Sacred texts: verses and wisdom from eight traditions

This section brings together 1,362 verses and texts from eight traditions, sorted by topic: the Bible, Judaism, Islam, Sufism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Taoism. Each text is quoted word for word from a free translation (public domain or CC0), with its exact reference and the name of its translation.

These pages take no side. Each tradition has its own home page, its own words and references: look for a verse for a hard day, discover a wisdom that is not yours, or reread a text you already know. Open the tradition that speaks to you.

Traditions

Eight: Bible, Judaism, Islam, Sufism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Taoism

Texts published

1,362 in English (34 pages), 1,016 in French (28 pages)

Rule

A text is published only if it was found word for word in the translation cited

Translations

31 public-domain or CC0 translations

Checked

October 15, 2026

The Bible

Verses from the Old and New Testaments, sorted by topic: encouragement, peace, strength, forgiveness, hope, comfort.

• 23 versesBible versesThe most loved verses, quoted word for word from the King James Version, plus pages by topic.
• 38 versesVerses about loveGod’s love, loving your neighbor, 1 Corinthians 13, marriage and friendship. Word for word.
• 29 versesComforting versesFor grief, a broken heart and comforting a friend.
• 35 versesVerses of encouragementFor hard days, taking heart, perseverance and encouraging a friend.
• 35 versesVerses of hopeA hope that does not disappoint, a future, waiting with patience, and light in the darkness.
• 35 versesVerses about faithWhat faith is, trusting God, prayer, and verses for seasons of doubt. Quoted word for word.
• 29 versesVerses for strengthRenewed strength when you are tired, strength in weakness, God as your rock, holding on.
• 33 versesVerses of gratitudeGiving thanks in everything, contentment, Psalms of praise, and joy.
• 24 versesVerses for healingStrength, waiting for results, prayer. No medical promises.
• 30 versesVerses about peaceThe peace God gives, finding rest, and living at peace with others.
• 28 versesVerses about forgivenessGod’s mercy, forgiving others, and forgiving yourself to start again. Word for word.
• 29 versesVerses for anxietyFear not, worrying about tomorrow, and restless nights.
• 52 versesPsalms52 verses from the Psalms in the King James Version, for protection, morning and night, distress and praise.
• 35 versesVerses of wisdomProverbs, Ecclesiastes, the letter of James, and verses about living with integrity.

Judaism: Tehillim and Jewish wisdom

Tehillim (Psalms) and wisdom texts: Pirkei Avot, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Maimonides.

• 54 passagesJewish wisdomPirkei Avot quotes in Charles Taylor’s 1897 translation, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes (JPS 1917), and Maimonides on character.
• 51 versesTehillimPsalms for protection, trust, distress and praise, in the JPS 1917 translation.

Islam: verses of the Quran

Quran verses by topic: patience, mercy, gratitude, trust in Allah and comfort.

• 47 versesQuran versesGod, creation, kindness and knowledge, in Pickthall’s translation.
• 35 versesQuran: trust in AllahRelying on Him, “Allah is Sufficient for us,” and guidance, in Pickthall’s translation with references.
• 28 versesQuran: gratitude“If ye give thanks, I will give you more,” everyday blessings, and praise, in Pickthall’s translation with references.
• 38 versesQuran: mercyGod’s mercy, repentance and forgiving others.
• 26 versesQuran: patiencePatience (sabr) in hardship, prayer and forgiveness.
• 35 versesQuran: comfort“with hardship goeth ease,” 13:28, Surah Ad-Duha, in Pickthall’s English translation with references.

Sufism

Rumi, Saadi, al-Ghazali and Attar.

• 50 passagesSufi wisdomRumi’s Masnavi (Nicholson, 1926), Saadi’s Gulistan (Ross, 1823), al-Ghazali (Field, 1909) and Attar (FitzGerald, 1889).

Hinduism

The Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads with Rig Veda hymns and the Yoga Sutras, and the songs of Kabir.

• 60 passagesBhagavad GitaAction without attachment, the undying self, a steady mind, yoga and devotion, with chapter and verse.
• 39 passagesKabirGod within, love, waking up while you live.
• 60 passagesUpanishadsThe Upanishads in Max Müller’s translation, with Rig Veda hymns and the Yoga Sutras.

Buddhism

The Dhammapada and suttas: goodness, anger, the mind, happiness and friendship.

• 60 passagesBuddha quotesDhammapada verses in Max Müller’s 1881 translation and suttas by Bhikkhu Sujato, on goodness, happiness and friends.
• 35 passagesBuddha on anger“hatred ceases by love,” the driver who checks rising anger, non-violence, right speech. Dhammapada and suttas.
• 48 passagesBuddha on the mindTaming your thoughts, staying calm under blame and praise, impermanence and the Metta Sutta, from the Dhammapada and suttas.

Sikhism

The Guru Granth Sahib, Guru Nanak’s hymns and the Sukhmani Sahib.

• 57 passagesGuru Granth SahibHymns of the Sikh Gurus and of Kabir, Ravidas and Baba Farid.
• 55 passagesGuru NanakThe Japji Sahib, the Mool Mantar, Asa di Var and his evening hymns.
• 38 passagesSukhmani SahibRemembering the Name, humility, equanimity and God the protector.

Taoism

Laozi’s Tao Te Ching and the stories of Zhuangzi.

• 59 passagesTao Te ChingThe nameless Tao, water, wu wei, humility and contentment, each with its chapter.
• 32 passagesZhuangziThe butterfly dream, the cook and the ox, the empty boat, stillness and death, with chapter numbers.

How each text is checked

Each text was compared word for word with a reference edition of its translation: eBible.org and Wikisource for the Bible, Sefaria for Jewish texts, Wikisource, Project Gutenberg and period scans for the other traditions, SuttaCentral for the Buddhist suttas.

The only differences allowed are spaces, apostrophes and quotation marks, the capital of the first letter, the final punctuation, or an excerpt made of consecutive words. One different word, accent or comma is enough to leave a text out.

Out of 3,373 checks (1,920 in English, 1,453 in French), 3,373 texts were found word for word. 0 differ from the printed text: they are not published until they are corrected. A text is shown in a language only if it was found in that language, which is why a page and its French version do not always contain exactly the same passages.

The translations we use

Older translations have one advantage: they can be quoted in full, with their reference, and anyone can check them. Here are the ones these pages cite.

Affirmations and quotes

For an everyday inner life, with or without religion:

• Spiritual affirmationsSimple words for everyday spiritual awakening, open to any belief or none.
• Christian affirmationsFirst-person lines inspired by the Bible, for everyday faith.
• Quotes from classic authorsQuotes from classic authors, checked word for word against their original text.
• Meditation for beginnersHow to start, and a 7-day plan.

Frequently asked questions

Are the texts quoted word for word?

Yes. Each text published here was compared with a reference edition of its translation. Only spaces, apostrophes, quotation marks, the first capital and the final punctuation may differ. A text that departs from the printed one, even by a word, is not published.

Why older translations?

Because they are in the public domain, or released under CC0: they can be quoted in full, with their reference, and anyone can check them. Recent translations often read more smoothly, but they are under copyright.

Why are some pages only in English?

For the Upanishads, Kabir, the Sufi masters and the Sikh scriptures, we do not have enough texts checked in a free French translation to make a page. Those pages quote public-domain English translations.

Is Selfia a religious app?

No. Selfia is an affirmations app. Sacred texts are optional: they only appear if you choose the path or paths that are yours, alongside your daily affirmations.