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Psalms for Times of Need

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Psalms for Special Needs

The following Psalms are especially appropriate for times of special need:

  • When Afraid: Ps. 27; Ps. 56
  • When Anxious: Ps. 46
  • When Disaster Threatens: Ps. 34; Ps. 91; Ps. 121
  • When Discouraged: Ps. 23; Ps. 37; Ps. 42; Ps. 55; Ps. 90
  • When Facing a Crisis: Ps. 34; Ps. 46; Ps. 118; Ps. 121
  • When Friends Fail: Ps. 27; Ps. 35
  • When Leaving Home: Ps. 27; Ps. 121
  • When Needing God's Protection: Ps. 27; Ps. 62; Ps. 91; Ps. 139
  • When Needing Inward Peace: Ps. 37; Ps. 85
  • When Needing Prayer: Ps. 4; Ps. 6; Ps. 20; Ps. 22; Ps. 25; Ps. 42; Ps. 51
  • When Sick: Ps. 32; Ps. 38; Ps. 91
  • When We Sin: Ps. 6; Ps. 51; Ps. 139
  • When Sorrowing: Ps. 40; Ps. 42; Ps. 43; Ps. 51
  • When Tempted: Ps. 1; Ps. 73; Ps. 101; Ps. 110; Ps. 139
  • When Thankful: Ps. 65; Ps. 84; Ps. 92; Ps. 95; Ps. 100; Ps. 103; Ps. 116; Ps. 136; Ps. 147
  • When In Trouble: Ps. 2; Ps. 16; Ps. 31; Ps. 34; Ps. 37; Ps. 38; Ps. 40; Ps. 139
  • When Weary: Ps. 6; Ps. 27; Ps. 55; Ps. 60; Ps. 90

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
For Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
Thou anointest my head with oil, and my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Bible Helps

Where to Find:

  • The Ten Commandments: Exodus 20:1-17
  • The Shepherd Psalm: Psalm 23
  • The Birth of Jesus: Luke 2:1-20
  • The Baptism of Jesus: Matthew 3
  • The Temptation of Jesus: Matthew 4:1-11
  • The Transfiguration of Jesus: Luke 9:28-36
  • The Entry Into Jerusalem: Matthew 21:1-10
  • The Crucifixion: John 19
  • The Resurrection: Matthew 28
  • The Ascension: Acts 1:1-12
  • The Descent of the Holy Spirit: Acts 2
  • The Lord's Prayer: Matthew 6:9-13
  • The Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5-7
  • The Beatitudes: Matthew 5:1-12
  • The Great Commandments: Matthew 22:34-40
  • The Last Judgment: Matthew 25:31-46
  • The Parable of the Good Samaritan: Luke 10:29-37
  • The Parable of the Prodigal Son: Luke 15:11-32
  • The Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee: Luke 18:10-14
  • The Great Commission: Matthew 28:19-20
  • The Golden Rule: Matthew 7:12
  • The New Commandment: John 13:34
  • The Chapter on Love: 1 Corinthians 13
  • The Gospel Condensed: John 3:16

Sayings of Jesus:

  • Salt of the earth: Matthew 5:13
  • Left hand knowing what the right hand does: Matthew 6:3
  • The Eleventh Hour: Matthew 20:6
  • No Prophet accepted in his own country: Luke 4:24
  • Turning the cheek: Matthew 5:39
  • It is more blessed to give than to receive: Acts 20:35
  • The blind leading the blind: Matthew 15:14
  • Get behind Me, Satan!: Matthew 16:23
  • I am the way, the truth, and the life: John 14:6

Sayings from St. Paul:

  • All things to all men: 1 Corinthians 9:22
  • Practice hospitality: Romans 12:13
  • Heap coals of fire on his head: Romans 12:20
  • A thorn in the flesh: 2 Corinthians 12:7
  • A labor of love: 1 Thessalonians 1:3
  • Temperate in all things: 1 Corinthians 9:25
  • The wages of sin is death: Romans 6:23
  • In the twinkling of an eye: 1 Corinthians 15:52
  • Tribute to whom tribute is due: Romans 13:7

Other Sayings:

  • Faith without works is dead: James 2:17, 26
  • The tongue is a fire: James 3:6
  • With the Lord one day is as a thousand years: 2 Peter 3:8
  • Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer: 1 John 3:15
  • God is love: 1 John 4:8
  • I am the Alpha and the Omega: Revelation 1:8

Great Prayers of the Bible

Prayers of Jesus:

  • The Lord's Prayer: Matthew 6:9-13
  • Thanksgiving: Matthew 11:25-26
  • For His followers: John 17
  • In Gethsemane: Matthew 26:39
  • For forgiveness of His enemies: Luke 23:34

Prayers of the Old Testament:

  • Prayer for the offering of tithes: Deuteronomy 26:10-15
  • Solomon's prayer for wisdom: 1 Kings 3:5-9
  • Prayer of hope in trouble: Psalms 42 and 43
  • For the presence of God: Psalm 90
  • Prayer of repentance: Psalm 51
  • To the All-seeing God: Psalm 139
  • When God seems far away: Isaiah 63:15-64:12

Three Benedictions

  • Numbers 6:24-26
  • Hebrews 13:20-21
  • 1 Timothy 1:17

Hymns of the Old Testament

  • The Song of Moses in the Exodus: Exodus 15:1-19
  • Another Song of Moses: Deuteronomy 32:1-43
  • The Prayer of Hannah: 1 Samuel 2:1-10
  • The Prayer of Habakkuk the Prophet: Habakkuk 3:1-19
  • The Prayer of Isaiah the Prophet: Isaiah 26:9-20
  • The Prayer of Jonah the Prophet: Jonah 2:3-10
  • The Prayer of the Three Holy Children: Daniel 3:26-56 (LXX)
  • The Song of the Three Holy Children: Daniel 3:57-88 (LXX)

The Earliest Christian Hymns

  • Ave Maria (Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos...): Luke 1:28-33
  • Magnificat (My soul magnifies the Lord...): Luke 1:46-55
  • Benedictus (Blessed be the Lord God...): Luke 1:68-79
  • Gloria in Excelsis (Glory to God in the highest...): Luke 2:14
  • Nunc Dimittis (Lord, now lettest Thou...): Luke 2:29-32

Excerpt taken from "These Truths We Hold - The Holy Orthodox Church: Her Life and Teachings". Compiled and Edited by A Monk of St. Tikhon's Monastery. Copyright 1986 by the St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, South Canaan, Pennsylvania 18459.

To order a copy of "These Truths We Hold" visit the St. Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary Bookstore.