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
Joel 2:28-32 (Vespers, Wednesday before lent) 1 min 5,005
Jonah 2:2-9 – (Matins – Canticle Six – The Prayer of Jonah) 1 min 2,838
Jonah entire book (Holy Saturday Vespers) 7 mins 4,638
Joshua 3:7-8;15-17 (Eve of the Theophany) 1 min 6,933
Joshua 5:10-15 (Holy Saturday Vespers) 1 min 4,932
Joshua 5:13-15 (Bodiless Powers) 1 min 5,132
Judges – composite of 13:2-8, 13-14, 17-18, 21 (Vespers, Nativity of Baptist John) 1 min 5,977
Judges 6:2,7,11-24 (Bodiless Powers) 2 mins 6,032
Judges 6:36-40 (Eve of the Theophany) 1 min 5,119
Leviticus – Composite Ch. 26 (Vespers, Indiction) 2 mins 4,300
Leviticus 12 (Vespers Meeting of Our Lord) 1 min 4,149
Malachi Composite of 3, 4 (Vespers, Forerunner) 2 mins 5,172
Micah 4:2-3, 5; 5:2-5, 8 (Mid-Pentecost) 2 mins 4,143
Micah 4:6-7; 5:2-4 (Eve of the Nativity) 1 min 5,501
Micah 5:2-4 (Eve of the Nativity) 1 min 5,199
Numbers 11:16-17,24-29 (Pentecost Vespers) 1 min 4,762
Numbers 24:2-3; 5-9;17-18 (Eve of the Nativity) 1 min 5,217
Numbers 8 (Vespers – Meeting of Our Lord) 3 mins 3,773
Proverbs 1:1-20 (1st Monday of Lent) 2 mins 6,040
Proverbs 1:20-33 (1st Tuesday of Lent) 1 min 5,780
Proverbs 10:1-22 (3rd Thursday of Lent) 2 mins 5,571
Proverbs 10:31-11:12 (3rd Friday of Lent) 1 min 6,042
Proverbs 11:19-12:6 (4th Monday of Lent) 2 mins 4,582
Proverbs 12:23-13:9 (4th Wednesday of Lent) 1 min 4,637