Psalms for Healing: 8 Psalms for the Sick and Brokenhearted

When we are sick, in pain, or brokenhearted, the psalms give us words to bring our need to God: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak: heal me, O Lord.” Below are eight psalms for healing of body, mind and heart, each with its key verses in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible, a short explanation, and a link to the full psalm, followed by a prayer for healing and how to pray for the sick.

1. Psalm 6: heal me, Lord, for I am weak

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak: heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.

A cry from someone sick in body and soul, which ends in confidence: “the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.” Read the full Psalm 6.

2. Psalm 30: you have healed me

O Lord my God, I have cried to thee, and thou hast healed me.

The thanksgiving of someone God has healed and brought back from the edge of death: “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into joy.” Read the full Psalm 30.

3. Psalm 103: who heals all your diseases

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all he hath done for thee.
Who forgiveth all thy iniquities: who healeth all thy diseases.

God forgives our sins and heals our diseases: healing of soul and body go together. Read the full Psalm 103.

4. Psalm 147: he heals the brokenhearted

Who healeth the broken of heart, and bindeth up their bruises.

For grief, heartbreak and emotional wounds: the God who counts the stars binds up broken hearts. Read the full Psalm 147.

5. Psalm 107: he sent his word and healed them

And they cried to the Lord in their affliction: and he delivered them out of their distresses.
He sent his word, and healed them: and delivered them from their destructions.

God answers those who cry to him in distress. Christians hear in “he sent his word” the coming of Jesus, the Word made flesh, who healed the sick.

6. Psalm 41: on the bed of sickness

The Lord help him on his bed of sorrow: thou hast turned all his couch in his sickness.

A blessing on those who care for the poor and the sick, and a promise of God’s help to the sick person (Psalm 40 in the Douay-Rheims).

7. Psalm 116: delivered from death

For he hath delivered my soul from death: my eyes from tears, my feet from falling.

Thanksgiving after recovery: “I will please the Lord in the land of the living.” Read the full Psalm 116.

8. Psalm 23: he restores my soul

He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name’s sake.

The Good Shepherd refreshes and restores the weary soul. Read the full Psalm 23.

How to pray the psalms for healing

Bring your real need to God honestly, as the psalmists do.
Pray with the sick: read a psalm aloud at the bedside, slowly and peacefully.
Join the Church’s prayer: the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is the Church’s great prayer for healing. See last rites and the Anointing of the Sick.
Trust God’s answer: God always hears; sometimes he heals the body, and always he offers healing of the soul and his presence in suffering.
Ask the saints’ prayers, especially Mary, Health of the Sick. See the Catholic prayer for healing.

A prayer for healing

Written for this page:

Lord, you heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.
Have mercy on me, for I am weak; heal me in body, mind and spirit.
Forgive my sins, restore my strength,
and give me peace, whatever your holy will may be.
I trust in you, my Good Shepherd. Amen.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best psalm for healing?

Psalm 103, “who healeth all thy diseases,” and Psalm 30, “thou hast healed me,” are among the most loved. Psalm 147 is especially for the brokenhearted.

Can I pray the psalms for someone who is sick?

Yes. Pray them in the person’s name, or read them aloud with them. See the prayer for the sick.

More prayers for healing

Texts and sources

Scripture: Psalms 6, 29 (30), 102 (103), 146 (147), 106 (107), 40 (41), 114 (116), 22 (23), Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
The prayer was written for this page.