biblecli

Bible verse lookup from your terminal. Multiple translations, Korean input support, and local translation files.

$ biblecli jn3:16

[kjv] John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Install

go install github.com/twpark/biblecli@latest

Or build from source:

git clone https://github.com/twpark/biblecli.git
cd biblecli
go build -o biblecli .
cp biblecli ~/.local/bin/  # or anywhere in your PATH

Usage

# Single verse (default translation: kjv)
biblecli jn3:16
biblecli john3:16

# Verse range
biblecli 1co13:4-7

# Whole chapter
biblecli ps23

# Multiple translations at once
biblecli jn3:16 -t kjv,asv

# Set default translations
biblecli -d kjv,web

# Then just:
biblecli rom8:28
# outputs both kjv and web

Korean book abbreviations also work:

biblecli 요3:16           # John 3:16
biblecli 고전13:4-7       # 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
biblecli 시23             # Psalm 23

Translations

Remote (GetBible API)

Fetched live from api.getbible.net. No API key needed.

ID	Translation
kjv	King James Version
asv	American Standard Version
web	World English Bible
ylt	Young's Literal Translation
korean	Korean Revised Version (1952/1961)
koreankjv	Korean King James Version

Full list of available translations

Local translations

Place JSON files in ~/.bible/ for translations not available via API (e.g., copyrighted ones).

~/.bible/nkrv.json    # any local translation
~/.bible/custom.json

File format — flat key-value with Korean book abbreviations as keys:

{
  "gen1:1": "In the beginning...",
  "gen1:2": "And the earth was...",
  "jn3:16": "For God so loved..."
}

The CLI tries the GetBible API first. If the translation isn't found there, it falls back to ~/.bible/<translation>.json.

Book names

Both English and Korean abbreviations are supported:

English	Korean	Book
gen	창	Genesis
ps	시	Psalms
isa	사	Isaiah
matt, mt	마	Matthew
john, jn	요	John
rom	롬	Romans
1co	고전	1 Corinthians
rev	계	Revelation
...	...	all 66 books supported

Config

Stored at ~/.bible/config.json:

{
  "default": ["kjv"]
}

Set via CLI: biblecli -d kjv,web

If no config exists, defaults to kjv.

License

MIT