'Trust in the Lord with all your heart' tops poll of favourite Bible versesBy Jonathan Petre, Religion Correspondent
Last Updated: 12:44am BST 07/04/2007
A Verse from Proverbs, exhorting people to "trust in the Lord" rather than in their own understanding, has been voted the favourite Biblical quote in a survey.
The poll by Wycliffe UK, a charity that translates Bibles, found that although the "Good Book" may be less well read today, thousands still draw inspiration from its pages. It also found that the most popular verses tend to be those that offer Christians reassurance that they can overcome life's vicissitudes with faith.
Top of the list was: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths."
In second place, from Jeremiah, is: "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said his favourite was from 2 Corinthians 3:18.
It reads: "All of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord.
"And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more."
Dr Williams said the verse "tells us that what God reveals in Jesus is nothing less than his full, true nature, and that we, if we let his Spirit work in us, come to reflect that. It is the most daring promise in the Bible."
Sir Cliff Richard chose Philippians 4:13: "I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength".
Linvoy Primus, a defender for Portsmouth FC, picked the quote from Jeremiah, the second most popular, saying he had been sent it by a supporter when he became a Christian.
Pam Rhodes, the television presenter, said her favourite was from Isaiah 49: 15,16: "Can a mother forget her nursing child? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands."
She said she found the verse comforting because it showed that God knew her, warts and all.
Geoff Knot, the director of Wycliffe UK, said: "It's great to see that so many people still find the Bible relevant to their day to day lives and gain encouragement, assurance, hope, comfort and wisdom from what it contains."
'Trust in the Lord with all your heart' tops poll of favourite Bible verses