O God,
deliver us from earthly desires,
that no sin may reign in us,
but that we may with free spirits serve you,
our only Lord;
through Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Source: Gelasian Sacramentary
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 85 #2
Graphic, Gelasian Sacramentary, from Wikipedia.com
O God almighty,
you made heaven and earth and sea
and all that is in them.
Help me.
Have mercy on me,
Wash away my sins.
Save me in this world
and in the world to come
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
through whom is the glory and the power
forever and ever.
Amen.
Source: Oxyrhynchus Papyrus
Source of this version: The New Archaeological Discoveries and their Bearing upon the New Testament by Camdem McCormick Cobern, Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1918, p. 292
O almighty God,
to know you is eternal life.
Teach us to know your Son Jesus Christ
as the Way, the Truth, and the Life;
that following him
we may steadfastly walk
in the way that leads to eternal life;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Modified from Book of Common Prayer, St. Philip and St. James
Source of this version: Freely modified from The Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, United Lutheran Church in America © 1918, #27
“…as the Way, the Truth, and the Life…” is a reference to John 14:6
O Lord,
with your love
direct us in all our doings,
and always help us,
that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you,
we may glorify your holy name;
and finally, by your mercy obtain eternal life;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: 1789 U. S. Book of Common Prayer, Prayer to be Used at Sea
Source of this version: Freely modified from The Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, United Lutheran Church in America © 1918, #19
Original in traditional English:
PREVENT us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
(Prevent as used in King James/Book of Common Prayer era English means go before or lead. That is the reason for our rendering of “direct.”)
Almighty God,
let the brightness of your glory shine on us,
and let the Light from Light by your Holy Spirit
shine in the hearts of all who have been born again by your grace;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Roman Mass for the Vigil of Pentecost
Source of this version: Freely modified from The Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, United Lutheran Church in America © 1918, #8
Original in Latin:
PRÆSTA, quæsumus, omnipotens Deus, ut claritatis tuæ super nos splendor effulgeat; et lux tuæ lucis corda eorum, qui per gratium tuam renati sunt, Sancti Spiritus illustratione confirmet. Per Dominum.
“let the brightness of your glory shine on us” may be a reference to Numbers 6:25 and Psalm 67:1
“Light from Light” is a reference to the Nicene Creed, and is referring to Jesus Christ
“shine in the hearts of all is a reference to 2 Corinthians 4:6
“let the brightness of your glory shine on us” may have been the source of the lines from Luther’s hymn, “Come Holy Ghost, God and Lord,”
“Lord, by the brightness of your light
In holy faith your church unite”
O God,
you justify the ungodly,
and you do not desire the death of the sinner.
Graciously help and shield your servants who trust in your mercy,
that no temptations may separate us from you,
and that we may serve you without ceasing;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Unknown
Source of this version: Modified from The Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, United Lutheran Church in America © 1918, #22
“You justify the ungodly” is a reference to Romans 4:5
“You do not desire the death of the sinner” is a reference to Ezekiel 33:11
O Lord,
you have taught us
all our deeds without love
are worth nothing.
Send your Holy Spirit
and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love,
the very bond of peace and of all virtues,
that we may always live in love before you;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Book of Common Prayer, 1549
Source of this version: Modified from The Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, United Lutheran Church in America © 1918, #16
Also found here: Prayers Ancient and Modern by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 321 #2
“That we may always live in love before you” in the original is “without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee”
“all our deeds without love are worth nothing” is a reference to 1 Corinthians 13:2-3
“Most excellent gift of love” is a reference to 1 Corinthians 12:31
O God,
you make all things to work together for the good of those who love you:
Pour such steadfast love toward you into our hearts
that the pure desires your Spirit has stirred up in us
may not be turned aside by any temptation;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Unknown
Source of this version: Freely modified from The Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, United Lutheran Church in America © 1918, #14
The prayer quotes Romans 8:28
Almighty God,
grant us a steadfast faith in Jesus Christ,
a cheerful hope in your mercy
and a sincere love for you and for one another;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Unknown
Source of this version: Modified from The Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, United Lutheran Church in America © 1918, p. 138 #13
“steadfast faith… …cheerful hope… …sincere love…” is a reference to 1 Corinthians 13:13
O Lord God,
you have taught us to pray all together,
and have promised to hear the united voices
of two or three calling your name;
hear now, O Lord, the prayers of your servants.
Save us, and in this world give us knowledge of your truth,
and in the world to come life everlasting;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Armenian Liturgy
Source of this version: Prayers of the Early Church, ed. J. Manning Potts, The Upper Room, Nashville, Tennessee, © 1953 (Public domain in the U.S.)
“two or three calling your name” is a reference to Matthew 18:20
This prayer is similar to an early prayer by St. John Chrysostom.
A Collection of Prayers 
