“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.”
What’s inside
- Cover (p1): an empty cross on a hill with morning rays, with Lamentations 3:40
- Start here (p2): what Lent is, five tips for using the plan, the 2027 key dates and the contents
- Lent 2027 calendar (p3): every reading on one page, February 7 to March 28, Sundays shaded, Holy Week day names
- My Lent reading checklist (p4): all 40 days at a glance with tick boxes
- Seven weekly pages (p5–11): each day’s passage with its key verse printed in full, the Sunday psalm and one question for the week
- He Is Risen (p12): Matthew 28:6, 1 Corinthians 15:20 and 15:57, with an optional Easter-week plan (March 29 to April 3)
- Eight cut-out verse cards (p13)
- The Joy of Thy Salvation (p14): Psalm 51:12 and a prayer for Lent
The 40-day Lent Bible reading plan
One passage a day, about 5 to 10 minutes of reading: from repentance (Joel 2, Psalm 51) through the wilderness, the prodigal son and the “I am” sayings of John to the cross (Isaiah 53, Psalm 22) and Holy Week. Sundays are not counted in the 40; each has a psalm instead. Here is the whole Bible Lent reading plan, week by week:
Ash Wednesday week (Days 1–4, Feb 10–13): Return to the LORD
Lent opens with an invitation, not a scolding: come back to a God who is gracious and merciful.
| Day | Date | Read | Key verse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Wed Feb 10 (Ash Wednesday) | Joel 2:12-17 | Joel 2:13 |
| Day 2 | Thu Feb 11 | Psalm 51:1-17 | Psalm 51:10 |
| Day 3 | Fri Feb 12 | Matthew 6:1-18 | Matthew 6:6 |
| Day 4 | Sat Feb 13 | Isaiah 55:1-13 | Isaiah 55:7 |
| Sunday | Sun Feb 14 | Psalm 130:1-8 | psalm, not counted in the 40 |
Week 1 (Days 5–10, Feb 15–20): In the Wilderness
Jesus was tempted in every way we are, and He answered with the word of God.
| Day | Date | Read | Key verse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 5 | Mon Feb 15 | Matthew 4:1-11 | Matthew 4:4 |
| Day 6 | Tue Feb 16 | Deuteronomy 6:1-13 | Deuteronomy 6:5 |
| Day 7 | Wed Feb 17 | Hebrews 4:12-16 | Hebrews 4:15 |
| Day 8 | Thu Feb 18 | Psalm 32:1-11 | Psalm 32:5 |
| Day 9 | Fri Feb 19 | James 1:2-18 | James 1:12 |
| Day 10 | Sat Feb 20 | 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 | 1 Corinthians 10:13 |
| Sunday | Sun Feb 21 | Psalm 27:1-14 | psalm, not counted in the 40 |
Week 2 (Days 11–16, Feb 22–27): Repent and Believe
Repentance is turning around and running home to a Father who is already running toward us.
| Day | Date | Read | Key verse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 11 | Mon Feb 22 | Mark 1:1-15 | Mark 1:15 |
| Day 12 | Tue Feb 23 | Luke 15:11-32 | Luke 15:20 |
| Day 13 | Wed Feb 24 | Psalm 103:1-14 | Psalm 103:12 |
| Day 14 | Thu Feb 25 | 1 John 1:1-10 | 1 John 1:9 |
| Day 15 | Fri Feb 26 | Luke 18:9-14 | Luke 18:13 |
| Day 16 | Sat Feb 27 | Isaiah 1:16-20 | Isaiah 1:18 |
| Sunday | Sun Feb 28 | Psalm 34:1-22 | psalm, not counted in the 40 |
Week 3 (Days 17–22, Mar 1–6): Follow Me
Seven times in John, Jesus says who He is. Each one is an invitation to follow Him.
| Day | Date | Read | Key verse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 17 | Mon Mar 1 | Luke 9:18-27 | Luke 9:23 |
| Day 18 | Tue Mar 2 | John 3:1-21 | John 3:16 |
| Day 19 | Wed Mar 3 | John 4:1-26 | John 4:14 |
| Day 20 | Thu Mar 4 | John 6:25-40 | John 6:35 |
| Day 21 | Fri Mar 5 | John 8:12-32 | John 8:12 |
| Day 22 | Sat Mar 6 | John 10:1-18 | John 10:11 |
| Sunday | Sun Mar 7 | Psalm 40:1-17 | psalm, not counted in the 40 |
Week 4 (Days 23–28, Mar 8–13): The Way of the Cross
The road to Jerusalem leads to a cross, and the prophets saw it coming long before.
| Day | Date | Read | Key verse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 23 | Mon Mar 8 | John 11:1-44 | John 11:25 |
| Day 24 | Tue Mar 9 | Mark 10:32-45 | Mark 10:45 |
| Day 25 | Wed Mar 10 | Philippians 2:1-11 | Philippians 2:8 |
| Day 26 | Thu Mar 11 | Isaiah 53:1-12 | Isaiah 53:5 |
| Day 27 | Fri Mar 12 | Psalm 22:1-31 | Psalm 22:27 |
| Day 28 | Sat Mar 13 | Romans 5:1-11 | Romans 5:8 |
| Sunday | Sun Mar 14 | Psalm 116:1-19 | psalm, not counted in the 40 |
Week 5 (Days 29–34, Mar 15–20): Draw Near
Because of the cross, the way to God is open. Nothing can separate us from His love.
| Day | Date | Read | Key verse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 29 | Mon Mar 15 | Hebrews 10:19-25 | Hebrews 10:23 |
| Day 30 | Tue Mar 16 | Romans 8:1-17 | Romans 8:1 |
| Day 31 | Wed Mar 17 | Romans 8:28-39 | Romans 8:31 |
| Day 32 | Thu Mar 18 | 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 | 2 Corinthians 5:17 |
| Day 33 | Fri Mar 19 | Ephesians 2:1-10 | Ephesians 2:8 |
| Day 34 | Sat Mar 20 | John 12:1-11 | John 12:3 |
| Sunday | Sun Mar 21 (Palm Sunday) | Matthew 21:1-11 | Matthew 21:9 |
Holy Week (Days 35–40, Mar 22–27): Holy Week
Walk with Jesus day by day, from the temple to the upper room, the cross and the tomb.
| Day | Date | Read | Key verse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 35 | Mon Mar 22 (Holy Monday) | Mark 11:12-19 | Mark 11:17 |
| Day 36 | Tue Mar 23 (Holy Tuesday) | Matthew 22:34-46 | Matthew 22:37 |
| Day 37 | Wed Mar 24 (Spy Wednesday) | Matthew 26:6-16 | Matthew 26:13 |
| Day 38 | Thu Mar 25 (Maundy Thursday) | John 13:1-35 | John 13:34 |
| Day 39 | Fri Mar 26 (Good Friday) | John 19:16-30 | John 19:30 |
| Day 40 | Sat Mar 27 (Holy Saturday) | Luke 23:50-56 | Luke 23:53 |
| Sunday | Sun Mar 28 (Easter Sunday) | Matthew 28:1-10 | Matthew 28:6 |
Lent 2027 calendar, printable
Page 3 puts every reading on one page, from Ash Wednesday, February 10, to Easter Sunday, March 28: a printable Lent calendar for the fridge or the front of your Bible. Sundays are shaded, because the 40 days of Lent do not count them, and Holy Week has its day names. Page 4 is a 40-day checklist with a tick box for each reading.
A 40-day Lent devotional you can print
Each day’s key verse is printed in full, each week has a theme and one question to think over or talk about at the table, and there are 8 verse cards to cut out. Go deeper on the way: Psalm 51 KJV (Day 2), Isaiah 53 meaning (Day 26), Bible verses about temptation (Week 1) and Bible verses about the prodigal son (Week 2).
“And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”
Holy Week and Easter
Holy Week follows the Holy Week timeline day by day: the temple on Monday, the teaching on Tuesday, the anointing at Bethany on Wednesday, the upper room on Maundy Thursday (the Last Supper), Good Friday (the seven last words of Jesus) and Holy Saturday. The Easter page adds an optional Easter-week plan and links to 1 Corinthians 15 KJV and Bible verses about Easter. For Good Friday and Easter morning, sing Were You There and Christ the Lord Is Risen Today.
“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
Key dates for Lent 2027
| Day | Date | In the plan |
|---|---|---|
| Ash Wednesday | Wednesday, February 10, 2027 | Day 1 |
| Palm Sunday | Sunday, March 21, 2027 | Holy Week begins |
| Maundy Thursday | Thursday, March 25, 2027 | Day 38 |
| Good Friday | Friday, March 26, 2027 | Day 39 |
| Holy Saturday | Saturday, March 27, 2027 | Day 40 |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday, March 28, 2027 | He is risen |
Keep praying after Easter.
Keep praying after Easter: the 30-Day Prayer Journal ($9.99).
Hide a Lent verse in your heart with the Scripture Memory Cards ($7.99), study one daily passage at a time in the SOAP Bible Study Journal ($12.99), or get all three in the Starter Bundle ($24.99).
Related reading: Bible verses about Lent · What is Ash Wednesday · Holy Week timeline · Palm Sunday · Good Friday · Easter · the resurrection of Jesus · fasting · repentance · the cross · The Old Rugged Cross
Also free: 25-Day Advent Reading Plan · Bible reading tracker · Bible reading plans · Scripture writing plan · SOAP study sheet · Romans Road printable
Frequently asked questions
When does Lent start in 2027?
Lent 2027 begins on Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027, and ends on Holy Saturday, March 27; Easter Sunday is March 28, 2027. More: What is Ash Wednesday?
Why are there 40 days if Lent is 46 days long?
The six Sundays are not counted, because every Sunday celebrates the resurrection. The 40 days recall the 40 days Jesus fasted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). The plan gives each Sunday a psalm, so you can read every day if you like.
Do I have to keep Lent to use this plan?
No. Many churches keep Lent and many do not. This is simply a Bible reading plan that walks toward Easter, so the cross and the empty tomb mean more on Easter morning.
What if I miss a day?
Pick up with today’s reading; the checklist is a help, not a test. Or read two passages on Sunday.
Is it the King James Version?
Yes. Every key verse is printed in full from the KJV and checked word for word; read the passages in any King James Bible. For a whole-year plan after Easter, see the Bible reading plans and the free Bible reading tracker.
Free for personal, family, church and classroom use. Please share the page link rather than the file, and don’t resell. Scripture from the King James Version (public domain in the US).
