Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, with 176 verses and 2,396 words in the word count used here. Psalm 117 is the shortest, with 2 verses and 33 words. The measures agree about which chapters sit at either end. But they show different amounts of reading, which matters when you compare chapter lengths or choose a daily reading portion.
In short
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter by both measures: 176 verses and 2,396 words.
Psalm 117 is the shortest by both measures: 2 verses and 33 words.
Psalm 119 has 88 times as many verses as Psalm 117, but about 72.6 times as many words.
Use verse counts to locate a passage and word counts to compare text length. Neither tells you how long to spend thinking about it.
Which chapters are longest and shortest by each measure?
You do not need separate answers for verses and words in this comparison. Psalm 119 comes first by either measure, while Psalm 117 comes last. Put the figures side by side, though, rather than treating verse count as another way to say word count.
| Measure | Longest chapter | Shortest chapter |
|---|---|---|
| Verse count | Psalm 119: 176 verses | Psalm 117: 2 verses |
| Word count | Psalm 119: 2,396 words | Psalm 117: 33 words |
The longest and shortest chapters agree across the supplied verse and word counts.
A verse count tells you how many numbered verses a chapter contains. A word count tells you how much text it contains under a particular counting method. A chapter count treats each of these psalms as one chapter, despite the difference in length.
That is why the answer to a counting question needs a unit. If someone asks for the longest chapter, Psalm 119 answers the question here. If they ask how much longer it is than the shortest chapter, you need to ask whether they mean verses or words.
For the wider structure, see how many chapters are in the Bible. Chapter totals help you see the shape of a book or a plan. They do not divide the text into equal reading portions.
How much longer is Psalm 119 than Psalm 117?
By verses, the calculation is 176 ÷ 2 = 88. Psalm 119 has 88 times as many verses as Psalm 117.
By words, the calculation is 2,396 ÷ 33 ≈ 72.6. Psalm 119 has about 72.6 times as many words. That ratio assumes the same counting method for both totals and rounds the result to one decimal place.
The gap changes because verses are not equal-sized units. Using these figures, Psalm 119 averages about 13.6 words per verse: 2,396 divided by 176. Psalm 117 averages 16.5 words per verse: 33 divided by 2. Those averages describe these chapters, not the Bible as a whole.
This gives you a useful distinction: the rankings agree, but the ratios differ. Knowing which chapter has more verses does not tell you exactly how much more text it contains.
If you want to compare reading length, words are the more direct measure. Even then, words alone cannot set your pace. You may move through a familiar passage quickly or pause over a short sentence. Counting measures the text, not the attention you give it.
What does the shortest chapter say?
Psalm 117 is short enough to read as a complete passage without choosing an excerpt. Its opening calls all nations and peoples to praise the Lord. Its next verse gives the reason: his steadfast love and enduring faithfulness toward his people, then renews the call to praise (Psalm 117:1-2).
1Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!
2For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!
Notice how much movement fits into that small space. Psalm 117:1 names those called to praise. Psalm 117:2 explains why. The chapter's size does not mean it lacks a thought to follow.
You can read it with a few questions in mind:
- Who receives the invitation in Psalm 117:1?
- What reasons for praise appear in Psalm 117:2?
- How does the reason in the second verse support the invitation in the first?
These questions come from the passage rather than from its place in a list of Bible facts. They also give you something to do after learning that it is the shortest chapter.
There is no need to stretch a short reading to make it feel substantial. Read the whole psalm, notice its shape, and decide whether you want to return to a phrase or question. A small portion can still receive careful attention.
Where can you begin with the longest chapter?
Start with Psalm 119:1-8 rather than making the total of 176 verses your immediate task. In this opening passage, the psalmist describes those who walk in God's ways and seek him wholeheartedly, then expresses a personal desire to keep God's statutes (Psalm 119:1-5).
1Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!
2Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
3who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!
4You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
5Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
6Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.
8I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!
The change in voice is worth noticing. Psalm 119:1-3 describes people whose lives follow God's teaching. Psalm 119:4 addresses God. In Psalm 119:5-8, the speaker expresses longing, speaks of praise and obedience, and asks God not to forsake him.
That movement gives you a way into the passage without needing to summarize the whole chapter. Ask where the description becomes personal. Then look at what the speaker hopes for and asks of God in Psalm 119:5-8.
Later in the chapter, Psalm 119:105 uses a lamp and a path to describe God's word. The guide to Psalm 119:105 and its meaning offers a closer look at that verse. It is another place to pause, not a substitute for the rest of the psalm.
The length may affect how you divide your reading. It need not decide how closely you read the opening passage today.
How should chapter length affect your reading plan?
A plan built around chapters gives you clear stopping places. It does not give you equal amounts of text each day. Reading Psalm 117 and reading Psalm 119 both count as completing a chapter, but the word totals show why those tasks differ.
You do not have to abandon chapter-based reading. Use the chapter boundary as a guide, then make room for the passage in front of you.
- Look ahead at the next reading before deciding how much time to set aside.
- If a chapter feels too long for the available time, choose a smaller passage and mark where you stop.
- When you return, reread enough of the preceding text to recover the thought.
- Keep questions beside their verses rather than trying to settle everything before moving on.
A short day need not become a catch-up day. You can reread Psalm 117:1-2 and follow its invitation and reason again. A long day need not become a test of speed. You can begin Psalm 119 with the opening passage and continue later.
What should you remember from the comparison?
Keep the answer and the method together. Psalm 119 is longest by both verses and the supplied word count. Psalm 117 is shortest by both. The ranking stays the same, but 88 times as many verses becomes about 72.6 times as many words.
That is the practical value of comparing both measures. Chapters name reading portions. Verses help you find your place. Words describe text length more closely. None of those measurements replaces reading the passage itself.
Start with whichever psalm fits today's question. Read it as a passage before treating it as a record holder.