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The Holy Bible · free · no sign-up

Read the Bible Online Free

You can read the Holy Bible online free, right here: every book and chapter in English, with no sign-up, no ads and no app. Choose from 24 English Bibles, or start with John 1. The books the early church also read in its Old Testament (Protestants call them the Apocrypha) are here too, with over 2,500 Bibles in over 2,000 languages.

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Start reading now

Start with John 1A Gospel to begin with
Genesis 1In the beginningPsalm 23The shepherd psalmMatthew 5The Sermon on the Mount

Or choose any book and chapter

John 1:1–5 World English Bible

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.

Keep reading John 1

On John 1:1: Tertullian is among the early Christians who wrote on this verse. Tap verse 1 in the reader to read what they said.

The table of contents

Pick a book and chapter

Tap a book, then a chapter number. The chapter opens in our reader in the classic 1769 wording, and you can switch to another Bible inside the reader at any time.

Old Testament39 books, Protestant order

Law 5 books · The first five books, from creation to Moses.

History 12 books · Israel in the land, from Joshua to Esther.

Wisdom and poetry 5 books · Prayers, songs and sayings, from Job to the Song of Solomon.

Prophets 17 books · The messages of the prophets, from Isaiah to Malachi.

New Testament27 books

Gospels and Acts 5 books · The life of Jesus and the first church.

Letters and Revelation 22 books · Letters to the churches, and the last book of the Bible.

Exodus 40 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Leviticus 27 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Numbers 36 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Deuteronomy 34 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Joshua 24 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Judges 21 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Ruth 4 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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1 Samuel 31 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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2 Samuel 24 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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1 Kings 22 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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2 Kings 25 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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1 Chronicles 29 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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2 Chronicles 36 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Ezra 10 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Nehemiah 13 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Esther 10 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Proverbs 31 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Ecclesiastes 12 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Song of Solomon 8 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Lamentations 5 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Daniel 12 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Hosea 14 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Joel 3 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Amos 9 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Obadiah 1 chapter · tap a number to start reading

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Jonah 4 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Micah 7 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Nahum 3 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Habakkuk 3 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Zephaniah 3 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Haggai 2 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Zechariah 14 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Malachi 4 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Matthew 28 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Mark 16 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Luke 24 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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John 21 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Acts 28 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Romans 16 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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1 Corinthians 16 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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2 Corinthians 13 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Galatians 6 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Ephesians 6 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Philippians 4 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Colossians 4 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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1 Thessalonians 5 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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2 Thessalonians 3 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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1 Timothy 6 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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2 Timothy 4 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Titus 3 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Philemon 1 chapter · tap a number to start reading

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Hebrews 13 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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James 5 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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1 Peter 5 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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2 Peter 3 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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1 John 5 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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2 John 1 chapter · tap a number to start reading

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3 John 1 chapter · tap a number to start reading

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Jude 1 chapter · tap a number to start reading

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Revelation 22 chapters · tap a number to start reading

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Also in the early church’s Old Testament (printed between the Testaments in 1611): Tobit 1Judith 1Wisdom 1Sirach 11 Maccabees 1

One reader, a whole library

The library by the numbers

  • 24English Bibles to read
  • 81books in our fullest Bible, with the Apocrypha
  • 51books of the Greek Old Testament, with 1 Enoch
  • 929Old Testament chapters with English under every word
  • 37,000+verses with early Christian writings beside them
  • 2,500+Bibles in over 2,000 languages, to read or hear

Beyond the plain page

What sets this Bible apart

Plenty of places let you read the Bible. Here is what we think sets this one apart.

The early Christians, beside the verse

Tap any verse while you read and choose Early Church to see what the first Christians wrote about it, in their own words. The passages are in the 1880s English of the Ante-Nicene Fathers and Chrysostom.

37,000+verses with early-church passages204passages on John 3:16 alone

We know of no other free reader that puts the early Christians beside every verse and also reads the chapter aloud.

Try it on John 3:16

John 3 King James Version

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

A drawing of the reader: tap a verse, then choose Early Church.

The Old Testament the apostles quoted

Read the Old Testament the first Christians used: 50 Septuagint books plus 1 Enoch, which Jude quotes, 1,213 chapters, with English beside every verse. Greek, English, narration and 1 Enoch in one reader: we know of no other free site with all four. The narration is a computer voice.

Open Genesis 1

Every word, with English beneath

Read all 929 Old Testament chapters in the original Hebrew, 304,191 words, with English under every word. Put the Hebrew beside the Greek Old Testament in one tap.

Open Genesis 1 word by wordIsaiah 7, side by side

Books the early church read in its Old Testament

Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, Maccabees and more: 15 books the first Christians read in their Greek Old Testament (printed between the Testaments in 1611). 173 chapters, free, to read and to hear.

Read Tobit 1

Matthew’s Bible of 1537

One of the first complete English Bibles, in modern spelling. Our copy has its 66 books; the 1537 printing also included the Apocrypha. It is text only, with no narration.

Read John 1 from 1537

One verse leads to the next

Tap a verse to follow 439,442 cross references to related passages. The cross-reference data comes from OpenBible.info.

Try 1 Corinthians 13

Free, with nothing in the way

No account, no ads, nothing to install. An account is optional and only saves your notes and highlights.

Start with John 1

A few well-loved pages

Verses to begin with

Read a few lines here, then open the whole chapter. Choose the wording you like best; every link opens the same Bible you are reading.

God so loved the world

John 3:16-17

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

Read all of John 3

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Read all of John 3

Same verse, two wordings: the World English Bible says “one and only Son”; the classic 1769 wording says “only begotten Son”. That is why it helps to compare.

Show three more passages Genesis 1, Psalm 23, Matthew 5

The first page

Genesis 1:1-5

1In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness. 5God called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night”. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Read all of Genesis 1

1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Read all of Genesis 1

A psalm of comfort

Psalm 23

1Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. 6Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.

Read all of Psalm 23

1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4Yea, 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. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Read all of Psalm 23

The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:3-10

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 4Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. 10Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Read all of Matthew 5

3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Read all of Matthew 5

If you are new, or coming back

New to the Bible? Your first week

One chapter a day. Each button opens that chapter, in the Bible named under it. If you miss a day, simply carry on with the next.

  1. Day 1

    John 1

    World English Bible

    John’s Gospel begins with the Word who was with God.

    Read John 1

  2. Day 2

    John 3

    World English Bible

    Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be born of water and the Spirit, and speaks of God’s love for the world.

    Read John 3

  3. Day 3

    Psalm 23

    World English Bible

    Six short verses of comfort.

    Read Psalm 23

  4. Day 4

    Matthew 5

    World English Bible

    The start of the Sermon on the Mount: love your enemies, and do not resist evil.

    Read Matthew 5

  5. Day 5

    Genesis 1

    World English Bible

    Back to the first page of the whole Bible.

    Read Genesis 1

  6. Day 6

    Mark 1

    King James Version

    The shortest Gospel, quick and plain.

    Read Mark 1

  7. Day 7

    Matthew 7

    King James Version

    The end of the Sermon on the Mount: hearing Jesus’ words and doing them, like a house built on the rock.

    Read Matthew 7

Enjoying it? Keep going through the whole Bible, about 12 minutes a day, with a printable calendar: see Bible in a year.

Why read here

A quiet place to read

No ads, no sign-up

Open a chapter and read. Nothing asks for your email, and there is nothing to install.

Easy on the eyes

Make the text bigger, or switch to dark mode for evening reading. It works on a phone as well as a computer.

Hear it as you read

Most chapters can be read aloud: press play and the verse being read lights up, so you never lose your place. A few Bibles, such as Matthew’s Bible 1537, are text only. Our audio Bible page has the full list.

Tap any verse

See what the early Christians wrote about it, follow cross references to related passages, or copy it to share.

The library

Every Bible on our shelf

Each one has its own page with the book list and a place to begin.

Bibles in English

With the early church’s Old Testament books

  • KJV with Apocrypha81 books: the full 1611 printing, with the 15 books the early church also read.
  • the ApocryphaWhat these books are, with a link to each one.

The early church’s Bible

Word by word

Bibles for the whole world

Over 2,500 Bibles in over 2,000 languages open in the same reader. Find yours in Bible languages, or start here:

Study helps beside the Bible

Good to know

Questions people ask

Short, plain answers. Tap a question to open it.

Where can I read the Bible online for free?

Right here. Open any book and chapter on this page and start reading. There is no account to make and nothing to pay.

Try it: Open John 1

Can I read the Bible online without an app or sign-up?

Yes. Every chapter opens in the web browser on your phone, tablet or computer. A free account is optional and only saves your highlights and notes.

Try it: Open Psalm 23, no sign-up

Is there a Bible online without ads?

Yes. Our reader shows no ads.

Try it: Open Philippians 4

Where should a beginner start reading?

A common starting point is a Gospel, John or Mark, then Genesis and the Psalms. The first-week plan on this page opens one chapter a day.

Try it: Open Mark 1

Which Bible version is easiest to read?

Thought-for-thought translations are usually easier to read, while word-for-word ones stay closer to the original wording. Two modern English Bibles here are the World English Bible and the Berean Standard Bible.

Try it: Open Genesis 1 in the Berean Standard Bible

How many books are in the Bible?

Protestant Bibles have 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New. Catholic Bibles have 73, and Orthodox Bibles have a few more. Our fullest Bible here has 81 books.

Try it: Open Genesis 1 in the 81-book Bible

Is the Holy Bible the same as the Bible?

Yes. Holy Bible is the traditional title of the same book. The word Bible comes from the Greek ta biblia, which means the books.

Try it: Open Genesis 1, the first page

What Bible did the early church read?

The Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint, which the apostles usually quoted, together with the Gospels and the letters of the apostles. Our Greek Old Testament shelf has 50 Septuagint books plus 1 Enoch, which Jude quotes, with English beside the Greek.

Try it: Open Psalm 23 as the early church read it

Can I read the Bible with the Apocrypha?

Yes. The 15 books the early church also read in its Old Testament, printed between the Testaments in 1611 (173 chapters), are free to read here.

Try it: Open Wisdom 1

Can I read the Catholic Bible online here?

We do not host an English Catholic translation. The seven deuterocanonical books are on our Apocrypha and Greek Old Testament shelves.

Try it: Open Judith 1

Can I read the Bible as it was first written?

Yes. The Old Testament is here in Hebrew with English under each word, and the Greek New Testament is here word by word.

Try it: Open John 1 word by word

Is the Bible here for readers around the world?

Yes. There are over 2,500 Bibles in over 2,000 languages, to read or to hear, all in the same reader.

Try it: Open John 1 in Spanish

Can I read the Bible on my phone?

Yes, in your phone’s browser. You can make the text larger and switch to dark mode for night reading.

Try it: Open Psalm 1 on your phone

Can the Bible be read to me while I follow along?

Yes. Most versions have a play button, and the verse being read lights up. Matthew’s Bible and a few others are text only.

Try it: Open Psalm 23 and press play

How can I read the whole Bible in a year?

About three chapters a day covers all 1,189 chapters of the 66-book Protestant Bible, roughly 12 minutes a day. Our plan prints a calendar for you.

Try it: Start at Genesis 1

Do I have to be a Christian to read it?

No. Anyone can read it, and there is nothing to join.

Try it: Open John 3

Where these facts come from

Counts for this site are read from our own pages and reader, checked November 7, 2026. The Scripture on this page is copied from our own reader: the World English Bible (public domain) and the 1769 King James text. Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY). Book counts for other Bibles and the meaning of ta biblia: Wikipedia, “Bible” and “Biblical canon”.

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Open the Book and begin

Start with John 1Genesis 1Psalm 23