Practical Psalms
The Legacy of Saint Paisios of Mount Athos and his spiritual father Saint Arsenios the Cappadocian
Reading the Psalms is the best medicine for a troubled mind. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos gave us a guideline on how to pray with the Psalms, based on the tradition preserved by his spiritual father, Saint Arsenios the Cappadocian. I humbly offer a short version here, suitable for the ever-rushing modern man.
Old prayers, like quality code, always compile nicely. Have you noticed? You repeat an ancient prayer, and it works. “Rise up, O Lord! Let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You.” And the demons are gone.
Disclaimer
I give a parallel reference to the Bible in Russian, as it differs in Psalm numbering due to the difference in the Septuagint version (LXX) and the Hebrew (M) one
For example:EN (RU)
126 (125)
Any other psalm not mentioned in this guide is, of course, also good and beneficial for you.
Beginning
Every cry for help to God should begin with Psalm 51 (Псалом 501), regardless of the subject:
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. …
Topics:
Faith, God's love, and peace, wisdom
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.
The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
EN (RU)
126 (125)
149 (149)
150 (150)
32 (31)
60 (59)
2 (2)
57 (56)
16 (15)
Family and children's well-being
When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;
Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.
The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?
EN (RU)
114 + 115 (113)
128 (127)
112 (111)
77 (76)
20 (19)
144 (143)
46 (45)
132 (131)
140 (139)
87 (86)
11 (10)
34 (33)
19 (18)
62 (61)
127 (126)
44 (43)
Job security, job searching, getting fired, etc.
O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
EN (RU)
47 (46)
39 (38)
40 (39)
61 (60)
49 (48)
75 (74)
Illnesses and cures
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
EN (RU)
89 (88)
42 (41)
45 (44)
145 (144)
5 (5)
103 (102)
96 (95)
80 (79)
38 (37)
126 (125)
112 (111)
29 (28)
36 (35)
59 (58)
86 (85)
Danger and despair
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. …
EN (RU)
94 (93)
50 (49)
79 (78)
88 (87)
12 (11)
13 (12)
55 (54)
121 (120)
134 (133)
98 (97)
70 (69)
16 (15)
4 (4)
Desire for children, pregnancy
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
EN (RU)
19 (18)
125 (124)
20 (19)
Problem resolution
Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.
EN (RU)
129 (128)
62 (61)
86 (85)
29 (28)
35 (34)
25 (24)
83 (82)
111 (110)
88 (87)
Traps to avoid
In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
EN (RU)
31 (30)
43 (42)
35 (34)
7 (7)
124 (123)
Wars and violence
O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
EN (RU)
94 (93)
132 (131)
144 (143)
73 (72)
133 (132)
83 (82)
27 (26)
50 (49)
Household and business
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
EN (RU)
1 (1)
22 (21)
24 (23)
31 (30)
65 (64)
69 (68)
90 (89)
132 (131)
127 (126)
81 (80)
82 (81)
For young people, studying, etc.
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
EN (RU)
25 (24)
12 (11)
60 (59)
143 (142)
91 (90)
24 (23)
The end (important)
You should always finish with this prayer:
It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and most blameless, and Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Any other psalm not mentioned in this guide is, of course, also good and beneficial for you.
I give a parallel reference to the Bible in Russian, as it differs in Psalm numbering due to the difference in the Septuagint version (LXX) and the Hebrew (M) one