This list gives you King James Version verses for comforting someone else, whether a friend in grief, a child after a bad day, or a stranger you have only just met. Each verse is paired with a short reflection on how it applies to the person you are trying to encourage and one practical way to act on it. The verses share a common thread: God is the source of comfort, and he invites us to pass it along to others.
Verses for Sitting With Someone in Grief
When someone you love has lost a person, a job or a dream, words often fail. These verses remind you that God draws near to the brokenhearted and that comfort is something you can offer simply by staying present.
Psalm 34:18
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
(KJV)
This verse tells you that God is close to people whose hearts are shattered. When you visit a grieving friend, you are doing something God himself is doing. Try sending a text that says only that you are thinking of them and are near if they need company.
Matthew 5:4
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
(KJV)
Jesus promises comfort to those who mourn, which means grief is not a failure of faith. Let the mourner cry without rushing to fix anything. Your quiet willingness to listen can be the first place they feel comforted that day.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
(KJV)
Paul describes God as the source of every comfort, and he says that comfort is meant to flow outward. The comfort you received in your own hard seasons equips you to meet someone else in theirs. Think of one loss you have survived and let that memory shape how gently you speak.
Verses for Encouraging a Discouraged Friend
Discouragement often feels like a slow weight that settles in without warning. These verses speak to people who feel tired, overlooked or unsure whether things will improve, and they point toward steady strength that does not depend on circumstances.
Isaiah 40:29
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
(KJV)
Isaiah says God gives power to the faint and increases strength to those who have none. Your discouraged friend may need help doing ordinary tasks. Offer to pick up groceries or cook a simple meal so their energy can go toward recovery.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
(KJV)
Moses told Israel to be strong and courageous because the Lord goes with them. You can say the heart of this verse out loud to someone who feels alone: you are not walking into the next hard thing by yourself. Then make a plan to check in on them later that week.
Romans 15:5
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus…
(KJV)
Paul prays that God would grant believers the same mind toward one another. Encouragement grows when people stand together rather than apart. Invite your discouraged friend to a small gathering, a walk or a shared meal so they can feel part of something.
Verses for Speaking Words That Build Up
Comfort is often carried in the words we choose. These verses encourage you to speak with care, to build others up and to let kindness shape what you say when someone is struggling.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
(KJV)
Paul asks believers to let no corrupt talk leave their mouths, only what is good for building up. Before you respond to a hurting person, pause and ask whether your words will help. Choose one specific, true thing you admire about them and say it aloud.
Proverbs 12:25
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
(KJV)
This proverb observes that anxiety weighs a heart down, while a good word lifts it. Notice the worry a friend carries and offer one reassuring sentence rather than a long lecture. Keep your words short, warm and honest.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
(KJV)
Paul urges believers to comfort one another and build each other up, as they already do. This verse assumes that encouragement is ongoing work within a community. Write a brief note to someone who has been quiet lately and tell them what they have meant to you.
Verses for Strengthening Someone Through Prayer
Sometimes the most comforting thing you can do is carry another person to God. These verses encourage you to pray for others, trusting that God hears and responds with care.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
(KJV)
Paul invites believers to bring every request to God with thanksgiving, and promises a peace that guards the heart. Pray this with your anxious friend, naming their concerns aloud. Then ask them to notice one thing they are grateful for.
James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
(KJV)
James says the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective, and that believers should pray for one another. When someone confides a struggle, promise to pray and then do it that same day. Let them know you have prayed, because that assurance itself brings comfort.
Psalm 55:22
Cast thy burden upon the LORD , and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
(KJV)
David calls on his hearers to cast their burden on the Lord, who will sustain them. You can help a weary person picture handing their load to God. Ask them to name the burden, and then say a short prayer asking God to carry it with them.
How to Use These Verses
These verses work best when they become part of your own habits rather than a list you skim once. Write two or three of them on a card and keep it in your wallet or on your phone, so you can read them before a difficult conversation or visit. Ask God in the morning to show you who needs comfort that day, and let the verse you read first shape how you approach that person.
You might also use these verses as a foundation for a handwritten note or a message. Copy one that fits the person’s situation, add a sentence about why it matters to you, and send it without expecting a reply. Over time, a collection of such notes becomes a quiet record of how God has used you to comfort others.
A Short Prayer for Others
Father, you are the God of all comfort, and you meet us in every kind of sorrow. Thank you for the people in our lives who are hurting right now, including the ones we have not yet noticed. Give us patience to listen, wisdom to choose our words, and courage to show up when it would be easier to stay away. Let the comfort we received from you flow through us to them. Help them feel your nearness, and let them sense that they are not alone. Amen.
