7 Most Powerful Psalms to Pray During Lent

7 Most Powerful Psalms to Pray During Lent

The Psalms are powerful words to pray any time of year because they not only echo the emotions of every person’s heart, but they also draw us closer to God. Ever since the seventh century, it has been a common spiritual practice to pray the 7 Penitential Psalms during Lent. For those unfamiliar, penitential psalms acknowledge or confess one’s trespasses before the Lord and recognize the need for God’s favor and forgiveness. These psalms therefore, make fitting prayers for the repentant sinner – and repentance always opens the windows of Heaven for God’s blessings.

As you prayerfully meditate on the following 7 Most Powerful Psalms to Pray During Lent, think about how they express sorrow for sin and remind us of God’s loving mercy. Use that meditation to align with your own thoughts and prayers and pray the words of the psalmist as your own faithfully to God. Follow each psalm with the “Glory Be”: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

May God bless you abundantly on another successful Lenten Season.

7 Most Powerful Psalms to Pray During Lent

Psalm 143: Domine, exaudi

Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love,
    for I have put my trust in You.
Show me the way I should go,
    for to You I entrust my life.
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,
    for I hide myself in You.
Teach me to do Your will,
    for You are my God;
may Your good Spirit
    lead me on level ground.
For Your Name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life…

Lord, …

(profess your prayer request here)

…Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Psalm 32: Beati quorum

Therefore let all the faithful pray to You
while You may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
You are my hiding place;
You will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Lord, …

(profess your prayer request here)

…Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Psalm 38: Domine, ne in furore

Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger
or discipline me in Your wrath.
Your arrows have pierced me,
and Your hand has come down on me.
Because of Your wrath there is no health in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.
My guilt has overwhelmed me
like a burden too heavy to bear.
Lord, do not forsake me;
do not be far from me, my God.
Come quickly to help me,
my Lord and my Savior.

Lord God, …

(profess your prayer request here)

…Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Psalm 51: Miserere

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones You have crushed rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from Your presence
    or take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Lord God, …

(profess your prayer request here)

…Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Psalm 102: Domine, exaudi

In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth,
and the Heavens are the work of Your hands.
They will perish, but You remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing You will change them
and they will be discarded.
But You remain the same,
and Your years will never end.
The children of Your servants will live in Your presence;
their descendants will be established before You.

Lord God, …

(profess your prayer request here)

…Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Psalm 130: De profundis

Out of the depths I cry to You, Lord;
Lord, hear my voice.
Let Your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
If You, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?
But with You there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve You.
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in His Word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Lord God, …

(profess your prayer request here)

…Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Psalm 6: Domine, ne in furore

Away from me, all You who do evil,
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

Lord God, …

(profess your prayer request here)

…Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

See also:
40 Days of Lenten Prayers

What does penitential psalm mean?

Penitential Psalms, or Psalms of confession, is a name given from very early times to Psalms that are especially expressive of sorrow for sin. The name originally belonged to the 51st Psalm, which was recited at the close of daily morning service in the early Church.

What are the three main types of Psalms?

The three most common types of psalms are the hymn, the lament, and the thanksgiving psalm.