Bible verses by topic
Bible Verses About Depression to Memorize
The Bible is honest about darkness. David asks his own soul, “Why art thou cast down?” Elijah wanted to die under a juniper tree. Jeremiah wrote a whole book called Lamentations. Scripture never pretends the pit isn’t real — it testifies that God comes down into it. “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart,” David wrote, from experience.
These twelve verses hold two truths together: the darkness is real, and it is not the end of the story. Psalm 40 describes being lifted out of a horrible pit and set on a rock. Lamentations 3 finds mercy that is new every morning in the middle of the Bible’s saddest book. Romans 8 insists that nothing — not depth, not any creature — can separate you from the love of God.
In a dark season, feelings make poor anchors. Memorized truth holds when feelings cannot. If you are walking through depression, these verses are worth carrying word for word — and please also reach out to your doctor, pastor, or a trusted friend. God works through people, too.
KJV verse list
12 Bible verses about depression
Each verse below is shown in the King James Version. Read it slowly, then use the note beneath it to see why it is worth carrying with you.
Psalm 34:17-18
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
The promise depressed believers need most: the LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.
Psalm 42:11
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
David’s model for talking back to your own soul: “Why art thou cast down? … hope thou in God.”
Psalm 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
A testimony of rescue from the horrible pit — feet on a rock and a new song, after patient waiting.
Psalm 147:3
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Seven words of pure hope: He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Lamentations 3:21-23
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Hope recalled in the middle of devastation: His compassions fail not; they are new every morning.
Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
The mission of the Messiah: binding up the brokenhearted, giving beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning.
Psalm 30:5
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning — the night is real, and it ends.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 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.
God is the Father of mercies who comforts us in all tribulation — and turns our comfort into comfort for others.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When depression says you are cut off, this insists nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ.
Psalm 143:7-8
Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
An honest prayer for the failing spirit, asking to hear God’s lovingkindness in the morning.
Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
A stunning picture for the downcast: the mighty God in your midst, resting in His love, rejoicing over you with singing.
Isaiah 43:2
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
God does not promise you will avoid the waters and the fire — He promises to be with you through them.
Memorization help
How to memorize these verses
In a dark season, lower the bar and keep going: one short verse, reviewed daily, beats ten verses attempted once. Psalm 147:3 is only a dozen words — start there. Many people find it helps to memorize the questions as well as the answers, like Psalm 42:11, because David’s “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” gives you biblical language for what you are feeling. The Bible Memory App’s daily review takes just a few minutes and is free to start; on the hardest days, letting the app simply walk you through verses you already know can be a lifeline of its own.
The Bible Memory App turns that practice into a daily habit: type each verse from memory, get instant feedback on every word, and review on a schedule so the verses stay with you for years, not days. It is free to start, and you can add any of the verses above in seconds.
FAQ
Questions about Bible verses on depression
What does the Bible say about depression?
The Bible never uses the modern word, but it describes the experience in detail — David’s cast-down soul (Psalm 42), Elijah’s despair (1 Kings 19), Jeremiah’s lament. Scripture treats the brokenhearted with tenderness, not rebuke: “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart” (Psalm 34:18). Faith and dark seasons can coexist, and God meets His people in both.
What is a good psalm for depression?
Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 voice the cast-down soul and preach hope to it; Psalm 40 testifies to being lifted from the pit; Psalm 34 promises the LORD’s nearness to the brokenhearted; Psalm 30:5 promises that joy comes in the morning. Many sufferers memorize Psalm 42:11 first because it gives them words for both the pain and the hope.
Is it wrong for a Christian to be depressed?
No. Some of the most faithful people in Scripture — David, Elijah, Job, Jeremiah — walked through deep darkness, and God responded with care, food, rest, and His presence rather than condemnation. Depression is not a verdict on your faith. Scripture, prayer, Christian community, and medical care are all gifts God can use, and seeking help is wisdom, not weakness.
Keep going
Related topics
Curated collections
Memorize by collection
Want these verses ready to practice as a set? Add the Depression memory verse collection to your account, or browse all topical memory verse collections on BibleMemory.com.