Psalms for Healing: 7 Psalms to Pray in Sickness and Sorrow
Quick answer
Psalms often prayed for healing include Psalms 6, 30, 38, 41, 103, 116 and 147. They ask God for help in sickness, pain and grief, and celebrate recovery: "O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me" (Psalm 30:2, KJV). They are prayers, not a substitute for medical care. The Book of Psalms keeps them close.
What the Psalms say about healing
The Psalms speak of healing in body and in heart. Some writers are physically sick; others are crushed by guilt, loss or loneliness. They pray frankly about pain, trust God as healer and thank him afterward. Christians have long prayed these psalms at the bedside, alongside the care of doctors and nurses.
"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3, KJV)
7 psalms for healing
| Psalm | For | Key line (KJV) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Weakness and exhaustion | "O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed" (6:2) |
| 30 | Recovery and hope | "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (30:5) |
| 38 | Illness linked with guilt | "Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation" (38:22) |
| 41 | The sickbed | "The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing" (41:3) |
| 103 | Gratitude for restoration | "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases" (103:3) |
| 116 | After a brush with death | "I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice" (116:1) |
| 147 | Grief and heartbreak | "He healeth the broken in heart" (147:3) |
Our pick
The Book of Psalms
Psalms in a single illustrated softcover, gentle to hold and read from in a hospital room or quiet chair.
Shop nowHealing for a broken heart
Not every wound is physical. Psalm 34:18 says "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart" (KJV), and Psalm 30 traces the move from mourning to dancing. If you are grieving, see also our guide to the best psalms of comfort.
How to pray a healing psalm
Read the psalm slowly and insert a name where it fits: your own, or that of the person you are praying for. Keep a simple record of what you prayed and when; looking back can become its own psalm of thanks.
Our pick
The Prayer Journal
A creative guided prayer journal with devotional reflections, a quiet place to write prayers for healing and record answers.
Shop nowKeep reading: Encouraging psalms · Psalms for protection · 10 psalms to start with.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best psalm for healing?
Psalm 103 is often chosen because it praises God who healeth all thy diseases, while Psalm 30 celebrates recovery after illness.
Is there a psalm for a sick friend?
Psalm 41 speaks of God strengthening the sick on their bed and is a fitting psalm to pray for a friend who is ill.
Do the psalms promise physical healing?
The psalms express trust that God heals and record people who were healed, but they also include prayers from those still suffering. Christians pray them in hope while continuing medical care.
What psalm is for grief?
Psalm 147:3 and Psalm 34:18 speak to the brokenhearted, and Psalm 23 is commonly read at funerals.
