Bible passages

Psalms 23:1–6

The LORD Is My Shepherd

Psalm 23 is a song of trust in Yahweh. It uses rich pictures to describe his care, guidance and comfort, and it ends with confidence about life with him.

Matthew 6:5–15; Luke 11:1–4; Luke 11:9–13

The Lord's Prayer

Jesus teaches prayer in Matthew and Luke with closely related words in distinct settings. Matthew includes warnings about showy prayer and a strong explanation about forgiveness.

Genesis 49:1–28

Jacob Blesses His Sons

Genesis 49:1-28 is a poem of gathered words from Jacob to his sons. He tells them to listen, then speaks differently to each one, using strong pictures that include honour, warning, struggle and blessing.

Exodus 15:1–21

The Song at the Sea

This passage is a song of worship linked to the sea crossing. Israel praises Yahweh for rescue, for defeating Pharaoh’s army in the sea, and for leading his people onward.

Numbers 6:22–27

The Priestly Blessing

Yahweh gives Moses a set blessing for Aaron and his sons to speak over Israel. The words are short and repeated, and each line centres on what Yahweh will do for his people.

Deuteronomy 31:30–32:47

The Song of Moses

This song begins with Moses speaking to all Israel and ends with him urging them to take its words seriously.

Deuteronomy 33:1–29

Moses Blesses Israel's Tribes

Before his death, Moses speaks a final blessing over Israel. This is one joined blessing: it begins with Yahweh’s greatness and law, moves through the tribes, and ends by praising the God who helps Israel.

Judges 5:1–31

The Song of Deborah and Barak

Judges 5 is a song sung by Deborah and Barak after conflict. It praises Yahweh, remembers Israel’s trouble, names those who came to help or stayed back, and closes with a final word about Yahweh’s enemies and those who love him.

1 Samuel 2:1–11

Hannah's Prayer of Thanksgiving

Hannah’s prayer is a song of praise that celebrates who Yahweh is and what he does. It moves from her personal joy to big truths about God’s holiness, justice, power and care for people in need.

2 Samuel 1:17–27

David's Lament for Saul and Jonathan

After hearing of Saul and Jonathan’s deaths, David speaks a lament. This poem grieves a national loss, honours the fallen, and shows David’s personal sorrow, especially for Jonathan.

2 Samuel 7:18–29; 1 Chronicles 17:16–27

David Thanks God for His Promise

David answers God’s promise with a prayer marked by humility, praise and request. Reading these parallel accounts together shows how David speaks about God’s greatness, Israel’s place as God’s people, and the future God has spoken for David’s house.

2 Samuel 22:1–51

David's Song of Deliverance

This song praises Yahweh for delivering David from enemies and from Saul. It uses strong poetry about danger, rescue, justice, battle and kingship, and it ends with public thanks to the living God.

2 Samuel 23:1–7

David's Last Words

These last words of David come as a poem, not a story. The passage presents who David is, says that God spoke, paints a picture of righteous rule, expresses covenant hope, and ends with a warning about the ungodly.

1 Kings 8:22–53; 2 Chronicles 6:12–42

Solomon's Prayer at the Temple

This prayer is preserved in both 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Solomon praises Yahweh, recalls God’s promise to David, and asks God to hear people who pray toward the temple in many times of need.

1 Chronicles 4:9–10

The Prayer of Jabez

These two verses give a brief note about Jabez inside a genealogy and then record his prayer.

1 Chronicles 16:7–36

Thanksgiving before the Ark

This song begins with thanks to Yahweh and moves outward to praise, memory, witness, and prayer.

1 Chronicles 29:10–20

David's Prayer for the Temple Gifts

This prayer shows David praising Yahweh in front of the whole assembly as gifts have been prepared for building a house for Yahweh’s holy name.

Ezra 9:5–15

Ezra's Prayer of Confession

Ezra 9:5–15 records a prayer of confession. Ezra speaks with grief, admits guilt before God, remembers God’s kindness, repeats the command that was broken, and ends by saying God is righteous while the people stand guilty.

Nehemiah 9:1–10:39

The People's Confession and Covenant

Nehemiah 9:1–10:39 shows a gathered people confessing sin, praising Yahweh, remembering his dealings with Israel, and putting their response into a written covenant with clear commitments.

Tobit 3:1–6

Tobit's Prayer in Suffering

In this prayer from the Catholic additional book of Tobit, a suffering man speaks to God with grief, confession, and urgency.

Catholic additional books

Tobit 13:1–18

Tobit's Song of Thanksgiving

This song in Tobit blesses God for his lasting rule, his justice, and his mercy. It calls God’s people to thank him openly, to turn to him wholeheartedly, and to rejoice in a hoped-for future for Jerusalem.

Catholic additional books

Judith 9:1–14

Judith's Prayer

Judith 9 records a prayer from the Catholic additional book of Judith. In this passage, Judith humbles herself before God, remembers his past acts, describes the Assyrian threat, and asks him to act so his name is known.

Catholic additional books

Judith 16:1–17

Judith's Song of Thanksgiving

Judith 16:1–17 is a thanksgiving song from the Catholic additional book of Judith. It calls God’s people to praise, remembers a deadly threat, and ends by honouring the Lord’s power, mercy, and judgment.

Catholic additional books

Esther (Greek) 4:18–47

The Prayers of Mordecai and Esther

This passage from Greek Esther places Mordecai’s prayer beside Esther’s prayer in a time of extreme danger.

Greek source variant