Sacred texts · Bible
Bible verses for encouragement, the most loved and by topic
To find encouraging Bible verses, start with the best-known ones gathered below: Psalm 23, Isaiah 41:10, Philippians 4:13 and Jeremiah 29:11. Each verse is quoted word for word from the King James Version, with its reference, so you can look it up in your own Bible.
This page is the starting point for a collection of Bible verses by topic: encouragement, strength, anxiety and fear, peace, love, faith, hope, forgiveness, gratitude, comfort in grief, healing and illness, wisdom, and the Psalms. The verses come from Selfia, an affirmation app in English and French that also offers verses and sacred texts from eight traditions. They are presented as written, without doctrinal commentary, for prayer, for meditation, or simply as a word to carry through the day.
The most loved Bible verses
These are verses many readers already carry by heart, often because a single sentence is enough to hold them: the shepherd of Psalm 23, the love of John 3:16, the promise of Jeremiah 29:11. Read them slowly, once for the meaning and a second time stopping on the word that stays with you.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
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.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
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.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Bible verses for encouragement and comfort
These passages speak to anyone who is afraid, worried or worn out. They don’t deny the hard part; they point to a presence in the middle of it. Pick one in the morning and come back to it at night to notice what it changed in your day.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Bible verses by topic
- EncouragementTo take heart and keep going
- StrengthWhen you are tired or at the end of your rope
- Anxiety and fearFear not: verses for restless nights
- PeaceInner peace, rest, peace with others
- LoveGod’s love, loving others, marriage and friendship
- FaithTrust, prayer, and doubt too
- HopeA future, waiting, light in the dark
- ForgivenessMercy, forgiving others, forgiving yourself
- GratitudeThanksgiving and praise
- ComfortFor grief and a broken heart
- HealingComfort in illness and while you wait
- WisdomProverbs, Ecclesiastes, the letter of James
- PsalmsA psalm for every moment
Frequently asked questions
What is the most encouraging Bible verse?
There isn’t a single answer; it depends on what you are going through. Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee,” speaks to fear. Philippians 4:13 goes with effort. Psalm 23 steadies people in dark seasons. For exhaustion, Matthew 11:28 offers rest to all who labour and are heavy laden.
Which Bible translation is used?
The English verses are quoted from the King James Version, first published in 1611 and in the public domain in the United States and most countries. Each verse was checked word for word against editions published by eBible.org. Typographic details, such as LORD printed in small capitals, are not treated as changes to the text.
Where can I find a Bible verse of the day?
The Bible verse of the day page offers a new one every day. You can also keep it simple: pick one verse from this page in the morning, copy it into a notebook and read it again at night. One sentence carried through a whole day often stays with you longer than a chapter read in a hurry.
How do you meditate on a Bible verse?
Read it quietly two or three times. Notice the word that catches you, then ask what it says about your day. You can turn it into a prayer in your own words, or write it in a journal with the date. Many Christians read this way, slowly, in a practice close to lectio divina.