A curated set of Bible verses on joy, organized for quick reference. Each verse is in the King James Version and linked to BibleGateway for the surrounding context. For the longer treatment, see our full article on what the Bible says about joy.
Joy in God’s presence
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” — Psalm 16:11 KJV
“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24 KJV
“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” — Psalm 122:1 KJV
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” — Psalm 100:1–2 KJV
“Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy.” — Psalm 43:4 KJV
Joy from Jesus
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” — John 15:11 KJV
“Ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” — John 16:22 KJV
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” — Hebrews 12:2 KJV
“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” — 1 Peter 1:8 KJV
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.” — Matthew 5:11–12 KJV
Joy in suffering
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” — James 1:2–3 KJV
“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5 KJV
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” — Psalm 126:5 KJV
“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” — Habakkuk 3:18 KJV
“As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” — 2 Corinthians 6:10 KJV
Joy as fruit of the Spirit
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” — Galatians 5:22 KJV
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” — Romans 14:17 KJV
“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.” — Romans 15:13 KJV
Paul on rejoicing
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” — Philippians 4:4 KJV
“Rejoice evermore.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16 KJV
“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” — Romans 12:15 KJV
Old Testament joy
“For the joy of the LORD is your strength.” — Nehemiah 8:10 KJV
“Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.” — Psalm 4:7 KJV
“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” — Psalm 51:12 KJV
“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.” — Zephaniah 3:17 KJV
A short word
Biblical joy is fed by God’s nearness, not by the weather of circumstance. The same source — His presence, His Spirit, His promises — feeds the joy of the festal pilgrim and the joy of the prisoner.
For the longer pastoral walk — what the Hebrew and Greek words for joy actually mean, what Jesus said on joy, and a pattern for practicing rejoicing — see our full article on what the Bible says about joy. And to hear these verses in context, The Context Bible opens up five lenses on every verse. Open it in your browser or download free.
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” — John 15:11 KJV
