Depression

Depression is not named in the Bible, which describes people who were downcast, in despair, or weary of life. This page lists verses on God's nearness to the brokenhearted, laments in the Psalms, accounts of despair in Scripture, comfort, and hope.

God near the brokenhearted

• Psalm 34:18
  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
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• Psalm 147:3
  He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
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• Isaiah 61:1-3
  ¹The 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; ²To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; ³To 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.
  Show context · Read Isaiah 61 →
• Matthew 11:28-30
  ²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
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Laments in the Psalms

• 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.
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• Psalm 13:1-2
  ¹How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? ²How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
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• Psalm 13:5-6
  ⁵But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. ⁶I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
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• Psalm 88:3
  For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
  Show context · Read Psalm 88 →
• Psalm 40:1-3
  ¹I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. ²He 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. ³And 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.
  Show context · Read Psalm 40 →

Despair in Scripture

• 1 Kings 19:4-8
  ⁴But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. ⁵And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. ⁶And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. ⁷And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. ⁸And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
  Show context · Read 1 Kings 19 →
• Job 3:11
  Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
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• Jeremiah 20:14
  Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.
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• 2 Corinthians 1:8-9
  ⁸For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: ⁹But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
  Show context · Read 2 Corinthians 1 →

Comfort from God

• 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
  ³Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; ⁴Who 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.
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• Isaiah 41:10
  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
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• Deuteronomy 31:8
  And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
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• 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
  ⁸We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
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Hope

• Lamentations 3:21-23
  ²¹This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. ²²It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. ²³They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
  Show context · Read Lamentations 3 →
• Romans 15:13
  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
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• 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.
  Show context · Read Psalm 30 →

See also

• Suicide
• Anxiety
• Hope
• Grief

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.