Bible Verses

Topical Study

Bible Verses About Prayer

Scripture on prayer — how to pray, when to pray, and what to pray for.

32 verses · curated by hand

From the wider Bible

More verses about prayer in Scripture

519 passages mentioning “pray” across WEB & KJV — beyond the curated set above.

Page 16 of 26

  1. Psalms 141:2

    “Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.”

  2. Psalms 141:5

    “Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; don’t let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.”

  3. Psalms 142:1

    “A contemplation by David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer. I cry with my voice to Yahweh. With my voice, I ask Yahweh for mercy.”

  4. Psalms 143:1

    “A Psalm by David. Hear my prayer, Yahweh. Listen to my petitions. In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me.”

  5. Proverbs 15:8

    “The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”

  6. Proverbs 15:29

    “Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”

  7. Proverbs 28:9

    “He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”

  8. Isaiah 1:15

    “When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.”

  9. Isaiah 5:3

    ““Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, please judge between me and my vineyard.”

  10. Isaiah 16:12

    “It will happen that when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself on the high place, and comes to his sanctuary to pray, that he will not prevail.”

  11. Isaiah 26:16

    “Yahweh, in trouble they have visited you. They poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them.”

  12. Isaiah 29:11

    “All vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is educated, saying, “Read this, please”; and he says, “I can’t, for it is sealed:””

  13. Isaiah 29:12

    “and the book is delivered to one who is not educated, saying, “Read this, please”; and he says, “I can’t read.””

  14. Isaiah 36:8

    “Now therefore, please make a pledge to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”

  15. Isaiah 36:11

    “Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and don’t speak to us in the Jews’ language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.””

  16. Isaiah 37:4

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

  17. Isaiah 37:15

    “Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh, saying,”

  18. Isaiah 37:21

    “Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Yahweh, the God of Israel says, ‘Because you have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria,”

  19. Isaiah 38:2

    “Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh,”

  20. Isaiah 38:5

    ““Go, and tell Hezekiah, ‘Yahweh says, the God of David your father, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.”

Frequently asked

Questions about prayer in the Bible

What does the Bible say about prayer?
Philippians 4:6 invites believers to pray about everything with thanksgiving. James 5:14-15 directs the sick to call for prayer. Matthew 6 contains the Lord's Prayer — the model Jesus gave for how to pray.
How should I pray?
Matthew 6:9-13 is the template Jesus gave: address God as Father, honour his name, ask for his kingdom, ask for daily needs, ask for forgiveness, ask for protection. Short, honest, and not for show (Matthew 6:5-8).
Does God always answer prayer?
Scripture says yes — but not always in the way or timing we expect. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 records Paul praying three times for a "thorn" to be removed and being given grace to bear it instead.