“His goodness endures forever” – this refrain runs through entire psalms. Goodness describes God’s kindness, faithfulness, and care in a single word. Here you’ll find 19 Bible verses about God’s goodness and about goodness as a fruit of the Spirit.
God’s goodness
Verses that praise God’s goodness.
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Give thanks to the LORD; for he is gracious, and his goodness endures forever.
Psalm 136:1ThankfulnessTable prayer
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Give thanks to the LORD; for he is gracious, and his goodness endures forever.
Psalm 107:1Thankfulness
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Taste and see that the LORD is gracious. Blessed is the one who trusts in him!
Psalm 34:9KindnessFirst Communion
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Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 23:6Good ShepherdHome
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O LORD, your goodness reaches as far as the heavens, and your truth as far as the clouds.
Psalm 36:6Baptismal versesFaithfulness
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For your goodness is better than life; my lips shall praise you.
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The LORD is gracious to all, and he has compassion on all his works.
Psalm 145:9Kindness
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It is by the LORD’s goodness that we are not utterly consumed; his mercy has no end.
Lamentations 3:22Punishment
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The LORD is gracious and a stronghold in times of trouble, and he knows those who trust in him.
Nahum 1:7Trust
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How great is your goodness, which you have hidden for those who fear you, and shown to all people who trust in you!
Psalm 31:20
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Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, patience, and forbearance? Do you not know that God’s goodness leads you to repentance?
Romans 2:4KindnessRepentance
Goodness among people
Goodness is a fruit of the Spirit and is shown in how we treat one another.
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
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You have been told, O man, what is good and what the LORD requires of you: to keep God’s word, to practice love, and to be humble before your God.
Micah 6:8HumilityConfirmation verses
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But be kind and compassionate to one another, and forgive one another, just as God has forgiven you in Christ.
Ephesians 4:32KindnessRelationships
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So clothe yourselves, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
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Let brotherly love be heartfelt, and honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:10KindnessRecognition
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Love is patient and kind; love does not envy; love does not boast; love is not proud.
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For the kindness and gentleness of God our Savior appeared, not because of our good works, but according to his mercy.
Titus 3:4-5a
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And in godliness, brotherly love and love for all people.
2 Peter 1:7
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to modern spelling.
Related Topics
This Goes Well Together
Goodness – goodness – is one of the fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22. And somehow it’s also in our name: Good-Natured.
Fruit of the Spirit Poster - GoodnessPoster about goodness as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).€12
Fruit of the Spirit Poster - KindnessPoster about kindness as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).€12
Fruity - Boxy T-ShirtFruity shirt from the Fruit-of-the-Spirit collection.€38
Mercy - Oversized HoodieOversized hoodie about God’s mercy, which is made new every morning.€49
What Is Goodness in the Bible?
In the Old Testament, the word goodness usually refers to the Hebrew word chesed – one of the richest words in the Bible. It means faithfulness, love, kindness, and reliability all in one; some translators speak of “covenant faithfulness.” When Psalm 136 repeats “for his goodness endures forever” twenty-six times, it lists God’s deeds from creation to the deliverance from Egypt and says after each one: This is goodness that lasts.
Goodness as a Fruit of the Spirit
In Galatians 5:22, Paul lists “goodness” as a fruit of the Spirit. It means a kindness that wants and does something good for another. Micah 6:8 summarizes what God expects from people: “To keep God’s word, to practice love, and to be humble before your God.” Those who have experienced goodness can pass it on – in small ways, in everyday life. Learn more about Bible verses about kindness, Bible verses about mercy, and Bible verses about bearing fruit. By the way, the post Why We Are Called Good-Natured explains why we are called Good-Natured.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does it say “his goodness endures forever”?
Among other places, in Psalm 106:1, Psalm 107:1, Psalm 118:1, and in every verse of Psalm 136.
What is the difference between goodness and grace?
Goodness describes God’s constant kindness and faithfulness, while grace is his undeserved gift. The two words overlap significantly in the Bible.
