Scriptures and sacred texts

The Bible

Original language: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek

Protestant Bibles have 66 books. Catholic and Orthodox Bibles add several Old Testament books (the deuterocanonical books, which some call the Apocrypha). Translations range from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.

• King James Version (KJV) · The 1611 classic in traditional English, still one of the most read.
• New International Version (NIV) · Modern and readable; common in evangelical churches.
• English Standard Version (ESV) · Closer to word-for-word; popular in evangelical and Reformed churches.
• New Living Translation (NLT) · Thought-for-thought and very easy to read.
• New King James Version (NKJV) · The King James style in updated English.
• Christian Standard Bible (CSB) · Balanced and readable; common in Baptist churches.
• New American Standard Bible (NASB) · Very literal; often used for close study.
• New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) · The US Catholic bishops' translation, the basis of readings at Mass in the US.
• New Revised Standard Version (NRSV, NRSVue) · Common in mainline Protestant churches and in universities.
• Orthodox Study Bible · Its Old Testament follows the Greek Septuagint, the version Orthodox churches use.

Other books some churches use

Latter-day Saints read the Book of Mormon alongside the Bible. Jehovah's Witnesses use their own New World Translation. Episcopal and Anglican services follow the Book of Common Prayer, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes Catholic teaching.

Tanakh (Hebrew Bible)

Original language: Hebrew (a little Aramaic)

Three parts: Torah (the five books of Moses), Nevi'im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings). The standard Hebrew text is the Masoretic Text. Christians know the same books as the Old Testament, in a different order.

• JPS Tanakh · The Jewish Publication Society's English translation, a standard in Jewish homes and classrooms (the 1985 edition is Sefaria's default English).
• Stone Edition Chumash (ArtScroll) · Hebrew and English with traditional commentary; found in many Orthodox synagogues.
• Etz Hayim · Torah and commentary used in many Conservative synagogues.
• The Torah: A Modern Commentary (Plaut) · The Reform movement's Torah and commentary.
• Koren Jerusalem Bible · Hebrew and English on facing pages.

Siddur, Mishnah and Talmud

The siddur is the prayer book used at every service; each movement has its own. The Mishnah and Talmud record the rabbis' teaching and debate on Jewish law and life, and are studied in classes and study pairs.

The Quran

Original language: Arabic

114 chapters (surahs). Many Muslims memorize parts or all of it, and the whole Quran is often recited over the nights of Ramadan.

• Saheeh International · Clear, fairly literal modern English; widely used.
• The Clear Quran (Mustafa Khattab) · Plain, readable modern English.
• M.A.S. Abdel Haleem (Oxford) · Fluent English from a university press.
• Yusuf Ali and Pickthall · Older, classic translations still found in many mosques.

Hadith and other texts

Hadith are reports of the Prophet's words and actions. Sunni Muslims rely most on collections like Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim; Shia Muslims have their own collections, such as al-Kafi, and treasure Nahj al-Balagha, the sermons and letters of Imam Ali.

Pali Canon (Tipitaka)

Original language: Pali

The scriptures of Theravada Buddhism: the Buddha's discourses (suttas), the monastic rules and philosophical texts. The Dhammapada, a short book of verses, is part of it.

Mahayana sutras and the Tibetan canon

Original language: Sanskrit, Chinese and Tibetan

Zen and other Mahayana temples often chant the Heart Sutra and study the Diamond and Lotus Sutras. Tibetan Buddhism has its own canon, the Kangyur and Tengyur, along with many teachers' writings.

Bhagavad Gita

Original language: Sanskrit

A 700-verse dialogue between Prince Arjuna and Krishna, part of the epic Mahabharata, on duty, devotion and the self. Many English translations exist; temple communities often recommend their own.

Vedas, Upanishads and the epics

Original language: Sanskrit

The Vedas are the oldest scriptures and are chanted in ritual. The Upanishads explore the nature of reality and the self, and are central to Vedanta. The Ramayana and Mahabharata epics, and the Puranas, carry much of the stories behind festivals and worship.

Guru Granth Sahib

Original language: Gurmukhi script

Hymns by the Sikh Gurus and by Hindu and Muslim saints, arranged by musical measure (raag). The English translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa is the one most often shown online.

Nitnem and Dasam Granth

Nitnem is the set of daily prayers, beginning with Japji Sahib at dawn. The Dasam Granth contains writings attributed to Guru Gobind Singh, some of which are part of Nitnem.

Writings of Bahá'u'lláh

Original language: Persian and Arabic

The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (the Most Holy Book) sets out laws and institutions; the Kitáb-i-Íqán (the Book of Certitude) explains how revelation unfolds across religions; The Hidden Words is a short book of spiritual counsels many people start with.

Hymnals and readings

Congregations sing and read from the hymnals Singing the Living Tradition and Singing the Journey, which mix hymns with readings from many traditions. The Bible and other scriptures are read as sources of wisdom among many.

Agamas

Original language: Ardhamagadhi Prakrit

Śvetāmbara Jains keep a canon of Agamas compiled from Mahavira's teaching; the Kalpa Sutra is read aloud during Paryushan. Digambara Jains hold that the original Agamas were lost and study later works such as the Shatkhandagama.

Tattvartha Sutra

Original language: Sanskrit

Umaswati's short summary of Jain philosophy, accepted by every Jain tradition and a common first text to study.