Why we quote the King James Version
Four centuries of influence, a cadence made for reading aloud, and a public-domain text anyone can share freely.
By Random Verse Editorial ·
First published in 1611, the King James Version has shaped the English language more than almost any other book. Phrases like “a law unto themselves” and “the powers that be” entered everyday speech through its pages.
A cadence made for the ear
The translators wrote to be read aloud in churches, and it shows. Listen to the rhythm of a familiar psalm:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psalm 23:1
Short, balanced clauses like these are easy to remember and lovely to set in type, which is one reason the KJV suits a single-verse format so well.
Free to share
The King James text is in the public domain in most of the world. That means you can copy a verse from this site, print it on a card, or share it with a friend without asking permission.
A note on older words
Some words have shifted meaning over time. Charity in 1 Corinthians 13 means self-giving love, and be careful for nothing in Philippians 4 means “do not be anxious about anything”. Reading slowly, and occasionally with a modern translation beside you, brings these verses fully to life.
Ready for a verse of your own?