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Bible Verses About Joy

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

— Psalms 16:11

Joy in the Bible is not the same thing as a good mood — it keeps showing up in letters written from prison and psalms written in tears. These verses trace where it comes from and why it survives bad circumstances. The fifteen verses below are the Bible's direct address to that situation, shown in full KJV text from Psalms 16:11 to James 1:2.

Quick answer: The best-known verse about joy here is Psalms 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." Psalms 32:11 follows close behind: "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart." Both are public-domain translations, shown in full on the cards below with a modern-English toggle.

The 15 verses, in full text

01 · King James Version

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Psalms 16:11

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02 · King James Version

Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Psalms 32:11

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03 · King James Version

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Psalms 51:12

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04 · King James Version

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Psalms 100:1

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05 · King James Version

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Psalms 100:2

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06 · King James Version

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalms 118:24

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07 · King James Version

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

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08 · King James Version

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 61:10

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09 · King James Version

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

John 15:11

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10 · King James Version

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

John 16:24

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11 · King James Version

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Romans 14:17

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12 · King James Version

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Galatians 5:22

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13 · King James Version

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Philippians 4:4

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14 · King James Version

Rejoice evermore.

1 Thessalonians 5:16

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15 · King James Version

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

James 1:2

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When to read these verses

These verses fit the private hours — early, late, in the car, between obligations. The Psalms in particular were written for exactly that setting: one person, one feeling, spoken aloud to God. There is no required method on this page; the copy buttons exist so a verse can move from screen to wherever the day will actually need it.

How to use this list

Each verse card shows the King James text with a one-tap switch to the World English Bible for modern wording — useful when an archaic phrase ("cast down," "disquieted") gets between you and the meaning. Copy the verse that fits today; the list keeps well and reads differently in different weeks, which is the point.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Bible verse about joy?
Psalms 16:11 is the one most readers land on: "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psalms 32:11 is the usual second: "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart." The full list of fifteen is on this page — there is no single required verse, and different seasons call for different texts.
Does the Bible treat emotions like joy as a faith problem?
No — the Psalms alone contain every major inner state spoken aloud to God without rebuke, and the New Testament's commands about feelings (rejoice, be anxious for nothing) are addressed to people clearly still feeling them. Scripture's pattern is naming, then directing: the feeling is real, and it is given somewhere to go.
Where in the Bible does it talk about joy?
The verses on this page come from 9 books of the Bible — most notably Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah and 6 more — spanning both Old and New Testaments. The distribution itself is worth noticing: Scripture addresses joy in more than one voice, which is why the page shows whole verses rather than a single proof text.
How do I use a list of verses about joy?
Read the list once slowly, then keep the one verse that fits your situation close — the copy button places it wherever you will actually see it. Every card can be switched to the World English Bible for modern wording, and the random verse tool at the top of the page can draw one verse from this theme at a time if the whole list is more than today needs.

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