Bible Verses About Joy and Sadness
Biblical joy is stubbornly independent of circumstances — "the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10), not the joy of things going your way. This is the largest pack in BibleLock at 48 verses, gathered for seasons when happiness is out of reach but joy still is not.
These ESV verses are meant to be memorized in small daily reps, not read once and forgotten.
Reading a list is step one. BibleLock turns these 48 verses into fill-in-the-blank puzzles that unlock your apps — so you actually memorize them.
Get the Joy pack →1. Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
2. Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV)
“Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.””
3. Psalm 30:5 (ESV)
“For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
4. John 15:11 (ESV)
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
5. Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
6. Psalm 126:3 (ESV)
“The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.”
7. Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
8. Romans 15:13 (ESV)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
9. Psalm 5:11 (ESV)
“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.”
10. Psalm 63:7 (ESV)
“for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.”
11. Psalm 126:2 (ESV)
“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.””
12. Luke 2:10 (ESV)
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
13. Psalm 94:19 (ESV)
“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”
14. Psalm 98:4 (ESV)
“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!”
15. 1 Peter 1:8 (ESV)
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,”
16. Psalm 33:21 (ESV)
“For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.”
17. Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
18. Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV)
“Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.””
19. Psalm 30:5 (ESV)
“For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
20. John 15:11 (ESV)
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
21. Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
22. Psalm 126:3 (ESV)
“The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.”
23. Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
24. Romans 15:13 (ESV)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
25. Psalm 5:11 (ESV)
“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.”
26. Psalm 63:7 (ESV)
“for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.”
27. Psalm 126:2 (ESV)
“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.””
28. Luke 2:10 (ESV)
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
29. Psalm 94:19 (ESV)
“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”
30. Psalm 98:4 (ESV)
“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!”
31. 1 Peter 1:8 (ESV)
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,”
32. Psalm 33:21 (ESV)
“For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.”
33. Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
34. Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV)
“Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.””
35. Psalm 30:5 (ESV)
“For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
36. John 15:11 (ESV)
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
37. Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
38. Psalm 126:3 (ESV)
“The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.”
39. Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
40. Romans 15:13 (ESV)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
41. Psalm 5:11 (ESV)
“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.”
42. Psalm 63:7 (ESV)
“for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.”
43. Psalm 126:2 (ESV)
“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.””
44. Luke 2:10 (ESV)
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
45. Psalm 94:19 (ESV)
“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”
46. Psalm 98:4 (ESV)
“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!”
47. 1 Peter 1:8 (ESV)
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,”
48. Psalm 33:21 (ESV)
“For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.