This page gives you King James Version Bible verses about a forgiving heart, along with a short reflection on each one, for anyone who is carrying hurt, trying to release a grudge, or wanting to forgive someone who has wronged them. The verses are grouped by the moments where forgiveness is hardest, so you can find the right passage when you need it most. Taken together, they show that forgiveness is rooted in the mercy God first gave us, and that it is a choice we can practice day by day rather than a feeling we must manufacture.
Verses for the Moment You Have Been Wronged
When someone has hurt you deeply, the first pull is often to replay what happened and rehearse what you want to say. These passages speak to that raw stage, reminding you that God sees the offense, cares about your pain, and does not ask you to pretend it did not matter.
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 links our willingness to forgive directly to the forgiveness we have received. Try naming one specific person in your mind today and saying, quietly, that you are choosing to be kind toward them, even if you do not yet feel warm. Kindness can begin as a decision before it becomes a feeling.
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 treats forgiveness as something that follows the pattern of Christ’s own forgiveness, not as a reward for the other person’s apology. When an old resentment resurfaces this week, pause and ask God to help you release the claim you still hold against that person.
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 ties our forgiveness of others to our own standing before the Father, which can feel sobering. Read these verses slowly and notice what they ask of you without pretending they are simple. Then bring your honest struggle to God rather than trying to force yourself into a finished attitude.
Verses for Letting Go of Bitterness
Bitterness rarely announces itself. It settles into thoughts you return to at night, or into the tone you use with people who had nothing to do with the original hurt. These verses speak to the slow work of uprooting a grudge that has taken up residence in your heart.
Hebrews 12:15
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you , and thereby many be defiled…
(KJV)
The writer warns that one unchecked root of bitterness can spread and trouble many people, including those close to you. Notice where your resentment has begun to affect your family, your friendships or your work. Name that cost honestly, then ask God to pull the root before it grows further.
Proverbs 19:11
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
(KJV)
This proverb presents patience and a willingness to overlook an offense as a mark of wisdom and even glory. When you feel the urge to answer an insult, pause for a breath before you respond. Choosing to let a small offense pass can be a quiet act of strength.
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 prayer with forgiveness, showing that we cannot bring our needs to God while holding a grudge against someone else. Before you pray tonight, name anyone you are still holding something against and tell God you are willing to release them. Then ask for the same mercy you hope to receive.
Verses for Forgiving Someone Who Keeps Hurting You
Some wounds are not one-time events but repeated patterns, and forgiveness in those situations can feel like an endless task. These passages acknowledge the repetition and point you toward God’s patience, which does not run out, as the model for your own.
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 signals no set limit. This does not mean ignoring harm or staying in danger, but it does mean your forgiveness need not be measured out like a ledger. Ask God for fresh grace each time the old pain returns.
Luke 6:27-28
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
(KJV)
Jesus calls his listeners to bless and pray for those who treat them badly, which is one of the hardest commands in Scripture. Choose one person who has hurt you and pray a simple blessing over their life, perhaps for their health or their peace. Even a brief prayer can soften a hardened heart over time.
Romans 12:19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
(KJV)
Paul reminds believers that vengeance belongs to God, which frees you from the burden of paying back every wrong. When you feel the urge to settle the score, tell God that the matter is in his hands. Trusting his justice can lighten the weight you have been carrying.
Verses for the Ongoing Practice of a Forgiving Heart
A forgiving heart is less a single decision than a way of living that is renewed over many days. These verses point to the steady work of God in you, shaping your attitudes and responses long after the first moment of forgiveness.
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 sins as the distance between east and west, which is a picture of complete separation. Remind yourself of this when your mind keeps returning to a past failure of someone else’s. God has put that distance between your offenses and you, and you can try to do the same.
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 celebrates a God who pardons iniquity and delights in mercy, casting our sins into the depths of the sea. Let this image shape your prayers this week. Ask God to show you the same delight in mercy so that your own response to others grows more generous.
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 God is faithful and just to forgive our sins when we confess them. Because you have been forgiven in this way, you can approach your own forgiveness of others from a place of security rather than fear. Confess any resentment to God each evening and receive his cleansing afresh.
How to Use These Verses
Start by writing the verse that speaks most to your situation on a card or in a notes app, and place it where you will see it during the day, such as near the sink, on your dashboard, or as your phone wallpaper. Repetition helps Scripture move from something you read into something you remember when you are tempted to stew over an offense.
Read these passages when you are about to pray, and let them shape your words to God. You might name the person you are struggling to forgive, read the verse aloud, and then ask God to make your heart match the truth you have just heard. Return to the same verse for several days if needed, and be patient with the pace of change.
A Short Prayer for a Forgiving Heart
Father, you have forgiven me in ways I could never earn, and I come before you today aware of the people I still find hard to forgive. I bring you the hurt I have been holding, the memories that keep returning, and the bitterness that has crept into my thoughts. Please loosen my grip on the offense and give me a heart that wants good for the one who wronged me. Teach me to trust your justice, to pray for those who have hurt me, and to receive your mercy again each day. Help my forgiveness be real and steady, and let your grace flow through me to others. Amen.
