Bible Verses About Prayer

Prayer is simply talking with God, yet it can feel intimidating or awkward. The Bible offers plenty of encouragement here: invitations to ask, seek, and knock, assurances that God listens, and even the comfort that the Spirit helps when we don't know what to say. These verses include Jesus' own teaching on prayer. Use them to start your own prayers, or to remind yourself that no request is too small and no silence is the final word.

1. Philippians 4:6

   KJV

   Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

   BSB

   Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

2. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

   KJV

   Rejoice evermore.

   BSB

   Rejoice at all times.

3. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

   KJV

   Pray without ceasing.

   BSB

   Pray without ceasing.

4. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

   KJV

   In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

   BSB

   Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

5. Matthew 6:6

   KJV

   But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

   BSB

   But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

6. Matthew 6:9

   KJV

   After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

   BSB

   So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.

7. Matthew 7:7

   KJV

   Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

   BSB

   Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

8. Matthew 7:8

   KJV

   For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

   BSB

   For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9. Matthew 21:22

   KJV

   And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

   BSB

   If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

10. Mark 11:24

    KJV

    Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

    BSB

    Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

11. James 5:16

    KJV

    Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

    BSB

    Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

12. James 1:5

    KJV

    If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

    BSB

    Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

13. 1 John 5:14

    KJV

    And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

    BSB

    And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

14. 1 John 5:15

    KJV

    And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

    BSB

    And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.

15. Jeremiah 29:12

    KJV

    Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

    BSB

    Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

16. Jeremiah 33:3

    KJV

    Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

    BSB

    Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

17. Romans 8:26

    KJV

    Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

    BSB

    In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

18. Romans 12:12

    KJV

    Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

    BSB

    Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.

19. Colossians 4:2

    KJV

    Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

    BSB

    Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,

20. Ephesians 6:18

    KJV

    Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

    BSB

    Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.

21. Psalm 145:18

    KJV

    The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

    BSB

    The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.

22. Psalm 17:6

    KJV

    I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

    BSB

    I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.

23. Psalm 5:3

    KJV

    My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

    BSB

    In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation.

24. Luke 18:1

    KJV

    And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

    BSB

    Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:

25. John 14:13

    KJV

    And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

    BSB

    And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

26. John 14:14

    KJV

    If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

    BSB

    If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.

27. Hebrews 4:16

    KJV

    Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

    BSB

    Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

28. 2 Chronicles 7:14

    KJV

    If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

    BSB

    and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.