Hannah’s Prayer

And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

For You, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.

They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. So they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God heeded the prayer for the land.

And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel.

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven;

Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today:

that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.

whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple:

then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

then hear in heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause,

Solomon Blesses the Assembly

And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the Lord, that he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.

And the Lord said to him: “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.

It may be that the Lord your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the Lord your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’ ”

Sennacherib’s Threat and Hezekiah’s Prayer

Then the Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he heard that he had departed from Lachish.

“Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord.

And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him.

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

Then Solomon spoke: “The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud.

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands

Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You:

that Your eyes may be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your name, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.

whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows his own burden and his own grief, and spreads out his hands to this temple:

then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

then hear from heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.

Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place.

God’s Second Appearance to Solomon

Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.

Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.

Then the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard; and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.

Death of Manasseh

Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.

Also his prayer and how God received his entreaty, and all his sin and trespass, and the sites where he built high places and set up wooden images and carved images, before he was humbled, indeed they are written among the sayings of Hozai.

Fasting and Prayer for Protection

Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.

So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.

please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned.

O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” For I was the king’s cupbearer.

Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.

Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving with prayer; Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

Job’s Despondent Prayer

“Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide myself from You:

Yes, you cast off fear, And restrain prayer before God.

Although no violence is in my hands, And my prayer is pure.

You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, And you will pay your vows.

The Safety of the Faithful

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

A Prayer for Guidance

To the Chief Musician. With flutes. A Psalm of David.

Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my meditation.

A Prayer of Faith in Time of Distress

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. On an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.

O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.

The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer.

Prayer and Praise for Deliverance from Enemies

A Meditation of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

O Lord my God, in You I put my trust; Save me from all those who persecute me; And deliver me,

Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Righteous Judgments

To the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Death of the Son.” A Psalm of David.

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.

Prayer with Confidence in Final Salvation

A Prayer of David.

Hear a just cause, O Lord, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.

A Prayer for Divine Scrutiny and Redemption

A Psalm of David.

Vindicate me, O Lord, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip.

Rejoicing in Answered Prayer

A Psalm of David.

To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock: Do not be silent to me, Lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.

The Blessedness of Answered Prayer

A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the house of David.

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me.

But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart.

Prayer in Time of Chastening

A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance.

O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure!

Prayer for Wisdom and Forgiveness

To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.”

“Hear my prayer, O Lord, And give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.

The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life.

Prayer to God in Time of Trouble

Vindicate me, O God, And plead my cause against an ungodly nation; Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!

A Prayer of Repentance

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

Answered Prayer for Deliverance from Adversaries

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David when the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding with us?”

Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your strength.

Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth.

Trust in God Concerning the Treachery of Friends

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David.

Give ear to my prayer, O God, And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

Prayer for Relief from Tormentors

To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath.

Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; Fighting all day he oppresses me.

Prayer for Safety from Enemies

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David when he fled from Saul into the cave.

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.

Urgent Prayer for the Restored Favor of God

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Lily of the Testimony.” A Michtam of David. For teaching. When he fought against Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah, and Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

O God, You have cast us off; You have broken us down; You have been displeased; Oh, restore us again!

Assurance of God’s Eternal Protection

To the Chief Musician. On a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David.

Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.

O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come.

But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.

Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!

But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, in the acceptable time; O God, in the multitude of Your mercy, Hear me in the truth of Your salvation.

Prayer for Relief from Adversaries

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance.

Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Make haste to help me, O Lord!

And He shall live; And the gold of Sheba will be given to Him; Prayer also will be made for Him continually, And daily He shall be praised.

The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

A Dirge and a Prayer for Israel, Destroyed by Enemies

A Psalm of Asaph.

O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance; Your holy temple they have defiled; They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.

Prayer for Israel’s Restoration

To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A Testimony of Asaph. A Psalm.

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth!

O Lord God of hosts, How long will You be angry Against the prayer of Your people?

Prayer to Frustrate Conspiracy Against Israel

A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.

Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, And do not be still, O God!

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah

Prayer that the Lord Will Restore Favor to the Land

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

Lord, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.

Prayer for Mercy, with Meditation on the Excellencies of the Lord

A Prayer of David.

Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me; For I am poor and needy.

Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications.

A Prayer for Help in Despondency

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath Leannoth.” A Contemplation of Heman the Ezrahite.

O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried out day and night before You.

Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry.

But to You I have cried out, O Lord, And in the morning my prayer comes before You.

BOOK FOUR

Psalms 90–106

The Eternity of God, and Man’s Frailty

A Prayer of Moses the man of God.

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

The Lord’s Eternal Love

A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the Lord.

Hear my prayer, O Lord, And let my cry come to You.

He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer.

In return for my love they are my accusers, But I give myself to prayer.

When he is judged, let him be found guilty, And let his prayer become sin.

Prayer for Relief from Contempt

A Song of Ascents.

Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens.

Prayer for Deliverance from Evil Men

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; Preserve me from violent men,

Prayer for Safekeeping from Wickedness

A Psalm of David.

Lord, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.

Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.

A Plea for Relief from Persecutors

A Contemplation of David. A Prayer when he was in the cave.

I cry out to the Lord with my voice; With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.

An Earnest Appeal for Guidance and Deliverance

A Psalm of David.

Hear my prayer, O Lord, Give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, And in Your righteousness.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.

The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.

Lord, in trouble they have visited You, They poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them.

A Prayer in Deep Distress

Woe to you who plunder, though you have not been plundered; And you who deal treacherously, though they have not dealt treacherously with you! When you cease plundering, You will be plundered; When you make an end of dealing treacherously, They will deal treacherously with you.

It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the Lord your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’ ”

Sennacherib’s Threat and Hezekiah’s Prayer

Then the Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he heard that he had departed from Lachish.

“Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years.

Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

A Prayer of Penitence

Look down from heaven, And see from Your habitation, holy and glorious. Where are Your zeal and Your strength, The yearning of Your heart and Your mercies toward me? Are they restrained?

A Prayer for Help

Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence—

“Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you.

“So do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble.

Even when I cry and shout, He shuts out my prayer.

You have covered Yourself with a cloud, That prayer should not pass through.

Prayer for Restoration

Remember, O Lord, what has come upon us; Look, and behold our reproach!

Daniel’s Prayer for the People

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—

Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

“As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth.

Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate.

yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering.

Jonah’s Prayer and Deliverance

Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah’s Prayer and God’s Answer

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly.

“When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple.

The Prophet’s Prayer

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, on Shigionoth.