These are the Bible verses about forgiving others in the King James Version, gathered for anyone who has been wronged and is trying to decide what to do with the hurt. The verses are shown in the KJV, and each one is paired with a short reflection and a practical way to carry it through the day. The passages share a common thread: forgiveness is rooted in how God has first forgiven us, and it is something we practice in ordinary moments rather than a feeling we must manufacture.
Verses for the Moment You Are Hurt
When someone has wounded you, the first passages to turn to are the ones that name the wrong honestly and still point toward release. These verses do not pretend the hurt is small. They show that forgiveness begins with bringing the injury before God instead of rehearsing it alone at the kitchen table.
Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
(KJV)
Paul ties our forgiveness of others directly to God’s forgiveness of us in Christ. When the anger flares, try naming one specific kindness God has shown you this week, then ask Him for a small kindness toward the person who hurt you, even if it is only a willingness to pray for them.
Colossians 3:13
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
(KJV)
This verse admits that people will offend one another and that forgiveness is part of ordinary life in community. Write the name of the person on a card and beside it the words “as the Lord forgave me,” then keep the card in your wallet as a reminder to act on that pattern the next time the grievance comes up.
Matthew 6:14-15
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
(KJV)
Jesus links our own forgiveness to our willingness to forgive, which sobers and motivates at once. Let this passage move you toward honesty with God about what you are holding onto. Speak the forgiveness aloud in prayer, even if your feelings lag behind your words for a while.
Verses for Forgiving When It Is Hard to Let Go
Some offenses return again and again in memory, and forgiveness has to be practiced more than once. These passages speak to the long middle of the process, when you have said the words but the old resentment keeps resurfacing. They offer patience with yourself and steady reliance on God.
Matthew 18:21-22
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
(KJV)
Peter asks how many times he must forgive, and Jesus answers with a number that stretches the imagination. When you find yourself forgiving the same person for the same thing again, take that as ordinary discipleship rather than failure. Each renewed choice to release the debt counts.
Luke 17:3-4
3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
(KJV)
This passage pairs honest rebuke with readiness to forgive when someone repents. If you are waiting for an apology that may never come, it still helps to decide ahead of time that your heart will remain open. Practice this by praying each morning for the freedom to forgive whenever the opportunity arrives.
Mark 11:25
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
(KJV)
Jesus connects forgiving others with the act of prayer itself, as though the two cannot be fully separated. Before you bring a request to God today, pause and name anyone you still hold a grudge against, then release them in that same prayer. It takes only a few seconds and keeps the practice close to your daily rhythm.
Verses for Forgiving Yourself and Walking in Grace
Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is the one who fails to forgive or the one who has been hurt by their own choices. These verses speak to God’s mercy toward sinners and invite you to receive that same mercy for yourself as well as to extend it outward.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(KJV)
John assures believers that confession brings forgiveness and cleansing from God, who is faithful and just. If guilt over your own failures keeps you from extending mercy to others, bring that guilt to God in plain words, then receive His cleansing as a settled gift rather than something you must earn again.
Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
(KJV)
The psalmist describes God’s removal of our transgressions as far as the east is from the west, an image of complete distance. When old memories of your own sin or someone else’s sin come back, picture that distance and tell God that you are choosing to leave the matter with Him.
Micah 7:18-19
18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. 19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
(KJV)
Micah highlights God’s delight in mercy and His commitment to casting sins into the depths of the sea. Let this passage shape how you speak to yourself about past wrongs. Each time you catch yourself reopening an old offense, answer with a sentence of thanks for the mercy God has already shown.
Verses for Forgiving in the Middle of Ordinary Days
Forgiveness is not only for dramatic betrayals. It also shows up in small irritations at work, in families, and in friendships. These passages are practical for everyday moments when someone says something careless or fails to keep a promise.
Proverbs 19:11
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
(KJV)
Solomon observes that a person of good understanding is slow to anger and that it is his glory to pass over a transgression. When a small slight stings at dinner or in an email, pause before reacting and ask whether letting it pass would honor the Lord more than defending your pride.
Ephesians 4:2
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love…
(KJV)
Paul urges believers to walk with lowliness, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another in love. Choose one relationship this week where you will practice patience with a known habit, and write one specific act of bearing with that person into your planner.
How to Use These Verses
Write the verse that fits your situation on a card or in a note on your phone, and read it aloud before your prayer time. Reading Scripture aloud slows the mind and helps the words settle before you speak to God. Keep one verse at the front of your notes for a month so it becomes familiar.
Pray the verse back to God in your own words, naming the person and the specific hurt. You might say, “Lord, I want to forgive as You have forgiven me, and I ask You to help me release this debt today.” Return to the same verse when the feeling of resentment returns, and let the repetition become a steady companion in your walk with Him.
A Short Prayer for forgiving others
Lord, You have forgiven me more than I can ever repay, and I am grateful for Your patient mercy. I bring to You the person who has hurt me, and I confess that I want to hold onto the offense. Help me to release it into Your hands and to speak words of blessing where I have spoken words of bitterness. Give me the grace to forgive again when the memory returns, and show me one practical kindness I can offer today. Heal the places where I am still raw, and keep my heart soft toward others as You keep it soft toward me. Amen.
