Bible verses about forgiveness
Colossians 3:13, Matthew 6:14-15 and Psalm 103:10-12 are the verses people turn to for forgiveness. They ask you to forgive as you have been forgiven, and they picture God taking sins far away. All twelve verses are below in full.
Free to read, no account. Last updated November 9, 2026. Scripture: King James Version and World English Bible (public domain).
1.Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
In the World English Bible
And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
Kindness and a tender heart toward each other, with forgiveness modeled on the way God forgave in Christ.
2.Colossians 3:13
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
In the World English Bible
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.
Put up with each other and let complaints go, using God's forgiveness as the measure.
3.Matthew 6:14-15
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
In the World English Bible
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Right after the Lord's Prayer, Jesus comes back to forgiveness. One of the harder teachings to hear.
4.Luke 6:37
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
In the World English Bible
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.
Part of a talk on mercy. Stop judging and condemning, and forgive.
5.1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
In the World English Bible
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
On confessing sins to God and being forgiven. The verse puts weight on honesty.
6.Psalm 103:10-12
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
In the World English Bible
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Sins are pictured as removed as far as east is from west. A picture of distance.
7.Matthew 18:21-22
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
In the World English Bible
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.
Peter asks how many times to forgive. Jesus' answer makes counting pointless.
8.Luke 23:34
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
In the World English Bible
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.
A prayer from the cross for the people carrying out the execution. Forgiveness at the worst possible moment.
9.Mark 11:25
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
In the World English Bible
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions.
Instructions for prayer: if you hold something against someone, let it go first.
10.Micah 7:18-19
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
In the World English Bible
Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness. He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
A prophet marvels that God delights in showing mercy and tosses sins into the sea.
11.Proverbs 17:9
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
In the World English Bible
He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
Covering over an offense builds closeness, while bringing it up again splits friends.
12.Psalm 32:1-2
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
In the World English Bible
Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD doesn’t impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit.
David describes the relief of being forgiven. Happy is the one whose wrongdoing is covered.
7-day plan
Forgiving and being forgiven
Seven readings on receiving God's forgiveness and on forgiving others, at a pace that is honest and safe.
See the planFree
Get one verse every morning
Today's verse, a short reflection and a prayer. Free, no account.
Read today's verseQuestions
What is a good Bible verse about forgiveness?
Ephesians 4:32 is a good place to start. Kindness and a tender heart toward each other, with forgiveness modeled on the way God forgave in Christ.
How many times should you forgive someone?
Peter asks Jesus this in Matthew 18:21-22. The answer is a very large number, which is a way of saying to stop counting. Forgiving doesn't mean pretending nothing happened.
Does forgiving someone mean forgetting it?
Scripture doesn't use forgetting as the test. Proverbs 17:9 talks about covering an offense and not bringing it up again, and Colossians 3:13 says to forgive as God forgave. Nothing on this page asks anyone to stay in an unsafe situation, and for abuse a counselor or pastor is a good person to talk to.
Related topics
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.