9 Suddenly an angel of Adonai stood before them, and the glory of Adonai shone all around them; and they were absolutely terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I proclaim Good News to you, which will be great joy to all the people. 11 A Savior is born to you today in the city of David, who is Messiah the Lord. 12 And the sign to you is this: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly a multitude of heavenly armies appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth shalom to men of good will.”
15 And when the angels departed from them into the heavens, the shepherds were saying to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which Adonai has made known to us!” 16 So they hurried off and found Miriam and Joseph, and the Baby lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the word that had been spoken to them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard were amazed at the things the shepherds told them. 19 But Miriam treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.
Temple Prophets Rejoice
21 When eight days had passed for His brit-milah,[b] He was named Yeshua, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of their purification were fulfilled,[c] according to the Torah of Moses, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present to Adonai. 23 As it is written in the Torah of Adonai, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to Adonai.” [d] 24 So they offered a sacrifice according to what was said in the Torah of Adonai: “a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.”[e]
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and pious, waiting for the consolation of Israel.[f] The Ruach ha-Kodesh was on him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Ruach ha-Kodesh that he would not die before he had seen the Anointed One of Adonai. 27 So in the Ruach, Simeon came into the Temple; and when the parents brought the Child Yeshua to do for Him according to the custom of the Torah, 28 Simeon received Him into his arms and offered a bracha to God, saying,
29 “Now may You let Your servant go in peace, O Sovereign Master,[g]
according to Your word.
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 which You have prepared
in the presence of all peoples:
32 ‘A light for revelation to the nations’[h]
and the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and mother were marveling at the things that were said about Him. 34 And Simeon offered a bracha over them and said to Miriam His mother, “Behold, this One is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that is opposed, 35 so the thoughts of many hearts may be uncovered. (And even for you, a sword will pierce through your soul.)”
36 Now Anna, a daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher, was a prophetess. She was well advanced in age, having lived with a husband only[i] seven years 37 and then as a widow until age eighty-four. She never left the Temple, serving night and day with fasting and prayers. 38 And coming up at that very instant, she began praising God and speaking about the Child to all those waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.[j]
39 When Joseph and Miriam had completed everything according to the Torah of Adonai, they returned to the Galilee, to their own city of Natzeret. 40 The Child kept growing and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.
The Boy Astonishes Jerusalem Scholars
41 Now His parents were going every year to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. [k] 42 When He became twelve years old, they were going up according to festival custom. 43 As they headed home after completing the days, the boy Yeshua remained in Jerusalem, but His parents didn’t know. 44 Supposing He was in the caravan, they went a day’s journey, then began looking for Him among relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.
46 After three days they found Him in the Temple, sitting in the center of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all those hearing Him were astonished at His understanding and His answers. 48 When His parents saw Yeshua, they were overwhelmed. And His mother said to Him, “Child, why did you do this to us? Look! Your father and I were searching for You frantically!”
49 He said to them, “Why were you searching for Me? Didn’t you know that I must be about the things of My Father?” 50 But they did not grasp the message He was telling them.
51 Then He went down with them to Natzeret and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured all these words in her heart. 52 And Yeshua kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Eliphaz Rebukes Job
15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded and said:
2 “Does a wise man answer with empty knowledge,
or fill his belly with the east wind?
3 Does he argue with useless talk
and words that have no value in them?
4 You even do away with reverence
and hinder devotion before God.
5 For your iniquity prompts your mouth
and you choose the tongue of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth condemns you—not I;
your own lips testify against you.
7 “Are you the first man to be born?
Were you brought forth before the hills?
8 Do you listen in on God’s counsel?
Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
9 What do you know that we do not know?
What do you understand that we do not understand?
10 Both gray-haired and aged are with us,
men even older than your father.
11 Are the comforts of God too small for you,
or a gentle word toward you?
12 Why has your heart carried you away
and why do your eyes flash,
13 so that you turn your spirit against God
and bring such words out of your mouth?
14 “What is man, that he could be pure,
or one born of woman, that he could be righteous?
15 If He puts no trust in His holy ones,
if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,
16 how much less man, who is vile and corrupt,
who drinks evil like water!
17 I will tell you; listen to me,
and what I have seen I will declare,
18 what wise men have declared
and did not hide from their ancestors,
19 to whom alone the land was given,
when no foreigner passed among them:
20 All his days the wicked suffers torment,
and numbered are the years stored up for the tyrant.
21 Terrifying sounds are in his ears;
in a time of peace, marauders attack him.
22 He does not expect to escape from darkness;
he is destined for the sword.
23 He wanders about for bread—‘Where is it?’
He knows that the day of darkness is at hand.
24 Distress and anguish terrify him;
they overpower him like a king poised to attack,
25 for he raises his hand against God
and flaunts himself against Shaddai,
26 defiantly rushing at Him
with a thick, strong shield.
27 Because He covered his face with his fat
and made his hips bulge with blubber,
28 he lived in ruined cities,
in houses which no one inhabits,
which are ready to crumble into heaps.
29 He will not become rich, and his wealth will not endure,
nor will his possessions spread over the land.
30 He will not escape from the darkness;
a flame will wither his shoots,
and he will depart by the breath of His mouth.
31 “Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself;
for emptiness will be his reward.
32 Before his day it will be paid in full
and his branch will not be green.
33 He will shake off his unripe grapes like a vine,
and cast off his blossoms like an olive tree.
34 For the company of the godless is barren,
and fire consumes the tents of bribery.
35 They conceive mischief and bring forth evil
and their belly prepares deception.”
Building Together on God’s Foundation
3 And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as Spirit-filled but as worldly[a]—as infants in Messiah. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready. Indeed, even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, aren’t you worldly and walking in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere humans[b]?
5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to trust—and to each as the Lord gave. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters work as one, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each consider carefully how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay any other foundation than what is already laid[c]—which is Yeshua the Messiah. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear. For the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed by fire; and the fire itself will test each one’s work—what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss—he himself will be saved, but as through fire.
16 Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that the Ruach Elohim dwells among you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool so he may become wise. [d] 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the sight of God. For it is written, “He catches the clever in their craftiness.” [e] 20 And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are useless.” [f] 21 So let no one boast about men. For all things are yours— 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Kefa, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come. All are yours, 23 and you are Messiah’s, and Messiah is God’s.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.