Scripture Readings - Old Testament Readings

Old Testament

The Old Testament is the first part of the Bible, the books written before the coming of Christ. They are divided into four groups:

  1. Books of the Law;
  2. Historical Books;
  3. Doctrinal and
  4. Prophetical.

The Old Testament scripture begins with the five books of the Law called the Pentateuch, which means the five books; also called the Torah, which means the Law. Sometimes these books are also called the Books of Moses since they are centered on the exodus and the Mosaic laws.

In the Old Testament there are also books of the history of Israel; books called the Wisdom books such as the Psalms, Proverbs, and the Book of Job; and books of the prophecies which carry the names of the Old Testament prophets. A prophet is one who speaks the Word of God by direct divine inspiration. Only secondarily does the word prophet mean one who foretells the future.

The Orthodox Church also numbers among the genuine books of the Old Testament the so-called apocryphal books, meaning literally the secret or hidden writings. Other Christians put these books in a secondary place or reject completely their being of divine inspiration.

Reading Read Time Hit Count
Psalm 146:5, 1 (Prokeimenon Tone 3, for the Indiction) - 3,238
Psalm 148 (Matins, Praises) 1 min 6,951
Psalm 148:1 (Communion Hymn) - 4,182
Psalm 149 (Matins, Praises) 1 min 5,166
Psalm 15 (Sunday (Sunday and Wednesday during Great Lent)) 1 min 2,881
Psalm 150 (Matins, Praises) - 5,831
Psalm 16 (Third Hour) 2 mins 6,354
Psalm 17 (Sunday (Sunday and Wednesday during Great Lent)) 5 mins 2,760
Psalm 17:47,50 (The Divine Liturgy – Sunday Tone 1 – Alleluia) - 4,989
Psalm 18 (Sunday (Sunday and Wednesday during Great Lent)) 2 mins 2,841
Psalm 18:4 (Communion Hymn for Thursday; Apostles, St Nicholas) - 4,392
Psalm 19 (Matins, Royal Hours) 1 min 5,989
Psalm 19:1,9 (Divine Liturgy – Sunday Tone 2 – Alleluia) - 5,000
Psalm 2 (First Royal Hour, Holy Friday) 1 min 7,048
Psalm 20 (Matins, Royal Hours) 1 min 5,510
Psalm 21 (First Royal Hour, Holy Friday) 3 mins 6,076
Psalm 22 (Preparation for Holy Communion,Consecration of a church,First Royal Hour, Theophany) 1 min 5,989
Psalm 23 (Preparation for Holy Communion) 1 min 7,179
Psalm 24 (Third Hour, Great Compline – Lent) 2 mins 5,469
Psalm 24:13, 1-2 ( Prokeimenon Tone 6, for the Departed) - 8,509
Psalm 25 (Consecration of a church) 1 min 4,994
Psalm 26 (First Royal Hour, Theophany) 2 mins 6,394
Psalm 27 (Monday (Monday and Wednesday during Lent)) 1 min 2,645
Psalm 27:9, 1 (Sunday Liturgy, Prokeimenon, Tone 6) - 5,077