28 Bible Verses About Depression (NIV & KJV)

Depression touches countless lives, and the Bible does not turn away from the weight of human sorrow. Scripture is filled with honest cries of the heart, from David's anguished Psalms to Elijah's despair beneath the juniper tree. Yet alongside that honesty, the Bible offers a steady and enduring hope: God is near to the brokenhearted and faithful to lift the downcast soul.

These Bible verses about depression gather the clearest passages in both the NIV and KJV on God's comfort, His nearness in the darkest valleys, and the hope that anchors the weary heart. Whether you are walking through a heavy season yourself or seeking to encourage someone who is, these words remind us that we are never abandoned.

Let these verses be a quiet light in the darkness, a reminder that the One who made you sees your pain, holds your tears, and promises that joy will come again. (Scripture is a gift, not a substitute for care, so please reach out to trusted people and professionals when you need help.)

🕊️ God Is Near the Brokenhearted

These verses assure us that God draws close in our deepest pain.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”— Psalm 34:18 (NIV)“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”— Psalm 34:18 (KJV)

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”— Psalm 147:3 (NIV)“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”— Psalm 147:3 (KJV)

“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”— Psalm 9:9 (NIV)“The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.”— Psalm 9:9 (KJV)

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”— Psalm 34:17 (NIV)“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.”— Psalm 34:17 (KJV)

“Psalm 40 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.”— Psalm 40:1 (NIV)“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”— Psalm 40:1 (KJV)

✨ Hope for the Downcast Soul

Scripture calls the discouraged soul to hope in God.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”— Psalm 42:11 (NIV)“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”— Psalm 42:11 (KJV)

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”— Psalm 30:5 (NIV)“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”— Psalm 30:5 (KJV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”— Romans 15:13 (NIV)“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.”— Romans 15:13 (KJV)

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”— Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)“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.”— Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”— Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)“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.”— Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)

❤️ Rest for the Weary

Jesus invites those burdened with sorrow to find rest in Him.

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”— Matthew 11:28 (NIV)“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”— Matthew 11:28 (KJV)

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”— Matthew 11:29 (NIV)“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”— Matthew 11:29 (KJV)

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”— 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”— 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”— Psalm 55:22 (NIV)“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”— Psalm 55:22 (KJV)

“Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”— Psalm 116:7 (NIV)“Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.”— Psalm 116:7 (KJV)

🛡️ God's Comfort in Darkness

These verses promise that God is present even in the darkest valley.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”— Psalm 23:4 (NIV)“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.”— Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”— Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”— Isaiah 43:2 (KJV)

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”— Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)“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.”— Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them!’”— Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV)“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”— Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV)

“Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”— Psalm 46:1 (NIV)“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”— Psalm 46:1 (KJV)

💪 Strength and Renewal

These verses speak to the renewing of a weary heart.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”— Psalm 73:26 (NIV)“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”— Psalm 73:26 (KJV)

“Psalm 27 The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?”— Psalm 27:1 (NIV)“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”— Psalm 27:1 (KJV)

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”— Psalm 27:14 (NIV)“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”— Psalm 27:14 (KJV)

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”— Philippians 4:13 (NIV)“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”— Philippians 4:13 (KJV)

🌅 Joy and Restoration

Scripture promises that God restores joy after sorrow.

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,”— Psalm 30:11 (NIV)“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;”— Psalm 30:11 (KJV)

“and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”— Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”— Isaiah 61:3 (KJV)

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”— Matthew 5:4 (NIV)“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”— Matthew 5:4 (KJV)

“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.””— Revelation 21:4 (NIV)“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”— Revelation 21:4 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About Depression?

The Bible speaks to depression with remarkable honesty and tenderness. It does not shame those who suffer; instead, it gives voice to their pain through figures like David, who cried, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" (Psalm 42:11), and Elijah, who in his despair asked God to take his life. Rather than condemning them, God responded with care, rest, and gentle restoration. Scripture acknowledges that the faithful can walk through deep darkness, and it never pretends that sorrow is sin.

Yet the Bible refuses to leave the struggling soul without hope. It declares that "the LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart" (Psalm 34:18) and that He heals the broken and binds up their wounds. Jesus extends a personal invitation to the weary and heavy laden to come to Him for rest. The Bible's message to those in depression is not "try harder" but "you are not alone," pointing always to a God who is present, compassionate, and faithful to bring joy in the morning.

If you are struggling, let these verses remind you of God's nearness, and please reach out to trusted people and professionals for support. For more Scripture to encourage your heart, explore our Bible verses about hope, Bible verses about comfort, and Bible verses about anxiety.