Bible verses about depression
Closest to what depression feels like are Psalm 42:5, Psalm 88:1-3 and Psalm 143:3-4. They are honest about a low heart and a dark mind, and they say it to God out loud. All of them are below, in full.
If you are in danger or thinking about ending your life, talking to someone right now helps. In the US you can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Scripture is not a replacement for medical or mental health care, and getting help from a doctor or counselor is a good step.
Free to read, no account. Last updated November 9, 2026. Scripture: King James Version and World English Bible (public domain).
1.Psalm 42:5
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
In the World English Bible
Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence.
The writer talks to his own soul and asks why it is so low. He decides to hope in God anyway.
2.Psalm 88:1-3
O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
In the World English Bible
LORD, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you. Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry. For my soul is full of troubles. My life draws near to Sheol.
The darkest psalm there is, and it ends without a happy turn. It sits in the Bible as proof that this kind of prayer is allowed.
3.Psalm 143:3-4
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
In the World English Bible
For the enemy pursues my soul. He has struck my life down to the ground. He has made me live in dark places, as those who have been long dead. Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me. My heart within me is desolate.
Crushed, in the dark and numb in spirit, David puts it into words instead of hiding it.
4.Psalm 13:1-2
How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
In the World English Bible
How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart every day? How long shall my enemy triumph over me?
A man asks how long he will feel this way, and how long God will stay hidden. It's raw and it's in Scripture.
5.1 Kings 19:4-5
But 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. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
In the World English Bible
But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree. Then 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.” He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat!”
Elijah ran into the desert and said he'd had enough. God sent food and sleep before anything else.
6.Psalm 69:1-3
Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
In the World English Bible
Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck! I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail looking for my God.
Sinking in deep water and worn out from calling for help. Exhaustion is part of the picture.
7.Psalm 38:8-10
I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
In the World English Bible
I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before you. My groaning is not hidden from you. My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.
A man says he is weak and crushed and that his heart pounds. The strength has gone out of him.
8.Lamentations 3:19-21
Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
In the World English Bible
Remember my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the bitterness. My soul still remembers them, and is bowed down within me. This I recall to my mind; therefore I have hope.
Remembering his misery and how low his soul is, the writer then finds one thought to hold in verse 21.
9.Psalm 116:3-4
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
In the World English Bible
The cords of death surrounded me, the pains of Sheol got a hold of me. I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the LORD’s name: “LORD, I beg you, deliver my soul.”
Trapped by sorrow and distress, the writer called on the Lord to save his life.
10.Psalm 6:6-7
I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.
In the World English Bible
I am weary with my groaning. Every night I flood my bed. I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief. It grows old because of all my adversaries.
Worn out from groaning, with a bed soaked in tears. Someone in Scripture wrote that down.
11.Psalm 34:18
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
In the World English Bible
The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
Near to the brokenhearted, the Lord rescues those crushed in spirit, David says.
12.Psalm 147:3
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
In the World English Bible
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
God is pictured as healing the brokenhearted and tending their wounds. Slow, close work.
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Read today's verseQuestions
What is a good Bible verse about depression?
Psalm 42:5 is a good place to start. The writer talks to his own soul and asks why it is so low. He decides to hope in God anyway.
Does the Bible talk about depression?
It doesn't use the word, but the Psalms describe it clearly. Psalm 42:5, Psalm 88:1-3 and Psalm 143:3-4 all describe a low or numb heart, and the writers say it to God directly. Elijah in 1 Kings 19:4-5 is a person who was worn out and wanted to stop.
Is depression a lack of faith?
Nothing in these passages says so. Psalm 42:5 and Psalm 13:1-2 are written by people who clearly believed and still struggled. Reading Scripture can sit beside professional care, and many people do both.
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Made by Lamplight, a small Sarvixo product. Notes on each verse are ours, written with AI tools and checked against the passage. The verses are printed exactly as published.