Prayers in the Bible: praying with Scripture's own words
One prayer woven from the great prayers of Abraham, David, Mary, and Jesus
Morning Prayer editorial team · Updated: November 2026
Scripture is full of people talking to God: Abraham bargaining, Moses pleading, Hannah weeping, David singing, Mary rejoicing, Jesus in the garden. This prayer gathers the great prayers in the Bible into one, so that you can borrow their words when your own run out.
Let us pray
Lord God, when I do not know how to pray, I open Your Word and find that others have prayed before me. Let me pray with them now.
With Abraham I ask: Lord, will You not spare them? Teach me to intercede boldly for my city, my family, and the people I find hard to love. With Moses I say: show me Your glory. Do not let me settle for a small, comfortable idea of You.
With Hannah I pour out my heart, even when the words will not come and others misunderstand my tears. With David I confess: against You alone have I sinned; have mercy on me according to Your great kindness. And with David I also sing: the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
With Solomon I ask for wisdom rather than wealth. With Elijah on the mountain I wait for Your still, small voice. With Jonah in the deep I cry out, and with Daniel I give thanks before the answer comes.
With Mary I say: let it be done to me according to Your word; my soul magnifies the Lord. With the tax collector I beat my breast: God, be merciful to me, a sinner. With the father of the sick boy I admit: I believe; help my unbelief. With the thief on the cross I ask only: remember me.
And with Jesus, Your Son, I pray what He taught me: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done. Not my will, Father, but Yours. Into Your hands I commend my spirit. Amen.
Blessing
May the prayers of patriarchs, prophets, and apostles become your own, and may the Word of God pray in you when you have no words.
How to pray this prayer
- Find a quiet moment and breathe slowly.
- Read the prayer aloud or in your heart.
- Add your own intention before the Amen.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most famous prayers in the Bible?
The Our Father (Matthew 6), the Magnificat of Mary (Luke 1), the prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane (Luke 22), Psalm 23 and Psalm 51 of David, Hannah's prayer (1 Samuel 2), Solomon's prayer for wisdom (1 Kings 3), Jonah's prayer from the fish (Jonah 2), and the tax collector's plea (Luke 18) are among the best known.
Is it all right to use Bible prayers as my own?
Yes. The Church has always prayed the Psalms as its own prayer, and Jesus Himself prayed them on the cross. Scripture gives us words that are already inspired by the Holy Spirit; making them ours is one of the oldest forms of Christian prayer.
How do I pray with the Bible?
Read a short passage slowly, pause on a word or phrase that strikes you, repeat it quietly, and then speak to God about it in your own words. This ancient method, called lectio divina, turns reading into conversation.
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