Webster Bible

Noah Webster’s 1833 revision offers plainer American English while keeping close ties to the King James tradition.

Bible Translation:

Read the full Webster Bible below with search, bookmarks, and downloads. Jump to a popular passage or scroll through every book in the reader.

Genesis 1

¹ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
² And 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.
³ And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
⁴ And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
⁵ And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night: and the evening and the morning were the first day.
⁶ And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
⁷ And God made the firmament; and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
⁸ And God called the firmament Heaven: and the evening and the morning were the second day.
⁹ And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
¹⁰ And God called the dry land Earth, and the collection of waters he called Seas: and God saw that it was good.
¹¹ And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit-tree yielding fruit after its kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
¹² And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after its kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after its kind: and God saw that it was good.
¹³ And the evening and the morning were the third day.
¹⁴ And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven, to divide the day from the night: and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.
¹⁵ And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven, to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
¹⁶ And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
¹⁷ And God set them in the firmament of the heaven, to give light upon the earth.
¹⁸ And to rule over the day, and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
¹⁹ And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
²⁰ And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
²¹ And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
²² And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
²³ And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
²⁴ And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and the creeping animal, and the beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
²⁵ And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every animal that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
²⁶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping animal that creepeth upon the earth.
²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
²⁸ And God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living animal that moveth upon the earth.
²⁹ And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food.
³⁰ And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every animal that creepeth upon the earth, in which is life, I have given every green herb for food: and it was so.
³¹ And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

John 3

¹ There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
² The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
³ Jesus answered and said to him, Verily, verily, I say to thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
⁴ Nicodemus saith to him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say to thee, Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
⁶ That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit.
⁷ Marvel not that I said to thee, Ye must be born again.
⁸ The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the sound of it, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
⁹ Nicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be?
¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to him, Art thou a teacher of Israel, and knowest not these things?
¹¹ Verily, verily, I say to thee, We speak what we know, and testify what we have seen; and ye receive not our testimony.
¹² If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how will ye believe if I tell you heavenly things?
¹³ And no man hath ascended to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is in heaven.
¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
¹⁵ That whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him may be saved.
¹⁸ He that believeth on him, is not condemned: but he that believeth not, is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
²⁰ For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
²¹ But he that doeth truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
²² After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
²³ And John also was baptizing in Enon, near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
²⁴ For John was not yet cast into prison.
²⁵ Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews, about purifying.
²⁶ And they came to John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou didst bear testimony, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
²⁷ John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
²⁸ Ye yourselves bear me testimony, that I said I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
²⁹ He that hath the bride, is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly, because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease.
³¹ He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
³² And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
³³ He that hath received his testimony, hath set to his seal that God is true.
³⁴ For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God: for to him God giveth not the Spirit by measure.
³⁵ The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
³⁶ He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Psalm 23

¹ A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
⁴ Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shades of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
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.

Romans 8

¹ There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
² For the law of the Spirit of life, in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
⁴ That the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
⁵ For they that are according to the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh: but they that are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace:
⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. Now if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.
¹⁰ And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised Christ from the dead will also revive your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
¹³ For if ye live according to the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
¹⁵ For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry, Abba, Father.
¹⁶ The Spirit itself testifieth with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if we suffer with him, that we may be glorified together.
¹⁸ For I reckon, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
²⁰ For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope:
²¹ Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
²² For we know that the whole creation groaneth, and travaileth in pain together until now:
²³ And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
²⁴ For we are saved by hope: But hope that is seen, is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
²⁵ But if we hope for what we see not, then with patience we wait for it.
²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints, according to the will of God.
²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren.
³⁰ Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
³¹ What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
³² He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
³³ Who will lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth:
³⁴ Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, or rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
³⁷ But in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us.
³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
³⁹ Nor hight, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Philippians 4

¹ Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
² I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
³ And I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life.
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
⁵ Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶ Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think on these things.
⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace will be with you.
¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatever state I am, with that to be content.
¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.
¹⁴ Notwithstanding ye have done well, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
¹⁵ Now, ye Philippians, know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again to my necessity.
¹⁷ Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
¹⁸ But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.
¹⁹ But my God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
²⁰ Now to God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
²¹ Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you.
²² All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Cesar’s household.
²³ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Matthew 5

¹ And seeing the multitudes, he ascended a mountain: and when he was seated, his disciples came to him.
² And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
³ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peace-makers: for they shall be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
¹¹ Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
¹³ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt hath lost its savor, with what shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot by men.
¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a close vessel, but on a candlestick: and it giveth light to all that are in the house.
¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
¹⁷ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
¹⁸ For verily I say to you, Till heaven and earth shall pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
¹⁹ Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whoever shall do, and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
²⁰ For I say to you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
²¹ Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment:
²² But I say to you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment: and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell-fire.
²³ Therefore if thou shalt bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother hath aught against thee;
²⁴ Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
²⁵ Agree with thy adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
²⁶ Verily, I say to thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
²⁷ Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
²⁸ But I say to you, That whoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
²⁹ And if thy right eye shall cause thee to sin, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
³⁰ And if thy right hand shall cause thee to sin, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
³¹ It hath been said, Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
³² But I say to you, That whoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of lewdness, causeth her to commit adultery: and whoever shall marry her that is divorced, committeth adultery.
³³ Again, ye have heard that it hath been said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform to the Lord thy oaths:
³⁴ But I say to you, Swear not at all: neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
³⁵ Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King,
³⁶ Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
³⁷ But let your communication be, Yea, yea, Nay, nay: for whatever is more than these cometh of evil.
³⁸ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
³⁹ But I say to you, That ye resist not evil: but whoever shall strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
⁴⁰ And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
⁴¹ And whoever shall constrain thee to go one mile, go with him two.
⁴² Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not thou away.
⁴³ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy:
⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you;
⁴⁵ That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
⁴⁶ For if ye love them who love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
⁴⁷ And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
⁴⁸ Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Proverbs 3

¹ My son, forget not my law; but let thy heart keep my commandments;
² For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
³ Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thy heart:
⁴ So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
⁵ Trust in the LORD with all thy heart; and lean not to thy own understanding.
⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths.
⁷ Be not wise in thy own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
⁸ It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
⁹ Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thy increase:
¹⁰ So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
¹¹ My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
¹² For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
¹³ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
¹⁴ For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain of it than fine gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her.
¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor.
¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
¹⁹ The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
²⁰ By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
²¹ My son, let not them depart from thy eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
²² So shall they be life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
²³ Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
²⁴ When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: but thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
²⁵ Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
²⁶ For the LORD will be thy confidence, and will keep thy foot from being taken.
²⁷ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
²⁸ Say not to thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
²⁹ Devise not evil against thy neighbor, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
³⁰ Strive not with a man without cause, if he hath done thee no harm.
³¹ Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
³² For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
³³ The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
³⁴ Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace to the lowly.
³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

JavaScript is required for the full scrollable reader. Browse the Indexed Bible, download files from Downloads, or read topic collections on Bible topics.