Jean François Millet (1814-1875)
L' Angélus (1859)

The Bible on Gratitude

Edited by Peter Y. Chou

WisdomPortal.com



King David (1085 BC-1015 BC), Psalms


I give thanks unto thee, O Lord,
and sing praises unto thy name.
Psalms 18.49

To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee,
and not be silent. O Lord my God,
I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
Psalms 30.12

Offer unto God thanksgiving;
and pay your vows unto the most High.
Psalms 50.14


Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks:
for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.
Psalms 75.1

So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture
will give thee thanks for ever:
we will show forth thy praise to all generations.
Psalms 79.13

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,
and to sing praises unto thy name, O most high:
To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning,
and thy faithfulness every night
Psalms 92.1-2

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein:
then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
Psalms 96.11-12

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us,
and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalms 100.1-5 (1042 BC)

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name:
make known his deeds among the people.
Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him:
talk ye of all his wondrous works.
Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart
of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
Psalms 105.1-3

Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord;
for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord?
who can shew forth all his praise?
Psalms 106.1-2

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalms 107.1

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,
and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psalms 107.8

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,
and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psalms 107.15

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,
and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psalms 107.21, 107.31

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalms 118.1

Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalms 118.28-29

At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.
Psalms 119.62

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks to the Lord of Lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalms 136.1-9

O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalms 136.26

I know that the Lord will maintain the cause
of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name:
the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
Psalms 140.12-13

Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God;
for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
Psalms 147.1

Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth,
who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
Psalms 147.7-8

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Saint Paul (c. 3-67 AD), Paul's Epistles in the New Testament

We give thanks to God always.
I. Thessalonians 1.2 (54 AD)

For what thanks can we render to God again for you,
for all the joy wherewith we joy
for your sakes before our God;
I. Thessalonians 3.9

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.
In everything give thanks:
for this is the will of God.
I. Thessalonians 5.16-18


Let us thank God for his priceless gift!
2 Corinthians 9.15 (57 AD)

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Colossians 3.15 (62 AD)

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of
the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3.17

I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.
Ephesians 1.16 (62 AD)

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking,
which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Ephesians 5.4

Speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and songs; sing and make music
from your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God
Ephesians 5.19-20

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
Philippians 1.3-4 (62 AD)

With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.
Philippians 4.6

We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
Acts 24.3 (64 AD)

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,
that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Hebrews 3.15 (65 AD)

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
I Timothy 2.1 (67 AD)

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused,
if it be received with thanksgiving:
For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
I Timothy 4.4-5

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Saint John of Patmos (Saint John the Divine), Book of Revelation (96 AD)


Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom,
and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might,
be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelations 7.12

Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
which art, and was, and art to come; because thou
has taken to thee thy great power, and has reigned.
Revelations 11.17



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Notes on Quotes: A survey of The Complete Concordance to the Bible: New King James Version (Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1983, pp. 967-968) shows that "gratitude" is not cited. However, we note the number of occurrences of the following words: Grateful 1, Thank 24, Thanked 3, Thankful 3, Thankfulness 1, Thanking 1, Thanks 75, Thanksgiving 31, Thanksgivings 2. Biblical quotes on the theme of gratitude were selected from this listing. Web links to the Internet Sacred Text Archive are provided to Bible verses cited.

Notes on Images: King David by Marc Chagall appears on a multicolored postage stamp of Israel (Scott #399) issued on Sept. 24, 1969. Greece issued a set of four stamps (June 15, 1951) commemorating the 1900th anniversary of Saint Paul's visit to Athens. The 10,000 Drachmai red brown stamp depicted shows "Saint Paul preaching to the Athenians". The icon of Saint John of Patmos was painted by Heather Williams Durka (2004). It was installed as Patronal Icon for St. John Episcopal Church of Olympia, WA.




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