Chronological Bible Reading Plan (Free Printable PDF)

Reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is a great goal, but the books aren't arranged in time order. The prophets come after all the history books, the Psalms sit in one long block, and Paul's letters follow the end of Acts. A chronological Bible reading plan puts the story back in order, so you can see how it all fits together.

This plan covers every chapter of the Bible once in 365 days. Each day is balanced by length, not just chapter count, so a day in the long chapters of 1 Chronicles takes about as long as a day in the Psalms.

Download the free printable PDF

How this chronological plan is arranged

The story of the Bible unfolds in ten stages. Here's where each one falls in the plan:

Days	Stage of the story
1–30	Creation, Job and the patriarchs
31–82	Moses, the exodus and the Law
83–98	The promised land and the judges
99–163	Saul, David and Solomon
164–228	The divided kingdom and the prophets
229–248	Exile in Babylon
249–272	Return and rebuilding
273–316	The life of Jesus
317–360	The early church and the letters
361–365	Revelation

Some of the choices that make this plan different from reading straight through:

Job is read after Genesis 11. Job's story fits the age of the patriarchs, before Abraham's calling.
Psalm 90 comes after Deuteronomy, since its title calls it “a prayer of Moses.”
Samuel, Kings and Chronicles are woven together, so you read each king's story from both accounts back to back.
The Psalms are read with David's life, and the wisdom books with Solomon's reign.
The prophets are placed with the kings they served. For example, Isaiah and Micah are read just after Hezekiah's reign, and Jeremiah just after the fall of Jerusalem.
Paul's letters are placed inside Acts, close to when he wrote them. Galatians follows Acts 14, the letters to Corinth follow Acts 19, and Romans comes just before Acts 20. See the chronological order of the New Testament for the dates behind this order.

Bible chronology isn't exact. The dates of a few books, such as Job and Joel, are uncertain, and the later psalms are grouped together. This plan follows a widely used order. You'll reach the New Testament on Day 273.

How to use the plan

Print the PDF and keep it in your Bible, or bookmark this page.
Choose a regular time. Most people do best first thing in the morning or just before bed.
Read, then tick the box. Seeing your progress is a powerful motivator.
Write down one thing. A single sentence about what you learned about God helps the reading stick.
Don't quit if you fall behind. Skip ahead to today's reading or catch up on a weekend.

Tips for finishing the Bible in a year

Read with someone. A friend, spouse or small group keeps you going. Share one verse that stood out each day.
Use an audio Bible on busy days. Each day's reading takes 12 to 15 minutes to listen to.
Push through the hard parts. Leviticus, Numbers and the genealogies in 1 Chronicles are tough. Knowing the bigger story helps you see why they matter.
Keep a book overview handy. Our list of books of the Bible and their authors gives you each book's background in a line.
Use chapter summaries. Our Genesis chapter summaries help you get started, and when you reach Isaiah, our Isaiah chapter summaries make the 66 chapters much easier to follow.

Benefits of reading the Bible chronologically

The story makes sense. You see cause and effect: why the kingdom divided, why the exile happened and why the people returned.
The prophets come alive. Reading Jeremiah right after the fall of Jerusalem shows exactly what he was weeping over.
You see God's faithfulness across centuries. Promises made in Genesis keep unfolding all the way to Revelation.
Paul's letters gain context. You know who the Thessalonians and Corinthians were before you read his letters to them.

365-day chronological Bible reading schedule

Use the day numbers if you start at a different time of year. Each month heading shows where you'll be if you start on January 1.

January: Days 1–31

Day	Reading
1	Genesis 1–3
2	Genesis 4–6
3	Genesis 7–9
4	Genesis 10–11; Job 1
5	Job 2–4
6	Job 5–7
7	Job 8–10
8	Job 11–13
9	Job 14–16
10	Job 17–19
11	Job 20–22
12	Job 23–25
13	Job 26–28
14	Job 29–31
15	Job 32–34
16	Job 35–37
17	Job 38–40
18	Job 41–42; Genesis 12
19	Genesis 13–15
20	Genesis 16–18
21	Genesis 19–21
22	Genesis 22–24
23	Genesis 25–27
24	Genesis 28–30
25	Genesis 31–33
26	Genesis 34–36
27	Genesis 37–39
28	Genesis 40–42
29	Genesis 43–45
30	Genesis 46–48
31	Genesis 49–50; Exodus 1

February: Days 32–59

Day	Reading
32	Exodus 2–4
33	Exodus 5–7
34	Exodus 8–10
35	Exodus 11–13
36	Exodus 14–16
37	Exodus 17–19
38	Exodus 20–22
39	Exodus 23–25
40	Exodus 26–28
41	Exodus 29–31
42	Exodus 32–34
43	Exodus 35–37
44	Exodus 38–40
45	Leviticus 1–3
46	Leviticus 4–6
47	Leviticus 7–9
48	Leviticus 10–12
49	Leviticus 13–15
50	Leviticus 16–18
51	Leviticus 19–21
52	Leviticus 22–24
53	Leviticus 25–27
54	Numbers 1–2
55	Numbers 3–4
56	Numbers 5–6
57	Numbers 7–8
58	Numbers 9–10
59	Numbers 11–12

March: Days 60–90

Day	Reading
60	Numbers 13–14
61	Numbers 15–16
62	Numbers 17–18
63	Numbers 19–20
64	Numbers 21–22
65	Numbers 23–24
66	Numbers 25–26
67	Numbers 27–28
68	Numbers 29–30
69	Numbers 31–32
70	Numbers 33–34
71	Numbers 35–36
72	Deuteronomy 1–3
73	Deuteronomy 4–6
74	Deuteronomy 7–9
75	Deuteronomy 10–12
76	Deuteronomy 13–15
77	Deuteronomy 16–18
78	Deuteronomy 19–21
79	Deuteronomy 22–24
80	Deuteronomy 25–27
81	Deuteronomy 28–30
82	Deuteronomy 31–33
83	Deuteronomy 34; Psalm 90; Joshua 1–2
84	Joshua 3–5
85	Joshua 6–8
86	Joshua 9–11
87	Joshua 12–14
88	Joshua 15–17
89	Joshua 18–20
90	Joshua 21–23

April: Days 91–120

Day	Reading
91	Joshua 24; Judges 1–2
92	Judges 3–5
93	Judges 6–8
94	Judges 9–11
95	Judges 12–14
96	Judges 15–17
97	Judges 18–20
98	Judges 21; Ruth 1–3
99	Ruth 4; 1 Chronicles 1–2
100	1 Chronicles 3–5
101	1 Chronicles 6–8
102	1 Chronicles 9; 1 Samuel 1–2
103	1 Samuel 3–5
104	1 Samuel 6–8
105	1 Samuel 9–11
106	1 Samuel 12–14
107	1 Samuel 15–17
108	1 Samuel 18–20
109	1 Samuel 21–23
110	1 Samuel 24–26
111	1 Samuel 27–29
112	1 Samuel 30–31; 1 Chronicles 10
113	2 Samuel 1–3
114	2 Samuel 4–6
115	2 Samuel 7–9
116	2 Samuel 10–12
117	2 Samuel 13–15
118	2 Samuel 16–18
119	2 Samuel 19–21
120	2 Samuel 22–24

May: Days 121–151

Day	Reading
121	1 Chronicles 11–13
122	1 Chronicles 14–16
123	1 Chronicles 17–19
124	1 Chronicles 20–22
125	1 Chronicles 23–25
126	1 Chronicles 26–28
127	1 Chronicles 29; Psalms 1–3
128	Psalms 4–9
129	Psalms 10–15
130	Psalms 16–21
131	Psalms 22–27
132	Psalms 28–33
133	Psalms 34–39
134	Psalms 40–45
135	Psalms 46–51
136	Psalms 52–57
137	Psalms 58–63
138	Psalms 64–69
139	Psalms 70–72; 1 Kings 1
140	1 Kings 2–3
141	1 Kings 4–5
142	1 Kings 6–7
143	1 Kings 8–9
144	1 Kings 10–11; 2 Chronicles 1
145	2 Chronicles 2–5
146	2 Chronicles 6–9
147	Proverbs 1–3
148	Proverbs 4–6
149	Proverbs 7–9
150	Proverbs 10–12
151	Proverbs 13–15

June: Days 152–181

Day	Reading
152	Proverbs 16–18
153	Proverbs 19–21
154	Proverbs 22–24
155	Proverbs 25–27
156	Proverbs 28–30
157	Proverbs 31; Song of Solomon 1–4
158	Song of Solomon 5–8; Ecclesiastes 1
159	Ecclesiastes 2–6
160	Ecclesiastes 7–11
161	Ecclesiastes 12; Psalms 73–76
162	Psalms 77–82
163	Psalms 83–88
164	Psalm 89; 1 Kings 12–13
165	1 Kings 14–15
166	1 Kings 16–17
167	1 Kings 18–19
168	1 Kings 20–21
169	1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 10–11
170	2 Chronicles 12–15
171	2 Chronicles 16–19
172	2 Chronicles 20; 2 Kings 1–2
173	2 Kings 3–5
174	2 Kings 6–8
175	2 Kings 9–11
176	2 Kings 12–14
177	2 Chronicles 21–24
178	2 Chronicles 25; Jonah 1–4; Amos 1
179	Amos 2–6
180	Amos 7–9; Hosea 1–3
181	Hosea 4–9

July: Days 182–212

Day	Reading
182	Hosea 10–14; Joel 1
183	Joel 2–3; 2 Kings 15
184	2 Kings 16–18
185	2 Kings 19–20; 2 Chronicles 26
186	2 Chronicles 27–30
187	2 Chronicles 31–32; Isaiah 1–2
188	Isaiah 3–6
189	Isaiah 7–10
190	Isaiah 11–14
191	Isaiah 15–18
192	Isaiah 19–22
193	Isaiah 23–26
194	Isaiah 27–30
195	Isaiah 31–34
196	Isaiah 35–38
197	Isaiah 39–42
198	Isaiah 43–46
199	Isaiah 47–50
200	Isaiah 51–54
201	Isaiah 55–58
202	Isaiah 59–62
203	Isaiah 63–66; Micah 1
204	Micah 2–7
205	2 Kings 21–23
206	2 Kings 24–25; 2 Chronicles 33
207	2 Chronicles 34–36; Nahum 1
208	Nahum 2–3; Zephaniah 1–3
209	Habakkuk 1–3; Jeremiah 1
210	Jeremiah 2–4
211	Jeremiah 5–7
212	Jeremiah 8–10

August: Days 213–243

Day	Reading
213	Jeremiah 11–13
214	Jeremiah 14–16
215	Jeremiah 17–19
216	Jeremiah 20–22
217	Jeremiah 23–25
218	Jeremiah 26–28
219	Jeremiah 29–31
220	Jeremiah 32–34
221	Jeremiah 35–37
222	Jeremiah 38–40
223	Jeremiah 41–43
224	Jeremiah 44–46
225	Jeremiah 47–49
226	Jeremiah 50–52
227	Lamentations 1–3
228	Lamentations 4–5; Obadiah
229	Ezekiel 1–3
230	Ezekiel 4–6
231	Ezekiel 7–9
232	Ezekiel 10–12
233	Ezekiel 13–15
234	Ezekiel 16–18
235	Ezekiel 19–21
236	Ezekiel 22–24
237	Ezekiel 25–27
238	Ezekiel 28–30
239	Ezekiel 31–33
240	Ezekiel 34–36
241	Ezekiel 37–39
242	Ezekiel 40–42
243	Ezekiel 43–45

September: Days 244–273

Day	Reading
244	Ezekiel 46–48
245	Daniel 1–3
246	Daniel 4–6
247	Daniel 7–9
248	Daniel 10–12
249	Ezra 1–3
250	Ezra 4–6
251	Haggai 1–2; Zechariah 1–3
252	Zechariah 4–9
253	Zechariah 10–14; Esther 1
254	Esther 2–6
255	Esther 7–10; Ezra 7
256	Ezra 8–10
257	Nehemiah 1–3
258	Nehemiah 4–6
259	Nehemiah 7–9
260	Nehemiah 10–12
261	Nehemiah 13; Psalms 91–94
262	Psalms 95–100
263	Psalms 101–106
264	Psalms 107–112
265	Psalms 113–118
266	Psalm 119
267	Psalms 120–125
268	Psalms 126–131
269	Psalms 132–137
270	Psalms 138–143
271	Psalms 144–148
272	Psalms 149–150; Malachi 1–4
273	Matthew 1–2

October: Days 274–304

Day	Reading
274	Matthew 3–4
275	Matthew 5–6
276	Matthew 7–8
277	Matthew 9–10
278	Matthew 11–12
279	Matthew 13–14
280	Matthew 15–16
281	Matthew 17–18
282	Matthew 19–20
283	Matthew 21–22
284	Matthew 23–24
285	Matthew 25–26
286	Matthew 27–28
287	Mark 1–2
288	Mark 3–4
289	Mark 5–6
290	Mark 7–8
291	Mark 9–10
292	Mark 11–12
293	Mark 13–14
294	Mark 15–16
295	Luke 1–2
296	Luke 3–4
297	Luke 5–6
298	Luke 7–8
299	Luke 9–10
300	Luke 11–12
301	Luke 13–14
302	Luke 15–16
303	Luke 17–18
304	Luke 19–20

November: Days 305–334

Day	Reading
305	Luke 21–22
306	Luke 23–24
307	John 1–2
308	John 3–4
309	John 5–6
310	John 7–8
311	John 9–10
312	John 11–12
313	John 13–14
314	John 15–16
315	John 17–18
316	John 19–20
317	John 21; Acts 1
318	Acts 2–3
319	Acts 4–5
320	Acts 6–7
321	Acts 8–9
322	Acts 10–12
323	Acts 13–14; James 1
324	James 2–5
325	Galatians 1–4
326	Galatians 5–6; Acts 15
327	Acts 16–17
328	Acts 18; 1 Thessalonians 1–3
329	1 Thessalonians 4–5; 2 Thessalonians 1–3
330	Acts 19; 1 Corinthians 1–2
331	1 Corinthians 3–5
332	1 Corinthians 6–8
333	1 Corinthians 9–11
334	1 Corinthians 12–14

December: Days 335–365

Day	Reading
335	1 Corinthians 15–16; 2 Corinthians 1–2
336	2 Corinthians 3–7
337	2 Corinthians 8–11
338	2 Corinthians 12–13; Romans 1–2
339	Romans 3–5
340	Romans 6–8
341	Romans 9–11
342	Romans 12–14
343	Romans 15–16; Acts 20
344	Acts 21–23
345	Acts 24–25
346	Acts 26–27
347	Acts 28; Ephesians 1–2
348	Ephesians 3–5
349	Ephesians 6; Philippians 1–2
350	Philippians 3–4; Colossians 1–2
351	Colossians 3–4; Philemon; 1 Timothy 1
352	1 Timothy 2–6
353	Titus 1–3; 1 Peter 1–2
354	1 Peter 3–5; 2 Timothy 1
355	2 Timothy 2–4; 2 Peter 1
356	2 Peter 2–3; Hebrews 1–2
357	Hebrews 3–6
358	Hebrews 7–10
359	Hebrews 11–13; Jude
360	1 John 1–4
361	1 John 5; 2 John; 3 John; Revelation 1–2
362	Revelation 3–7
363	Revelation 8–12
364	Revelation 13–17
365	Revelation 18–22

Prefer to read in a different order?

A chronological plan isn't the only good way to read the Bible. If you'd rather read straight through, about 3 to 4 chapters a day will take you from Genesis to Revelation in a year. See the number of chapters and verses in each book of the Bible to plan your own pace.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.Psalm 119:105 (KJV)

Frequently asked questions

What is a chronological Bible reading plan?

It's a plan that arranges the Bible's books and chapters in the order the events happened, rather than the order the books appear in your Bible. For example, you read Job with Genesis and the prophets alongside the kings they spoke to.

How long does a chronological Bible reading plan take each day?

This plan averages about 85 verses a day, roughly 3 to 4 chapters, which takes most people 12 to 15 minutes. Listening to an audio Bible takes about the same time.

Is the chronological order of the Bible exact?

Not completely. Some dates are uncertain, such as when Job lived or when Joel prophesied, and many psalms can't be dated. Chronological plans follow the best-supported order, which is why different plans vary slightly.

What if I miss a day?

Just pick up with today's reading, or catch up over a weekend. Use the day numbers rather than calendar dates if you'd rather go at your own pace.

Can I start the plan in the middle of the year?

Yes. Start at Day 1 whenever you begin and follow the day numbers. The month headings simply show where you'd be if you started on January 1.

Is the printable PDF free?

Yes. The PDF is free for personal, family, church and small-group use. You're welcome to print as many copies as you need.