30 Bible Verses about Prayer, Persistence In

To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David. I have diligently expected Jehovah, And He inclineth to me, and heareth my cry,

A Song, a Psalm, by sons of Korah, to the Overseer, 'Concerning the Sickness of Afflictions.' -- An instruction, by Heman the Ezrahite. O Jehovah, God of my salvation, Daily I have cried, nightly before Thee,

Seek ye Jehovah and His strength, Seek His face continually.

Because He hath inclined His ear to me, And during my days I call.

And he spake also a simile to them, that it behoveth us always to pray, and not to faint, saying, 'A certain judge was in a certain city -- God he is not fearing, and man he is not regarding -- and a widow was in that city, and she was coming unto him, saying, Do me justice on my opponent,read more.
and he would not for a time, but after these things he said in himself, Even if God I do not fear, and man do not regard, yet because this widow doth give me trouble, I will do her justice, lest, perpetually coming, she may plague me.' And the Lord said, 'Hear ye what the unrighteous judge saith: and shall not God execute the justice to His choice ones, who are crying unto Him day and night -- bearing long in regard to them? I say to you, that He will execute the justice to them quickly; but the Son of Man having come, shall he find the faith upon the earth?'

And he said unto them, 'Who of you shall have a friend, and shall go on unto him at midnight, and may say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves, seeing a friend of mine came out of the way unto me, and I have not what I shall set before him, and he from within answering may say, Do not give me trouble, already the door hath been shut, and my children with me are in the bed, I am not able, having risen, to give to thee.read more.
'I say to you, even if he will not give to him, having risen, because of his being his friend, yet because of his importunity, having risen, he will give him as many as he doth need; and I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you; for every one who is asking doth receive; and he who is seeking doth find; and to him who is knocking it shall be opened.

these all were continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

and they were continuing stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles, and the fellowship, and the breaking of the bread, and the prayers.

through all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and in regard to this same, watching in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints --

in the hope rejoicing; in the tribulation enduring; in the prayer persevering;

continually pray ye;

And Abraham draweth nigh and saith, 'Dost Thou also consume righteous with wicked? peradventure there are fifty righteous in the midst of the city; dost Thou also consume, and not bear with the place for the sake of the fifty -- the righteous who are in its midst? Far be it from Thee to do according to this thing, to put to death the righteous with the wicked; that it hath been -- as the righteous so the wicked -- far be it from Thee; doth the Judge of all the earth not do justice?'read more.
And Jehovah saith, 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous in the midst of the city, then have I borne with all the place for their sake.' And Abraham answereth and saith, 'Lo, I pray thee, I have willed to speak unto the Lord, and I -- dust and ashes; peradventure there are lacking five of the fifty righteous -- dost Thou destroy for five the whole of the city?' and He saith, 'I destroy it not, if I find there forty and five.' And he addeth again to speak unto Him and saith, 'Peradventure there are found there forty?' and He saith, 'I do it not, because of the forty.' And he saith, 'Let it not be, I Pray thee, displeasing to the Lord, and I speak: peradventure there are found there thirty?' and He saith, 'I do it not, if I find there thirty.' And he saith, 'Lo, I pray thee, I have willed to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there are found there twenty?' and He saith, 'I do not destroy it, because of the twenty.' And he saith, 'Let it not be, I pray Thee, displeasing to the Lord, and I speak only this time: peradventure there are found there ten?' and He saith, 'I do not destroy it, because of the ten.' And Jehovah goeth on, when He hath finished speaking unto Abraham, and Abraham hath turned back to his place.

And Jacob is left alone, and one wrestleth with him till the ascending of the dawn; and he seeth that he is not able for him, and he cometh against the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh is disjointed in his wrestling with him; and he saith, 'Send me away, for the dawn hath ascended:' and he saith, 'I send thee not away, except thou hast blessed me.'read more.
And he saith unto him, 'What is thy name?' and he saith, 'Jacob.' And he saith, 'Thy name is no more called Jacob, but Israel; for thou hast been a prince with God and with men, and dost prevail.' And Jacob asketh, and saith, 'Declare, I pray thee, thy name;' and he saith, 'Why is this, thou askest for My name?' and He blesseth him there. And Jacob calleth the name of the place Peniel: for 'I have seen God face unto face, and my life is delivered;' and the sun riseth on him when he hath passed over Penuel, and he is halting on his thigh; therefore the sons of Israel do not eat the sinew which shrank, which is on the hollow of the thigh, unto this day, because He came against the hollow of Jacob's thigh, against the sinew which shrank.

And I throw myself before Jehovah, the forty days and the forty nights, as I had thrown myself, for Jehovah hath said -- to destroy you; and I pray unto Jehovah, and say, Lord Jehovah, destroy not Thy people, and Thine inheritance, whom Thou hast ransomed in Thy greatness; whom Thou hast brought out of Egypt with a strong hand; be mindful of Thy servants, of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, turn not unto the stiffness of this people, and unto its wickedness, and unto its sin;read more.
lest the land say from which Thou hast brought us out, Because of Jehovah's want of ability to bring them in unto the land of which He hath spoken to them, and because of His hating them, He brought them out to put them to death in the wilderness; and they are Thy people, and Thine inheritance, whom Thou hast brought out by Thy great power, and by Thy stretched-out arm!

And Moses turneth back unto Jehovah, and saith, 'Oh this people hath sinned a great sin, that they make to themselves a god of gold; and now, if Thou takest away their sin -- and if not -- blot me, I pray thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.'

And she is bitter in soul, and prayeth unto Jehovah, and weepeth greatly, and voweth a vow, and saith, 'Jehovah of Hosts, if Thou dost certainly look on the affliction of Thy handmaid, and hast remembered me, and dost not forget Thy handmaid, and hast given to Thy handmaid seed of men -- then I have given him to Jehovah all days of his life, and a razor doth not go up upon his head.'

Elijah was a man like affected as we, and with prayer he did pray -- not to rain, and it did not rain upon the land three years and six months; and again he did pray, and the heaven did give rain, and the land did bring forth her fruit.

And it cometh to pass, at the going up of the evening -present, that Elijah the prophet cometh nigh and saith, 'Jehovah, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to-day let it be known that Thou art God in Israel, and I Thy servant, that by Thy word I have done the whole of these things; answer me, O Jehovah, answer me, and this people doth know that Thou art Jehovah God; and Thou hast turned their heart backward.' And there falleth a fire of Jehovah, and consumeth the burnt-offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and the water that is in the trench it hath licked up.read more.
And all the people see, and fall on their faces, and say, 'Jehovah, He is the God, Jehovah, He is the God.' And Elijah saith to them, 'Catch ye the prophets of Baal; let not a man escape of them;' and they catch them, and Elijah bringeth them down unto the stream Kishon, and doth slaughter them there. And Elijah saith to Ahab, 'Go up, eat and drink, because of the sound of the noise of the shower.' And Ahab goeth up to eat, and to drink, and Elijah hath gone up unto the top of Carmel, and he stretcheth himself out on the earth, and he placeth his face between his knees, and saith unto his young man, 'Go up, I pray thee, look attentively the way of the sea;' and he goeth up and looketh attentively, and saith, 'There is nothing;' and he saith, 'Turn back,' seven times. And it cometh to pass, at the seventh, that he saith, 'Lo, a little thickness as the palm of a man is coming up out of the sea.' And he saith, 'Go up, say unto Ahab, 'Bind -- and go down, and the shower doth not restrain thee.'

A Song, a Psalm, by sons of Korah, to the Overseer, 'Concerning the Sickness of Afflictions.' -- An instruction, by Heman the Ezrahite. O Jehovah, God of my salvation, Daily I have cried, nightly before Thee, My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry, For my soul hath been full of evils, And my life hath come to Sheol.read more.
I have been reckoned with those going down to the pit, I have been as a man without strength. Among the dead -- free, As pierced ones lying in the grave, Whom Thou hast not remembered any more, Yea, they by Thy hand have been cut off. Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths. Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And with all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. Selah. Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me, Thou hast made me an abomination to them, Shut up -- I go not forth. Mine eye hath grieved because of affliction, I called Thee, O Jehovah, all the day, I have spread out unto Thee my hands. To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? Selah. Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction? Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee. Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest Thy face from me. I am afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors -- I pine away. Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off, They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together, Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance is the place of darkness!

I have gone forward in the dawn, and I cry, For Thy word I have hoped. Mine eyes have gone before the watches, To meditate in Thy saying. My voice hear, according to Thy kindness, Jehovah, according to Thy judgment quicken me.

A Song of the Ascents. From depths I have called Thee, Jehovah. Lord, hearken to my voice, Thine ears are attentive to the voice of my supplications. If iniquities Thou dost observe, O Lord, who doth stand?read more.
But with Thee is forgiveness, that Thou mayest be feared. I hoped for Jehovah -- hoped hath my soul, And for His word I have waited. My soul is for the Lord, More than those watching for morning, Watching for morning!

saying, 'Father, if Thou be counselling to make this cup pass from me -- ;but, not my will, but Thine be done.' -- And there appeared to him a messenger from heaven strengthening him; and having been in agony, he was more earnestly praying, and his sweat became, as it were, great drops of blood falling upon the ground.

Then come with them doth Jesus to a place called Gethsemane, and he saith to the disciples, 'Sit ye here, till having gone away, I shall pray yonder.' And having taken Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful, and to be very heavy; then saith he to them, 'Exceedingly sorrowful is my soul -- unto death; abide ye here, and watch with me.'read more.
And having gone forward a little, he fell on his face, praying, and saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou.' And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and he saith to Peter, 'So! ye were not able one hour to watch with me! watch, and pray, that ye may not enter into temptation: the spirit indeed is forward, but the flesh weak.' Again, a second time, having gone away, he prayed, saying, 'My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from me except I drink it, Thy will be done;' and having come, he findeth them again sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

And they come to a spot, the name of which is Gethsemane, and he saith to his disciples, 'Sit ye here till I may pray;' and he taketh Peter, and James, and John with him, and began to be amazed, and to be very heavy, and he saith to them, 'Exceeding sorrowful is my soul -- to death; remain here, and watch.'read more.
And having gone forward a little, he fell upon the earth, and was praying, that, if it be possible the hour may pass from him, and he said, 'Abba, Father; all things are possible to Thee; make this cup pass from me; but, not what I will, but what Thou.' And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith to Peter, 'Simon, thou dost sleep! thou wast not able to watch one hour! Watch ye and pray, that ye may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is forward, but the flesh weak.' And again having gone away, he prayed, the same word saying; and having returned, he found them again sleeping, for their eyes were heavy, and they had not known what they might answer him.

And I -- in Jehovah I do watch, I do wait for the God of my salvation, Hear me doth my God.

Look unto Jehovah -- be strong, And He doth strengthen thy heart, Yea, look unto Jehovah!

Our soul hath waited for Jehovah, Our help and our shield is He,

Be silent for Jehovah, and stay thyself for Him, Do not fret because of him Who is making prosperous his way, Because of a man doing wicked devices.

Because for Thee, O Jehovah, I have waited, Thou dost answer, O Lord my God.

Also, in the path of Thy judgments, O Jehovah, we have waited for Thee, To Thy name and to Thy remembrance Is the desire of the soul.