What does the Bible say about thankfulness? From the Psalms to the letters of Paul, Scripture treats gratitude not as a feeling we wait for, but as a way of life we choose: in the morning and at night, in plenty and in want. Here are 25 Bible verses about thankfulness and gratitude, with a short reflection on each. All verses are quoted from the King James Version (KJV).
Looking for verses to read aloud on Thanksgiving Day? See our list of 30 Thanksgiving Bible verses to share at your table.
Why We Give Thanks: Verses About God's Goodness
Biblical gratitude always starts with who God is, not with what we have.
1. Psalm 106:1
"Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
The reason for thanks is simple and unchanging: He is good, and His mercy does not run out.
2. Psalm 92:1–2
"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night."
A rhythm for every day: begin by remembering His lovingkindness, end by remembering His faithfulness.
3. Psalm 30:12
"To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever."
David wrote this after God turned his mourning into dancing. Gratitude is meant to be spoken, not kept quiet.
4. Psalm 86:12
"I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore."
5. Psalm 7:17
"I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high."
6. Psalm 116:12
"What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?"
The honest question of a grateful heart. The psalmist's answer comes a few verses later.
7. Psalm 116:17
"I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD."
When we cannot repay God, we can still thank Him. That thanks is called a sacrifice because it sometimes costs us something to give it.
Gratitude in the Life of Jesus
Jesus gave thanks before miracles, at the Last Supper, and at a graveside. His example shows that thanksgiving belongs in every kind of moment.
8. Luke 17:15–16
"And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan."
Ten lepers were healed; one came back to say thank you. Jesus noticed. Gratitude is the response that turns a blessing into a relationship.
9. John 11:41
"Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me."
Jesus thanked the Father before Lazarus walked out of the tomb. This is gratitude that trusts before it sees.
10. Matthew 26:27
"And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it."
On the night He was betrayed, Jesus still gave thanks.
Thankfulness and Contentment
A thankful heart and a content heart are closely related. Both learn to see what God has already given.
11. Philippians 4:11
"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."
Paul wrote this from prison. Contentment, he says, is learned.
12. 1 Timothy 6:6
"But godliness with contentment is great gain."
13. Hebrews 13:5
"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
The deepest reason for contentment is not what we own, but who never leaves us.
14. 1 Timothy 4:4
"For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving."
Making Gratitude a Daily Habit
15. Colossians 2:6–7
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."
Thanksgiving is the overflow of a life rooted in Christ, a sign that faith is growing.
16. Psalm 63:3
"Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee."
17. Psalm 50:23
"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God."
18. Romans 1:21
"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."
A sobering verse: ingratitude is listed as one of the first steps away from God. Thankfulness keeps the heart soft and the mind clear.
A daily reminder to count your blessings
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow – The Doxology canvas →
Thankful in Hard Times
Some of the Bible's most powerful words of gratitude were written in seasons of loss.
19. Habakkuk 3:17–18
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation."
Everything Habakkuk could count was gone. He chose to rejoice in the One who remained.
20. Job 1:21
"And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
21. Romans 8:28
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
We can give thanks in hard things because God is still working through them.
22. Daniel 6:10
"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."
Facing the lions' den, Daniel did what he had always done: he gave thanks. Habits of gratitude built in easy days hold us up on hard ones.
Thankful for the People God Gives Us
23. Philippians 1:3
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."
One of the best verses to write in a card for a friend, a pastor, a teacher, or a parent.
24. 2 Corinthians 4:15
"For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God."
25. Revelation 7:12
"Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen."
Thanksgiving is not only for this life. It is part of the worship of heaven, forever.
Three Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude
- Morning and evening: follow Psalm 92:2. Name one mercy when you wake up and one faithfulness before you sleep.
- Write it down: keep a gratitude journal and pair each entry with a verse from this list.
- Keep a verse in sight: place a verse about gratitude where your day begins, such as the kitchen, your nightstand, or the entryway, so it greets you every morning. Explore our Bible verse wall art.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Bible say about being thankful?
The Bible calls believers to give thanks continually: "In every thing give thanks" (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and "giving thanks always for all things" (Ephesians 5:20). Gratitude is rooted in God's goodness and mercy (Psalm 106:1) and is described as a mark of a life rooted in Christ (Colossians 2:7).
What is a good Bible verse about gratitude?
Psalm 92:1, "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD," Psalm 106:1, and Philippians 1:3, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you," are three of the most meaningful verses about gratitude.
Who in the Bible showed thankfulness?
The Samaritan leper who returned to thank Jesus (Luke 17:15–16), Daniel, who gave thanks three times a day even under threat (Daniel 6:10), David throughout the Psalms, and Jesus Himself, who gave thanks before feeding the five thousand and at the Last Supper.
How can I be thankful when life is hard?
Scripture asks us to give thanks in every circumstance, not necessarily for every circumstance. Habakkuk 3:17–18 and Job 1:21 show believers who chose to worship in loss, and Romans 8:28 reminds us that God is still working all things for good.
Which Bible translation are these verses from?
All verses in this article are quoted from the King James Version (KJV).
Read next: 30 Thanksgiving Bible Verses to Share at Your Table, or browse our best-selling Christian wall art, framed in solid wood, ready to hang, and shipped free within the United States.