Bible verses about joy
Good Bible verses about joy include Psalm 16:11, which points to God's presence as the place of joy, John 15:11, where Jesus talks about his joy being in his friends, and Habakkuk 3:17-18, which finds joy with the fields empty. Joy shows up in good times and bad. All twelve are below.
Free to read, no account. Last updated November 9, 2026. Scripture: King James Version and World English Bible (public domain).
1.Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
In the World English Bible
You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.
David points to God's presence as the place where joy is full, with good things at God's right hand.
2.John 15:11
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
In the World English Bible
I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.
Jesus tells his friends the night before his arrest that he's saying these things so his joy would be in them.
3.Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
In the World English Bible
Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”
Paul wrote about rejoicing from prison. He says it twice, in case you missed it.
4.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.
In the World English Bible
The LORD, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
Here the joy goes the other way. God is pictured as rejoicing over his people with singing.
5.Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
In the World English Bible
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Joy sits on Paul's list of the fruit of the Spirit, right next to love and peace.
6.1 Peter 1:8
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:
In the World English Bible
whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory,
Written to people who had never seen Jesus and still loved him. Peter says they rejoice with a joy that's hard to put into words.
7.Isaiah 12:3
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
In the World English Bible
Therefore with joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Pulling water from a well is the picture. Joy and salvation are tied together in this short song.
8.Psalm 51:12
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
In the World English Bible
Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
David asks for the joy of salvation to be restored. Joy can fade, and the psalm treats that as something to ask about.
9.James 1:2-3
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
In the World English Bible
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James calls trials a reason for joy because testing builds endurance. That's a lot to ask, so give it time.
10.Nehemiah 8:10
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
In the World English Bible
Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
The people were in tears as the law was read, and Nehemiah tells them to go eat and celebrate. Joy is called a strength here.
11.Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
In the World English Bible
A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
A plain observation: a cheerful heart helps like medicine does, and a crushed spirit dries a person out.
12.Psalm 4:7
Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
In the World English Bible
You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and their new wine are increased.
David says the gladness God puts in his heart beats a bumper crop of grain and wine.
13.Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
In the World English Bible
for God’s Kingdom is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Paul tells a church arguing over food rules that what counts is righteousness, peace and joy.
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Read today's verseQuestions
What is a good Bible verse about joy?
Psalm 16:11 is a good place to start. David points to God's presence as the place where joy is full, with good things at God's right hand.
What is the difference between joy and happiness in the Bible?
Happiness usually follows what is going on around you. The Bible's joy language often shows up in hard places, like Habakkuk 3:17-18 and James 1:2-3. Paul also lists joy among the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, as something that grows over time.
Where does joy come from in the Bible?
Psalm 16:11 places it in God's presence. John 15:11 has Jesus passing his own joy to his friends. Psalm 51:12 shows David asking for joy to be restored, so the Bible treats joy as something received that can also get lost.
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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.