Before the meal:
The eyes of all look to you, O Lord,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
Lord God, heavenly Father,
bless us and these your gifts,
which we receive from your bountiful goodness,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
After the meal:
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good:
for his steadfast love endures forever.
He gives food to every creature:
for his steadfast love endures forever.
We thank you, Lord God our heavenly Father,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
for all your benefits;
you who live and reign forever.
Amen.
LUTHERAN LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM, 1529
Luther's Mealtime Prayers
Also known as Lutheran Table Prayer ยท Luther's Grace Before and After Meals
About this prayer
Luther's Small Catechism of 1529 includes both a blessing before meals and a thanksgiving after meals, designed to sanctify eating and drinking as acts of Christian devotion. Luther grounded both prayers in Psalm 145:15-16, which speaks of God opening his hand to satisfy every living creature. The catechism instructs that these prayers are to be said by the household gathered at table, making mealtimes a moment of domestic worship. Luther intended the household to function as a 'little church,' and these mealtime prayers are part of his vision for daily Christian life structured by prayer and scripture.
When it's said
Luther's mealtime prayers are said by Lutheran households before and after every meal. They are among the most commonly known prayers in the Lutheran catechetical tradition. Lutheran children learn these prayers as part of catechesis, and they form a staple of daily household worship. In many Lutheran schools and institutions the before-meal prayer is said communally before lunch.
Notes on the text
The before-meal prayer opens with a paraphrase of Psalm 145:15-16. 'Bless us and these your gifts' is a formula common to many Protestant table prayers but here grounded explicitly in the catechism. The after-meal prayer opens with the refrain of Psalm 136 ('his steadfast love endures forever') and alludes to Psalm 136:25 ('he gives food to every creature'). The closing doxology, 'you who live and reign forever,' mirrors the closing formula used in many catechism prayers.
Source
Martin Luther, Small Catechism, 1529. Public domain.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.