Bible verses about perseverance

Do not give up

The plainest commands to keep going.

1. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

   Galatians 6:9

   Ties the harvest to not quitting: the reaping comes in due season, if we faint not.

2. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

   2 Thessalonians 3:13

   Paul repeats the charge in one short line, to a church where some had stopped working.

3. And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

   Luke 18:1

   Jesus told the parable of the widow and the judge so that men would pray always and not faint.

4. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

   1 Corinthians 15:58

   Steadfast work is worth it because labour in the Lord is not in vain.

5. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

   Hebrews 10:23

   Holding on without wavering rests on God's side of the promise: he is faithful that promised.

6. To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

   Romans 2:7

   Describes the faithful as those who seek glory by patient continuance in well doing.

Run the race

Paul and the writer of Hebrews both picture faith as a long race.

1. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

   Hebrews 12:1

   Lay aside every weight and run with patience, with a cloud of witnesses (the faithful of Hebrews 11) around you.

2. Looking 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.

   Hebrews 12:2

   Keeps the runner's eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy that was set before him.

3. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

   Hebrews 12:3

   When you feel worn out, consider what Jesus endured, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

   1 Corinthians 9:24

   Every runner in a race runs; Paul says to run so as to obtain the prize.

5. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

   Philippians 3:13-14

   Forget what is behind, reach for what is ahead, and press toward the mark.

6. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

   2 Timothy 4:7

   Paul's own summary near the end of his life: he fought, he finished his course, he kept the faith.

Trials build patience

In the KJV, patience usually means steady endurance, not just waiting calmly.

1. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

   James 1:2-4

   The trying of your faith worketh patience, and patience is meant to finish its work in you.

2. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

   Romans 5:3-4

   A chain: tribulation works patience, patience experience, and experience hope.

3. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

   James 1:12

   Promises the crown of life to the man who endures temptation.

4. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

   Hebrews 10:36

   Patience is the bridge between doing the will of God and receiving the promise.

5. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

   Revelation 2:10

   Jesus tells the church at Smyrna to be faithful unto death and promises a crown of life.

6. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

   Luke 8:15

   In the parable of the sower, the good ground keeps the word and bears fruit with patience.

7. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

   Romans 12:12

   Three short habits for hard seasons: rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing in prayer.

When you fall or feel crushed

1. For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

   Proverbs 24:16

   The just man is not the one who never falls; he falls seven times and rises up again.

2. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.

   Micah 7:8

   Spoken in a dark time: when I fall, I shall arise, and the LORD will be a light.

3. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

   2 Corinthians 4:8-9

   Paul lists four pressures and four limits: troubled but not distressed, cast down but not destroyed.

4. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

   2 Corinthians 4:16-17

   The inward man is renewed day by day, and present affliction is called light and for a moment.

5. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

   Psalm 40:1

   David waited patiently, and the LORD inclined unto him and heard his cry.

6. It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

   Lamentations 3:22-23

   Written amid the ruin of Jerusalem: God's compassions fail not and are new every morning.

God gives the strength to endure

1. But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

   Isaiah 40:31

   Those who wait upon the LORD shall run, and not be weary; and walk, and not faint.

2. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

   Philippians 1:6

   Your perseverance rests on God's: he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it.

3. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

   James 5:11

   Points to the patience of Job and to how the Lord dealt with him in the end, with tender mercy.

4. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

   James 5:7

   The farmer waits for the early and latter rain; endurance often looks like patient waiting.

5. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

   Hebrews 6:12

   Follow those who through faith and patience inherit the promises, rather than growing slothful.

6. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

   Ephesians 6:18

   The only verse in the KJV with the word perseverance, used of steady prayer for all saints.