The best get-well verses are short, gentle and full of hope. Jude's greeting fits any card: "Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied" (Jude 1:2). For someone hoping to recover, King Hezekiah's prayer is beautiful: "so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live" (Isaiah 38:16). To say you are praying, try "He will regard the prayer of the destitute" (Psalm 102:17).
Winter brings flu season, surgeries get scheduled before the end of the year, and someone you love is almost always under the weather. A get-well card is a small thing, but it tells a sick or recovering person that they are remembered. Adding a verse turns a kind wish into a blessing and a prayer. The best card verses are short, warm and honest. They do not promise exactly how or when God will heal, but they point to a God who cares, who hears prayer and who stays close in the sickroom. These twelve King James verses are all short enough for a card, and each comes with a simple message you can copy or adapt. Name the person, mention the surgery, illness or recovery if it feels right, add a verse and sign with love. For longer prayers to read at the bedside, see Bible verses for the sick, and for recovery, see Bible verses about strength and healing.
Short blessings for any get-well card
1. Jude 1:2
"Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied."
Jude opened his short letter with a three-part blessing: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Multiplied means more and more. It fits almost any situation, from a minor illness to a long hospital stay, because it asks God for what every sick person needs. Card message: Thinking of you and asking God to multiply His mercy, peace and love to you every day of your recovery.
2. 2 Thessalonians 1:2
"Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Paul opened his second letter to the church in Thessalonica with Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul used a greeting like this in nearly all of his letters. It is warm and simple, and it works well for a coworker, neighbor or church member you do not know closely. Card message: Grace unto you, and peace. We miss you and are praying for a smooth recovery. Rest well and let others take care of you for a while.
3. 1 Samuel 1:17
"Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him."
Hannah had prayed with tears for a child, and the priest Eli finally blessed her: Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. Afterward her countenance was no more sad (1 Samuel 1:18). The verse is a lovely way to pray for someone's specific request, whether it is a diagnosis, a test result or a healing. Card message: Go in peace. May God grant the very thing you have asked Him for.
4. Psalms 54:4
"Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul."
David wrote this psalm when he was being hunted, but its center is a quiet statement of trust: Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. To uphold is to hold up. Sick people often feel weak in body and spirit, and this verse reminds them that God is their helper and that the people supporting them are on God's side. Card message: God is your helper, and we are here to hold you up too. Call us for anything.
Hope for healing and strength
5. Luke 9:11
"And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing."
When crowds followed Jesus to a remote place, He did not send them away. He received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. Notice the order: He welcomed them first. This is a gentle verse for a card because it describes Jesus' heart toward the sick without making promises about timing. Card message: Jesus welcomes you just as you are and cares about every part of your healing. So do we.
6. Isaiah 57:19
"I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him."
God speaks peace in this verse: Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. The verse just before it says, I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him (Isaiah 57:18). The context is spiritual healing for people who turn to God, but the God who speaks it also cares for bodies. Card message: Peace, peace to you. Praying for God's healing and comfort in body and soul.
7. Isaiah 38:16
"O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live."
King Hezekiah was so ill that he was told to set his house in order, but he prayed, and God added fifteen years to his life (Isaiah 38:1-5). Afterward he wrote a song including so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live. Interestingly, God also told him to apply a poultice of figs (Isaiah 38:21), so prayer and treatment worked together. Card message: Praying that God will help you recover fully, and for wisdom for everyone caring for you.
8. Psalms 119:116
"Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope."
Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Long illnesses can wear down hope, and some people even feel embarrassed to keep hoping. This verse asks God to hold us up and to honor our hope. It is a good choice for someone facing a long recovery or ongoing treatment. Card message: Holding on to hope with you. May God uphold you every step of this road.
Praying for you and looking ahead
9. Psalms 17:6
"I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech."
I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. To incline an ear is to lean in to listen. It is a picture of God bending close to a sickbed. Use this verse to let the person know you are praying for them by name. Card message: I have been calling on God for you, and I know He hears. He is leaning in close to you right now.
10. Psalms 102:17
"He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer."
Psalm 102 has a remarkable title: A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed. It includes this promise: He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. Destitute means stripped bare, and serious illness can make anyone feel that way. God does not look down on weak, tired prayers. Card message: Even when you are too tired to pray, God hears every sigh. We are praying for you too.
11. Psalms 66:20
"Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me."
Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. The psalmist is looking back after God has answered, praising Him for listening and for staying kind. This is a verse of thanks after prayer has been heard, so it is perfect for a card to someone who is on the mend, back home from the hospital or through a successful surgery. Card message: So thankful to hear you are home! Blessed be God, who heard all our prayers for you.
12. Psalms 116:9
"I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living."
Psalm 116 is a song of someone who was very close to death and was rescued (Psalm 116:8). In response he promises, I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. It is a joyful verse for someone recovering, getting back on their feet or taking a first walk after surgery. Card message: Here's to many more walks, many more days and many more years in the land of the living. Praising God for your recovery.
A short prayer
Lord, I lift up my friend who is sick. Multiply Your mercy, peace and love to them. Give rest to their body and calm to their mind. Grant wisdom to their doctors, nurses and caregivers, and work through every treatment. Hold them up when they are weak and honor their hope. Hear the prayers they are too tired to say. And bring them back on their feet to walk before You in the land of the living. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Print our free Bible verse bookmarks to tuck into a get-well card · Send our free Psalm 23 printable to someone recovering · Give the 30-Day Prayer Journal to someone in a long recovery
Frequently asked questions
What is a short Bible verse for a get-well card?
Jude 1:2 and 2 Thessalonians 1:2 are only one line each. Other short favorites include "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:" (Numbers 6:24) and "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 1:2). Pick one, add the person's name, and write a sentence or two of your own.
What should I write in a Christian get-well card?
Keep it warm, short and personal. Say you are thinking of them, mention that you are praying, add a verse, and offer something specific: a meal, a ride, a visit when they are ready. For example: We're praying for you every day and would love to bring dinner on Thursday. Avoid promising a particular outcome or saying the illness happened for a reason. See Bible verses about praying for others.
What verse can I send to someone before surgery?
Isaiah 38:16 and Psalm 54:4 work well, and so does "The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing:" (Psalm 41:3). Let the person know you will be praying at the time of the operation. For more ideas, see Bible verses for surgery, and after they recover, send a note using Bible verses for thank-you cards.
Does the Bible encourage visiting the sick?
Yes. Jesus said that caring for the sick is caring for Him: "I was sick, and ye visited me" (Matthew 25:36). James tells believers to pray for one another "that ye may be healed" (James 5:16). A card, a short visit or a meal are all ways to obey. If the person is very ill, ask the family what would help most. See Bible verses about healing.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: The sick · Strength and healing · Healing · Surgery · Sympathy cards · Thank-you cards · Praying for others · Christmas cards
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