Bible verses about joy
Joy is commanded in Scripture more often than it is described, and the commands arrive in unpromising places — a prophet whose harvest has failed, a letter written from a prison. These passages are set out with a sentence on each.
Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.” — Nehemiah 8:10 · WEB
You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more. — Psalm 16:11 · WEB
For his anger is but for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning. — Psalm 30:5 · WEB
Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit. — Psalm 51:12 · WEB
This is the day that Yahweh has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it! — Psalm 118:24 · WEB
Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. — Psalm 126:5 · WEB
People who could not believe their own good news ask for it to happen again, and are answered with a farmer crying over seed.
Therefore with joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation. — Isaiah 12:3 · WEB
Six verses of song close the first movement, and what is thanked for is the anger that turned away.
yet I will rejoice in Yahweh. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! — Habakkuk 3:18 · WEB
The prophet never gets his explanation; he gets God, and decides that will do even if everything else fails.
The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. — Luke 2:10 · WEB
The birth is announced to night-shift laborers, and the sign they are given is that there is nothing to see.
I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full. — John 15:11 · WEB
Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. — John 16:22 · WEB
They cannot work out what a little while means, and he answers with a woman in labor.
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. — Romans 15:13 · WEB
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, — Galatians 5:22 · WEB
The counterpart to fifteen works is one fruit with nine qualities, and the closing line observes that no law stands against any of them.
Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!” — Philippians 4:4 · WEB
The command is repeated because the writer knows how it sounds — and the reason given is a nearness.
Always rejoice. — 1 Thessalonians 5:16 · WEB
Three of the shortest commands in Scripture, and each is made unreasonable by a single word.
whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory, — 1 Peter 1:8 · WEB
The writer marks the difference between his readers and himself, and treats their position as the stronger one rather than the poorer.