Sometimes it is difficult to know how to pray, and we are helped by the words of others. The following is a prayer for the vulnerable, particularly the unborn, taken from Psalm 35.

Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with the vulnerable—children who cannot contend for themselves, and mothers who feel trapped; fight against those who fight against them! Take hold of shield and buckler and rise to their help! Draw the spear and javelin against their pursuers! Say to these precious ones, “I am your salvation!”

Let him be put to shame and dishonor who seeks to destroy their young lives! Let him be turned back and frustrated who devises evil against them! Let him be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving him away! Let his way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing him! For without cause he hid his net from the vulnerable and the small; without cause he sought to dispose of their lives. Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid from others ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his destruction!

Then these smallest of souls will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in His salvation. All their bones shall say, “O LORD, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for them, the poor and needy from him who seeks gain at their expense?”

Malicious and violent witnesses rise up; but the children cannot speak to defend themselves. The wicked target them with evil instead of good—their young lives are lost. But these little ones wish their oppressors no malice, and would even pray for them if they knew to. As children, they are deeply grieved at the plight of others, even those who would do them harm. Yet at their demise, their oppressors rejoice over what they have done; they gather in solidarity together against them. Wretches the children do not know tear at them one by one, day in and day out; like mockers they gnash their teeth.

How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue them from the destruction of the wicked, their precious lives from the lions! They will thank you in the great congregation, praising you in the mighty throng. Let not those who have wrongfully made these little ones their enemies rejoice over their destruction, and let not those who hate them without cause wink the eye. For they do not speak peace, but carefully devise lies about those who cannot speak. Claiming that they see, they lie, opening their mouths wide against them.

You have seen, O Lord; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from them! Awake and rouse yourself and vindicate them, for their cause, their God, and their Lord! Come to their aid, O LORD, their God, for you are righteous. And let not the wicked rejoice over them! Let them not declare victory, having swallowed up the weak. Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at the calamity of these little ones! Let them be ashamed and dishonored who seek to profit at their expense!

Let those who delight in their innocence shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of His servants!” Then their tongues shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.