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 43:26,1 (Sunday Matins Prokeimenon, Fourth Tone) - 4,766
Psalm 44 (Matins (Polyeleos on Feasts of the Theotokos) First Royal Hour, Nativity) 2 mins 7,512
Psalm 44:10, 12 (Alleluia Tone 8, for the Theotokos) - 5,443
Psalm 44:4, 7 (Alleluia, Tone 4) - 4,956
Psalm 45 (Mid-hour of First Hour,First Royal Hour, Nativity) 1 min 5,294
Psalm 46 (Tuesday (Monday and Thursday during Lent)) 1 min 2,503
Psalm 46:1,6 (Divine Liturgy – Sunday Tone 3 – Prokeimenon) - 4,804
Psalm 47 (Tuesday (Monday and Thursday during Lent)) 1 min 2,694
Psalm 48 (Tuesday (Monday and Thursday during Lent)) 2 mins 2,541
Psalm 48:3, 1 (Prokeimenon Tone 1, for Hierarch) - 4,681
Psalm 49 (Tuesday (Monday and Thursday during Lent)) 2 mins 2,584
Psalm 5 (First Hour, First Royal Hour, Holy Friday, First Royal Hour, Nativity and Theophany) 1 min 6,273
Psalm 50 (Third Hour, Matins, others) 2 mins 6,838
Psalm 51 (Tuesday (Monday and Thursday during Lent)) 1 min 2,490
Psalm 52 (Tuesday (Monday and Thursday during Lent)) 1 min 2,409
Psalm 53 (Sixth Hour, Sixth Royal Hour – Holy Friday) 1 min 5,171
Psalm 54 (Sixth Hour) 2 mins 5,142
Psalm 55 (Mid-hour of Sixth Hour) 1 min 4,589
Psalm 56 (Mid-hour of Sixth Hour) 1 min 4,738
Psalm 57 (Tuesday (Monday and Thursday during Lent) ) 1 min 2,715
Psalm 58 (Tuesday (Monday and Thursday during Lent)) 2 mins 2,540
Psalm 59 (Tuesday (Monday and Thursday during Lent)) 1 min 2,726
Psalm 6 (Great Compline, Lent) 1 min 5,902
Psalm 60 (Mid-hour of Third Hour) 1 min 4,732