Comforting Bible Verses for Sorrow and Loss
When someone is hurting, scripture often comforts where our own words fall short. These are the verses people send in sympathy cards, read at bedsides, and hold on to in the middle of the night — grouped by theme, each ready to copy and share.
The God of All Comfort
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." — 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (BSB)
"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit." — Psalm 34:18 (BSB)
"As a mother comforts her son, so will I comfort you, and you will be consoled over Jerusalem." — Isaiah 66:13 (BSB)
"I, even I, am He who comforts you. Why should you be afraid of mortal man, of a son of man who withers like grass?" — Isaiah 51:12 (BSB)
Comfort in Affliction
"This is my comfort in affliction, that Your promise has given me life." — Psalm 119:50 (BSB)
"May Your loving devotion comfort me, I pray, according to Your promise to Your servant." — Psalm 119:76 (BSB)
"Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes, You will revive me once again. Even from the depths of the earth You will bring me back up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again." — Psalm 71:20–21 (BSB)
"For the Lord will not cast us off forever. Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion. For He does not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of men." — Lamentations 3:31–33 (BSB)
Rest for the Weary
"In God alone my soul finds rest; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation. He is my fortress; I will never be shaken." — Psalm 62:1–2 (BSB)
"The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him." — Nahum 1:7 (BSB)
"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." — Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV)
Sorrow Turned to Joy
"So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." — John 16:22 (BSB)
"Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break forth in song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones." — Isaiah 49:13 (BSB)
"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed." — 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 (BSB)
How to Use These Verses
For a sympathy card, Psalm 34:18 and 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 say the most without saying too much. Deuteronomy 33:27 — "underneath are the everlasting arms" — has steadied mourners for centuries and pairs naturally with a prayer for grief or a prayer for a grieving friend. If you are preparing for a memorial service, see our collection of funeral Bible verses; if worry rather than sorrow is keeping you up, start with these Bible verses about anxiety.
The verses on this page are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB) and the King James Version (KJV) — both in the public domain, so you may reprint them freely in cards and programs.