Prayer. Marcus Aurelius 5.7

Marcus likes simple prayers that express our desire freely.

Εὐχὴ Ἀθηναίων·

       ὗσον, ὗσον, ὦ φίλε

       Ζεῦ, κατὰ τῆς ἀρούρας

       τῆς Ἀθηναίων

       καὶ τῶν πεδίων.

ἤτοι οὐ δεῖ εὔχεσθαι ἢ οὕτως ἁπλῶς καὶ ἐλευθέρως.

A prayer offered by the Athenians:

       Rain, dear Zeus

       Upon our plains!

       Upon the field

       That bears our name!

We should either refrain from prayer, or make it simple and free, like this one.