Old Testament Bible Verses: Top 10 Popular Scriptures from the Hebrew Bible

There are 39 books in the Old Testament, and there are a total of 929 chapters and 23,145 verses. Here are a few of the most poplar according to our readers. Don’t miss our list of ten most popular Bible verses. Leave a comment to share your favorite verse!

Genesis 1:1

Genesis 1:1
(ESV)  In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
(KJV)  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
(MSG)  First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don’t see.
(NIV)  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
(NLT)  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Exodus 20:1-3

Exodus 20:1
(ESV)  And God spoke all these words, saying,
(KJV)  And God spake all these words, saying,
(MSG)  GOD spoke all these words:
(NIV)  And God spoke all these words:
(NLT)  Then God gave the people all these instructions:

Exodus 20:2
(ESV)  “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
(KJV)  I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
(MSG)  I am GOD, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery.
(NIV)  “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
(NLT)  “I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.

Exodus 20:3
(ESV)  “You shall have no other gods before me.
(KJV)  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
(MSG)  No other gods, only me.
(NIV)  “You shall have no other gods before me.
(NLT)  “You must not have any other god but me.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5
(ESV)  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
(KJV)  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
(MSG)  Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
(NIV)  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
(NLT)  Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:6
(ESV)  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
(KJV)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
(MSG)  Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
(NIV)  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
(NLT)  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11
(ESV)  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
(KJV)  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
(MSG)  I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
(NIV)  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
(NLT)  For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Joshua 1:9

Joshua 1:9
(ESV)  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
(KJV)  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
(MSG)  Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. GOD, your God, is with you every step you take.”
(NIV)  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
(NLT)  This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Ecclesiastes 3:1
(ESV)  For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
(KJV)  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
(MSG)  There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
(NIV)  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
(NLT)  For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

Psalm 23:1-4

Psalms 23:1
(ESV)  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
(KJV)  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
(MSG)  A David psalm. GOD, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing.
(NIV)  A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
(NLT)  A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

Psalms 23:2
(ESV)  He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
(KJV)  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
(MSG)  You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from.
(NIV)  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
(NLT)  He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

Psalms 23:3
(ESV)  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
(KJV)  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
(MSG)  True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
(NIV)  he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
(NLT)  He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Psalms 23:4
(ESV)  Even 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.
(KJV)  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.
(MSG)  Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.
(NIV)  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
(NLT)  Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Psalm 27:1

Psalms 27:1
(ESV)  Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
(KJV)  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
(MSG)  A David psalm. Light, space, zest— that’s GOD! So, with him on my side I’m fearless, afraid of no one and nothing.
(NIV)  Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
(NLT)  A psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?

Isaiah 40:30-31

Isaiah 40:30
(ESV)  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;
(KJV)  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
(MSG)  For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
(NIV)  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
(NLT)  Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.

Isaiah 40:31
(ESV)  but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
(KJV)  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
(MSG)  But those who wait upon GOD get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.
(NIV)  but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
(NLT)  But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Exodus 19:5

Exodus 19:5
(ESV)  Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;
(KJV)  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
(MSG)  If you will listen obediently to what I say and keep my covenant, out of all peoples you’ll be my special treasure. The whole Earth is mine to choose from,
(NIV)  Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,
(NLT)  Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.

Old Testament Bible Statistics (chapters, verses, and books)