Bible Verses for the New Year: 12 Scriptures to Carry Into 2027

A Bible verse for the new year is a simple way to start January with something steady in hand. Instead of a long list of resolutions, many Christians choose one passage of Scripture to read, pray and come back to all year. Here are twelve of the most loved, one for each month, with a short reflection on each.

Some people write their verse on a card by the mirror. Others prefer to wear it Scripture jewelry. The Scripted Heart is a heart engraved with a cross and the verse you choose from eight, so the word you picked in January is still with you in December.

Bible Verses for the New Year: Why Choose One?

The turn of the year invites us to look back and look ahead. Scripture is full of new beginnings: a people led out of slavery, exiles coming home, a tomb found empty. Choosing a verse for the year is a way of letting God's word frame the months ahead, rather than only our own plans. It is an act of trust, close to the spiritual meaning of faith itself.

For Catholics, the year also opens on a feast: January 1 is the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, and in the United States the Epiphany follows on Sunday, January 3, 2027. Starting the year with Mass and a verse to carry is a good pairing.

A word for the year

Some people call it a "word for the year." It does not need to be dramatic. A verse you can say from memory on a hard Tuesday morning is worth more than a long passage you forget by February. Read the twelve below, notice which one stays with you, and let that be your verse.

How to use this list

You can pick a single verse for the whole year, or read one verse each month in the order below. All quotations are from the King James Version, which is in the public domain, with the reference so you can read each one in context in your own Bible.

12 Bible Verses for the New Year

Lamentations 3:22-23

"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23, KJV)

These lines were written in the middle of ruin, not in a time of comfort. That is what makes them strong: God's mercy is new every morning, including the first morning of the year. For: anyone who is tired of last year and wants a clean page.

Isaiah 43:19

"Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19, KJV)

God speaks to a people in exile and promises a road where there is none. The question in the middle, "shall ye not know it?", asks us to watch for what He is already doing. For: someone starting over after a move, a loss or a closed door.

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV)

Jeremiah wrote this to exiles who would not go home for many years. It is not a promise of an easy year, but of a God whose thoughts toward His people are peace. For: anyone facing an uncertain future, such as a graduate, a new parent or someone changing careers.

2 Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV)

The newest thing in Scripture is not a calendar date but a person made new in Christ. A new year is a small picture of that larger renewal. For: someone who wants to leave an old habit or an old hurt behind.

Isaiah 41:10

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10, KJV)

Five promises in one verse: I am with you, I am your God, I will strengthen, help and uphold you. Many people learn it by heart, and it is easy to see why. For: anyone who already knows this year will ask a lot of them.

Joshua 1:9

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:9, KJV)

Joshua is about to lead a whole people into unknown land. The courage asked of him rests on one fact: God goes with him. For: someone stepping into new responsibility, at work, in the military or at home.

Philippians 4:13

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13, KJV)

Paul wrote this from prison, after saying he had learned to be content with little or with much. It is less about winning and more about enduring with Christ's strength, close to what it means to take up your cross. For: athletes, students, and anyone facing a long effort.

Deuteronomy 31:8

"And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31:8, KJV)

Moses says these words as he hands leadership to Joshua. God is not only beside us; He goes before us into the year we cannot yet see. For: someone who is anxious about what is coming.

Psalm 121:8

"The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore." (Psalm 121:8, KJV)

Psalm 121 is a pilgrim's psalm, sung on the road. Its last line covers every departure and every return of the year ahead, which is why it sits naturally beside other Christian protection symbols and prayers. For: travelers, commuters and families sending someone away.

Psalm 90:12

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, KJV)

A new year is a good moment to remember that our days are counted and precious. This prayer asks not for more time but for wisdom in using it. For: anyone who wants to live this year with more attention and less hurry.

Philippians 4:7

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7, KJV)

This peace does not depend on circumstances lining up. It keeps, or guards, the heart and mind from the inside. For: someone who worries easily, or who starts the year carrying a heavy situation.

Zephaniah 3:17

"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17, KJV)

It is easy to forget that God delights in His people. This verse pictures Him singing over them. For: anyone who needs to hear that they are loved, not just tolerated.

A New Year Blessing From Scripture

If you are looking for a short New Year blessing to say over your family, or to write in a card, the priestly blessing from the Book of Numbers is hard to improve on.

Numbers 6:24-26

"The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." (Numbers 6:24-26, KJV)

God gave these words to Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel. You can say them at the table on New Year's Day, over a child at bedtime, or at the end of a family prayer. They ask for three things: protection, grace and peace.

A Simple New Year Prayer

Here is a short prayer you can use on January 1, or on any morning you need a fresh start:

Lord, thank You for the year that is ending, for its joys and for the grace that carried us through its sorrows. As this new year begins, I place it in Your hands. Your mercies are new every morning: help me to see them. Go before me, stay beside me, and teach me to number my days with wisdom. Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. Amen.

Pray it alone or as a family, and add the names of the people you are carrying into the year.

How to Carry Your Verse All Year

The hardest part of a verse for the year is remembering it in March. A few simple habits help.

Write it, pray it, wear it

Write your verse on a card and put it where you will see it every day: the bathroom mirror, the car, your desk. Pray it in the morning, even just once. Learn it by heart in the first week of January. And if it helps, keep it on you, as a piece of jewelry you notice whenever you reach for it.

Jewelry engraved with Scripture

Like what wearing a cross necklace means to many believers, wearing a verse is a quiet reminder rather than a statement. Here is exactly which verses each of our pieces carries, so you can match one to the list above:

• The Scripted Heart: a stainless steel heart with a cross and your choice of Psalm 118:6, John 3:16, Psalm 46:5, Proverbs 3:5, Matthew 19:26, Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Corinthians 13:8 or Song of Songs 3:4.
• The Steadfast Word: a slim tag engraved with a cross and Isaiah 41:10, in silver or gold, on a 55 cm box chain.
• The Patriotic Scripture Cross: the American flag on the front and, on the back, the engraving you choose, including Joshua 1:9 or Philippians 4:13.
• The Scripted Band: a silicone and stainless steel bracelet with Matthew 19:26, Philippians 4:13, Proverbs 4:23, 1 Corinthians 13:8 or Song of Songs 3:4.
• The Courageous Script: a stainless steel plate on a silicone band, engraved with a short word of Scripture such as Fear Not, Be Still or Be Strong and Courageous, adjustable, 21 cm.
• The Engraved Prayer: the whole Lord's Prayer on a 30 x 50 mm cross, for someone whose word for the year is a prayer.

You will find more pieces in our Scripture Gifts collection. A verse also makes a thoughtful late Christmas or New Year gift; our guides to Christian gifts for men and gifts for godparents have more ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions

One Verse, a Whole Year

You do not need twelve resolutions to begin the year well. One verse, read slowly and kept close, can carry you a long way. Choose the one that spoke to you, write it down, pray it on January 1, and let it walk with you into the year ahead.

Sophie Laurent

Jewelry Historian & Curator

Specializing in religious jewelry since 2017, I combine technical expertise in precious metals with a deep passion for Christian symbolism. At Bennett & Cross, my mission is to guide you in preserving your sacred heirlooms.