Bible story
Babylonian Exile Prayer
A short, Scripture-shaped bible story prayer for an ordinary moment of Christian faith.
The prayer
A prayer to pray now
Father,
By the waters of Babylon, Your people sat down and wept. They remembered Zion. They hung their harps on the willows. Their captors mocked them and demanded songs of Zion. But they could not sing Your songs in a foreign land.
The temple was destroyed. The people were carried away. The grief was real. But Daniel, Ezekiel, and others stayed faithful. Through Jeremiah, You told them to build houses, plant gardens, marry, and pray for the welfare of the city where they had been sent. You said the exile would last seventy years, and then it would end.
Bless the believers today who feel like they are in exile. Some live in places where faith is no longer welcome. Some work where Your name is hated. Tell us to build, plant, marry, and pray for the good of the place You have sent us.
The exile is not forever. Restoration will come.
Amen.
How to pray it
- Read it slowly. Move through this prayer one line at a time, out loud if you can, letting each phrase land before the next.
- Make it personal. Pause where a line meets your day and name the person, fear, or hope it touches before God.
- Carry it with you. Keep one sentence with you — on your phone or in your pocket — and return to it when the day gets loud.
Verses to pray
Pray these slowly, one line at a time. Scripture quoted from a public-domain translation.
For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Hebrews 11:10
Questions about this prayer
When should I pray babylonian exile prayer?
Pray it whenever the words fit your moment — at the start of the day, in a hard stretch, or when you simply want to turn toward God.
Which Bible verses anchor this prayer?
This prayer is anchored in Hebrews 11:10. The "Verses to pray" section above quotes them in full.
Can I save or share this prayer?
Yes. Use the Copy prayer button to copy the words, or open the Chosen Portion app to keep a daily prayer, devotional, and Scripture with you.