diff --git a/scripts/read-bible.in b/scripts/read-bible.in
index 727d268..584109f 100644
--- a/scripts/read-bible.in
+++ b/scripts/read-bible.in
@@ -31,11 +31,13 @@ exec guile -e '(@ (read-bible) main)' -s "$0" "$@"
   (define-syntax conf
     (syntax-rules (else)
       ((_ (f e)... (else g)) (cond ((flag? f) e)... (else g)))))
-  (with-bible (cadr args)
-              (conf ("-h" (help))
-                    ("-v" (version))
-                    ("-b" (if (flag? "-c")
-                              (call-with-chapter (get "-b") (get "-c")
-                                                 print-text)
-                              (call-with-book (get "-b") print-text)))
-                    (else (help)))))
+  (if (< (length args) 2)
+      (help)
+      (with-bible (cadr args)
+                  (conf ("-h" (help))
+                        ("-v" (version))
+                        ("-b" (if (flag? "-c")
+                                  (call-with-chapter (get "-b") (get "-c")
+                                                     print-text)
+                                  (call-with-book (get "-b") print-text)))
+                        (else (help))))))