First Prayers of the Bible
- Prayers of Denying Guilt:
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- “And the man said, ‘The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.’” (Genesis 3:12 KJV)
- “And the LORD said unto Cain, ‘Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?’”(Genesis 4:9 KJV)
- Finally Prayers of Reverence:
- “... then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.” (Genesis 4:26 KJV)
Prayer to the Lord Confessing Our Inabilities
“Then said I, ‘Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.’” (Jeremiah 1:6 KJV)
God's answer:
“‘Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 1:8 NIV)
A Prayer of Lamentation
“See, O LORD, how distressed I am! I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is only death. People have heard my groaning, but there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my distress; they rejoice at what you have done. May you bring the day you have announced so they may become like me. Let all their wickedness come before you; deal with them as you have dealt with me because of all my sins. My groans are many and my heart is faint.” (Lamentations 1:20-22 NIV)
The Morning Prayer
“To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David.
Give ear to my words, O LORD,
consider my meditation.
Hearken unto the voice of my cry,
my King, and my God:
for unto thee will I pray.
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning,
O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer
unto thee, and will look up.
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness:
neither shall evil dwell with thee.
The foolish shall not stand in thy sight:
thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing:
the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
But as for me,
I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy:
and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness
because of mine enemies;
make thy way straight before my face.
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
their inward part is very wickedness;
their throat is an open sepulchre;
they flatter with their tongue.
Destroy thou them, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions;
for they have rebelled against thee.
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice:
let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them:
let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous;
with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”
(Psalm 5 KJV)
Prayer of Praise
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns."
The world is firmly established,
it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
Let the heavens rejoice,
let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound,
and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant,
and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
they will sing before the LORD,
for he comes, he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his truth."
(Psalm 96)
