lord’s prayer – A Collection of Prayers

I Come According to Your Command

Heavenly Father, dearest God,
I am an unworthy, poor sinner,
not worthy to lift my eyes or hands to you
or to pray.
But since you have commanded us all to pray,
and since you have promised to hear,
and since you have taught us by word and example
through your dear Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
I come to you,
according to your command,
obedient to you,
and relying on your gracious promise,
and in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ,
with all your holy Christians on earth,
I pray as he has taught me:

Our Father…

Source: Martin Luther, in Die Gebete Luthers, #135.

Original in German:

Ach himmlischer Vatter, du lieber GOtt, ich bin eyn unwürdiger, armer Sünder, nicht werth, das ich meine augen oder hende gegen dir auffhebe oder bette. Aber weil du uns allen gebotten hast zu betten und darzu auch erhörung verheyssen und über1 dasselbe uns beyde wort und weise gelehret durch deinen lieben Son, unsern Herren Jesum Christ, so komme ich auff solch dein Gebott, dir gehorsam zu sein, und verlasse mich auff deine gnädige verheyssung, und im Namen meines HErrn Jesu Christi bette ich mit allen deinen heyligen Christen auff Erden, wie er mich gelehret hat:

Prayers at the Table (Antiochan Orthodox)

Before meals

In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Then:

O Christ our God, bless the food and drink of your servants, for you are holy always; now and forever. Amen.

or:

Those who hunger will eat and be satisfied. Those who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will live forever. Amen.

or:

Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts of which we are about to receive, for you are blessed and glorified, now and forever. Amen.

After Meals

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Then:

Blessed is God, who is merciful to us and nourishes us with his bountiful gifts in his grace and compassion, now and forever. Amen.

or:

We thank you, O Christ our God, that you have satisfied us with your earthly gifts. Do not deprive us of your heavenly kingdom, but as you stood among your disciples, O Savior, and gave them peace, stand also among us and save us. Amen.

or:

We thank you, O God, giver of all good things, for these gifts and all your mercies, and we bless your holy name, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Antiochan Orthodox Church

Source of this version: Modified from http://ww1.antiochian.org/orthodox-prayers/occasional-prayers

The Lord’s Prayer from the Book of Cerne

Father, in your tranquil world above,
may your kingdom come,
reveal your nourishing light.
Let your clear will be done
on earth and in heaven.
What is needed for life today,
the substance of holy bread,
provide to us soon.
Forgive countless debts of our wicked errors,
no different than we pardon our debtors.
Oh, keep temptation of the devil far away,
and likewise raise us up from evil
to light at your right hand.

Source: The Book of Cerne, 9th Century, translated by Paul C. Stratman for A Collection of Prayers.

Orginal in Latin, from The prayer book of Aedeluald the bishop: commonly called the Book of Cerne, ed. Arthur Benedict Kuypers.

Pater alte tui tranquillaque mundo –
Adueniat regnumque tuum lux alma recludat –
In caelo et in terra tua fiat clara uoluntas –
Uitalisque hodie sancti substantia panis –
Proueniat nobis tua mox largit(i)o soluat –
Innumera indulgens erroris debita praui –
Et nos haut aliter concedere fenore nostris –
Tetrisae ua procul temtatio daemonis absit –
Aeque malis tua nos in lucem dextera tollat –

Your Will Be Done

Dearest Lord,
turn our hearts
from everything
that does not please you,
and through your Spirit
enlighten and awaken us,
that we may strive
to love all that pleases you,
and not to follow our own will,
but always to accomplish yours;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 302. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in German:

Wir bitten dich, lieber Herr, du wollest unsere Herzen von allem dem, was dir mißfället, abwenden, und durch deinen Geist uns erleuchten und erwecken, daß wir Lust kriegen zu Allem, das dir wohig fällt, auf daß also nicht unser, sondern dein Wille allezeit vollbracht werde, durch Jesum Christum, u.

Deliver Us from Evil

Lord God,
almighty Father,
graciously spare us sinners.
Although we sin without ceasing
and have earned punishment,
graciously turn these punishments from us.
Finally, deliver us from all
the sin, trouble, misery and sorrow
in this poor life,
that we may attain
your eternal righteousness and blessedness;
for the sake of your dear Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 302. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in German:

Allmächtiger Herr Gott Vater, wir bitten dich, du wollest unsere Sunde gnädiglich verschonen, und wiewol wir ohne Unterlaß sündigen und eitel Strafe verdienen, so verleihe doch gnädiglich, daß alle wolverdiente Strafen von uns abgewendet werden, und wir endlich von allen Sünden, Jammer, Elend, und Herzeleid dieses armen Lebens erlöset, deine ewige Gerechtigkcit und Seligkeit ererben mögen, um Jesu Christi deines lieben Sohns, unsers Herrn willen. Amen.

Guard Our Hearts

Almighty God,
our heavenly Father,
you feed the birds and clothe the flowers,
and you care for us as a father for his children.
Guard our hearts against faithlessness and anxiety.
By your Holy Spirit, help us
to live to the hallowing of your name,
the coming of your kingdom,
and the doing of your will,
so that we may cast all our cares on you
and in unwavering faith, trust in you;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Austria, 1571. Translation by Paul Zeller Strodach for Common Service Book.

“You feed the birds and clothe the flowers” is a reference to Matthew 6:26-28

“To live to the hallowing of your name…” is a reference to Matthew 6:9-13

“cast all our cares on you” is a reference to 1 Peter 5:7

“Faithlessness and anxiety” in the original is “distrust and vain over-carefulness”

This prayer is very similar to a prayer in A Book of Collects in Two Parts by John Wallace Suter, Freedom from Anxious Care:

ALMIGHTY GOD, who dost feed the birds and clothe the flowers, and who carest for us as a father for his children; Graciously guard us, we beseech thee, against distrust and vain over-carefulness, that casting all our care on thee, we may abide in thy love, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord.