Home Topics Sleep Lying awake at night can make every worry feel larger. The Bible has a surprising number of verses about sleep, many written by people who knew danger and stress firsthand, yet chose to lie down in peace. These are good to read at bedtime, on a sleepless night, or with a child before lights out. They remind us that God never sleeps, so we can. Pick one, read it slowly, and let your mind settle on it as you drift off.
KJV I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD , only makest me dwell in safety. BSB I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD , make me dwell in safety. KJV When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. BSB When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet. KJV It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.BSB In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for He gives sleep to His beloved. KJV I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. BSB I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me. KJV He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. BSB He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. KJV Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. BSB Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. KJV Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. BSB Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. KJV He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. BSB He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. KJV Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; BSB You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, KJV Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. BSB You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You. KJV Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. BSB Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. KJV And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. BSB And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. KJV When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. BSB When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night. KJV I will bless the LORD , who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. BSB I will bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night my conscience instructs me. KJV Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.BSB The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day, and at night His song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life. KJV I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. BSB At night I remembered my song; in my heart I mused, and my spirit pondered: KJV Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word. BSB My eyes anticipate the watches of night, that I may meditate on Your word. KJV If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. BSB If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”— KJV Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee . BSB even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You. KJV The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. BSB The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep. KJV Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me. BSB At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been most pleasant to me. KJV Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. BSB Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid. KJV When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. BSB When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. KJV And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. BSB And I will give peace to the land, and you will lie down with nothing to fear. I will rid the land of dangerous animals, and no sword will pass through your land. KJV And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. BSB You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety. KJV Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee. BSB You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor. KJV Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. BSB “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.” KJV And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? BSB But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?” KJV And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. BSB Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. KJV For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. BSB For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning. 