In the Psalms, people often speak to their own soul: “Why are you downcast, my soul?”, “Praise the LORD, my soul!” In the Bible, the soul is the living self of the person. Here you will find 23 Bible verses about the soul – for times when it is tired, and for times when it sings.
When the soul is tired
Verses for an exhausted, downcast soul.
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Why are you downcast, my soul, and so restless within me? Wait for God! For I shall yet praise him, that he is my help and my God.
Psalm 42:12PraiseCourage to live
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As the deer pants for flowing water, so pants my soul for you, O God.
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My soul shall be still before God.
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He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:3aGuidanceGood Shepherd
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Be still now, my soul, and wait patiently on the LORD; for he will do good to you.
Psalm 116:7Rest
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Yes, I have set my soul in order; and my soul is like a weaned child with its mother.
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Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
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I had many troubles in my heart; but your consolations made my soul joyful.
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For I will refresh the weary soul, and satisfy the hungry soul.
Jeremiah 31:25ExhaustionSummer
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Let me hear your mercy early, that I may hope in you. Make known to me the way I should go; for I long for you.
When the soul sings
Verses about a soul that praises God and rejoices.
Praise the LORD, my soul, and all that is within me, his holy name! Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not his benefits.
My soul shall make known the LORD’s praise, that the afflicted may hear and be glad.
Psalm 34:3
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 63:9God’s Hand
I will rejoice in the LORD, and be glad in my God; for he has clothed me with garments of salvation, and has girded me with the robe of righteousness, as with a bridegroom, and adorned me with priestly garments, as with a bride that is arrayed in her finery.
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the LORD, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
Luke 1:46-47Baptismal Verses
Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, my soul!
Psalm 146:1
But my soul shall rejoice in the LORD, and be glad in his help.
Psalm 35:9
Praise the LORD, my soul!
Psalm 103:22b
What the soul is worth
The Bible takes the soul seriously.
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What profiteth it a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul? Or what can a man give, that he may redeem his soul?
Matthew 16:26SuccessMaterialism
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And fear not them which kill the body, and cannot kill the soul; but rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:28HellPersecution
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My beloved, I wish in all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
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But may the God of peace sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Which we have as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, which entereth into the innermost of the veil.
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to modern spelling.
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What is the soul in the Bible?
The Hebrew word nefesch, which Luther mostly translates as “soul,” originally means “throat” or “breath” – that which makes a person alive. In Genesis 2:7, God breathes the breath of life into man, “and so man became a living soul.” The soul is therefore not an invisible part that dwells in the body, but the whole living person with their needs, longings, and feelings. That is why the soul can thirst, hunger, rejoice, and be downcast in the Psalms.
Speaking to your own soul
Psalm 42 shows something very human: The worshiper encourages themselves. “Why are you downcast, my soul, and so restless within me? Wait for God” (Psalm 42:12). This is not repression, but a conversation with one’s own inner self, which takes grief seriously and yet seeks hope. Those who are currently exhausted or discouraged will find verses at Bible verses for exhaustion and Bible verses about rest. If you are feeling persistently unwell emotionally, please also speak to people about it – to friends, a pastoral counselor, or medical help; the telephone counseling service is available around the clock at 0800 111 0 111.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the soul according to the Bible?
The soul (Hebrew nefesch) refers to the whole living person with their needs and feelings (Genesis 2:7), not just an invisible part of them.
Which Bible verse is good for the soul?
Many find comfort in Psalm 23:3 (“He restores my soul”), Psalm 62:2, Psalm 42:12, and Matthew 11:28-29.
