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 5,920
Proverbs 9:1-11 (Mid-Pentecost) 1 min 5,576
Proverbs 9:12-18 (3rd Wednesday of Lent) 1 min 5,601
Proverbs Composite 10, 3, 8 (Vespers, 1st Reading, St. Alexis) 2 mins 5,204
Psalm 1 (Saturday Vespers and at vigils) 1 min 7,088
Psalm 10 (Sunday (Sunday and Wednesday during Great Lent)) 1 min 2,647
Psalm 100 (First Hour) 1 min 5,137
Psalm 101 (Great Compline, Lent) 2 mins 5,195
Psalm 102 (Matins, Six Psalms 5th, Typica) 2 mins 6,253
Psalm 103 (Vespers (Sunset Psalm)) 3 mins 9,616
Psalm 103:1,5 (Prokeimenon – Monday; Holy Angels) - 5,218
Psalm 103:24, 1 (Sunday Liturgy, Prokeimenon, Tone 4) - 5,334
Psalm 103:5 (Communion Hymn for Monday; Holy Angels) - 4,470
Psalm 108 (Third Royal Hour, Holy Friday) 3 mins 6,063
Psalm 109 (Ninth Royal Hour, Nativity) 1 min 5,195
Psalm 11 (Sunday (Sunday and Wednesday during Great Lent)) 1 min 2,926
Psalm 11:5, 6, 7 (Sunday Matins Prokeimenon, First Tone) - 5,003
Psalm 11:8, 1 (Sunday Liturgy Prokeimenon, Tone 5) - 4,539
Psalm 110 (Ninth Royal Hour, Nativity) 1 min 4,933
Psalm 111:6 (Communion Hymn for Tuesday Forerunner and Martyr) - 4,657
Psalm 112 (Mid-hour of Ninth Hour) 1 min 4,393
Psalm 113 (Ninth Royal Hour, Theophany) 2 mins 5,226
Psalm 115 (Preparation for Holy Communion) 1 min 15,381
Psalm 115:13 (Communion Hymn for The Theotokos) - 5,393