29 Bible Verses About Patience (NIV & KJV)

Patience is one of the quietest yet most powerful virtues Scripture calls us to. In a world that demands everything instantly, the Bible invites us to slow down, to wait on the Lord, and to trust that His timing is always perfect. Patience is not passive resignation but active, hopeful endurance rooted in faith.

These Bible verses about patience gather the clearest passages in both the NIV and KJV on waiting upon God, enduring trials, bearing with others in love, and the lasting hope that patience produces. Whether you are weary from waiting, struggling to forgive, or longing for an answer that has not yet come, these words will steady your soul.

Let these verses remind you that patience is a gift of the Spirit, a fruit grown through trust, and a path that leads to maturity, character, and hope that does not disappoint.

⏳ Waiting on the Lord

These verses encourage us to trust God's timing as we wait.

“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)

“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)

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”— Psalm 37:7 (NIV)“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”— Psalm 37:7 (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)

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”— Psalm 62:5 (NIV)“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.”— Psalm 62:5 (KJV)

🌱 Patience Through Trials

Scripture shows that trials produce patience and maturity.

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;”— Romans 5:3 (NIV)“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;”— Romans 5:3 (KJV)

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,”— James 1:2 (NIV)“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”— James 1:2 (KJV)

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”— James 1:4 (NIV)“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”— James 1:4 (KJV)

“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”— Hebrews 6:12 (NIV)“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”— Hebrews 6:12 (KJV)

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”— Hebrews 10:36 (NIV)“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”— Hebrews 10:36 (KJV)

🕊️ Patience as a Fruit of the Spirit

These verses present patience as a virtue God grows in 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)

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”— Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”— Ephesians 4:2 (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)

“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)

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,”— Romans 15:5 (NIV)“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:”— Romans 15:5 (KJV)

🤝 Patience With Others

Scripture calls us to bear patiently with one another.

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.”— James 5:7 (NIV)“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”— James 5:7 (KJV)

“You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”— James 5:8 (NIV)“Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”— James 5:8 (KJV)

“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV)“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (KJV)

“Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”— Proverbs 16:32 (NIV)“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”— Proverbs 16:32 (KJV)

“A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”— Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)“The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.”— Proverbs 19:11 (KJV)

🌅 Hope That Patience Brings

These verses connect patience with steadfast, enduring hope.

“perseverance, character; and character, hope.”— Romans 5:4 (NIV)“And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”— Romans 5:4 (KJV)

“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”— Romans 8:25 (NIV)“But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”— Romans 8:25 (KJV)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”— Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”— Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”— Romans 12:12 (NIV)“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”— Romans 12:12 (KJV)

“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”— Ecclesiastes 7:8 (NIV)“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”— Ecclesiastes 7:8 (KJV)

🛡️ God's Patience Toward Us

Scripture reveals the longsuffering patience of God Himself.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”— 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”— 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)

“Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.”— 2 Peter 3:15 (NIV)“And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;”— 2 Peter 3:15 (KJV)

“But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”— 1 Timothy 1:16 (NIV)“Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”— 1 Timothy 1:16 (KJV)

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”— Psalm 103:8 (NIV)“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”— Psalm 103:8 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About Patience?

The Bible says that patience is far more than the ability to wait. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, a sign of spiritual maturity, and a reflection of God's own longsuffering character. Scripture teaches that patience is produced through trials, for tribulation works patience, and patience in turn produces experience and hope that does not disappoint. God uses every season of waiting to refine and strengthen us.

The Bible also models patience for us in God Himself, who is slow to anger and abounding in mercy, waiting that all might come to repentance. Believers are called to mirror this patience by waiting on the Lord, enduring hardship with hope, and bearing patiently with one another in love. In doing so, we learn to trust that God's timing is perfect even when our own is not.

May these verses encourage you to wait well and to trust God's perfect timing. For more Scripture to strengthen your walk, explore our Bible verses about strength, Bible verses about hope, and Bible verses about faith.