27 Bible Verses About Encouragement (NIV & KJV)

Everyone needs encouragement. In seasons of weariness, disappointment, or uncertainty, the words of Scripture have a unique power to lift the heart and restore hope. The Bible is filled with promises meant to steady us when our own strength runs out.

These Bible verses about encouragement bring together the most uplifting passages in both the NIV and KJV, reminding us that God is near, that He is faithful, and that He will carry us through. They are words to read on a hard morning, to share with a struggling friend, or to hold onto when the road feels long.

Let these verses refresh your spirit and remind you that you are never alone.

💪 Strength for the Weary

These verses remind us that God renews our strength when we are exhausted.

“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)

“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)

“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)

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”— Isaiah 40:29 (NIV)“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”— Isaiah 40:29 (KJV)

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”— Psalm 28:7 (NIV)“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”— Psalm 28:7 (KJV)

🦁 Courage for the Fearful

Scripture urges us to take heart and be courageous because God goes with us.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.””— Joshua 1:9 (NIV)“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.”— Joshua 1:9 (KJV)

“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”— Psalm 31:24 (NIV)“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”— Psalm 31:24 (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)

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”— 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”— 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.””— John 16:33 (NIV)“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”— John 16:33 (KJV)

🤝 Encouraging One Another

These verses call believers to build each other up.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV)

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”— Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”— Hebrews 3:13 (KJV)

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”— Galatians 6:2 (NIV)“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”— Galatians 6:2 (KJV)

“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.”— Proverbs 25:11 (NIV)“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”— Proverbs 25:11 (KJV)

🙏 God's Faithful Presence

You are never alone, for God has promised to remain with you.

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.””— Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”— Hebrews 13:5 (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)

“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)

“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)

“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)

🌅 Hope for Tomorrow

These verses point us toward a future filled with God's goodness.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”— Romans 8:28 (NIV)“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.”— Romans 8:28 (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)

“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)

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”— Philippians 1:6 (NIV)“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”— Philippians 1:6 (KJV)

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”— Galatians 6:9 (NIV)“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”— Galatians 6:9 (KJV)

✨ Peace and Rest

Encouragement also comes through the rest God offers our souls.

““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)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”— John 14:27 (NIV)“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.”— John 14:27 (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)

What Does the Bible Say About Encouragement?

The Bible says that encouragement flows from the unchanging character of God and from the fellowship of His people. Scripture repeatedly commands believers to be strong and of good courage, not because circumstances are easy, but because the Lord Himself promises to be present, to strengthen, and to uphold. God assures us He will never leave nor forsake us, and that He renews the strength of all who wait on Him.

Beyond God's promises, the Bible also calls us to encourage one another. We are told to comfort, exhort, and edify each other daily, bearing one another's burdens. In this way, encouragement is both a gift we receive from God and a ministry we extend to others, turning weariness into renewed hope and isolation into shared strength.

May these words lift your heart and steady your steps today. For more strength and hope, explore our Bible verses about strength, Bible verses about hope, and Bible verses about comfort.