Bible-Reading.com

Bible Reading Plan FAQ

Over the years I’ve received a number of questions about the plan. Here are the most frequently asked.

What’s the difference between the new plan and the classic plan?
Both take you through the whole Bible in 52 weeks, with a different part of the Bible each day. The new plan, for 2027, was rebuilt from scratch and has a short devotion for every reading. Its days are numbered 1 to 7, so you can start on any day of the week. The classic plan is the original from 1996, tied to the days of the week. See the two plans side by side. You can switch at any time; each plan keeps its own start date and progress.
Can I get the daily reading sent to me?
Yes. You can add the readings to your calendar (Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook), so each day’s reading shows up on your phone. You can also follow the RSS feed in any feed reader.
Can I use your Bible Reading Plan in my church newsletter, etc.?
Absolutely! If you would, please reference this site (www.bible-reading.com) as the source.
I noticed that your Bible Reading Plan doesn’t start at the beginning of the year. Why?
The classic plan did in 1996, when I started it. But since it’s a 52-week plan (364 days) instead of a one-year plan, it finishes a day or two early each year and starts over again. The new plan’s standard schedule begins on January 1, 2027, and it is also 52 weeks long, so it will drift the same way. With either plan, you can choose a custom start date, and the daily reading, calendar and plan pages will all follow your schedule.
How do you recommend using the Bible Reading Plan?
I’ve heard of a number of different ways to use the plan. Some read it online daily. Some print a monthly calendar. Some print the one-page plan. Myself, I print the one-page plan each year and check off each reading as I finish it.
Help! I started the plan, but got behind. How do I catch up?

First, make sure that today you start reading at least one reading per day, so that you don’t get further behind. Then there are several things you can do:

  • There’s nothing magical about the one-year (or 52-week) time frame. If you’ve missed a week, just pick up where you left off and make it a “53-week” plan.
  • If you’ve missed less than a week, try doing double readings on the days of the week that you previously missed. You got behind one day at a time. Rather than getting caught up all in one day, catch up one day at a time.
  • Maybe you have one day with a lot of free time. Make it a catch-up day! We’ve all had days where we’ve read hundreds of pages in a good book. Why not do it with the Bible?
  • Use some combination of the above. If you’ve missed 17 days, you can do double readings for 3 days, extend your plan a week, and have a catch-up day for the other week.

Most importantly, let me say again: continue reading at least one reading per day. When you get behind, it’s too easy to just stop altogether. It’s better to be behind than stopped.

I’ve tried to be consistent with my readings, but I keep falling behind. What can I do?
  • Get an accountability partner: someone who will ask you daily how your reading, prayer life and other things are going. Encourage one another to grow spiritually.
  • Read the daily reading as early as possible in the day. You’ll be far less likely to forget if it’s the first thing you do. You’ll also get quite a spiritual boost by making the Bible first each day! I don’t think it’s by chance that David said “early will I seek thee” in Psalm 63:1.
Which Bible translations can I read on the site?

The full text is here in five translations, all in the public domain:

  • KJV: King James Version
  • BSB: Berean Standard Bible, a modern translation
  • WEB: World English Bible, a modern update of the American Standard Version
  • Darby: Darby Translation
  • YLT: Young’s Literal Translation

The site starts out in the KJV. When you pick a different translation, it remembers your choice on this device. The devotions quote the KJV.

Is there any special reason that you’ve assigned a particular part of the Bible to a specific day of the week?
No. The classic plan divides the Bible into seven general types of readings (the Law, History, Psalms, Poetry, Prophecy, Gospels and Epistles). Each day of the week is a different type of reading. Some are longer and others are shorter. Some are stories and some are more in-depth readings. I just put them in order, but you’re welcome to switch the readings around if you would rather have a different type of reading on a specific day of the week. The new plan numbers its days 1 to 7 instead, so you can start on whichever day of the week you like.
Can I link to your site?
Sure! I recommend linking to either the daily reading page (www.bible-reading.com/daily-reading.html) or the home page (www.bible-reading.com). You can also put today’s reading on your own site by adding this line where you want it to appear: 
<script src="https://www.bible-reading.com/today.js"></script>
Can I show Bible passages on my own website?

Yes. Add this line to your page:

<script src="https://www.bible-reading.com/assets/passage.js"></script>

Then mark any link with the passage it refers to:

<a href="#" data-bibleref="John 3:16-17">John 3:16-17</a>

When a visitor clicks the link, the passage opens right below it, with buttons to switch between the KJV, BSB, WEB, Darby and YLT. Most ways of writing a reference work, such as “1 Cor 13:4-7”, “Ps 23”, “Rom 8:28-39” or “Acts 20:2; 1 Cor 4:14-16, 11:1”. To show a passage without a link, use BiblePassage.show("Psalm 23", element).

It’s free, and nothing is tracked. The passage box comes with its own simple style, which you can change to match your site.

Can I read online starting at the beginning of the plan instead of in the middle?
Yes. Set your start date to the day you begin, and the site will start you at week 1. Or open the full plan and begin with the first reading.
Can I get a printed copy of the plan?
Yes. Open the plan and choose “Print the plan” for a one-page copy with a box to check off each reading. The classic plan is also available as a one-page PDF.
Is “fill in the blank” in the Bible?
Try a Bible search site, such as Bible Gateway.
Can you recommend some Bible readings for my wedding?
Sure! I’ve made a special page of Bible readings for weddings.