Orthodox prayers for a broken heart

Prayers from the Psalms for when your heart is broken, after a breakup or when someone you love does not love you back.

Picture: Fritz von Uhde, The Walk to Emmaus, 1891

3 prayers

When it hurts most

Near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34)

I sought the LORD, and He answered me;He rescued me from all my fears.Those who looked to Him were radiant;their faces will never be put to shame.This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him;He saved him from all his troubles.

Taste and see that the LORD is good;blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,and His ears are open to their cry.They cry out, and the LORD hears;He rescues them from all their troubles.

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted;He saves those who are crushed in spirit.The righteous man has many troubles,but the LORD rescues him from them all.

The LORD redeems the life of His servants;none who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

Traditional wording, 1611

I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.They looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

The LORD redeemeth the soul of His servants: and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate.

The psalmist sought the LORD and was answered. Here he promises that the LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Hebrew (verses 4 to 6, 8, 15, 17 to 19 and 22), with the King James Version beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: The King James translators, The King James Version, 1611.

Where the King James Version ends “shall be desolate”, its own margin offers “guilty”, and the plain wording says “condemned”.

Where it comes from, and the original

For the wound to heal

He heals the brokenhearted

Praise the Lord!It is good to sing praise to our God.It is pleasant, and praise is fitting.The Lord builds up Jerusalem;He gathers the outcasts of Israel.He heals the brokenheartedand binds up their wounds.

He counts the number of the stars;He calls each one of them by name.Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;His understanding is beyond measure.The Lord lifts up the humble;He brings the wicked down to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;make music to our God on the harp.He covers the sky with clouds;He prepares rain for the earthand makes grass grow on the mountains.He gives the animals their food,and feeds the young ravens when they cry.

He takes no delight in the strength of the horse,no pleasure in the legs of a man.The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,in those who hope in His mercy.

Traditional wording, 1611

Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names.Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite.The LORD lifteth up the meek: He casteth the wicked down to the ground.

Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:Who covereth the heaven with clouds, Who prepareth rain for the earth, Who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.

He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: He taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.

The God Who heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds also gathers the outcasts. His delight is in those who hope in His mercy.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Hebrew, with the King James Version beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: The King James translators, The King James Version, 1611.

Where it comes from, and the original

On the worst days

Lead me to The Rock (Psalm 61)

Hear my cry, O God;listen to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I call to You,when my heart is overwhelmed.Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I am.

For You have been my refuge,a strong tower against the enemy.

I will live in Your tent for ever;I will take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.Selah

Traditional wording, 1611

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of Thy wings. Selah.

David calls to God “when my heart is overwhelmed” and asks to be led to the Rock that is higher than he is. The prayer ends in the shelter of God’s wings.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Hebrew, with the King James Version beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: The King James translators, The King James Version, 1611.

Where it comes from, and the original

Scripture for this

³¹When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. ³²And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.” ³³Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon. ³⁴Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi. ³⁵And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.

Genesis 29:31-35 Leah longed for her husband’s love and did not have it. The LORD saw her, and in time she turned from longing to praise.

⁷My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them. ⁸How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!

Hosea 11:7-8 God Himself knows love that is not returned. Though His people kept turning away, He could not bring Himself to give them up.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners …

Isaiah 61:1 Isaiah speaks of One the LORD has anointed and sent to bind up the brokenhearted.

²⁸Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus invites everyone who is weary and burdened to come to Him for rest, because He is gentle and humble in heart.

¹¹You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, ¹²that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks forever.

Psalm 30:11-12 The psalmist thanks God, Who turned his mourning into dancing and clothed him with joy.

Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.

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