21 Bible Verses about Sadness

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness the appearance of the heart is made better.

In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him. I served the wine to the king. Never before had I been sad when the king was present. The king said to me: Why is your face sad, seeing that you are not ill? This is nothing but sorrow of heart. Then I was full of fear. I said to the king: May the king live a very long time. My face should look sad for the town where my fathers are buried is devastated. It has been destroyed by fire.

Joseph saw that they were upset when he came to them in the morning. He asked these officials of Pharaoh who were with him in his master's prison: Why do you look so unhappy today?

Ahab returned to his house bitter and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite said to him: I will not give you the heritage of my fathers. Stretching himself on the bed with his face turned away, he would not eat.

Jesus then replied: If you wish to be complete, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. You will have wealth in heaven. Then follow me! But hearing these words, the young man went away grieving, for he was very wealthy.

Jesus lovingly looked at him and said: You lack one thing. Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me. He was very sad when he heard this for he had many possessions. Then he went away.

When Jesus heard it he said to him, You lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me. But when he heard these things he became very sad for he was very rich.

While they ate, he said: One of you will betray me. They were filled with sorrow, and each one asked him: Is it I, Lord?

He asked: What are you talking about with each other as you walk? They stopped walking and were sad.

I am not able to take care of all these people by myself. This is too much work for me! If you treat me like this have pity on me and kill me. That way I will not have to endure my shame any longer.

Joshua said: Alas, Sovereign Lord Jehovah, why did you bring this people across the Jordan. Was it to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would to God we had been content to dwell on the other side of the Jordan!

Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He took his servant and went to Beersheba in Judah. He left the servant there. Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down under a broom plant and wished he would die. It is just too much, Jehovah, he prayed. Take away my life. I could just as well be dead.

My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day long: Where is your God? I remember these things and I pour out my heart within me. I used to go along with the crowd and lead them in procession to the house of God, with the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.

Sadness is mine! Why did my mother bring me into the world? I have to quarrel and argue with everyone in the whole earth. I have not lent any money or borrowed any; yet everyone curses me.

Why am I discouraged? Why am I so restless? I put my hope in God for I will still praise him. He is my salvation and my God. I am very discouraged. That is why I will remember you in the land of Jordan, on the peaks of Hermon, on Mount Mizar.

Anxiety in the heart of man make it heavy, but a good word makes it glad.

The light of the eyes rejoices the heart: and a good report makes the bones healthy.

A merry heart is good medicine but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to those who are bitter. Let him drink and forget his poverty. Let him remember his misery no more.

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly that I may be encouraged when I know your circumstances.