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What the Bible Says About Readings, Select

Overview

The Bible addresses readings, select across 400 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Psalms, Acts and Genesis. Closely related themes include Faith, Church (2), Ruth and Psalms. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Paul, Esther, Mordecai and Naomi.

Key Bible verses about readings, select

Old Testament

Genesis

Genesis 44:18

Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.

Genesis 44:19

My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?

Genesis 44:20

And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.

Genesis 44:21

And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.

Genesis 44:22

And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.

Genesis 44:23

And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.

Genesis 44:24

And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.

Genesis 44:25

And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.

Genesis 44:26

And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us.

Genesis 44:27

And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:

Genesis 44:28

And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:

Genesis 44:29

And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

Genesis 44:30

Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life;

Genesis 44:31

It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.

Genesis 44:32

For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.

Genesis 44:33

Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.

Genesis 44:34

For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father. come: Heb. find my father

Genesis 45:1

Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

Genesis 45:2

And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. wept: Heb. gave forth his voice in weeping

Genesis 45:3

And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. troubled: or, terrified

Genesis 45:4

And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

Genesis 45:5

Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. nor: Heb. neither let there be anger in your eyes

Genesis 45:6

For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.

Genesis 45:7

And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. to preserve: Heb. to put for you a remnant

Genesis 45:8

So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 45:9

Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:

Genesis 45:10

And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:

Genesis 45:11

And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.

Genesis 45:12

And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.

Genesis 45:13

And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.

Genesis 45:14

And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.

Genesis 45:15

Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.

Ruth

Ruth 1:1

Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. ruled: Heb. judged

Ruth 1:2

And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. continued: Heb. were

Ruth 1:3

And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

Ruth 1:4

And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

Ruth 1:5

And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

Ruth 1:6

Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.

Ruth 1:7

Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

Ruth 1:8

And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

Ruth 1:9

The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

Ruth 1:10

And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

Ruth 1:11

And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

Ruth 1:12

Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; should have: or were with an husband

Ruth 1:13

Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. tarry: Heb. hope it grieveth: Heb. I have much bitterness

Ruth 1:14

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

Ruth 1:15

And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

Ruth 1:16

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Intreat: or, Be not against me

Ruth 1:17

Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Ruth 1:18

When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. was: Heb. strengthened herself

Ruth 1:19

So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

Ruth 1:20

And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. Naomi: that is, Pleasant Mara: that is, Bitter

Ruth 1:21

I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

Ruth 1:22

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

2 Samuel

2 Samuel 18:19

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies. avenged: Heb. judged him from the hand, etc

2 Samuel 18:20

And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead. bear tidings this: Heb. be a man of tidings, etc

2 Samuel 18:21

Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

2 Samuel 18:22

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready? howsoever: Heb. be what may ready: or, convenient

2 Samuel 18:23

But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.

2 Samuel 18:24

And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

2 Samuel 18:25

And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.

2 Samuel 18:26

And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.

2 Samuel 18:27

And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. Me: Heb. I see the running

2 Samuel 18:28

And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. All: or, Peace be to thee: Heb. Peace delivered: Heb. shut up

2 Samuel 18:29

And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. Is: Heb. Is there peace?

2 Samuel 18:30

And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

2 Samuel 18:31

And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. Tidings: Heb. Tidings is brought

2 Samuel 18:32

And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

2 Samuel 18:33

And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

1 Kings

1 Kings 17:1

And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. Elijah: Heb. Elijahu: Gr. Elias

1 Kings 17:2

And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

1 Kings 17:3

Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

1 Kings 17:4

And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

1 Kings 17:5

So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

1 Kings 17:6

And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

1 Kings 17:7

And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. after: Heb. at the end of days

1 Kings 17:8

And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

1 Kings 17:9

Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. Zarephath: Gr. Sarepta

1 Kings 17:10

So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

1 Kings 17:11

And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

1 Kings 17:12

And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

1 Kings 17:13

And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

1 Kings 17:14

For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. sendeth: Heb. giveth

1 Kings 17:15

And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. many: or, a full year

1 Kings 17:16

And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah. by: Heb. by the hand of

2 Kings

2 Kings 4:1

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

2 Kings 4:2

And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

2 Kings 4:3

Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. borrow not: or, scant not

2 Kings 4:4

And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

2 Kings 4:5

So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

2 Kings 4:6

And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

2 Kings 4:7

Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest. debt: or, creditor

2 Kings 5:1

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. with: Heb. before. honourable: or, gracious: Heb. lifted up, or, accepted in countenance. deliverance: or, victory

2 Kings 5:2

And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife. waited: Heb. was before

2 Kings 5:3

And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. with: Heb. before recover: Heb. gather in

2 Kings 5:4

And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

2 Kings 5:5

And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. with: Heb. in his hand

2 Kings 5:6

And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.

2 Kings 5:7

And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

2 Kings 5:8

And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.

2 Kings 5:9

So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

2 Kings 5:10

And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

2 Kings 5:11

But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. I thought: Heb. I said. or, I said with my self, He will surely come out, etc. strike: Heb. move up and down

2 Kings 5:12

Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. Abana: or, Amana

2 Kings 5:13

And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

2 Kings 5:14

Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Esther

Esther 4:1

When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

Esther 4:2

And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

Esther 4:3

And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. many: Heb. sackcloth and ashes were laid under many

Esther 4:4

So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not. chamberlains: Heb. eunuchs

Esther 4:5

Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was. appointed: Heb. set before her

Esther 4:6

So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.

Esther 4:7

And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

Esther 4:8

Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

Esther 4:9

And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

Esther 4:10

Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

Esther 4:11

All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

Esther 4:12

And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

Esther 4:13

Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.

Esther 4:14

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? enlargement: Heb. respiration

Esther 4:15

Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

Esther 4:16

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. present: Heb. found

Esther 4:17

So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him. went: Heb. passed

Esther 7:1

So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. to banquet: Heb. to drink

Esther 7:2

And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.

Esther 7:3

Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

Esther 7:4

For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. to be destroyed: Heb. that they should destroy, and kill, and cause to perish

Esther 7:5

Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? that: Heb. whose heart hath filled him

Esther 7:6

And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. The adversary: Heb. The man adversary before: or, at the presence of

Esther 7:7

And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.

Esther 7:8

Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. before me: Heb. with me

Esther 7:9

And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. gallows: Heb. tree

Esther 7:10

So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

Job

Job 28:1

Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it. vein: or, mine

Job 28:2

Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. earth: or, dust

Job 28:3

He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.

Job 28:4

The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.

Job 28:5

As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.

Job 28:6

The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold. dust: or, gold ore

Job 28:7

There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen:

Job 28:8

The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.

Job 28:9

He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. rock: or, flint

Job 28:10

He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.

Job 28:11

He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light. overflowing: Heb. weeping

Job 28:12

But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

Job 28:13

Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

Job 28:14

The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.

Job 28:15

It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. It: Heb. Fine gold shall not be given for it

Job 28:16

It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

Job 28:17

The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. jewels: or, vessels of

Job 28:18

No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. coral: or, Ramoth

Job 28:19

The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

Job 28:20

Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

Job 28:21

Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. air: or, heaven

Job 28:22

Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.

Job 28:23

God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

Job 28:24

For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;

Job 28:25

To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.

Job 28:26

When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:

Job 28:27

Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. declare: or, number it

Job 28:28

And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Psalms

Psalms 8:1

To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

Psalms 8:2

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. ordained: Heb. founded

Psalms 8:3

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

Psalms 8:4

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Psalms 8:5

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Psalms 8:6

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

Psalms 8:7

All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; All: Heb. Flocks and oxen all of them

Psalms 8:8

The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

Psalms 8:9

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Psalms 18:1

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

Psalms 18:2

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. my strength: Heb. my rock

Psalms 18:3

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Psalms 18:4

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. ungodly men: Heb. Belial

Psalms 18:5

The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. sorrows: or, cords

Psalms 18:6

In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Psalms 18:7

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

Psalms 18:8

There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. out of his nostrils: Heb. by his, etc

Psalms 18:9

He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.

Psalms 18:10

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

Psalms 18:11

He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

Psalms 18:12

At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.

Psalms 18:13

The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

Psalms 18:14

Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

Psalms 18:15

Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

Psalms 18:16

He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. many: or, great

Psalms 18:17

He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.

Psalms 18:18

They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

Psalms 18:19

He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

Psalms 23:1

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psalms 23:2

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. green: Heb. pastures of tender grass still: Heb. waters of quietness

Psalms 23:3

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalms 23:4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalms 23:5

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. anointest: Heb. makest fat

Psalms 23:6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. for ever: Heb. to length of days

Psalms 46:1

To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. for: or, of

Psalms 46:2

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; midst: Heb. heart of the seas

Psalms 46:3

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Psalms 46:4

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

Psalms 46:5

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. and: Heb. when the morning appeareth

Psalms 46:6

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

Psalms 46:7

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. our: Heb. an high place for us

Psalms 46:8

Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

Psalms 46:9

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Psalms 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalms 46:11

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Psalms 137:1

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

Psalms 137:2

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

Psalms 137:3

For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. a song: Heb. the words of a song wasted: Heb. laid us on heaps

Psalms 137:4

How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land? strange: Heb. land of a stranger?

Psalms 137:5

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

Psalms 137:6

If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. my chief: Heb. the head of my joy

Psalms 137:7

Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. Rase it: Heb. Make bare

Psalms 137:8

O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. destroyed: Heb. wasted rewardeth: Heb. recompenseth unto thee thy deed which thou didst to us

Psalms 137:9

Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones. the stones: Heb. the rock

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 12:1

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Ecclesiastes 12:2

While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

Ecclesiastes 12:3

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, the grinders: or, the grinders fail, because they grind little

Ecclesiastes 12:4

And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

Ecclesiastes 12:5

Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

Ecclesiastes 12:6

Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

Ecclesiastes 12:7

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Isaiah

Isaiah 35:1

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

Isaiah 35:2

It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

Isaiah 35:3

Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

Isaiah 35:4

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. fearful: Heb. hasty

Isaiah 35:5

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Isaiah 35:6

Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Isaiah 35:7

And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. grass: or, a court for reeds, etc

Isaiah 35:8

And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. but: or, for he shall be with them

Isaiah 35:9

No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

Isaiah 35:10

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

New Testament

Matthew

Matthew 6:26

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Matthew 6:27

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

Matthew 6:28

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

Matthew 6:29

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Matthew 6:30

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Matthew 6:31

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Matthew 6:32

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Matthew 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:34

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Luke

Luke 1:46

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

Luke 1:47

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Luke 1:48

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Luke 1:49

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

Luke 1:50

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

Luke 1:51

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

Luke 1:52

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

Luke 1:53

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

Luke 1:54

He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

Luke 1:55

As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

Luke 1:56

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Acts

Acts 2:1

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Acts 2:2

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Acts 2:3

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Acts 2:4

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:5

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Acts 2:6

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. was: Gr. voice was made confounded: or, troubled in mind

Acts 2:7

And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

Acts 2:8

And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Acts 2:9

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

Acts 2:10

Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome Jews and proselytes,

Acts 2:11

Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Acts 2:12

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

Acts 2:13

Others mocking said These men are full of new wine.

Acts 2:14

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

Acts 2:15

For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

Acts 2:16

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

Acts 2:17

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Acts 2:18

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Acts 2:19

And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

Acts 2:20

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

Acts 2:21

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 2:22

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

Acts 2:23

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Acts 2:24

Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Acts 2:25

For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

Acts 2:26

Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

Acts 2:27

Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Acts 2:28

Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

Acts 2:29

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. let me: or, I may

Acts 2:30

Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

Acts 2:31

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

Acts 2:32

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Acts 2:33

Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

Acts 2:34

For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

Acts 2:35

Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

Acts 2:36

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Acts 16:16

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: of divination: or, of Python

Acts 16:17

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

Acts 16:18

And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

Acts 16:19

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, marketplace: or, court

Acts 16:20

And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

Acts 16:21

And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

Acts 16:22

And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

People in the Bible and readings, select

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying readings, select for yourself

  • Begin with Genesis 44:18, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Psalms, Acts and Genesis each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Paul, Esther and Mordecai and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Faith, Church (2), Ruth and Psalms.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about readings, select?

The Bible addresses readings, select across 400 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Psalms, Acts and Genesis. Closely related themes include Faith, Church (2), Ruth and Psalms. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Paul, Esther, Mordecai and Naomi.

How many Bible verses are about readings, select?

The Bible references readings, select in 400 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention readings, select?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 44:18: “Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.”

Which people in the Bible are associated with readings, select?

Paul, Esther, Mordecai, Naomi and David.

Preach & teach

Outline a sermon or build a study series on readings, select.

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