The best Bible verses for forgiveness (ESV) include passages about God's love, strength, and guidance. This page features 15+ carefully curated Scripture passages for forgiveness (ESV), each selected for its relevance and depth. Read, save, and share the perfect verse for your situation.
"and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."Matthew 6:12
"Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love."Micah 7:18
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,"Ephesians 1:7
"Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins."Hebrews 9:22
"And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."Luke 3:3
"and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem."Luke 24:47
"John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."Mark 1:4
"for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."Matthew 26:28
"And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."Acts 2:38
"God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."Acts 5:31
"To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”"Acts 10:43
"Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,"Acts 13:38
Translations differ in what they optimise for. Some follow the original wording closely at the cost of a natural English sentence; others read smoothly and make interpretive choices to get there. Neither is wrong, but they produce noticeably different verses.
Each of the 15 verses below is shown in the translation you asked for, and every verse links to a page comparing all six side by side — which is usually the fastest way to see where the translators disagreed.
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The most-cited Bible verses for forgiveness (ESV) are Matthew 6:12, Micah 7:18, Colossians 1:14. This page collects 15 of them, each with its full passage, context and the text in six translations.
Read the verse in its surrounding passage before you use it — a verse that fits in isolation sometimes says something different in context. Compare two translations where the wording is unclear, and pick for the person who will read it rather than for the theme.
Scripture returns to forgiveness (ESV) across both testaments rather than settling it in one passage, which is why the verses on this page do not all say the same thing. Read together they give a fuller answer than any single verse does.
There is no single best translation. The NIV and NLT read most naturally and communicate well to someone outside the church; the ESV and NASB stay closer to the original wording; the KJV carries the phrasing most people recognise. Every verse here links to a page showing all six side by side.
More than any page can list. This one carries the 15 that are most often turned to for forgiveness (ESV), chosen so each stands on its own and links through to the full chapter it belongs to.