Download our PDF list of 52 short Bible verses for kids (and adults) to memorize. You can start small and practice one per week and see how God’s Word can change your life. Each verse you memorize give you a boost of encouragement, strength, and knowledge of the love of Jesus in your life.
52 Easy Bible Verses to Memorize (PDF)
What are the top 10 Bible Verses
Proverbs 30:5 – Every word of God proves true.
Matthew 6:24 – No one can serve two masters.
Deuteronomy 6:5 – You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Matthew 22:39 – You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
1 Corinthians 10:31 – Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
Psalm 19:1 – The heavens declare the glory of God.
Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Psalm 139:14 – I praise you God, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Isaiah 43:5 – Do not be afraid for I am with you.
Psalm 1:6 – The LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
In this article:
- What are some short Bible verses?
- What is the shortest verse in the Bible?
- What are the top 10 Bible verses?
- What is the last word in the Bible?
Start small – build confidence – see the power of God’s Word in daily life!
That’s the idea behind this list of simplified and inspirational Bible verses for children. Use these short Bible quotes (aka part A or B of a verse) to easily get across the main idea and help kids hide God’s Word in their hearts.
Encouraging Bible Verses & Inspirational Quotes to Strengthen Your Faith –scroll down to see our list of encouraging Bible verses and inspirational religious quotes to boost your faith in Jesus Christ.
52 Memory-Friendly Verses for Kids
(click on the reference to compare parallel translations)
| Reference | Bible Verse |
|---|---|
| Acts 16:31 | Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. |
| Psalm 145:9 | The LORD is good to all. |
| Genesis 16:13 | You are the God who sees. |
| Philippians 4:4 | Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! |
| Proverbs 14:5 | An honest witness does not lie, a false witness breathes lies. |
| Numbers 6:24 | The Lord bless you and keep you. |
| Colossians 3:2 | Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. |
| Colossians 3:16 | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. |
| 1 John 5:3 | This is love for God: to obey his commands. |
| Ephesians 4:30 | Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. |
| Hebrews 13:8 | Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. |
| Psalm 150:6 | Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. |
| Proverbs 3:5 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart. |
| Romans 10:13 | Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. |
| Romans 3:23 | All people have sinned and come short of the glory of God. |
| Matthew 5:14 | You are the light of the world. |
| Psalm 145:9 | The Lord is good to all. |
| Colossians 3:20 | Children, obey your parents in all things. |
| James 1:17 | Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. |
| Matthew 28:20 | I am with you always. |
| Ephesians 4:32 | Be kind to one another. |
| 1 John 3:23 | Love one another. |
| Psalm 56:3 | When I am afraid, I will trust in You. |
| Psalm 118:24 | This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. |
| Psalm 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. |
| Psalm 136:1 | Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. |
| Luke 6:31 | Do to others as you would have them do to you. |
| Philippians 4:13 | I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. |
| Psalm 138:1 | I will praise thee with my whole heart. |
| John 10:11 | I am the good shepherd. |
| Ephesians 6:1 | Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. |
| Matthew 11:30 | For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. |
| Psalm 118:24 | “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” |
| Psalm 27:1 | Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? ” |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:19 | “Do not quench the Spirit.” |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:18 | “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:17 | “pray without ceasing,” |
| Romans 12:12 | Romans 12:12 “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer” |
2 Timothy 1:7: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Now that you have this list how will you help kids memorize these short memory verses? Our website is packed with tips and games for kids memorizing Scripture. The main point is to make it fun and keep repeating! Even the act of practicing these scriptures will bring you closer to God.
Some readers are hesitant to only teach “part” of a verse. We think it’s reasonable to start with the basic parts and then add the longer details as kids grow. Remember the verse divisions are not in the original Greek & Hebrew manuscripts of the scripture. Some of Paul’s best quotes ramble on for paragraphs (all one sentence in Greek). If you want to study further, we recommend Bible Hub for their compare translations with a parallel version display. You can compare by chapter with a side-by-side parallel.
Giving kids bite size scriptures will build confidence and empower them to use the WORD of GOD right away. Don’t forget the Bible is for living, not memorizing for some test. The point not to just hide God’s Word but to share it with the world. That’s the calling of every Christian.
What is the shortest verse in the Bible?
The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35, “Jesus wept.”
There is even a Wikipedia article about this passage – Jesus wept.
What is the last word in the Bible?
AMEN is the last word in the Bible. It’s from the final verse, Revelation 22:21:
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
Revelation 22:21 – compare parallel translations on Bible Hub
26 Short Scriptures based on the Biblical ABCs
This list was first created for kids and follows and ABC pattern. This is another great source if you would like to start here:
A — Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
B — Luke 6:27-28 But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
C — Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
D — John 14:27b Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
E — Proverbs 20:11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
F — Romans 10:17 Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
G — Mark 16:15 Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
H — Deuteronomy 5:16 Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you.
I — Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight
J — Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
K — Psalm 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.
L — 1 John 4:7 Let us love one another for love comes from God.
M — Matthew 4:4 Man shall not live on bread alone, but one every word that comes from the mouth of God.
N — 1 Corinthians 2:9 No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.
O — Psalm 63:1 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly.
P — Psalm 106:1 Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.
Q — James 1:19 Everyone should be Quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.
R — Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
S — Matthew 6:33 Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
T — Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
U — Proverbs 16:22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it.
V — Ecclesiastes 1:2 Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!
W — Philippians 4:8 Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.
X — Lamentations 3:40 Let us eXamine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
Y — Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop cannot be hidden.
Z — Luke 19:5 Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.
Need more? We’ve expanded this list into 52 memory verses for kids one for each week of the year. You can also print 10 Bible Verse coloring pages from this list. Don’t miss our ABC Bible Verse printable.
John 16:33 
“Short Bible Verses” for Everyday Life
- Verses about Giving
- 42 Bible verses about Thankfulness
- 10 Thanksgiving Bible verses for kids
- 5 Inspirational Scriptures for Overcoming Fear
- Top Bible Verses about Love (for Valentine’s Day)
- 15 Father’s Day Bible Verses
- 7 Short Mother’s Day Bible Verses
- 5 Essential Easter Bible Verses (for Church)
- Verses about Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ
If you are ready for a bigger challenge, some Christians recommend memorizing an entire chapter of the Bible. (more tips for scripture learning). This method is great for context and seeing how the small parts are stronger as a whole. We have long recommended Psalm 1 KJV as an inspirational Bible chapter for kids to memorize. We even made a Psalm chapter 1 Bible coloring book to help that effort.
How To Boost Children Memorization of Bible Verses
Inspirational Bible Verses about Parenting
Top 10 Bible Verses about Children – What Jesus Christ Said
- Printable Handwriting Practice Sheets with 8 Christmas Bible Verses
- “Names of Jesus” Acrostic Printable JESUS with Bible Verses
- Thankful Acrostic Printable with Bible Verses
- Printable “Bible Verses Memory Cards” For Kids
What Scripture translation is best for memorizing Bible quotes?
For verses above we’ve used the NIV Bible or ESV Bible translations when noted. You can compare the KJV version with a parallel from Bible Gateway.
The scriptures were not written in English – so the translations question comes down to two principles:
- Is this Bible version faithful to the original?
- Is this scripture translation in the common language I actually speak?
There can be lots of drama over which translation is the best (especially if your short Bible verses for tattoos!) I like the more common translations like King James Version (KJV), New International Version (NIV), and English Standard Version (ESV). They are well respected by most Christian groups and bring the word of God into modern English.
Some more contemporary translations can be better on specific verses (i.e. the Good News Translation or the Message), but I wonder how these will stand the test of time as informal language changes very quickly. All inspirational Bible verses have on purpose – to help use grow and engage in a personal relationship withe Jesus Christ.
We’d love to hear what encouraging Bible verses have helped you in hard times throughout life. What short Biblical passages that comes to mind when you experience struggle. Leave a comment below and start the conversation.
Another Powerful Scripture Quotes from Devotional Christian
- Is Coronavirus in the Bible? Are pandemic plagues predicted in the Bible?
- Bible Verses about Forgiveness – To Forgive Others
- 10 Bible Verses about Strength – Be Strong in the Lord
- Bible Verses about Self-Control – The Fruit of the Spirit
- Bible Verses About Love – Love is from God
- Bible Verses On Freedom – Freedom in Jesus Christ
- Bible Verses about Faith – Faith in the Son of God
More Inspiring Bible Verses You Can Memorize
1 Samuel 18:14 “In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him.”
1 John 4:19 (NIV) “We love because he first loved us.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Rejoice always, ”
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray without ceasing,”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Do not quench the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we live by faith, not by sight.”
Acts 16:31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
1 Thessalonians 5:25 “Brethren, pray for us.”
Colossians 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.”
Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
“Ephesians 6:10 “”Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.””
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Galatians 3:26 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Deuteronomy 29:9 “So keep the words of this covenant to do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.
Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful”
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”
James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
James 4:7 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you”
John 11:35 New King James Version (NKJV) “Jesus wept.”
John 1:4 “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”
John 10:30 “I and My Father are one.”
Luke 6:31 New International Version (NIV) “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Matthew 11:30 (NIV) “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
“Matthew 19:26 “”But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 5:16 “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
Numbers 6:24 “The Lord bless you and keep you;”
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.”
Proverbs 15:22 “Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.”
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (OK, this one is a little longer but we couldn’t give you verse 5 without verse 6 and most of you already know this one!)
Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.
Proverbs 18:13 “To answer before listening – that is folly and shame.”
Psalm 138:1 “I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You.”
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
Psalm 136:1 “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
Psalm 145:9 “The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.”
Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!”
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight”.
Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? ”
Psalm 27:11 “Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.”
Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.”
Psalm 56:3 “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.”
Romans 10:13 “For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Romans 12:12 “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer”
I have church services twice a month at a area nursing home and rehabilitation center.
A number of the patients have had strokes or dementia.
So,I am reintroducing things that they at one time knew, such as The Lord’s Prayer.
Tomorrow, I will be talking about bible verses.
Come to this site to get information to use with these patients.
Love this idea. My dad has Alzheimers and has difficulty reading his bible. He is currently in rehab after a fall. I will print some of these verses to hang on his wall.
I was very happy to find this list! However, there are some typos. Please correct these, so that children copying these will have an accurate model. Proper spelling, punctuation, grammar and usage is as essential as the messages of these verses. Thank you!
#1 – Please be sure to add periods at the end, even if it is a partial quote. Kids should see this modeled.
#2 Acts 16:31 – Believe **IN** the Lord Jesus Christ
#3 Proverbs 14:5 **AN** honest witness does not lie; a false witness **BREATHES** lies.
#4 You have Acts 16:31 listed twice.
#5 John 3:23 is listed as 1John 3:23.
#6 Psalm 118:24 – You have a capital letter in “Let” following the semicolon (;). Please note, the word following a semicolon is always lowercase.
#7 Psalm 138:1 – Remove the quotes. These are not necessary.
Again, thank you for putting these together!
Heather,
Thanks so much for your feedback. I’m going to email you about doing some editing work for me. : ) no joke.
This may help with the little ones my church made up verses by only using 5 fingers… like The Lord is my Shepard , I am special and loved. This is easy and they can remember by using their fingers!
Just FYI you have John 3:23 listed as “Love one another.” It is 1 John not John. Thanks!
Thanks for the heads up! Fixing it now.
Can anyone tell the version of these verses??
Whether it is KJV or NIV….
They are mostly ESV
Thank you so much It helps me a lot cause I teach little kids every Sunday and I don’t have Bible verses anymore so I searched it and saw this site God bless you