Bible Verses About Praise: 12

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord."

— Psalm 150:6 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about praise want Scripture for a heavy morning, a answered prayer they almost forgot to name, or a habit of lifting God without pretending everything feels fine — not a playlist of church slogans. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about worship, Bible verses about gratitude, Bible verses about joy, Bible verses about thanksgiving, and Love and worship. Here the focus is naming God's worth out loud and in the heart — distinct from worship as the whole life of bowing (Bible verses about worship) and from rejoicing as glad celebration (Bible verses about rejoicing). For the people's Amen in praise, see Bible verses about amen.

Word study (lead theme). In Hebrew, "praise" is often הָלַל halal (Strong's H1984; Bible Hub H1984) — to shine, boast, celebrate, make a show of God's greatness. In Greek, αἰνέω aineō (Strong's G134; Bible Hub G134) is to praise, laud, speak well of — words that put God in the right place.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalm 150 presses that praise is the fitting end of the Psalter: every breath is invited into God's honor (Bible Hub commentaries on Psalm 150:6; Bible Hub MHC Psalm 150). On Psalm 95 he marks the call to sing and shout as the door into worship that refuses a hard heart (Bible Hub commentaries on Psalm 95:1; Bible Hub MHC Psalm 95).

12 Bible verses about praise

Psalm 150:6. "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." Breath itself is an invitation to praise. See Bible verses about worship.
Psalm 146:1-2. "Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live." Praise is timed for a whole life, not only for good news. See Bible verses about perseverance.
Hebrews 13:15. "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name." Praise is a sacrifice when feelings lag. See Bible verses about faith.
Psalm 103:1-2. "Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits…" The soul is summoned to remember before it complains. See Bible verses about gratitude.
Isaiah 25:1. "Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago." Praise rests on faithfulness already shown. See Bible verses about faithfulness.
Psalm 145:3. "Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom." Praise begins with God's size, not ours. See Bible verses about glory.
Luke 19:37-38. "When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!…'" Praise can be loud when the King is near. See Bible verses about the kingdom.
Psalm 71:8. "My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long." Praise fills the mouth so complaint has less room. See Bible verses about hope.
1 Peter 2:9. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." Identity exists to declare praise. See Bible verses about light.
Psalm 96:1-2. "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day." Praise pairs singing with telling. See Bible verses about salvation.
Revelation 5:12. "In a loud voice they were saying: 'Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!'" Heaven's praise centers on the Lamb. See Bible verses about the cross.
Psalm 149:1. "Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people." Praise lives in the assembly's shared song. See Bible verses about the church.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for a week of dry lips, a morning after answered prayer, or a habit of naming God's goodness — not twelve. If you need a wide invitation, start with Psalm 150:6. If you need praise when feelings lag, start with Hebrews 13:15. If you need memory before complaint, start with Psalm 103:1-2. For worship as the whole life of bowing, see Bible verses about worship. For the altar-name The Lord is my Banner, see Bible verses about Jehovah Nissi. For the Lord and Master name Adonai, open Bible verses about Adonai. For giving thanks as an act, see Bible verses about thanksgiving. For Miriam the prophetess who led the song at the sea, open Bible verses about Miriam. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about praise?

Psalm 150:6 (everything that has breath), Hebrews 13:15 (sacrifice of praise), and Psalm 103:1-2 (praise and forget not) are clear starting places.

What does the Bible say about praising God?

Scripture presents praise as naming God's worth with breath, lips, and memory — continual (Psalm 34:1), sacrificial when hard (Hebrews 13:15), and centered on the Lamb (Revelation 5:12).

What is a Bible verse about praise in hard times?

Hebrews 13:15 calls praise a sacrifice offered through Jesus. Psalm 146:1-2 commits to praise for a whole life, not only after relief.

How does praise relate to worship and joy?

Worship is the broader life of bowing (Bible verses about worship); joy is the glad fruit (Bible verses about joy). Praise is the spoken and sung naming of God's worth inside both.

How can I use Bible verses about praise in prayer?

Read Psalm 150:6 and thank God for breath. Use Psalm 103:1-2 to list benefits before requests, and Hebrews 13:15 when praise feels costly.

Sources

NIV text quoted above.
Blue Letter Bible / Bible Hub Strong's entries for halal (H1984) and aineō (G134).
Matthew Henry Concise via Bible Hub on Psalm 150:6 and Psalm 95:1.