Below are charts of the top ten most frequently quoted verses in Chronicling America by decade. (Keep in mind that the 1840s and 1920s have many fewer pages than the other decades.)
Most quoted verses in the 1840s
Rank
Count
Reference
Text
1
98
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
2
92
Matthew 25:21
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
3
85
Luke 18:16
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
4
83
Matthew 7:12
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
5
73
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
6
69
Matthew 7:20
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
7
59
Matthew 19:6
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
8
53
Colossians 2:21
(Touch not; taste not; handle not;
9
49
Luke 6:31
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
10
45
Exodus 20:13
Thou shalt not kill.
Most quoted verses in the 1850s
Rank
Count
Reference
Text
1
365
Luke 18:16
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
2
206
Matthew 25:21
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
3
194
Matthew 7:12
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
4
152
Luke 6:31
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
5
136
Matthew 7:20
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
6
136
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7
124
Colossians 2:21
(Touch not; taste not; handle not;
8
123
Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.
9
116
Luke 11:26
Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
10
116
Matthew 12:45
Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Most quoted verses in the 1860s
Rank
Count
Reference
Text
1
461
Luke 18:16
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
2
204
Matthew 25:21
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
3
195
Acts 17:26
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
4
188
Matthew 7:20
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
5
183
Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.
6
149
Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
7
149
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
8
137
Luke 11:3
Give us day by day our daily bread.
9
129
1 Thessalonians 4:4
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
10
126
Matthew 12:25
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
Most quoted verses in the 1870s
Rank
Count
Reference
Text
1
482
Luke 18:16
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
2
480
Proverbs 31:12
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
3
373
Matthew 25:21
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
4
297
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
5
292
Matthew 7:20
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
6
265
Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.
7
246
Exodus 20:15
Thou shalt not steal.
8
205
Colossians 2:21
(Touch not; taste not; handle not;
9
197
Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
10
195
Acts 20:35
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Most quoted verses in the 1880s
Rank
Count
Reference
Text
1
637
Luke 18:16
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
2
630
Matthew 25:21
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
3
615
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
4
353
Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.
5
341
Matthew 7:20
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
6
328
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7
318
Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
8
301
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
9
283
Exodus 20:8
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
10
273
Luke 11:3
Give us day by day our daily bread.
Most quoted verses in the 1890s
Rank
Count
Reference
Text
1
866
Matthew 25:21
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
2
788
Luke 18:16
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
3
744
Exodus 20:15
Thou shalt not steal.
4
569
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
5
550
Matthew 7:20
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
6
547
Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
7
493
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
8
483
Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
9
471
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
10
463
Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Most quoted verses in the 1900s
Rank
Count
Reference
Text
1
1125
Luke 18:16
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
2
1000
Matthew 25:21
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
3
862
Exodus 20:15
Thou shalt not steal.
4
820
Matthew 7:20
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
5
761
Acts 20:35
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
6
645
Exodus 20:13
Thou shalt not kill.
7
505
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.
8
479
Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
9
478
Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.
10
467
Matthew 16:26
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Most quoted verses in the 1910s
Rank
Count
Reference
Text
1
1308
Exodus 20:15
Thou shalt not steal.
2
1003
Exodus 20:13
Thou shalt not kill.
3
869
Luke 18:16
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
4
860
Matthew 25:21
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
5
773
Matthew 7:20
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
6
732
Acts 20:35
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
7
711
John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
8
697
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.
9
562
Matthew 6:10
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
10
544
Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Most quoted verses in the 1920s
Rank
Count
Reference
Text
1
194
Luke 18:16
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
2
184
Exodus 20:13
Thou shalt not kill.
3
174
Matthew 25:21
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
4
173
John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
5
173
Matthew 7:12
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
6
172
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.
7
167
Exodus 20:15
Thou shalt not steal.
8
167
Micah 6:8
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
9
162
Matthew 22:37
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
10
161
Acts 20:35
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.