When it is said
Anyone may pray these verses at any time.
They suit a quiet moment beside an animal that is ill, or a word of thanks for the creatures in your care.
Where it comes from
Author doubtful
Where these verses come from
The last part of the Book of Wisdom speaks to God about the Exodus. Here it recalls that the Egyptians worshipped snakes and other animals, so God punished them through swarms of animals. He could have sent bears or lions, or scattered them with one breath. But He has mercy on all, and He overlooks people’s sins so that they may repent. These three verses follow and give the reason for His mercy.
Wisdom 11:15-23 in the King James Bible, Apocrypha, on eBible.org; Wikipedia, “Book of Wisdom”
Who wrote it?
The Book of Wisdom is also called the Wisdom of Solomon. In its middle chapters the writer speaks as Solomon, though the name itself never appears. Most scholars think a Jewish writer in Alexandria wrote the book in Greek in the 1st century BC. The Orthodox Church reads it as Scripture, as part of the Greek Old Testament. Most Protestant churches count it among the Apocrypha, and it is not in the Hebrew Bible.
Wikipedia, “Book of Wisdom”; Brenton’s English Septuagint, on eBible.org
The Scripture in it
The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made.
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Greek
Ἀγαπᾷς γὰρ τὰ ὄντα πάντα, καὶ οὐδὲν βδελύσσῃ ὧν ἐποίησας,
οὐδὲ γὰρ ἂν μισῶν τι κατεσκεύασας.
Πῶς δὲ ἔμεινεν ἄν τι εἰ μὴ Σὺ ἐθέλησας;
ἢ τὸ μὴ κληθὲν ὑπὸ Σοῦ διετηρήθη;
Φείδῃ δὲ πάντων, ὅτι Σά ἐστι, Δέσποτα Φιλόψυχε.
From Wisdom 11:24-26 in the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint), the text Brenton printed, on eBible.org.