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 84 (Ninth Hour) 1 min 4,506
Psalm 85 (Ninth Hour, Ninth Royal Hour, Holy Friday, Ninth Royal Hour, Nativity and Theophany) 2 mins 5,408
Psalm 86 (Third Royal Hour, Nativity, Consecration of a Church) 1 min 6,464
Psalm 87 (Matins, Six Psalms 4th) 2 mins 5,664
Psalm 88:2, 3 (Alleluia, Tone 5) - 4,790
Psalm 89 (First Hour) 2 mins 5,379
Psalm 9 (Sunday (Sunday and Wednesday during Great Lent)) 4 mins 2,780
Psalm 9:33, 1 (Sunday Matins Prokeimenon, Fifth Tone) - 4,891
Psalm 9:33, 1 (Sunday Matins Prokeimenon, Seventh Tone) - 5,138
Psalm 90 (Sixth Hour, Great Compline – Lent, others) 2 mins 7,056
Psalm 90:1, 2 (Alleluia, Tone 6) - 4,908
Psalm 91 (Mid-hour of First Hour, Service of Burial of a Priest) 1 min 4,561
Psalm 91:1, 2 (Alleluia, Tone 7) - 4,697
Psalm 92 (Mid-hour of First Hour, Ninth Royal Hour, Theophany) 1 min 5,148
Psalm 94:1, 2 (Alleluia, Tone 8) - 4,924
Psalm 95:10, 1 (Sunday Matins Prokeimenon Third Tone) - 5,006
Psalm 98:5, 1 (Prokeimenon Tone 7, Evation of the Cross) - 3,638
Psalm-141 (Vespers (Lord I have-cried)) 1 min 6,333
Psalms Chanted in the Services 7 mins 9,611
Psalms in Antiphons 1 min 11,876
Psalms in Communion Hymns - 9,885
Psalms in Prokeimenon and Alleluia Verses 1 min 12,279
Samuel 2:1-10 (Matins – Canticle Three – The Prayer of Hannah the mother of Samuel the Prophet) 2 mins 3,187
Wisdom of Solomon – Composite of 4, 6, 7, 2 (Vespers – St John Chrysostom) 3 mins 7,082