AllPsalms

Short Psalm Verses

Sixty psalm verses of 14 words or fewer, ranked by how often people search for them, with the King James wording beside each.

This page lists 60 short psalm verses, each 14 words or fewer in the World English Bible. They are ordered by how often people search for them, so Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path," comes first. The number beside each verse is its word count. The King James wording sits under each one, and every verse links to its place in the full psalm.

The list is built from searches, not from mood. Many verses on it are words of trust or praise, but a few are not, so read each one in its psalm before you use it.

60 short psalm verses

Verses of 14 words or fewer in the World English Bible, most searched first. The number is the word count.

  1. 14Psalm 119:105Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.KJV: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
  2. 9Psalm 23:1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.KJV: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
  3. 11Psalm 147:3He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.KJV: He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
  4. 12Psalm 19:1The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork.KJV: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
  5. 11Psalm 56:3When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.KJV: What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
  6. 14Psalm 139:13For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.KJV: For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
  7. 12Psalm 46:1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.KJV: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
  8. 14Psalm 40:1I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me, and heard my cry.KJV: I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
  9. 14Psalm 137:9Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.KJV: Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
  10. 13Psalm 37:1Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.KJV: Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
  11. 14Psalm 103:1Praise the LORD, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name!KJV: Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
  12. 13Psalm 37:23A man’s steps are established by the LORD. He delights in his way.KJV: The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
  13. 11Psalm 32:1Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.KJV: Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
  14. 10Psalm 109:8Let his days be few. Let another take his office.KJV: Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
  15. 14Psalm 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.KJV: Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
  16. 13Psalm 139:23Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.KJV: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
  17. 10Psalm 90:1Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations.KJV: Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
  18. 13Psalm 28:6Blessed be the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my petitions.KJV: Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
  19. 12Psalm 128:1Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways.KJV: Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
  20. 8Psalm 61:1Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer.KJV: Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
  21. 13Psalm 107:20He sends his word, and heals them, and delivers them from their graves.KJV: He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
  22. 9Psalm 139:1LORD, you have searched me, and you know me.KJV: O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
  23. 9Psalm 5:1Give ear to my words, LORD. Consider my meditation.KJV: Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
  24. 14Psalm 82:6I said, “You are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High.KJV: I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
  25. 11Psalm 118:17I will not die, but live, and declare the LORD’s works.KJV: I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
  26. 13Psalm 94:19In the multitude of my thoughts within me, your comforts delight my soul.KJV: In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
  27. 12Psalm 20:4May he grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your counsel.KJV: Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
  28. 8Psalm 25:1To you, LORD, I lift up my soul.KJV: Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
  29. 6Psalm 18:1I love you, LORD, my strength.KJV: I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
  30. 12Psalm 65:11You crown the year with your bounty. Your carts overflow with abundance.KJV: Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
  31. 13Psalm 33:4For the LORD’s word is right. All his work is done in faithfulness.KJV: For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
  32. 11Psalm 119:97How I love your law! It is my meditation all day.KJV: O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
  33. 12Psalm 18:32the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?KJV: It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
  34. 9Psalm 100:1Shout for joy to the LORD, all you lands!KJV: Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
  35. 14Psalm 119:25My soul is laid low in the dust. Revive me according to your word!KJV: My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
  36. 14Psalm 24:3Who may ascend to the LORD’s hill? Who may stand in his holy place?KJV: Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
  37. 14Psalm 66:10For you, God, have tested us. You have refined us, as silver is refined.KJV: For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
  38. 13Psalm 18:4The cords of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.KJV: The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
  39. 11Psalm 25:21Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.KJV: Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
  40. 13Psalm 33:9For he spoke, and it was done. He commanded, and it stood firm.KJV: For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
  41. 14Psalm 48:9We have thought about your loving kindness, God, in the middle of your temple.KJV: We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
  42. 14Psalm 62:11God has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God.KJV: God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
  43. 14Psalm 82:4Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”KJV: Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
  44. 13Psalm 94:14For the LORD won’t reject his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.KJV: For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
  45. 14Psalm 96:1Sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth.KJV: O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
  46. 12Psalm 112:4Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, gracious, merciful, and righteous.KJV: Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
  47. 13Psalm 116:6The LORD preserves the simple. I was brought low, and he saved me.KJV: The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.
  48. 12Psalm 124:8Our help is in the LORD’s name, who made heaven and earth.KJV: Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
  49. 14Psalm 136:26Oh give thanks to the God of heaven, for his loving kindness endures forever.KJV: O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
  50. 14Psalm 145:17The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works.KJV: The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
  51. 11Psalm 148:3Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars!KJV: Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
  52. 14Psalm 51:12Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.KJV: Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
  53. 11Psalm 116:15Precious in the LORD’s sight is the death of his saints.KJV: Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
  54. 11Psalm 62:1My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him.KJV: Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
  55. 11Psalm 22:3But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel.KJV: But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
  56. 14Psalm 62:5My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him.KJV: My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
  57. 14Psalm 119:1Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the LORD’s law.KJV: Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
  58. 13Psalm 119:18Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law.KJV: Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
  59. 12Psalm 122:6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you will prosper.KJV: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
  60. 10Psalm 130:1Out of the depths I have cried to you, LORD.KJV: Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

What is the shortest psalm in the Bible?

Psalm 117 is the shortest psalm. It has 2 verses and 27 words in the World English Bible, and it has no heading. It calls on all nations and all peoples to praise the LORD, then gives the reason: his loving kindness is great toward us, and his faithfulness endures forever. The next shortest are Psalms 131, 133 and 134, with 3 verses each. All three are Songs of Ascents. The longest psalm, Psalm 119, has 176 verses. The psalms by length page ranks all 150.

Short psalm verses for encouragement

Many of the most searched short verses speak to fear, grief or weakness in a few words. Psalm 56:3 says, "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you." Psalm 147:3 says the LORD "heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds." Psalm 46:1 calls God "our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 23:1 opens Psalm 23, the most searched psalm: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing." Each of these sits inside a longer psalm, and the psalm around it often shows what the trouble was. For longer passages on the same themes, see the psalms of encouragement and psalms about strength pages.

Not every short verse is a comfort

Some short verses are searched often because they are hard. Psalm 137:9 is on this list because many people look it up: "Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock." It closes a psalm that begins with weeping by the rivers of Babylon. Psalm 109:8, "Let his days be few. Let another take his office," is part of a long run of curses against an enemy. Psalm 82:6, "You are gods," is spoken to those who "judge unjustly" in verse 2, and the next verse says they will die like men. Read these in their psalms before quoting them on their own.

Using short verses for memorizing, cards and tattoos

Short verses are easier to learn by heart. Psalm 119:11 gives one reason people do it: "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." A simple way is to learn one verse a week, say it aloud each morning, and read the whole psalm it comes from once. For cards, every psalm page on this site can print a verse card from the verses you tick, in the World English Bible or the King James Version. If you want a verse as a tattoo, check the exact wording first. The two translations differ: Psalm 23:1 ends "I shall lack nothing" in one and "I shall not want" in the other.

Guides to the Book of Psalms

What is a psalm?How to study the psalmsPsalms KJVMost popular psalmsVerse of the dayWhat Selah meansHeading words explainedPsalms in HebrewCatholic psalm numbersPsalms in the New TestamentPsalms and ProverbsPsalms, hymns and spiritual songsFree commentariesPsalm 151The Bay Psalm Book

Questions

What is the shortest psalm?

Psalm 117. It has 2 verses and 27 words in the World English Bible, and it calls all nations to praise the LORD.

What is the shortest verse in Psalms on this list?

Psalm 18:1 has 6 words in the World English Bible, and it is the shortest verse on this list. Psalm 23:1 has 9.

What are good psalm verses to memorize?

The most searched short verses are a common place to start: Psalm 119:105, Psalm 23:1, Psalm 147:3, Psalm 19:1 and Psalm 56:3. Each is 14 words or fewer.

Are these verses from the King James Version?

The main text is the World English Bible. The King James wording is printed under each verse, and both translations are public domain.

How was this list chosen?

It includes psalm verses of 14 words or fewer in the World English Bible, ordered by monthly searches in the United States.

Where can I find Psalm 23 or Psalm 91 quotes?

Each psalm has its own page with the full text and a note on its key verses. See the Psalm 23 and Psalm 91 pages.

Keep reading

Psalms of EncouragementPsalms About StrengthShortest and Longest Psalms in the BibleThe Most Popular PsalmsPsalm Verse of the DayPsalms KJV: The Book of Psalms, King James Version

Sources

LP

Written by

Lucas Pradella

Last checked 25 September 2026 · How pages are checked

I built AllPsalms because I could not find one site that covered all 150 psalms properly. I am a Christian and a reader of the psalms, not a scholar or a minister. What I can do is the work: put every psalm in one place, in plain English, with the text unedited and every claim sourced.

More about this site