Note: the psalm numbers follow the Greek Bible (Septuagint), used in the Byzantine tradition. In most Western Bibles, from Psalm 10 through Psalm 147 you generally add 1 (for example, Psalm 50 in this list corresponds to Psalm 51). This list comes from Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia and was handed down by Saint Paisios of Mount Athos.
Psalm 1: for the fruitfulness of the earth’s crops.
Psalm 2: for couples affected by infertility, so that they do not separate.
Psalm 3: for evil to be taken out of people, so that they do not torment or grieve others for no reason.
Psalm 4: for God to heal very sensitive people who have fallen ill from the sorrow caused by the behaviour of hard-hearted people.
Psalm 5: for God to heal injured and bruised eyes (eye injuries).
Psalm 6: for God to free a person who is under a spell.
Psalm 7: for those terrified by the threats and intimidation of the wicked.
Psalm 8: for those harmed by demons or by wicked people.
Psalm 9: so that demons stop frightening you in your sleep or troubling you with visions during the day.
Psalm 10: for hard-hearted spouses who quarrel (when one hard-hearted spouse unjustly torments the other, sensitive one).
Psalm 11: for those whose madness is accompanied by malice and who harm others.
Psalm 12: for those who suffer from liver trouble.
Psalm 13: in cases of severe madness (read three times a day for three days).
Psalm 14: for thieves to change their minds and give up their plans.
Psalm 15: to find a lost key.
Psalm 16: in cases of serious slander (read three times a day for three days).
Psalm 17: in the event of an earthquake, flood, lightning or any divine wrath.
Psalm 18: for women to have a safe delivery.
Psalm 19: for couples affected by infertility, so that they do not separate.
Psalm 20: for God to soften the hearts of the rich so that they do works of mercy for the poor.
Psalm 21: for God to stop a fire and prevent any harm.
Psalm 22: for God to guide unruly, disobedient children who grieve their parents.
Psalm 23: for a door to open when the key has been lost.
Psalm 24: for people whom the Evil One greatly envies and to whom he causes troubles that drive them to grumble.
Psalm 25: for God to answer the one who asks for good without harming him.
Psalm 26: for God to protect villagers from enemy armies, so that they do not harm them or plunder their villages.
Psalm 27: for the Lord to heal those who suffer from nervous illnesses and pains.
Psalm 28: for those travelling by sea who fear storms.
Psalm 29: for the Lord to keep those who are far away, in danger among barbarous and godless peoples, and for the Lord to enlighten those peoples so that they may turn to him and know him.
Psalm 30: for the fruitfulness of the land and the crops.
Psalm 31: for those who have lost their way to find it again.
Psalm 32: for those unjustly imprisoned, so that God may reveal the truth and they may be freed.
Psalm 33: for those tormented by demons at the hour of death, or for villages and towns besieged and threatened by the enemy.
Psalm 34: for the Lord to keep good people from the traps of wicked people who exploit the people of God.
Psalm 35: for the enmity caused by quarrels or misunderstandings to disappear completely.
Psalm 36: for those badly wounded by wicked criminals.
Psalm 37: in cases of toothache.
Psalm 38: for the unemployed.
Psalm 39: for love to return between a manager and his employees when quarrels arise between them.
Psalm 40: for mothers to be saved in childbirth in cases of premature delivery.
Psalm 41: for those in love who fall ill from grief when misfortune strikes the other person.
Psalm 42: for the release of captives held in the prisons of enemy nations.
Psalm 43: for God to show the truth to spouses who have a misunderstanding, so that they may be reconciled.
Psalm 44: for those who suffer from heart and kidney trouble.
Psalm 45: for people whom the Enemy, out of envy, prevents from marrying.
Psalm 46: for God to give peace to an employee who has left his job out of frustration and upset, and for him to succeed in finding another job.
Psalm 47: in cases of great calamities and thefts (read for forty days in a row).
Psalm 48: for those who supervise dangerous work.
Psalm 49: for those far from God to repent, return to him and be saved.
Psalm 50: for epidemics, illnesses and the death of people and animals… that come as God’s correction for our sins.
Psalm 51: for hard-hearted leaders to repent and become compassionate, so that they do not torment the people.
Psalm 52: for fishermen to have success.
Psalm 53: for God to enlighten the rich who own purchased slaves, so that they set them free.
Psalm 54: for the restoration of the honour of a family unjustly attacked by slander.
Psalm 55: for sensitive people who have been emotionally wounded by others.
Psalm 56: for those who suffer from headaches caused by deep sorrow.
Psalm 57: for the success of those working for good, and for the wicked and their evil deeds to be hindered.
Psalm 58: for the mute to speak.
Psalm 59: for God to reveal the truth when a group of people is slandered.
Psalm 60: for those who find work hard, whether out of laziness or cowardice.
Psalm 61: for God to rescue from temptations the faint-hearted, impatient and discouraged person.
Psalm 62: for fields and trees lacking water to bear fruit.
Psalm 63: when a person is bitten by a wolf or a rabid dog (drinking holy water is also necessary).
Psalm 64: for merchants not to wrong other people.
Psalm 65: for the Lord to keep families from evil and sorrow.
Psalm 66: for poultry farms to be blessed.
Psalm 67: for mothers at risk of miscarriage to be saved.
Psalm 68: when rivers flood and sweep away houses and people.
Psalm 69: for God to strengthen sensitive people who fall into sorrow and despair over the slightest thing.
Psalm 70: for God to have mercy on the wretched who are cut off because of the devil’s envy and become a burden on others.
Psalm 71: for God to bless the new harvest in homes.
Psalm 72: for wrongdoers to repent.
Psalm 73: for God to protect villagers working in their fields when enemies besiege the village.
Psalm 74: for a harsh master to be kind to his employee.
Psalm 75: for a mother who is afraid during childbirth, that God may protect her and give her courage.
Psalm 76: for God to enlighten a quarrelling family, so that the children listen to their parents and the parents show love to their children.
Psalm 77: for God to soften the heart of a creditor toward his debtor.
Psalm 78: for God to protect villages from thieves and from destruction by enemy armies.
Psalm 79: for headaches and swelling of the face.
Psalm 80: for God to provide for the destitute poor, who are distressed and saddened by want.
Psalm 81: for farmers to sell their produce.
Psalm 82: for God to stop the wicked from carrying out their deeds.
Psalm 83: for God to keep safe everything in the house (animals and harvested produce).
Psalm 84: for God to heal frightened people who have been wounded by thieves.
Psalm 85: for God to save people from death when cholera spreads among them.
Psalm 86: for God to prolong the lives of heads of families who still have family responsibilities.
Psalm 87: for God to protect all who lack protection and suffer at the hands of cruel people.
Psalm 88: for God to strengthen weak and sick people so that they can work without sorrow or fatigue.
Psalm 89: for God to send rain in times of drought, when springs run dry.
Psalm 90: for the devil to vanish when he appears to someone and terrifies him.
Psalm 91: for God to give people understanding so that they make spiritual progress.
Psalm 92: for God to keep a ship in danger from a great storm (the ship was also sprinkled with holy water on all four sides).
Psalm 93: for God to enlighten troublemakers who stir up all sorts of issues in the nation and push the people into revolt, unrest and fighting.
Psalm 94: to break spells and sorcery cast on engaged couples.
Psalm 95: for God to give hearing to the deaf.
Psalm 96: to break spells among people.
Psalm 97: for God to comfort the distressed.
Psalm 98: for God to bless and grace young people who want to consecrate themselves to him.
Psalm 99: for God to bless and fulfil people’s longing for God.
Psalm 100: for God to pour out his grace on those who do good, so that they may help others.
Psalm 101: for God to bless those in authority so that they help the world with their kindness and understanding.
Psalm 102: for a woman’s period to come when it is late.
Psalm 103: for God to bless people’s property so that they are not deprived of it but glorify God.
Psalm 104: for people to repent and confess their sins.
Psalm 105: for God to enlighten people so that they do not stray from the path of salvation.
Psalm 106: for God to free women from barrenness.
Psalm 107: for God to subdue enemies so that they give up their evil intentions.
Psalm 108: for God to heal epileptics, and to have mercy on false witnesses so that they repent.
Psalm 109: for the young to have respect for their elders.
Psalm 110: for unjust rulers to repent and govern God’s people with justice.
Psalm 111: for God to protect the army setting out for war.
Psalm 112: for God to bless the poor widow so that she can pay her debts and be saved from prison.
Psalm 113: for the healing of children with intellectual disabilities.
Psalm 114: for God to give his blessings and comfort to poor and unhappy children, so that they are not despised by rich children and made sad.
Psalm 115: for God to heal the terrible passion of lying.
Psalm 116: for families to keep love and harmony and to glorify God.
Psalm 117: for God to subdue the enemy besieging and threatening the village, so that he abandons his evil intentions.
Psalm 118: for God to strike the barbarians and humble their pride when they slaughter innocent women and children.
Psalm 119: for God to give patience and endurance to people forced to be with unjust and treacherous people.
Psalm 120: for slaves to be protected from the hands of their enemies, so that they are not mistreated and so that they are freed.
Psalm 121: for the healing of envious people.
Psalm 122: for giving sight to the blind and healing diseased eyes.
Psalm 123: for protecting people from snakebites.
Psalm 124: for protecting the property of righteous people from the harm of wicked people.
Psalm 125: for the healing of people suffering from constant headaches.
Psalm 126: for calming a family that is quarrelling among itself.
Psalm 127: for God’s blessing and peace to reign in the family, and for the evil of enemies not to come near it.
Psalm 128: for God to heal those suffering from migraines and headaches, and to have mercy on hard-hearted and undiscerning people, so that they do not grieve sensitive people.
Psalm 129: for God to give courage and hope to beginners, so that they do not find their work too hard.
Psalm 130: for God to give people repentance, comfort and hope, so that they may be saved.
Psalm 131: for God to have pity on the world when successive wars break out because of our sins.
Psalm 132: for God to enlighten the nations so that they may be reconciled and live in peace.
Psalm 133: for protecting people from every danger.
Psalm 134: for people to focus their minds on prayer alone when they pray, and for their minds to be united with God.
Psalm 135: for God to protect emigrants and travellers and deliver them from the enemy.
Psalm 136: for God to steady a person of changeable temperament.
Psalm 137: for God to enlighten the leaders of the region so that people find understanding for their needs.
Psalm 138: for the devil to stop attacking sensitive people with blasphemous thoughts.
Psalm 139: to soften the heart of a difficult head of household who makes his family miserable.
Psalm 140: for God to calm an unjust (cruel) ruler who torments others in the region.
Psalm 141: to calm a hot-tempered person who causes harm, so that even if he were a wolf he would become a lamb.
Psalm 142: for protecting a mother from miscarriage.
Psalm 143: for God to calm a rebellious people so that no civil war breaks out among them.
Psalm 144: for God to bless people’s work so that it is pleasing to him.
Psalm 145: for stopping bleeding.
Psalm 146: for the healing of people who have been beaten and wounded.
Psalm 147: for God to calm the wild animals in the mountains so that they do not harm people or ruin the crops.
Psalm 148: for God to make the weather favourable so that people have an abundant harvest and glorify God.
Psalm 149: for acknowledging God’s goodness and thanking him for his abundant kindness and his great and boundless love, and for his patience with us.
Psalm 150: for God to grant relief and comfort to our grieving brothers and sisters who live far from home, and to our departed brothers and sisters, who are in the farthest exile of all. Amen.
- The last two psalms (149-150) come from Father Paisios, not from Saint Arsenios.
Psalms of Orthros (Matins): 3 – 37 – 62 – 87 – 102 – 142.
Psalms of the First Hour: 5 – 89 – 100.
Psalms of the Third Hour: 16 – 24 – 50.
Psalms of the Sixth Hour: 53 – 54 – 90.
Psalms of the Ninth Hour: 83 – 84 – 85.
Psalms of Vespers: 103 – 140 – 141 – 129 – 116 – 122.
Psalms of Great Compline: 4 – 6 – 12 – 24 – 30 – 90 – 50 – 101 – 69 – 142.
Psalms of Small Compline: 50 – 69 – 142.
Psalms of the Prayers before Communion: 22 – 23 – 115.
Father Boutros El Zein
Arabic translation: Milad Dib Jabbara – 2005
