Psalms 34:18
The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
The promise is nearness: God does not stand at a distance from the broken-hearted — he is "nigh" to them.
Read Psalms 34:18 in contextBible Verses for Grief
Ten hand-picked King James Version passages that speak to grief — about weeping, comfort, and the promise that sorrow does not have the last word. Every verse is fully quoted, linked to its permanent page, and free to share.
The verses
Matthew 5:4
Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Mourning is named blessed, not because grief is good, but because comfort is promised to those who grieve.
Read Matthew 5:4 in contextPsalms 147:3
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
The God who counts the stars is pictured here binding up wounds — grief is treated, not dismissed.
Read Psalms 147:3 in contextJohn 11:35
Jesus wept.
The shortest verse in the Bible: Jesus stands at a friend’s grave and weeps. Grief is not a failure of faith.
Read John 11:35 in contextRevelation 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
The end of the story: a promise that death, sorrow, crying and pain are temporary and will be wiped away.
Read Revelation 21:4 in contextPsalms 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
The valley is walked through, not camped in — and it is walked with a shepherd who carries rod and staff.
Read Psalms 23:4 in context2 Corinthians 1:3
Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Paul names God "the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort" — the first step of comfort is knowing where it comes from.
Read 2 Corinthians 1:3 in contextPsalms 30:5
For his anger [endureth but] a moment; in his favour [is] life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy [cometh] in the morning.
An honest timeline: weeping may last the night, but joy is promised for the morning.
Read Psalms 30:5 in contextIsaiah 41:13
For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Grief often feels like falling; this verse pictures God holding your right hand.
Read Isaiah 41:13 in contextPsalms 126:5
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
The harvest image: tears are seed and joy is the crop — a long view of mourning.
Read Psalms 126:5 in contextHow to use these verses
- Read one slowly — grief needs shorter readings, not longer ones; sit with a single verse and its note.
- Give yourself the Psalm 30:5 timeline — weeping for the night, joy for the morning, without hurrying the night.
- Make an image of the verse that speaks to you, and keep it where you will see it.
- Send a verse to someone grieving — a single verse says more than a paragraph, and every link loads the same passage for anyone.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about grief?
The Bible never tells the grieving to stop grieving. It validates mourning as real (John 11:35, Psalm 30:5) and repeatedly promises comfort, presence and an end to sorrow (Matthew 5:4, Revelation 21:4).
Which translation are these verses from?
The King James Version (1769), which is in the public domain in the United States. Rights may differ outside the U.S.
Are these verses free to use and share?
Yes. The KJV text is public domain, so you may copy, quote and share these verses freely. You can also turn any verse into an image for Pinterest, Instagram or a phone wallpaper.
Do these verses come from a mood filter or a keyword search?
Neither. Each verse was hand-picked for the grieving state of mind, and every passage is a full KJV verse with its context one click away.