If you are looking for comforting Bible verses about forgiving others, this list gives you Scripture that speaks to the pain of being wronged and the slow work of releasing that hurt to God. It is written for anyone who wants to forgive but finds that the feelings have not caught up with the decision. These verses share a common thread: forgiveness is rooted in what God has already done for us, so we are not asked to manufacture it alone.
Verses for the Moment You Are Still Hurting
Some days forgiveness feels impossible, and the wound is still raw. The verses in this group do not rush you past that feeling. They remind you that God sees what was done, that He is near to the brokenhearted, and that your hurt matters to Him.
Psalm 34:18
The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
(WEB)
When someone has hurt you deeply, it can feel as though no one understands. This verse tells you that the Lord draws close in exactly that place. Before you try to forgive, bring the raw pain to Him in a sentence or two of honest prayer.
Psalm 147:3
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
(WEB)
Healing from an offense takes time, and God is the one who binds up what has been torn. Notice one small place where you feel the sting today and name it to Him, trusting that He is already at work there.
Lamentations 3:22-23
22 It is because of the LORD’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn’t fail. 23 They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.
(WEB)
Even when the hurt lingers, God’s mercies begin again each morning. Start tomorrow by asking Him for a fresh measure of compassion for the person who wronged you, one day at a time.
Verses for Remembering What You Have Been Forgiven
Forgiving others becomes more possible when we remember how much we ourselves have been forgiven. These verses turn your attention from the offense to the mercy you have received, which is the foundation Scripture uses again and again.
Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
(WEB)
Paul connects our kindness and forgiveness toward others to the forgiveness we have received in Christ. Try writing this verse on a card and placing it where you will see it during a difficult conversation.
Colossians 3:13
Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
(WEB)
This verse ties the act of bearing with one another to the Lord’s own forgiveness of us. When an old resentment resurfaces, pause and recall one specific mercy God has shown you, then speak that gratitude into your prayer.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(WEB)
God is faithful and just to forgive those who confess their sins. Whenever you struggle to let go of an offense, confess your own resentment honestly to Him, and receive the cleansing He freely gives.
Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
(WEB)
The psalmist describes God’s removal of our sins in terms of vast distance. Let this image shape how you think about the past, and resist the urge to keep reopening the file of someone’s wrong.
Verses for Choosing Forgiveness Again Today
Forgiveness is often a decision we make repeatedly, especially when memories return or the same person hurts us again. These verses encourage steady, daily obedience and assure you that God honors even small acts of faithfulness.
Matthew 6:14-15
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
(WEB)
Jesus links our experience of the Father’s forgiveness with our willingness to forgive others. This is not a transaction to earn grace, but a call to live in the grace we already have. Pray for the person by name, even if your words feel forced.
Matthew 18:21-22
21 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.
(WEB)
When Peter asked how many times he should forgive, Jesus answered with a number meant to show that forgiveness is ongoing. Ask yourself whether you are counting offenses, and gently ask God to stop the count.
Romans 12:19
Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”
(WEB)
Paul reminds us that vengeance belongs to the Lord, not to us. When you feel the urge to settle the score, hand the matter over to God and trust that He sees clearly what is just.
Luke 6:37
Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free.
(WEB)
Jesus calls us to forgive as we hope to be forgiven, and to release judgment as well as resentment. Notice one judgmental thought you have about this person today and offer it to God in exchange for a gentler view.
Proverbs 19:11
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.
(WEB)
Wisdom sees that overlooking an offense can be a mark of good judgment and honor. Consider whether there is a small slight you can let pass without making it a larger conflict.
How to Use These Verses
Write the verse that speaks most to your situation on a card or in a note on your phone. Read it aloud when the hurt resurfaces, especially at the moments when old anger tends to rise, such as during a difficult phone call or on the drive home from a tense gathering. Repetition helps the truth settle deeper than a single reading ever could.
Use the verses as the words of your prayer rather than as a checklist. Pray the reference back to God, naming the person and the specific wound, and ask Him to bring your heart in line with His mercy. You may need to return to the same verses many times over several weeks, and that is an ordinary part of the process.
A Short Prayer for Forgiving Others
Lord, You know exactly what was done to me and how deeply it has hurt. I bring that pain to You honestly, and I ask You to be near me in it. You have forgiven me more than I can repay, so help me remember that mercy as I face this person. Where I am still holding on, loosen my grip. Where I have been keeping score, teach me to release the debt. Give me the grace to forgive again today, and let Your peace guard my heart as I trust You with what is mine to let go. Amen.
