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
Proverbs 8:32-9:11 (3rd Tuesday of Lent) 1 min 5,935
Proverbs 9:1-11 (Mid-Pentecost) 1 min 5,597
Proverbs 9:12-18 (3rd Wednesday of Lent) 1 min 5,616
Proverbs Composite 10, 3, 8 (Vespers, 1st Reading, St. Alexis) 2 mins 5,231
Psalm 1 (Saturday Vespers and at vigils) 1 min 7,107
Psalm 10 (Sunday (Sunday and Wednesday during Great Lent)) 1 min 2,660
Psalm 100 (First Hour) 1 min 5,148
Psalm 101 (Great Compline, Lent) 2 mins 5,205
Psalm 102 (Matins, Six Psalms 5th, Typica) 2 mins 6,264
Psalm 103 (Vespers (Sunset Psalm)) 3 mins 9,637
Psalm 103:1,5 (Prokeimenon – Monday; Holy Angels) - 5,231
Psalm 103:24, 1 (Sunday Liturgy, Prokeimenon, Tone 4) - 5,346
Psalm 103:5 (Communion Hymn for Monday; Holy Angels) - 4,483
Psalm 108 (Third Royal Hour, Holy Friday) 3 mins 6,073
Psalm 109 (Ninth Royal Hour, Nativity) 1 min 5,204
Psalm 11 (Sunday (Sunday and Wednesday during Great Lent)) 1 min 2,937
Psalm 11:5, 6, 7 (Sunday Matins Prokeimenon, First Tone) - 5,020
Psalm 11:8, 1 (Sunday Liturgy Prokeimenon, Tone 5) - 4,556
Psalm 110 (Ninth Royal Hour, Nativity) 1 min 4,945
Psalm 111:6 (Communion Hymn for Tuesday Forerunner and Martyr) - 4,676
Psalm 112 (Mid-hour of Ninth Hour) 1 min 4,409
Psalm 113 (Ninth Royal Hour, Theophany) 2 mins 5,236
Psalm 115 (Preparation for Holy Communion) 1 min 15,394
Psalm 115:13 (Communion Hymn for The Theotokos) - 5,406