diff --git a/web/templates/entry_add.html b/web/templates/entry_add.html
index 1ccf0d9..bb8bc27 100644
--- a/web/templates/entry_add.html
+++ b/web/templates/entry_add.html
@@ -112,6 +112,10 @@
   @media (max-width: 860px) {
     .form-row.two, .form-row.three { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
   }
+
+  /* --- Subtle validation colors for Scripture field --- */
+  .scripture-valid   { background-color: hsl(140 80% 92% / 0.8); transition: background-color .15s ease; }
+  .scripture-invalid { background-color: hsl(0 80% 94% / 0.8);  transition: background-color .15s ease; }
 </style>
 
 <script>
@@ -169,11 +173,105 @@
     dateAddedEl.value = `${yyyy}-${mm}-${dd}`;
   }
 })();
+
 // ----- Prefill Entry Code with current username -----
 const entryCodeEl = document.getElementById("id_entry_code");
 if (entryCodeEl && !entryCodeEl.value) {
   entryCodeEl.value = "{{ request.user.username }}";
 }
+
+/* ===========================
+   Live Scripture Validation
+   =========================== */
+(function () {
+  const el = document.getElementById("id_scripture_raw");
+  if (!el) return;
+
+  // Exact WOL abbreviations (case-sensitive)
+  const WOL = new Set([
+    // OT
+    "Ge","Ex","Le","Nu","De","Jos","Jg","Ru","1Sa","2Sa","1Ki","2Ki","1Ch","2Ch","Ezr","Ne","Es","Job","Ps","Pr","Ec","Ca","Isa","Jer","La","Eze","Da","Ho","Joe","Am","Ob","Jon","Mic","Na","Hab","Zep","Hag","Zec","Mal",
+    // NT
+    "Mt","Mr","Lu","Joh","Ac","Ro","1Co","2Co","Ga","Eph","Php","Col","1Th","2Th","1Ti","2Ti","Tit","Phm","Heb","Jas","1Pe","2Pe","1Jo","2Jo","3Jo","Jude","Re"
+  ]);
+
+  // Normalize some gentle user quirks:
+  //  - Allow trailing dot after the book token: "Ps." -> "Ps"
+  //  - Allow a space after the number in numbered books: "1 Pe" -> "1Pe"
+  function normalizeBookToken(raw) {
+    let t = raw.trim();
+    // collapse internal multiple spaces
+    t = t.replace(/\s+/g, " ");
+    // remove trailing period on the book token
+    t = t.replace(/\.$/, "");
+    // join patterns like "1 Pe" or "2  Co" -> "1Pe" / "2Co"
+    t = t.replace(/^([1-3])\s+([A-Za-z]+)/, (_, n, b) => n + b);
+    return t;
+  }
+
+  // Validate one reference like:
+  // "Ro 12"                     (chapter only)
+  // "Ro 12:1"                   (single verse)
+  // "Ro 12:1, 3, 5-7"           (lists and ranges)
+  // "Joh 3:16-4:2"              (cross-chapter range)
+  // "Ps. 23"                    (trailing dot on book handled by normalization)
+  function isValidSingleRef(ref) {
+    const s = ref.trim();
+    if (!s) return false;
+
+    // Split book token from the rest (book is everything before first space)
+    const firstSpace = s.indexOf(" ");
+    if (firstSpace < 0) return false;
+
+    const rawBook = s.slice(0, firstSpace);
+    const book = normalizeBookToken(rawBook);
+
+    if (!WOL.has(book)) return false;
+
+    const rest = s.slice(firstSpace + 1).trim();
+    if (!rest) return false;
+
+    // Accept "chapter" only (e.g., "Ps 23")
+    if (/^\d{1,3}$/.test(rest)) return true;
+
+    // Accept "chapter:verses" where verses can be:
+    // - n
+    // - n-m
+    // - n, m, p-q
+    // and allow a cross-chapter range like 3:16-4:2
+    // Pattern:
+    //   chap: ( part(, part)* )
+    // where part is either:
+    //   v          -> \d{1,3}
+    //   v-v        -> \d{1,3}\s*-\s*\d{1,3}
+    //   v-ch:v2    -> \d{1,3}\s*-\s*\d{1,3}:\d{1,3}
+    const re = /^(\d{1,3}):\s*(\d{1,3}(?:\s*-\s*(?:\d{1,3}|\d{1,3}:\d{1,3}))?(?:\s*,\s*\d{1,3}(?:\s*-\s*(?:\d{1,3}|\d{1,3}:\d{1,3}))?)*)$/;
+    if (re.test(rest)) {
+      return true;
+    }
+
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  function validateAll() {
+    const raw = el.value || "";
+    // split by ';' as multiple references
+    const parts = raw.split(";").map(t => t.trim()).filter(Boolean);
+    if (parts.length === 0) {
+      el.classList.remove("scripture-valid","scripture-invalid");
+      return;
+    }
+    const allValid = parts.every(isValidSingleRef);
+    el.classList.toggle("scripture-valid", allValid);
+    el.classList.toggle("scripture-invalid", !allValid);
+  }
+
+  // Wire events
+  el.addEventListener("input", validateAll);
+  el.addEventListener("change", validateAll);
+  // Run once on load (in case form is prefilled)
+  validateAll();
+})();
 </script>
 
 {% endblock %}
\ No newline at end of file