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 8 of 26

  1. 2 Samuel 13:13

    “As for me, where would I carry my shame? And as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.””

  2. 2 Samuel 13:26

    “Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king said to him, “Why should he go with you?””

  3. 2 Samuel 14:2

    “Joab sent to Tekoa, and brought a wise woman from there, and said to her, “Please act like a mourner, and put on mourning clothing, please, and don’t anoint yourself with oil, but be as a woman who has mourned a long time for the dead.”

  4. 2 Samuel 14:11

    “Then she said, “Please let the king remember Yahweh your God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son.” He said, “As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the earth.””

  5. 2 Samuel 14:12

    “Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” He said, “Say on.””

  6. 2 Samuel 14:18

    “Then the king answered the woman, “Please don’t hide anything from me that I ask you.” The woman said, “Let my lord the king now speak.””

  7. 2 Samuel 15:7

    “At the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to Yahweh, in Hebron.”

  8. 2 Samuel 15:31

    “Someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.””

  9. 2 Samuel 16:9

    “Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head.””

  10. 2 Samuel 18:22

    “Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, “But come what may, please let me also run after the Cushite.” Joab said, “Why do you want to run, my son, since that you will have no reward for the news?””

  11. 2 Samuel 19:37

    “Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you.””

  12. 2 Samuel 20:16

    “Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, that I may speak with you.’””

  13. 2 Samuel 21:14

    “They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer for the land.”

  14. 2 Samuel 24:17

    “David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel who struck the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me, and against my father’s house.””

  15. 1 Kings 1:12

    “Now therefore come, please let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life, and your son Solomon’s life.”

  16. 1 Kings 2:17

    “He said, “Please speak to Solomon the king (for he will not tell you ‘no’), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.””

  17. 1 Kings 2:20

    “Then she said, “I ask one small petition of you; don’t deny me.” The king said to her, “Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny you.””

  18. 1 Kings 8:26

    ““Now therefore, God of Israel, please let your word be verified, which you spoke to your servant David my father.”

  19. 1 Kings 8:28

    “Yet have respect for the prayer of your servant, and for his supplication, Yahweh my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you today;”

  20. 1 Kings 8:29

    “that your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there;’ to listen to the prayer which your servant prays toward this place.”

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.