28 Bible Verses About Kindness (NIV & KJV)

Kindness is woven through the whole of Scripture, from the tender mercies of God toward His people to the practical commands that shape how believers treat one another. The Bible presents kindness not as mere politeness but as an outflow of God's own character, a love that acts gently, forgives freely, and seeks the good of others.

These Bible verses about kindness gather the clearest passages in both the NIV and KJV on compassion, gentleness, and loving your neighbor. Whether you are encouraging a friend, teaching children, or seeking to soften your own heart, these words point to the kindness God shows us and calls us to share.

Let these verses remind you that every act of kindness echoes the heart of God, who is rich in mercy and abundant in goodness toward all.

💛 Be Kind to One Another

These verses call believers to treat each other with compassion and tenderness.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”— Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”— Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”— Colossians 3:12 (NIV)“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”— Colossians 3:12 (KJV)

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”— Romans 12:10 (NIV)“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”— Romans 12:10 (KJV)

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”— Ephesians 4:31 (NIV)“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”— Ephesians 4:31 (KJV)

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”— 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV)“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:”— 1 Peter 3:8 (KJV)

🌿 Kindness as the Fruit of a Godly Life

Scripture shows that kindness springs from the Spirit's work within us.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”— Galatians 5:22 (NIV)“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”— Galatians 5:22 (KJV)

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”— 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”— 1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV)

“Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”— Proverbs 11:17 (NIV)“The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.”— Proverbs 11:17 (KJV)

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.”— Proverbs 19:17 (NIV)“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”— Proverbs 19:17 (KJV)

🤝 Kindness to Neighbors and Strangers

These verses extend kindness beyond our circle to all people.

“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.””— Mark 12:31 (NIV)“And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”— Mark 12:31 (KJV)

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”— Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”— Hebrews 13:2 (KJV)

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”— Matthew 7:12 (NIV)“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”— Matthew 7:12 (KJV)

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”— Luke 6:31 (NIV)“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”— Luke 6:31 (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)

🕊️ Kindness Even to Enemies

The Bible calls us to a kindness that does not depend on how others treat us.

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”— Matthew 5:44 (NIV)“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”— Matthew 5:44 (KJV)

“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.”— Proverbs 25:21 (NIV)“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:”— Proverbs 25:21 (KJV)

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.”— Romans 12:17 (NIV)“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”— Romans 12:17 (KJV)

“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NIV)“See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (KJV)

🙏 God's Kindness Toward Us

These verses reveal the loving-kindness of God that inspires our own.

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,”— Ephesians 2:4 (NIV)“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,”— Ephesians 2:4 (KJV)

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.”— Psalm 145:8 (NIV)“The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.”— Psalm 145:8 (KJV)

“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.”— Psalm 63:3 (NIV)“Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.”— Psalm 63:3 (KJV)

“he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,”— Titus 3:5 (NIV)“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”— Titus 3:5 (KJV)

“For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.”— Psalm 117:2 (NIV)“For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.”— Psalm 117:2 (KJV)

🌸 Words and Deeds of Kindness

Scripture connects kindness to gentle speech and faithful action.

“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”— Proverbs 16:24 (NIV)“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”— Proverbs 16:24 (KJV)

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”— Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”— Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)

“She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”— Proverbs 31:26 (NIV)“She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”— Proverbs 31:26 (KJV)

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”— 1 John 3:18 (NIV)“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”— 1 John 3:18 (KJV)

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”— Hebrews 13:16 (NIV)“But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”— Hebrews 13:16 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About Kindness?

The Bible says that kindness is a reflection of God's own heart and a hallmark of those who belong to Him. God is described as "rich in mercy" (Ephesians 2:4) and "full of compassion" (Psalm 145:8), and because He has been kind to us in Christ, we are called to be kind to one another. Kindness is named as fruit of the Spirit, meaning it grows naturally in a life surrendered to God.

Scripture also makes kindness intensely practical. It commands tenderhearted forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32), gentle speech (Proverbs 15:1), generosity toward the poor (Proverbs 19:17), and even love toward enemies (Matthew 5:44). Far from being weakness, biblical kindness is strength under God's control, a deliberate choice to do good and reflect the love of Christ to a watching world.

May these verses move you toward greater compassion. For more Scripture to shape your heart, explore our Bible verses about love, Bible verses about forgiveness, and Bible verses about humility.