BibleLibre.Sdk

A C# library for parsing and loading Bible data from multiple XML formats.

Features

• Multi-Format XML Support: Load Bible data from OSIS, USFX, Zefania, and Generic XML formats
• Format Auto-Detection: Automatically detects XML format (OSIS, USFX, Zefania, or nonstandard) from root element
• Query Methods: Easy-to-use methods to query verses, chapters, and books
• Verse Metadata: All verses include book name, book number, and chapter number metadata
• Book Name Support: Query using book names (e.g., "Genesis", "Matthew") or abbreviations (e.g., "Gen", "Jn") - case-insensitive
• Multiple Abbreviations: Each book supports multiple abbreviations (e.g., "John", "Joh", "Jhn", "Jn")
• Period-Flexible Matching: Abbreviations work with or without periods (e.g., "Gen" and "Gen." both work)
• Testament Enum: Testament type is now an enum (Old/New)
• Quick Search: Search for verses using natural reference formats like "JN 3:16", "JOHN 3:1-5", or OSIS-style references like "John.3.16"
• Fuzzy Reference Search: Tolerates misspelled book names (e.g., "Jhon 3:16" or "Jhon.3.16") via GetFuzzyReference(...)
• Fuzzy Text Search: Search verse content by similarity using FuzzySearchByText(...)
• Unified Search API: One Search(...) method that supports both fuzzy reference and fuzzy text input
• Editable Localization: Load custom book names and abbreviations from a text file

Projects

BibleLibre.Sdk

The core library that provides Bible parsing and loading functionality.

ConsoleSample

A sample application demonstrating how to use the library.

Usage

Loading a Bible (XML Formats)

using BibleLibre.Sdk;

// Load from custom Generic XML
var bible = BibleParser.Load("EnglishKJV.xml");

// Load from OSIS XML - same API
var osisBible = BibleParser.Load("EnglishKJV.osis.xml");

// Load from USFX XML
var usfxBible = BibleParser.Load("EnglishKJV.usfx.xml");

// Load from Zefania XML
var zefaniaBible = BibleParser.Load("EnglishKJV.zefania.xml");

// Load with custom localization file
var bible = BibleParser.Load("EnglishKJV.xml", "localization.txt");

// The format is auto-detected

Querying Verses

// Get verse by book number
var verse = bible.GetVerse(1, 1, 1); // Genesis 1:1
Console.WriteLine(verse?.Text);

// Get verse by book name (case-insensitive)
var verse = bible.GetVerse("Genesis", 1, 1);
var verse2 = bible.GetVerse("genesis", 1, 1); // Also works
Console.WriteLine(verse?.Text);

// Get verse by abbreviation (case-insensitive)
var verse3 = bible.GetVerse("Gen", 1, 1);
var verse4 = bible.GetVerse("GEN", 1, 1); // Also works

// Quick search with reference string
var verses = bible.Get("JN 3:16"); // Single verse
var verses2 = bible.Get("JOHN 3:1-2"); // Verse range
var verses3 = bible.Get("JN 3:1,4,5-6"); // Multiple verses and ranges
var verses4 = bible.Get("John.3.16"); // OSIS-style reference

// Fuzzy reference search (book typo tolerant)
var fuzzyRef = bible.GetFuzzyReference("Jhon 3:16");
var fuzzyRef2 = bible.GetFuzzyReference("Jhon.3.16");

// Fuzzy verse content search
var fuzzyText = bible.FuzzySearchByText("for god so loved the world", minSimilarity: 0.35, maxResults: 5);

// Unified search: auto-routes to fuzzy reference or fuzzy text search
var search1 = bible.Search("Jhon 3:16");
var search1b = bible.Search("Jhon.3.16");
var search2 = bible.Search("in the beginning was the word", maxResults: 3);

// Verses returned include book and chapter metadata
foreach (var verse in verses)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"{verse.BookName} {verse.ChapterNumber}:{verse.Number}");
    Console.WriteLine($"Book #{verse.BookNumber}: {verse.Text}");
}

// Get a chapter
var chapter = bible.GetChapter("John", 3);

// Get a book
var book = bible.GetBook("Romans");

Getting Books, Chapters, and Verses

// Get all books in the Bible (returns list without nested chapters/verses)
var allBooks = bible.GetBooks();
Console.WriteLine($"Total books: {allBooks.Count}");
foreach (var book in allBooks)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"{book.Number}. {book.Name} ({book.Abbreviation})");
}

// Get books by testament
var oldTestamentBooks = bible.GetBooks(Testament.Old);
var newTestamentBooks = bible.GetBooks(Testament.New);

// Get all chapters in a book (returns list without nested verses)
var genesis = bible.GetBook(1);
var chapters = bible.GetChapters(genesis);

// Get all verses in a chapter (with text)
var genesis1 = bible.GetChapter(1, 1);
var verses = bible.GetVerses(genesis1);

Custom Localization

Localization is managed per Bible instance and can be customized in two ways:

1. Load a custom localization file when loading the Bible:

// Load Bible with custom localization
var bible = BibleParser.Load("EnglishKJBible.xml", "localization.txt");

2. Load custom localization on an existing Bible instance:

// Load Bible from any supported XML format
var bible = BibleParser.Load("EnglishKJBible.xml");

// Load custom localization
bible.Localization.LoadFromFile("localization.txt");

Localization file format (one book per line, with multiple comma-separated abbreviations):

# Format: number fullname abbreviation1, abbreviation2, abbreviation3, ...
1 Genesis Gen., Ge., Gn.
2 Exodus Ex., Exod., Exo.
...
43 John John, Joh, Jhn, Jn
...

A complete reference file generated from BibleLibre.Sdk/Localization.cs is included in the repo:

• localization.complete.reference.txt

Features:

• Multiple abbreviations per book (e.g., John supports "John", "Joh", "Jhn", "Jn")
• Abbreviations work with or without periods (e.g., "Gen" and "Gen." both work)
• Case-insensitive matching (e.g., "GEN", "Gen", "gen" all work)
• Each Bible instance has its own localization settings

Fuzzy Search and Unified Search

The library includes three complementary search APIs:

• GetFuzzyReference(...): Fuzzy book-name matching (strict chapter/verse parsing; supports standard and OSIS-style references)
• FuzzySearchByText(...): Similarity search over verse text content
• Search(...): Unified method that first tries fuzzy reference parsing for reference-like input (Book 3:16 or Book.3.16 patterns), then falls back to fuzzy text search

// Fuzzy reference (book typo tolerance)
var byReference = bible.GetFuzzyReference("Jhon 3:16");
var byReferenceOsis = bible.GetFuzzyReference("Jhon.3.16");

// Fuzzy content search
var byText = bible.FuzzySearchByText("for god so loved the world", minSimilarity: 0.35, maxResults: 5);

// Unified search
var smart1 = bible.Search("Jhon 3:16");
var smart1b = bible.Search("Jhon.3.16");
var smart2 = bible.Search("for god so loved the world", maxResults: 3);

Building

dotnet build

Running the Sample

dotnet run --project ConsoleSample

License

This is released under the MIT license, see the LICENSE.md file for details.