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World English Bible · by topic

Bible verses by topic, read in context.

12 Bible verses for four things people often bring to prayer: illness, thankfulness, comfort and peace. Each is quoted exactly from the World English Bible. Open “Read it in context” to see the verses around it, so a single line is read the way it was written.

  • Choose a topic, or read them all.
  • Open the surrounding verses before you take a line as your own.
  • “Sit with this verse” shows one verse and one question, with no timer.

Showing all 12 verses across 4 topics.

During illness

Bible verses for healing and times of illness

Words for praying when you or someone you love is unwell. These are prayers and reflections from Scripture. They are not medical advice, and they do not promise a particular outcome.

  1. Psalm 6:2WEB

    Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint. LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.

    Context Psalm 6 is a lament. The writer asks to be healed and, in the next breath, asks “how long?” The psalm makes room to pray honestly while still waiting.

    Read it in context Psalm 6:1–4
    1. For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, upon the eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm by David. LORD, don’t rebuke me in your anger, neither discipline me in your wrath.
    2. Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint. LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
    3. My soul is also in great anguish. But you, LORD—how long?
    4. Return, LORD. Deliver my soul, and save me for your loving kindness’ sake.
    Read all of Psalm 6 on eBible.org

  2. Isaiah 40:29WEB

    He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might.

    Context Isaiah 40 speaks to exiles who felt their way was hidden from God (verse 27). It describes God giving strength to the weary. It is not a promise of physical recovery, and the chapter sets no timetable.

    Read it in context Isaiah 40:27–31
    1. Why do you say, Jacob, and speak, Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and the justice due me is disregarded by my God”?
    2. Haven’t you known? Haven’t you heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn’t faint. He isn’t weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
    3. He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might.
    4. Even the youths faint and get weary, and the young men utterly fall;
    5. but those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.
    Read all of Isaiah 40 on eBible.org

  3. 2 Corinthians 12:9WEB

    He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

    Context Paul says he asked three times for his “thorn in the flesh” to be taken away (verses 7–8). The answer he records is not removal but grace in weakness, an honest picture of a prayer answered differently than it was asked.

    Read it in context 2 Corinthians 12:7–10
    1. By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.
    2. Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
    3. He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
    4. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.
    Read all of 2 Corinthians 12 on eBible.org

Thankfulness

Bible verses about thankfulness

Thanks in these passages is rarely about pretending life is easy. It is given alongside requests, in ordinary work, and while remembering hard seasons.

  1. Psalm 107:1WEB

    Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.

    Context Psalm 107 opens with this call, then tells story after story of people in trouble who cried out: wanderers, prisoners, the sick and sailors in a storm. The thanks is given with those memories in view.

    Read it in context Psalm 107:1–3
    1. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
    2. Let the redeemed by the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,
    3. and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
    Read all of Psalm 107 on eBible.org

  2. Philippians 4:6WEB

    In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

    Context Paul wrote this letter from prison (1:13). Thanksgiving is folded into asking: requests and thanks are brought to God together, not one after the other.

    Read it in context Philippians 4:4–7
    1. Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”
    2. Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
    3. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
    4. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
    Read all of Philippians 4 on eBible.org

  3. Colossians 3:17WEB

    Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

    Context This closes a passage about life together: bearing with and forgiving one another, teaching and singing (verses 12–16). Thankfulness is tied to everyday words and actions, not only to worship.

    Read it in context Colossians 3:15–17
    1. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.
    2. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
    3. Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
    Read all of Colossians 3 on eBible.org

Comfort

Bible verses that comfort

For grief, fear and heavy days. These passages do not skip the hard part; the comfort they describe is presence within it.

  1. Psalm 23:4WEB

    Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

    Context Psalm 23 moves from green pastures, through the valley of the shadow of death, to a table set in front of enemies. The valley is not avoided; the comfort is company in it. The whole psalm is six verses.

    Read it in context Psalm 23:1–6
    1. A Psalm by David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
    2. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
    3. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
    4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
    5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
    6. Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the LORD’s house forever.
    Read all of Psalm 23 on eBible.org

  2. Isaiah 41:10WEB

    Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

    Context Spoken to Israel as a people (“my servant, Jacob”, verse 8) during a time of upheaval. It is reassurance addressed to a community, which many readers also pray personally.

    Read it in context Isaiah 41:8–10
    1. “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham my friend,
    2. you whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, and called from its corners, and said to you, ‘You are my servant. I have chosen you and have not cast you away.’
    3. Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
    Read all of Isaiah 41 on eBible.org

  3. Matthew 11:28WEB

    “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.

    Context Jesus’ invitation follows a prayer of thanks to the Father (verses 25–27). The rest he offers comes with a yoke: something carried with him rather than nothing carried at all.

    Read it in context Matthew 11:28–30
    1. “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
    2. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
    3. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
    Read all of Matthew 11 on eBible.org

Peace

Bible verses about peace

Peace in these passages is spoken in a farewell, sung by a nation and prayed over a church. It is offered as a gift and passed on as a blessing, rather than promised as the absence of trouble.

  1. John 14:27WEB

    Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

    Context Jesus says this at the last supper, preparing his friends for his going away. The peace is offered on a troubled night, not after the trouble has passed.

    Read it in context John 14:25–27
    1. “I have said these things to you while still living with you.
    2. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.
    3. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.
    Read all of John 14 on eBible.org

  2. Isaiah 26:3WEB

    You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.

    Context Part of a song to be sung in the land of Judah about a strong city whose walls are salvation (verses 1–2). Peace is linked to trust, and it is sung by a whole people.

    Read it in context Isaiah 26:1–4
    1. In that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city. God appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks.
    2. Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter: the one which keeps faith.
    3. You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.
    4. Trust in the LORD forever; for in the LORD, the LORD, is an everlasting Rock.
    Read all of Isaiah 26 on eBible.org

  3. Romans 15:13WEB

    Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.

    Context A blessing near the end of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, straight after he quotes Isaiah on the nations hoping in God (verse 12). It is a prayer for other people.

    Read it in context Romans 15:12–13
    1. Again, Isaiah says, “There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
    2. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.
    Read all of Romans 15 on eBible.org

Reading verses by topic

A verse is part of a bigger page.

Topic lists are a way in, not the whole story. A psalm is a prayer or a song, a prophet is speaking to a nation, and a letter is written to a particular church. Before you hold on to one sentence, notice who is speaking, who is listening, and what comes just before and after.

Some of these verses ask for healing or speak of strength. They are words to pray with, not a forecast of what will happen, and they are no substitute for medical care. Scripture itself records prayers that were answered differently than they were asked.

Scripture on this page is the World English Bible, a public-domain translation, copied unchanged from the text bundled in the PrayLock app. The context notes and questions are ours and are not part of Scripture. Chapter links open the WEB on eBible.org.

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