Scripture Library · Guilt and shame · KJV
Bible Verses About Guilt and Shame (KJV) + A Prayer for Forgiveness
Can God really forgive what I have done? “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” These 14 passages from the King James Bible speak to the weight of guilt and the sting of shame, and to the Savior who said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
14 Bible verses about guilt and shame
Can God really forgive what I have done?
Romans 8:1KJV
1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
No condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.Read in context →
Psalm 32:1-5KJV
1Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 5I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
The relief of confessing sin instead of hiding it.Read in context →
Isaiah 1:18KJV
18Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.Read in context →
Hebrews 10:19-23KJV
19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21And having an high priest over the house of God; 22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Draw near with a clean conscience through the blood of Jesus.Read in context →
John 8:1-11KJV
1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Jesus to the woman caught in adultery: neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.Read in context →
1 John 1:7-9KJV
7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin; confess and be forgiven.Read in context →
1 John 3:19-20KJV
19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
When our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart.Read in context →
2 Corinthians 7:9-11KJV
9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Godly sorrow leads to repentance without regret; worldly sorrow leads to death.Read in context →
Isaiah 61:7KJV
7For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
Instead of shame, a double portion and everlasting joy.Read in context →
Romans 10:11KJV
11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.Read in context →
Hebrews 12:2KJV
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame.Read in context →
Zechariah 3:1-5KJV
1And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. 5And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
The accuser is rebuked and Joshua's filthy clothes are replaced with clean ones.Read in context →
Luke 7:36-50KJV
36And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. 37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. Keep reading →
A sinful woman is forgiven much and loves much.Read in context →
Psalm 103:10-14KJV
10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
He does not treat us as our sins deserve; He remembers that we are dust.Read in context →
A prayer for release from guilt and shame
Pray it slowly, in your own words if you like.
Father, I have sinned, and I cannot undo it. I am tired of carrying this guilt and hiding this shame. I bring it all into Your light.
Thank You that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Thank You that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
When my heart condemns me, remind me that You are greater than my heart. Take my shame and give me the double honor You promised. Help me to walk forward in Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
What the Bible says about guilt and shame
What is the difference between guilt and shame?
Guilt says, “I did something wrong.” Shame says, “I am something wrong.” The Bible addresses both. Confession and forgiveness deal with guilt (1 John 1:9), and the cross deals with shame: Jesus “endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2) so that those who trust Him “shall not be ashamed” (Romans 10:11).
Can God forgive any sin?
Yes. Isaiah 1:18 says even scarlet sins can be made white as snow, and 1 John 1:7 says “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Paul, who once persecuted the church, called himself the chief of sinners and yet received mercy.
Why do I still feel guilty after asking for forgiveness?
Feelings can lag behind truth. 1 John 3:20 says, “if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart.” Keep returning to what God has promised, not to what you feel. 2 Corinthians 7:10 also distinguishes godly sorrow, which leads to life, from worldly sorrow, which only crushes.
What does Jesus say to people who feel ashamed?
When a woman caught in adultery was dragged before Him, Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). When a sinful woman wept at His feet, He said, “Thy sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48). He meets shame with mercy and a new beginning.
More Bible verses by topic
- Forgiveness and reconciliation
- Identity in Christ
- Lust and temptation
- Doubt and faith
- Pride and humility
- All topics
Looking for Scripture on something else? The Scripture Library gathers 255 passages around the struggles and questions people actually bring to God.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain).

