4. ESV Women's Study Bible

4. ESV Women's Study Bible. God. 2021. 2336 pages. [Source: GIFT] [Bible, study Bible, 5 stars]

First sentence: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 

Start date: November 29, 2025

End date: May 2, 2026

I loved, loved, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this Bible. It is the BEST of both worlds. It offers devotionals AND study notes. It also features articles, maps, timelines, illustrations, profiles cross references, glossary. It was just the right balance too. There are plenty of features that make this a true study Bible. YET it isn't as overwhelming as the ESV Study Bible. The devotions are present--obviously. But they are not carrying all the weight either.  The translation is the English Standard Version. (This is the 2016 text edition). 

It is double column, words of Christ in black. 

As I mentioned, I love this one!!! I loved the substance of this one. It was SOLID. It is probably the best Women's Bible I've ever owned, ever read. I can't think of a better. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Bible Reading #18

Sunday, April 26, 2026

ESV Women's Study Bible

1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon

KJV Maclaren Large Print Reference

1 Chronicles 18-29, 1 Samuel 3-4; Psalms 10-14; Ezekiel 4-5; Mt. 4

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

Psalms 112-119

Monday, April 27, 2026

ESV Women's Study Bible

Hebrews 1-6

KJV Maclaren Large Print Reference

2 Chronicles 1-5; 1 Samuel 5-8; Psalms 15-18; Ezekiel 6-7; Matthew 5-6;

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

Psalms 120-130

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

ESV Women's Study Bible

Hebrews 7-13;

KJV Maclaren Large Print Reference

2 Chronicles 6-9, 1 Samuel 9-12; Psalms 19-23; Ezekiel 8-11; Matthew 7-8; 

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

Psalms 131-150

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

ESV Women's Study Bible

John 1-10;

KJV Maclaren Large Print Reference

2 Chronicles 10-20; 1 Samuel 13-15; Psalms 24-27; Ezekiel 12-14; Matthew 9

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

Proverbs 1-10

Thursday, April 30, 2026

ESV Women's Study Bible

John 11-21

KJV Maclaren Large Print Reference

2 Chronicles 21-25; 1 Samuel 16-20; Psalms 28-31; Ezekiel 15-17; Matthew 10-11; 

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

Proverbs 11-22

Friday, May 1, 2026

ESV Women's Study Bible

1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation 1-12; 

KJV Maclaren Large Print Reference

2 Chronicles 26-30; 1 Samuel 21-23; Psalms 32-34; Ezekiel 18-24; Matthew 12-13; 

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

Proverbs 24-31

Saturday, May 2, 2026

ESV Women's Study Bible

Revelation 13-22

KJV Maclaren Large Print Reference

2 Chronicles 31-36; 1 Samuel 24-31; Psalms 35-36; Ezekiel 25-32; Matthew 14; 

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

Ecclesiastes

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Bible Reading #17

Sunday April 19, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Daniel, Micah, Nahum

ESV Women's Study Bible

1 Corinthians 3-9

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians; Acts 18:12-28

NASB Large Print Compact 

Psalms 33-41

Monday April 20, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John

ESV Women's Study Bible

1 Corinthians 10-12

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Acts 19:1-20, 1 Corinthians 1-6

NASB Large Print Compact 

Psalms 42-56

Tuesday April 21, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Zechariah, Malachi, Jude, Revelation

ESV Women's Study Bible

1 Corinthians 13-16

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

1 Corinthians 7-16; Acts 19:21-41; Acts 20:1 

NASB Large Print Compact 

Psalms 57-68

Wednesday April 22, 2026

ESV Women's Study Bible

2 Corinthians 1-8

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

2 Corinthians, Acts 20-28; Romans; Philemon

NASB Large Print Compact 

Psalms 69-78

Thursday April 23, 2026

ESV Women's Study Bible

2 Corinthians 9-13; Galatians; Ephesians

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Colossians; Ephesians; Philippians; 1 Timothy; Titus; 2 Timothy; 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Hebrews, Jude, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Revelation

NASB Large Print Compact 

Psalms 79-89

Friday April 24, 2026

ESV Women's Study Bible

Philippians, Colossians

KJV Maclaren Large Print Reference

1 Chronicles 1-10; Ruth; Psalms 1-5; Lamentations; Matthew 1

NASB Large Print Compact

Psalms 90-101

Saturday April 25, 2026

ESV Women's Study Bible

1 Thessalonians; 2 Thessalonians

KJV Maclaren Large Print Reference

1 Chronicles 11-17; 1 Samuel 1-2; Ezekiel 1-3; Psalms 6-9; Matthew 2-3

NASB Large Print Compact

Psalms 102-111

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

3. King James Chronological Life Application Study Bible

3. KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible, Second Edition. God. 2025. 2128 pages. [Source: Bought (Gift)] [5 stars, bible review]

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 

What you should know about this Bible?

The Chronological Life Application Study Bible is available in the King James Version AND the New Living Translation. 

This is the second edition of the Chronological Life Application Study Bible. It has a few new features including more insight from Jewish scholars. The first edition has been out of print for quite a while.

It is double column. It is black letter. The Words of Christ appear in black--not red.

There are study notes, profiles of characters, maps, charts, articles, appendices. 

Being a life application Bible, the notes are more on the application side as opposed to scholarly, academic, or contextual. 

What didn't work for me personally:

I found some of the notes to be highly, highly, highly speculative. It is okay just to admit you have no idea 'how to read' a passage. I am thinking particularly of Song of Songs or Song of Solomon. The notes are 99.9% speculative fluff. There is NO WAY to read the passage and come to their conclusions without a lot of imagination and speculation and just reading into the text. 

I found the amount of notes to text to be overwhelming--again depending on the book. Anytime a page of the Bible is 90% notes and 10% Scripture, I just find it TOO overwhelming to read any of the notes at all. 

I have realized I don't really enjoy the chronological approach to reading Scripture. I just don't. Some may. I don't. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

2. New King James Version Wide Margin Sovereign

2. New King James Version, Sovereign Collection, Wide Margin. God. (Thomas Nelson Publisher). 2022. 1696 pages. [Source: Bought] [Bible]

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

Start date: December 30, 2025

End date: April 21, 2026

This was my second time to read through this Bible. The first time I did not write or underline in it. This second time through I have begun. I will add more each time I read it through perhaps. (The first read through ended in February 2024.)

I love, love, love, love, LOVE the layout of this Wide Margin Bible in the Sovereign collection published by Thomas Nelson. It is DOUBLE COLUMN. It is red letter. [I would have preferred black letter, but you can't have everything.] The margins are just about perfect. 

There are many New King James text-only Bibles out there. There are probably even many wide margin New King James Bibles out there. I love the quality of the Sovereign collection. 

Is it a must if you already have a New King James Bible you love? Probably not. But if you are looking for either a wide margin Bible [this one comes in the New King James and the King James Version] OR a NKJV with great layout, then this one is worth considering. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Bible Reading #16

Sunday, April 12, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

2 Kings 1-4; Ezekiel 12-15;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Acts 19-24

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Matthew 22, Mark 12, Luke 20, 

NASB Large Print Compact Bible 

Job 1-7

Monday, April 13, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

2 Kings 5-11, Ezekiel 16-20

ESV Women's Study Bible

Acts 25-28

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Matthew 23-28; Mark 12-16; Luke 20-24; John 13-21; Acts 1:1-11

NASB Large Print Compact Bible 

Job 8-17

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

2 Kings 12-17; Ezekiel 21-32;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Romans 1-3

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Acts 1-5

NASB Large Print Compact Bible 

Job 18-23

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

2 Kings 18-21; Ezekiel 33-39;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Romans 4-6

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Acts 6-14

NASB Large Print Compact Bible 

Job 24-42

Thursday, April 16, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

2 Kings 22-25; Hosea; Joel; Ezekiel 40-42;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Romans 7-11;

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

James

NASB Large Print Compact Bible 

Psalms 1-17

Friday, April 17, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Ezekiel 45-48; Amos;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Romans 12-13;

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Galatians;

NASB Large Print Compact Bible 

Psalm 17-23

Saturday, April 18, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Daniel 1-4; Obadiah; Jonah;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Romans 14-16; 1 Corinthians 1-2;

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Acts 16-17; Acts 18:1-11

NASB Large Print Compact Bible 

Psalms 24-32

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Bible Reading #15

Sunday, April 5, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

2 Samuel 4-5; Isaiah 40-41; Hebrews 7-8

ESV Women's Study Bible

Luke 20-22; 

KJV Chronological Life Application

Matthew 15, Matthew 16:1-20; Mark 7-8; Luke 9:18-21

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

2 Chronicles 10-20

Monday, April 6, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

2 Samuel 6-13; Isaiah 42-44; Hebrews 9-13;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Luke 23-24;

KJV Chronological Life Application

Matthew 16:21-28; Matthew 17-18:1-11; Mark 8:31; Mark 9; Luke 9:22-50;

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

2 Chronicles 21-25

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

2 Samuel 14-24; Isaiah 45-50; James;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Acts 1-3; 

KJV Chronological Life Application

Matthew 18:12-22; Matthew 19:1-2; John 7-8; Mark 10:1, Luke 9:51-62; Luke 10; Luke 11; 

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

2 Chronicles 26-36

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

1 Kings 1-4; Isaiah 51-55; 1 Peter;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Acts 4-7;

KJV Chronological Life Application

Luke 12-14; John 9-10; Matthew 23:37-39

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

Ezra

Thursday, April 9, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

1 Kings 5-11; Isaiah 56-61; 2 Peter;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Acts 8-11;

KJV Chronological Life Application

Luke 15-17; Luke 18:1-30; John 11, Matthew 19:3-30; Mark 10:2-31;

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

Nehemiah 1-7;

Friday, April 10, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

1 Kings 12-16; Isaiah 62-66; Ezekiel 1-5;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Acts 12-15; 

KJV Chronological Life Application

Matthew 20, Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 10:32-52; Mark 14:3-9; Luke 18:31-43; Luke 19:1-27; John 12:1-11;

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

Nehemiah

Saturday, April 11, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

1 Kings 17-22; Ezekiel 6-11;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Acts 16-18;

KJV Chronological Life Application

Matthew 21, Mark 11-12:1-12; Luke 19:28-48; Luke 20:1-19; John 12:12-50;

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

Esther

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible