Bible Verses For

Bible Verses for Making an Apology

Owning your wrong and saying sorry takes real humility and courage. You may fear it will not be received, or that it will cost you. These verses are for making an apology, to give you grace to confess, humility to mean it, and hope for what God can heal.

What God says over making an apology

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Confess your faults to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”
Be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
Whoever confesses and forsakes their sin shall have mercy.
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God forgave you.
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
Forbear and forgive one another; as Christ forgave you, so also do.
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
As much as depends on you, live peaceably with all.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive.
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
A soft answer turns away wrath; humility disarms anger.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.

Where this all leads

Confession is not weakness; it is the doorway to healing. Jesus made the way for every reconciliation by taking our wrongs on Himself. Because He has forgiven you fully, you can humble yourself and say sorry, whatever the response. You cannot control how it is received, but you can be faithful, and trust God to work in both hearts.

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A prayer for making an apology

Lord, give me the humility to admit my wrong and the courage to say sorry. Help me mean it, without excuses. Soften the heart of the one I hurt, and heal what is broken between us. Thank You for forgiving me first, so I can seek peace with others. In Jesus name, amen.

You were never meant to walk this alone

The family here will pray with you, and you can hear how Christ has met others in the same place.

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People also ask

What is a good Bible verse about apologizing?
James 5:16 (confess your faults to one another), Matthew 5:23-24 (be reconciled), and Proverbs 28:13 (confess and forsake to find mercy) speak to making an apology.
What does the Bible say about saying sorry?
It commends humble confession as the path to mercy and healing (Proverbs 28:13, James 5:16), urges reconciliation before worship (Matthew 5:23-24), and calls us to forgive as Christ forgave us (Ephesians 4:32).
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