If you are looking for Bible verses about rejoicing in the Lord in the King James Version, this page gathers fifteen passages that call God’s people to joy in him. They are shown in the KJV, and they are arranged by situation so you can find the right words for a particular season, whether that is a quiet morning, a hard week, or a moment of thanksgiving. Each verse is followed by a short reflection and one practical way to carry it through the day.
What these verses share is a simple conviction: joy does not depend on circumstances, because it rests on who the Lord is and what he has done. The writers were often facing danger, loss, or waiting, yet they chose to rejoice. That choice is the thread running through every section below.
Verses for Starting the Day with Gladness
Some mornings joy feels like a stretch before the coffee is even brewed. These passages invite you to greet the day by naming the Lord as the source of your gladness, before the first worry has a chance to speak.
Psalm 118:24
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
(KJV)
This verse treats the day itself as a gift arriving from God’s hand. Try saying a version of it aloud while your feet touch the floor, and then notice one ordinary thing in the next hour that you can thank him for.
Psalm 90:14
O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
(KJV)
The psalmist asks for morning mercy so that gladness can follow. Before you open your phone, ask God to satisfy you with his steadfast love, and let that request set the tone for the hours ahead.
Lamentations 3:22-23
22 It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
(KJV)
These verses were written from the ruins of Jerusalem, yet they announce fresh mercy every morning. When yesterday went badly, read them as a reset and write the word “new” on a sticky note for your desk.
Verses for Times of Trouble and Waiting
Rejoicing is not only for the easy days. The Bible’s most striking joy often appears in the middle of fear, delay, or loss, when the reason to rejoice is trust rather than comfort.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD , I will joy in the God of my salvation.
(KJV)
Habakkuk lists everything that has failed and then chooses joy anyway. If your situation feels bare right now, name the one thing that is still true of God and say it out loud as an act of worship.
Psalm 13:5-6
5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. 6 I will sing unto the LORD , because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
(KJV)
David moves from complaint to singing in the space of two verses. Notice where your own prayer turns, and if it has not yet turned, pray the honest complaint first and then the trust that follows.
Romans 5:2-3
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so , but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience…
(KJV)
Paul connects rejoicing with suffering because he believes God is producing something lasting through it. Keep a small note of one thing God is teaching you this season, so that rejoicing has something concrete to attach to.
Verses for Thanksgiving and Celebration
When good things arrive, the Psalms and the letters both urge us to shout, sing, and name the goodness of God. These passages turn ordinary blessings into occasions for praise.
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
(KJV)
Paul wrote this from prison, and he tells the church to rejoice always. Make it a habit to rejoice in the Lord at one fixed point in your day, such as lunch or the drive home, and let that become a rhythm.
Psalm 9:1-2
1 I will praise thee , O LORD , with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
(KJV)
The psalmist commits to praise with his whole heart and to telling of God’s wonders. Pick one recent answered prayer or kindness and tell someone about it this week, which is the psalm put into practice.
Psalm 100:1-2
1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD , all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
(KJV)
This psalm calls the whole earth to serve the Lord with gladness and to come before him singing. Play a hymn or worship song during a routine chore and let your body join the invitation.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
(KJV)
Paul links rejoicing, prayer, and thanks in one short command. Try pairing them: whenever you find yourself rejoicing, turn that gladness into a brief prayer of gratitude before moving on.
Verses for Strength and Lasting Joy
Joy in the Lord is also a source of strength, and the Scriptures describe it as steady rather than fleeting. These verses point toward a joy that carries you through weakness and into the future.
Nehemiah 8:10
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
(KJV)
The people were weeping over the Law when Nehemiah told them that the joy of the Lord is their strength. If sorrow is heavy, take a few minutes to rest in God’s presence, then eat a simple meal as an act of trust.
Isaiah 61:10
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD , my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
(KJV)
Isaiah pictures God clothing his people with garments of salvation and righteousness. Let this verse shape how you see yourself tonight, not by your performance but by the garment God has placed on you.
Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
(KJV)
The psalmist says that fullness of joy is found in God’s presence and pleasures are at his right hand. Spend a quiet moment at the end of the day simply being in God’s presence, without asking him for anything.
John 15:11
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
(KJV)
Jesus speaks of his joy remaining in his disciples so that their joy may be full. Before a difficult conversation, ask him to share his joy with you, and then go into it as someone already loved.
How to Use These Verses
Write two or three of these verses on a card and keep it where you will see it often, such as the bathroom mirror, the car dashboard, or the inside of a notebook. Repetition helps a verse move from something you read into something you can recall in a hard moment.
Read a verse slowly, then turn it into a prayer in your own words. Ask God to help you rejoice in him today, thank him for one specific thing, and let the verse guide the shape of your conversation with him. Over time, you may find the verses returning to you without effort.
A Short Prayer for Rejoicing in the Lord
Lord, you are the source of every good gift and the reason my heart can be glad. When my circumstances feel heavy, remind me that your steadfast love is new each morning and that you are faithful even when I cannot see the way. Teach me to rejoice in you, not only in what you give. Let my gladness become a quiet witness to the people around me. Fill me with your joy today, and let it be my strength. Amen.
