28 Bible Verses About Repentance (NIV & KJV)

Repentance is the doorway to grace. From the preaching of the prophets to the message of Jesus and the apostles, Scripture calls every heart to turn away from sin and return to God. It is not merely feeling sorry but a genuine change of mind and direction that leads to forgiveness and new life.

These Bible verses about repentance gather the clearest passages in both the NIV and KJV on turning from sin, confessing before God, receiving His mercy, and walking in the freedom that follows. Whether you are convicted of wrongdoing, seeking a fresh start, or longing to draw near to God again, these words point the way home.

Let these verses remind you that no sin is beyond God's mercy, and that a broken and contrite heart is something He will never despise.

🙏 The Call to Repent

These verses sound the Bible's clear summons to turn back to God.

“From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.””— Matthew 4:17 (NIV)“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”— Matthew 4:17 (KJV)

“I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”— Luke 13:3 (NIV)“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”— Luke 13:3 (KJV)

“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”— Acts 2:38 (NIV)“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”— Acts 2:38 (KJV)

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,”— Acts 3:19 (NIV)“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”— Acts 3:19 (KJV)

“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”— Acts 17:30 (NIV)“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:”— Acts 17:30 (KJV)

💧 A Broken and Contrite Heart

Scripture shows that true repentance flows from genuine sorrow.

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”— Psalm 51:17 (NIV)“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”— Psalm 51:17 (KJV)

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”— Psalm 51:10 (NIV)“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”— Psalm 51:10 (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)

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”— 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”— 2 Corinthians 7:10 (KJV)

“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”— Joel 2:13 (NIV)“And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”— Joel 2:13 (KJV)

✝️ God's Forgiveness for the Penitent

These verses promise mercy to all who turn to God.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”— 1 John 1:9 (NIV)“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”— 1 John 1:9 (KJV)

“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”— Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”— Proverbs 28:13 (KJV)

““Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”— Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”— Isaiah 1:18 (KJV)

“Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”— Isaiah 55:7 (NIV)“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”— Isaiah 55:7 (KJV)

““I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”— Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”— Isaiah 43:25 (KJV)

🔄 Turning From Sin

Scripture calls us to forsake our old ways and walk anew.

“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”— 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”— 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

“Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel?”— Ezekiel 18:31 (NIV)“Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”— Ezekiel 18:31 (KJV)

“Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’”— Ezekiel 33:11 (NIV)“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”— Ezekiel 33:11 (KJV)

“Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.”— Isaiah 1:16 (NIV)“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;”— Isaiah 1:16 (KJV)

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”— Matthew 3:8 (NIV)“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:”— Matthew 3:8 (KJV)

🌿 New Life After Repentance

These verses describe the freedom and renewal repentance brings.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”— 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”— 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”— John 10:10 (NIV)“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”— John 10:10 (KJV)

“Psalm 32 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.”— Psalm 32:1 (NIV)“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”— Psalm 32:1 (KJV)

“as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”— Psalm 103:12 (NIV)“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”— Psalm 103:12 (KJV)

💛 God's Heart Toward the Repentant

Scripture reveals how heaven rejoices over a sinner who turns.

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”— Luke 15:7 (NIV)“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”— Luke 15:7 (KJV)

“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)

“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”— Romans 2:4 (NIV)“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”— Romans 2:4 (KJV)

“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”— James 4:8 (NIV)“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”— James 4:8 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About Repentance?

The Bible says that repentance is a genuine turning of the heart away from sin and back toward God. It begins with godly sorrow, expresses itself in confession, and proves itself by forsaking the sin and walking in obedience. Far from being a one-time act alone, repentance reflects an ongoing posture of humility before the Lord. Jesus Himself began His ministry by calling people to repent, for the kingdom of heaven was near.

The Bible also reveals God's tender heart toward the penitent. He does not despise a broken and contrite spirit but draws near to it, and all of heaven rejoices when even one sinner turns back. Scripture promises that if we confess and forsake our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse us completely. Through repentance, the guilty find mercy, the wandering find their way home, and the old life gives way to a new creation in Christ.

May these verses lead you to the mercy that awaits every turning heart. For more Scripture to deepen your walk, explore our Bible verses about forgiveness, Bible verses about grace, and Bible verses about salvation.