Seeking forgiveness is an act of humility and restoration, especially after causing pain to someone. It reflects a sincere desire to mend relationships and align with divine principles of love and grace.
The Bible provides invaluable guidance, offering prayers and scriptures that encourage self-reflection, repentance, and healing.
These prayers for forgiveness serve as a spiritual tool to express remorse, seek God’s mercy, and promote reconciliation.
Let’s explore heartfelt ways to seek and extend forgiveness.
30 Prayers for Forgiveness for Hurting Someone
1. Psalm 51:1-2
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Heavenly Father, I come before You with a heavy heart, acknowledging the pain I have caused. Please wash me clean of my wrongdoings and cleanse my heart with Your mercy.
Grant me the courage to seek forgiveness from the person I’ve hurt and help me reflect Your steadfast love in my actions.
2. Matthew 5:23-24
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Lord Jesus, Your words remind me of the importance of reconciliation. Help me to prioritize mending broken relationships over all else.
Give me the humility to apologize sincerely and the grace to rebuild trust with the person I’ve wronged.
3. Proverbs 28:13
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Almighty God, I confess my sin of hurting someone dear to me. I choose to let go of pride and seek both Your mercy and the forgiveness of the person I’ve offended. Guide me toward genuine repentance and lasting change.
4. James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Gracious Lord, I confess my faults openly, seeking healing and restoration. Teach me to pray for the person I’ve hurt, that they may experience peace and comfort. Work powerfully in our lives to bring healing through Your Spirit.
5. Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Father, soften my heart to replace anger and malice with kindness and compassion. May Your forgiveness toward me inspire me to earnestly seek forgiveness and extend grace to others as I work to repair the hurt I caused.
6. Colossians 3:13
Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Loving God, as You have forgiven me time and again, help me to reflect that same spirit of forgiveness.
Give me the strength to seek reconciliation and the wisdom to learn from my mistakes so that I may honor You in my relationships.
7. 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Lord of mercy, I lay my sin of causing harm at Your feet. I trust in Your faithfulness to forgive and cleanse me. Create in me a spirit that strives to bring healing where there has been hurt.
8. Romans 12:18
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
God of peace, I seek Your guidance as I take responsibility for my actions. Teach me to pursue peace in every relationship.
Help me to approach the person I’ve hurt with humility, seeking their forgiveness with sincerity and love.
9. Luke 6:31
And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Jesus, I remember Your golden rule as I consider my actions. May I treat the person I’ve hurt with the care and respect I desire for myself. Lead me in showing kindness and making amends in a way that reflects Your heart.
10. Micah 7:18-19
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
Compassionate Father, I marvel at Your steadfast love and compassion. Cast my sins away and guide me as I work to rebuild trust with those I have hurt. Fill me with Your love so that I may walk in forgiveness and grace.
11. Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
Lord Almighty, thank You for Your promise of mercy and cleansing. I bring my sins before You, seeking forgiveness and renewal.
Teach me to reason with those I have hurt, approaching them with humility and a heart eager for reconciliation.
12. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the gift of reconciliation through Christ. Empower me to reflect that same spirit by making amends with those I have hurt.
Help me to embody the message of grace and unity that You have entrusted to us.
13. Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Gracious Lord, I acknowledge the selfishness that may have led me to hurt someone. Fill me with a spirit of humility so that I may value others above myself. Help me to prioritize their healing as I seek to make things right.
14. Hebrews 12:14
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Lord of peace, I am committed to striving for harmony in my relationships. Grant me patience and wisdom to navigate the process of asking for forgiveness.
Help me to reflect Your holiness as I mend what has been broken.
15. Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Merciful God, remind me of the grace You extend to me daily. As I seek forgiveness for my wrongs, help me to let go of any grudges I may hold against others. Teach me to forgive freely, as You have forgiven me.
16. Galatians 6:1
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Father, I recognize my transgression and ask for restoration in Your gentleness.
Equip me to approach the person I’ve hurt with care and sensitivity, ensuring that my words and actions reflect Your love and understanding.
17. Psalm 32:5
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Faithful God, I confess my sins before You and rest in the assurance of Your forgiveness. Give me the courage to admit my mistakes to those I have wronged and seek their forgiveness as well.
18. Romans 14:19
So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
Lord, guide my heart and actions to pursue peace in every interaction. Let my efforts to seek forgiveness bring encouragement and healing to those I’ve hurt, strengthening our relationship in ways that glorify You.
19. 1 Peter 4:8
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Heavenly Father, I pray that Your love will fill my heart and inspire me to love others sincerely. May my genuine love be a healing balm to those I have hurt, covering my mistakes and fostering understanding.
20. Lamentations 3:22-23
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Compassionate Lord, thank You for Your unending mercy and faithfulness. As I work to make amends, remind me that each day is a new opportunity to reflect Your love.
Help me extend that same mercy to others as I seek forgiveness.
21. Mark 11:25
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Merciful Lord, remind me of the importance of forgiveness, both in seeking and granting it. As I approach You in prayer, help me to release any resentment and focus on restoring relationships with a heart full of grace.
22. Ezekiel 36:26
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Heavenly Father, transform my heart from one of stubbornness to one of compassion. Place within me a renewed spirit that seeks to heal the wounds I have caused and loves as You have taught me to love.
23. John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Jesus, your command to love one another challenges me to reflect on my actions. Help me to show genuine love through my efforts to apologize, repair, and rebuild trust with those I have hurt.
24. Isaiah 43:25
I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
Lord of mercy, thank You for Your unfailing grace that wipes away my sins. As You forgive me, teach me to emulate that same spirit by seeking reconciliation with those I’ve wronged and choosing to walk in love.
25. Titus 3:2-5
To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us.
Gracious Savior, let Your loving-kindness inspire me to show courtesy and gentleness. May I approach those I’ve hurt with humility and grace, reflecting the transformation You’ve worked in my heart.
26. Job 22:21
Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.
Almighty God, help me to align my heart and actions with Your will. Teach me to seek peace with those I’ve hurt so that we may both experience the goodness and healing that flows from Your love.
27. Ecclesiastes 3:1-3
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up.
Lord of time and seasons, I recognize that this is a moment for healing and rebuilding. Guide me as I seek forgiveness and help me to nurture relationships with sincerity and care.
28. 2 Timothy 2:24-25
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
God of patience, fill me with kindness and gentleness as I approach the person I’ve wronged. Let my words and actions reflect Your truth and inspire mutual understanding in our relationship.
29. Zechariah 7:9-10
Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.
Lord, Your command for kindness and mercy challenges me to examine my heart. Help me to replace any lingering bitterness with love and to actively show kindness to the person I’ve hurt.
30. 1 Thessalonians 5:15
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
Loving Father, teach me not to retaliate in ways that hurt others but to seek goodness in all my interactions. Let my apology be genuine and my intentions pure as I strive to heal and restore relationships.
Conclusion
Forgiveness is a gift that brings healing to both the giver and receiver. Through prayers and reflection on scripture, we are reminded of God’s boundless mercy and the power of reconciliation.
Seeking forgiveness after causing pain requires humility, courage, and faith, but it leads to restoration and renewed relationships.
May these prayers and scriptures guide your journey toward mending broken bonds, fostering love, and embracing the grace that God so freely offers.