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Prayers for the Poor

6 traditional prayers for the poor, and 14 passages from the Bible to pray with them. Choose one, read it aloud, or print it as a card to keep.

Prayers

Prayer for Christian Service

O Lord, our heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be ministered unto, but to minister; We beseech thee to bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of their fellow men. Endue them with wisdom, patience, and courage to strengthen the weak and raise up those who fall; that, being inspired by thy love, they may worthily minister in thy Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the sake of him who laid down his life for us, the same thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

From the Book of Common Prayer (1928)

Prayer for Social Justice

Almighty God, who hast created man in thine own image; Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil, and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice among men and nations, to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From the Book of Common Prayer (1928)

For All Poor, Homeless, and Neglected Folk

O God, Almighty and merciful, who healest those that are broken in heart, and turnest the sadness of the sorrowful to joy; Let thy fatherly goodness be upon all that thou hast made. Remember in pity such as are this day destitute, homeless, or forgotten of their fellow-men. Bless the congregation of thy poor. Uplift those who are cast down. Mightily befriend innocent sufferers, and sanctify to them the endurance of their wrongs. Cheer with hope all discouraged and unhappy people, and by thy heavenly grace preserve from falling those whose penury tempteth them to sin; though they be troubled on every side, suffer them not to be distressed; though they be perplexed, save them from despair. Grant this, O Lord, for the love of him, who for our sakes became poor, thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

From the Book of Common Prayer (1928)

A New Nativity of Faith

Let there be in us, as we bow at the cradle of Jesus, a new nativity of faith and hope and the charity that thinketh no evil and abideth forever. May the festival of his birth touch us to a new gentleness toward all our fellow men in whom, however dimly, thou dwellest, and move us to more liberal devising in behalf of those who know the bitterness of want. Freely we have received the greatest Gift; freely may we give our best. We ask in Christ's name. Amen.

From Prayers for Special Days and Occasions (1930)

Also on Christmas Prayers

Prayer to St Anthony of Padua

O wonderful St Anthony, glorious on account of the fame of thy miracles, and through the condescension of Jesus in coming in the form of a little child to repose in thy arms; obtain for me of his bounty the grace which I ardently desire from the depths of my heart. Thou who wast so compassionate towards miserable sinners, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to thee, but the glory of God, that it may be once again magnified by thee, to the salvation of my soul, in connection with the particular request which I now ask for with persevering earnestness. May this small offering of pence, which I make to thee in aid of the poor, be a pledge of my gratitude, and with them may it one day be granted to me, through the grace of Jesus Christ and thy intercession, to possess the kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

From the Raccolta (1910)

Also on St Anthony Prayer

Collect of St Elizabeth of Hungary

Enlighten the hearts of thy faithful, O God of mercy, and, through the glorious intercession of the blessed Elizabeth, make us look to something higher than the goods of this life and rejoice always in consolation from above. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen.

From the Mass Every Day of the Year: The Roman Missal (1916)

Also on St Elizabeth Prayer

Bible verses

The Beatitudes

3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 5:3-12, King James Version

What Doth the Lord Require of Thee

8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Micah 6:8, King James Version

I Was an Hungred, and Ye Gave Me Meat

35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25:35-40, King James Version

He Hath Anointed Me to Preach the Gospel to the Poor

18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Luke 4:18-19, King James Version

Blessed Is He That Considereth the Poor

1Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. 2The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. 3The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

Psalm 41:1-3, King James Version

I Have Not Seen the Righteous Forsaken

25I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Psalm 37:25, King James Version

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

11Give us this day our daily bread.

Matthew 6:11, King James Version

A Father of the Fatherless

5A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. 6God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

Psalm 68:5-6, King James Version

Bring the Poor That Are Cast Out to Thy House

6Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Isaiah 58:6-7, King James Version

A Refuge for the Oppressed

9The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Psalm 9:9-10, King James Version

The Lord Preserveth the Strangers

5Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: 6Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: 7Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners: 8The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous: 9The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

Psalm 146:5-9, King James Version

Defend the Poor and Fatherless

3Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 82:3-4, King James Version

Open Thy Mouth for the Dumb

8Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. 9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:8-9, King James Version

The Good Samaritan

33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Luke 10:33-35, King James Version

Questions

Which prayer for the poor should I start with?

Start with "Prayer for Christian Service" and pray it each day, with The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) to read alongside it.

Are these Catholic or Protestant prayers?

Both. They come from Catholic prayer books, the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, Protestant and Lutheran collections and the Bible. Most can be prayed by any Christian.

Can I change the words to fit my situation?

Yes. Where a prayer says "N." or "thy servant", put in the name of the person you are praying for.

Why are the prayers in old-fashioned English?

They keep the words of the older prayer books and the King James Bible, the words generations have prayed. "Thee" and "thou" are the old familiar forms of "you".