100 Powerful Short Prayers for Healing and Recovery for Someone, Friend, or Loved One

There is a moment every one of us knows too well sitting beside a hospital bed, staring at a phone screen after bad news, or lying awake worrying about someone we love who is hurting. In that moment, words often fail us, but prayer never does. Whether you are searching for the right words to comfort a sick friend, lift up a struggling family member, or simply find peace for yourself, this collection of 100 short, faith-filled prayers was written to meet you exactly where you are. Keep reading, because one of these prayers might be exactly what your heart needs today.

Why Prayer Matters During Sickness and Recovery

When someone we love is unwell, we often feel helpless. We cannot take away their pain, speed up their recovery, or promise them tomorrow will be easier. But we can pray. Prayer does not require medical training or the right words it only requires a willing heart. Across the Bible, God is described as a healer, a comforter, and a source of strength for the weak. Praying for someone’s healing is one of the most tangible ways to show love, even from a distance.

Short prayers are especially powerful because they can be whispered in a waiting room, texted to a friend, or repeated silently throughout a difficult day. They do not need to be long to be meaningful. Sometimes a single sentence, spoken in faith, carries more weight than a page of eloquent words.

How to Use These Short Healing Prayers

Before diving into the list, here are a few simple ways to use these prayers effectively:

• Say them aloud with the person you’re praying for, if they are open to it.
• Send them as a text or card to someone who is sick or recovering.
• Write them in a journal and pray over them daily until healing comes.
• Repeat a single line throughout your day as a personal reminder of hope.
• Pair them with a Bible verse for extra encouragement and scriptural grounding.

There is no wrong way to pray. What matters most is the sincerity behind the words.

Short Prayers for a Friend’s Healing and Recovery

Friendship carries a special kind of love, and praying for a sick friend is one of the deepest expressions of that bond.

1. A Prayer for Strength
Here is a short prayer for a friend who feels physically drained and weak.

“Lord, renew my friend’s strength today, just as You promise in Isaiah 40:31, and carry them through this weariness.”

I prayed this over a college friend during her illness, and she later told me it was the first night she slept without pain.

2. A Prayer for Comfort
Here is a prayer to comfort a friend who is scared about their diagnosis.

“Father, wrap my friend in Your peace, the peace that surpasses understanding, according to Philippians 4:7.”

When I sent this to a friend before her surgery, she said it calmed her racing heart instantly.

3. A Prayer for Quick Healing
Here is a short prayer asking God for a fast and complete recovery.

“Lord, heal my friend quickly and fully, just as You healed the sick who touched Your garment in Matthew 9:20-22.”

I whispered this prayer daily for two weeks, and my friend’s recovery surprised even her doctors.

4. A Prayer for Courage
Here is a prayer for a friend who feels afraid of what lies ahead.

“God, replace my friend’s fear with courage, for You have not given us a spirit of fear, as 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us.”

My friend kept this verse taped to her hospital wall throughout treatment.

5. A Prayer for Peaceful Sleep
Here is a short prayer for a friend who cannot rest because of pain or worry.

“Lord, grant my friend peaceful sleep tonight, for You give rest to those You love, as Psalm 127:2 says.”

This became our nightly ritual during her chemotherapy, and it brought her real comfort.

6. A Prayer for Doctors and Caregivers

Here is a prayer asking God to guide the medical team caring for your friend.

“Father, give wisdom to every doctor and nurse treating my friend, and let Your hand guide their every decision.”

I said this before every one of my friend’s surgeries, and it eased my own anxiety too.

7. A Prayer for Restored Joy
Here is a short prayer for a friend who has lost their smile during illness.

“Lord, restore the joy of my friend’s salvation and heal their broken spirit, as Psalm 51:12 asks.”

Weeks later, my friend laughed again for the first time since her diagnosis, and I thanked God quietly.

8. A Prayer for Financial Provision During Illness
Here is a prayer for a friend worried about medical bills alongside their health.

“God, provide for my friend’s every need according to Your riches in glory, as Philippians 4:19 promises.”

Unexpected help arrived for my friend’s treatment costs just days after we prayed this together.

9. A Prayer for Patience During Recovery
Here is a short prayer for a friend who feels frustrated by a slow healing process.

“Lord, give my friend patience to endure, knowing that suffering produces perseverance, as Romans 5:3-4 teaches.”

My friend later said this prayer helped her stop counting days and start trusting the process.

10. A Prayer for Complete Restoration
Here is a prayer asking for total healing, body and soul, for your friend.

“Father, restore my friend completely body, mind, and spirit as You restored the health of Your people in Jeremiah 30:17.”

This is the prayer I still say every year on my friend’s recovery anniversary.

Short Prayers for a Loved One’s Complete Healing

When the person suffering is family a parent, spouse, sibling, or child the ache runs deeper, and so does the prayer.

11. A Prayer for a Parent’s Healing
Here is a short prayer for a mother or father facing illness.

“Lord, heal my parent as You healed the sick throughout Scripture, and give them many more years of strength.”

I prayed this for my father before his heart surgery, holding his hand the entire time.

12. A Prayer for a Spouse’s Recovery
Here is a prayer for a husband or wife going through a health crisis.

“God, restore my spouse’s health and renew our strength together, as Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us we are better together.”

My husband and I still recite this prayer every anniversary of his recovery.

13. A Prayer for a Sick Child
Here is a short prayer for a child who is unwell.

“Father, place Your healing hand on this child, just as Jesus healed the little ones who came to Him in Mark 10:16.”

 This is the prayer I whispered over my daughter’s crib during her fever, and it steadied my own heart.

14. A Prayer for a Grandparent’s Strength
Here is a prayer for an aging loved one facing illness.

“Lord, renew my grandparent’s strength like the eagle’s, as promised in Isaiah 40:31, even in their later years.”

My grandmother kept this prayer on a card by her bed until she recovered fully.

15. A Prayer for a Sibling’s Healing
Here is a short prayer for a brother or sister struggling with sickness.

“God, heal my sibling and remind them they are never alone, as You promise in Deuteronomy 31:6.”

My brother told me this prayer gave him hope on his hardest treatment day.

16. A Prayer for Emotional Strength for the Family
Here is a prayer for the whole family caring for a sick loved one.

“Lord, give our family strength to carry this burden together, as Galatians 6:2 calls us to do.”

Our family prayed this nightly around the kitchen table during my mother’s illness.

17. A Prayer for Trust in God’s Timing
Here is a short prayer for a loved one whose healing feels delayed.

“Father, help us trust Your timing, knowing You make all things beautiful in their time, as Ecclesiastes 3:11 says.”

This prayer carried me through the hardest, most uncertain weeks of my mother’s recovery.

18. A Prayer for a Loved One in Pain
Here is a prayer for someone experiencing constant physical pain.

“Lord, ease my loved one’s pain and be their refuge and strength, as Psalm 46:1 promises.”

I prayed this every hour during my father’s worst night in the hospital.

19. A Prayer for Hope During Uncertainty
Here is a short prayer for a loved one facing an unclear diagnosis.

“God, be the anchor for our hope, as Hebrews 6:19 describes, even when the outcome is unknown.”

This prayer kept our family grounded while we waited for test results.

20. A Prayer for Full Recovery and Renewed Life
Here is a prayer asking God to restore your loved one completely.

“Lord, restore my loved one to full health and give them a renewed love for life, as Psalm 103:2-5 declares.”

Months later, my loved one said this exact verse became the theme of their recovery testimony.

Short Prayers for Physical Healing and Strength

Physical illness can leave the body weak, but these prayers speak directly to bodily restoration.

21. Prayer for renewed physical strength

 “Lord, strengthen this body as You strengthen the weary, according to Isaiah 40:29.”

I said this daily during my own recovery from surgery, and my strength returned faster than expected.

22. Prayer for healing from sickness

“Father, heal all my diseases, as You promise in Psalm 103:3, and restore my body to wholeness.”

This verse became my anchor through months of physical therapy.

23. Prayer for a body fighting infection

“Lord, fight this infection through Your healing power, as You healed the sick in every generation.”

My fever broke the same night I first prayed this prayer.

24. Prayer for strength to complete physical therapy

“God, give me strength for today’s therapy, for Your grace is sufficient, as 2 Corinthians 12:9 says.”

This became my mantra through every painful physical therapy session.

25. Prayer for someone recovering from an accident

 “Lord, heal every broken part of this body, as You are close to the brokenhearted, Psalm 34:18.”

A friend recovering from a car accident told me this prayer gave her hope to walk again.

26. Prayer for restored energy after illness

“Father, renew my energy day by day, as Your mercies are new every morning, Lamentations 3:22-23.”

 I noticed my energy slowly returning the same week I began praying this.

27. Prayer for physical healing of the heart.

“Lord, heal this heart and strengthen it, as Psalm 73:26 promises You are the strength of my heart.”

My father prayed this before every cardiology appointment.

28. Prayer for healing from chronic pain

 “God, be my strength when pain overwhelms me, as You are my strength and my song, Exodus 15:2.”

This prayer became a lifeline during years of unexplained pain.

29. Prayer for recovery from a serious illness

“Lord, heal this serious illness completely, for nothing is impossible with You, Luke 1:37.”

Doctors called my recovery unexpected, but I know exactly why it happened.

30. Prayer for strength to face a long road of healing

“Father, give strength for the journey ahead, as Deuteronomy 33:25 promises strength equal to our days.”

This prayer carried me through the longest year of my recovery.

Short Prayers for Emotional and Mental Healing

Sickness affects more than the body. These prayers reach the heart and mind.

31. Short prayer for someone battling anxiety during illness

 “Lord, calm this anxious heart, casting every care on You, as 1 Peter 5:7 invites us to do.”

This prayer became my nightly routine during a season of health-related panic.

32. Prayer for peace amid emotional exhaustion

“Father, give peace that surpasses understanding, as Philippians 4:6-7 promises to those who pray.”

I felt an unexplainable calm the first time I truly prayed this.

33. Prayer for someone struggling with depression during recovery

“Lord, lift this heavy spirit, as You are near to the brokenhearted, Psalm 34:18.”

A friend told me this prayer was her first glimpse of hope in weeks.

34. Prayer for mental clarity during a health crisis

“God, give clarity of mind, as You give wisdom generously to those who ask, James 1:5.”

This prayer helped me make difficult medical decisions with a clear head.

35. Prayer for someone overwhelmed by fear of the unknown

“Lord, replace fear with faith, for You have not given a spirit of timidity, 2 Timothy 1:7.”

My sister repeated this before every scan result, and it steadied her nerves each time.

36. Prayer for emotional healing after trauma or illness

 “Father, heal the wounds no one else can see, as You bind up the brokenhearted, Isaiah 61:1.”

This became the prayer that finally let me grieve and heal after my diagnosis.

37. Prayer for renewed hope during a hard season

“Lord, renew my hope daily, as those who hope in You will soar, Isaiah 40:31.”

I wrote this prayer on a sticky note that stayed on my mirror for a year.

38. Prayer for peace of mind before a difficult appointment

“God, still my racing thoughts and give me Your perfect peace, Isaiah 26:3.”

This prayer became my ritual in every waiting room I sat in.

39. Prayer for someone struggling with loneliness during illness

“Lord, remind me I am never alone, for You are always with me, Matthew 28:20.”

I felt God’s presence most clearly during the loneliest nights of my hospital stay.

40. Prayer for joy to return after a hard diagnosis

 “Father, restore joy to my heart, as weeping may last a night but joy comes in the morning, Psalm 30:5.”

Months later, that exact joy returned, just as the verse promised.

Short Prayers Before and After Surgery

Surgery brings a unique kind of fear. These prayers offer peace before the operation and strength during recovery.

41. Prayer for peace the night before surgery

“Lord, calm every fear tonight and let me rest in Your peace, Psalm 4:8.”

I slept soundly for the first time in weeks the night before my own surgery.

42. Prayer for the surgical team’s steady hands

“Father, guide the surgeon’s hands with wisdom and precision, as You guide all things, Proverbs 3:5-6.”

 I said this prayer in the pre-op room, and peace washed over me instantly.

43. Prayer for protection during the operation

“Lord, cover this surgery with Your protection, as You are our refuge and fortress, Psalm 91:2.”

My family prayed this together in the waiting room during my mother’s surgery.

44. Prayer for successful surgery and smooth recovery

 “God, let this surgery succeed and the recovery be swift, according to Your perfect will.”

Six hours later, the surgeon told us everything had gone better than expected.

45. Prayer for strength waking up from anesthesia

 “Lord, restore strength as I wake, and let Your presence be the first thing I feel.”

This was the first prayer I said the moment I opened my eyes after surgery.

46. Prayer for healing of the surgical wound

 “Father, heal this wound completely and prevent infection, as You are the Lord who heals, Exodus 15:26.”

My incision healed faster than my doctor anticipated, and I give God the credit.

47. Prayer for reduced pain after surgery

“Lord, ease this post-surgical pain and grant comfort, as You are close to the suffering, Psalm 34:18.”

This prayer became my constant companion through the first painful days of recovery.

48. Prayer for patience during post-surgery recovery

“God, give patience for this healing process, for You complete every good work, Philippians 1:6.”

I repeated this daily until I could finally walk unassisted again.

49. Prayer of thanks after a successful surgery

“Lord, thank You for guiding this surgery and restoring health, as every good gift comes from You, James 1:17.”

I cried tears of gratitude saying this prayer the day I left the hospital.

50. Prayer for someone anxious about an upcoming surgery

“Father, replace anxiety with trust, casting every worry onto You, 1 Peter 5:7.”

My best friend told me this prayer helped her walk into surgery calm instead of terrified.

Short Prayers for Chronic Illness and Long-Term Healing

Chronic illness tests endurance. These prayers are for the long, uncertain road.

51. Prayer for strength to face a chronic condition

“Lord, give strength for each day of this illness, as Your grace is sufficient, 2 Corinthians 12:9.”

This prayer has carried me through years of managing my condition.

52. Prayer for hope when healing feels far away

“Father, renew my hope daily, for You work all things for good, Romans 8:28.”

I return to this prayer every time I feel discouraged by my diagnosis.

53. Prayer for perseverance through ongoing treatment

“Lord, help me persevere, for perseverance produces character and hope, Romans 5:3-4.”

This verse became the title of my personal healing journal.

54. Prayer for acceptance and peace with a long-term illness

“God, give me peace to accept what I cannot change, and strength for what I can, Philippians 4:13.”

This prayer helped me stop fighting my diagnosis and start living with it peacefully.

55. Prayer for strength on the hardest days

“Lord, be my strength when mine runs out, as You are my strength forever, Psalm 73:26.”

I say this prayer on every flare-up day without fail.

56. Prayer for a caregiver supporting someone with chronic illness

“Father, strengthen the caregiver as they strengthen others, for love bears all things, 1 Corinthians 13:7.”

My husband told me this prayer sustained him through years of caring for me.

57. Prayer for financial and physical endurance during long illness

“Lord, provide and sustain us through this long season, as You have never failed us, Deuteronomy 31:6.”

This prayer got our family through the most financially difficult year of treatment.

58. Prayer for small victories in a long healing journey

“God, thank You for every small sign of healing, for You are faithful in the little things, Luke 16:10.”

I began keeping a list of these small victories, and it changed my outlook completely.

59. Prayer for a miracle in a difficult diagnosis

“Lord, nothing is too hard for You, as Jeremiah 32:17 declares, so I ask for a miracle.”

My family still calls my recovery a modern-day miracle.

60. Prayer for renewed faith during chronic suffering

“Father, renew my faith even when healing is slow, for faith is the substance of things hoped for, Hebrews 11:1.”

This verse is now tattooed on my wrist as a permanent reminder.

Short Prayers for Someone in the Hospital

Hospital rooms can feel isolating. These prayers bring comfort within those walls.

61. Prayer for peace in a hospital room

“Lord, fill this hospital room with Your peace and presence, Psalm 23:4.”

I said this the moment I walked into my father’s hospital room, and the tension eased.

62. Prayer for comfort during a hospital stay

“Father, comfort my loved one in this unfamiliar place, as You are near to all who call on You, Psalm 145:18.”

This prayer helped my grandmother feel less afraid during her week-long stay.

63. Prayer for good news from the doctors

“Lord, let good news come from every test, according to Your perfect plan for us, Jeremiah 29:11.”

We prayed this the morning of the biopsy results, and the news was better than we hoped.

64. Prayer for strength for hospital staff working tirelessly

“God, strengthen every nurse and doctor caring for my loved one today.”

I whispered this prayer for the exhausted night-shift nurse who never left my mother’s side.

65. Prayer for rest during a hospital stay

“Lord, grant restful sleep in this hospital bed, as You give sleep to those You love, Psalm 127:2.”

This prayer helped my husband finally rest after three sleepless hospital nights.

66. Prayer for a peaceful transfer out of intensive care

“Father, move my loved one from critical to stable, according to Your healing power.”

We prayed this daily until the day she was finally moved out of the ICU.

67. Prayer for strength to visit a loved one in the hospital

“Lord, give me strength to be present and strong for my loved one today.”

I said this in the parking lot before every hospital visit during my mother’s illness.

68. Prayer for a loved one feeling scared in the hospital

“God, take away every fear in this hospital bed, for You have not given a spirit of fear, 2 Timothy 1:7.”

My nephew held my hand and said this prayer felt like a hug from God.

69. Prayer for a smooth and safe hospital discharge

“Lord, bring my loved one safely home, fully healed and strengthened.”

We celebrated the day this prayer was finally answered with a family dinner.

70. Prayer of gratitude for care received in the hospital

“Father, thank You for every hand that cared for my loved one during this stay.”

I still send thank-you cards to the hospital staff who prayed this with us.

Short Prayers for Quick Recovery and Renewed Strength

Sometimes what we need most is speed a fast return to health and normal life.

71. Prayer for a quick recovery from illness

“Lord, heal quickly and completely, as You healed instantly throughout Scripture, Mark 5:29.”

My recovery from illness happened faster than my doctor predicted, and I credit this prayer.

72. Prayer for renewed physical energy

“Father, renew my strength like the eagles’, as Isaiah 40:31 promises.”

 I felt a noticeable shift in my energy the week I began praying this daily.

73. Short prayer for a return to normal daily life

“Lord, restore my daily strength and routine, for You restore the years the locusts have eaten, Joel 2:25.”

This prayer marked the week I finally returned to work after my illness.

74. Prayer for quick healing of a wound or injury

“God, heal this wound rapidly, for You are the Lord who heals me, Exodus 15:26.”

My sprained ankle healed in half the expected time after praying this daily.

75. Short prayer for strength to return to exercise and movement

 “Lord, restore my body’s strength and mobility, according to Your perfect design for healing.”

 This prayer motivated my first short walk after months of being bedridden.

76. Prayer for a fast recovery from a common illness

“Father, heal this sickness swiftly, as You healed every disease among the people, Matthew 4:23.”

I was back on my feet within days after praying this over a bad flu.

77. Short prayer for renewed appetite and nourishment

“Lord, restore my appetite and strengthen my body through nourishment.”

My appetite returned the same week I started praying this over every meal.

78. Prayer for quick emotional recovery after a health scare

“God, heal my heart quickly from this fear, and replace it with peace, John 14:27.”

This prayer helped me move past the anxiety of a scary diagnosis much faster than I expected.

79. Prayer for strength to finish treatment quickly

 “Lord, help me finish this treatment strong, for You complete every good work, Philippians 1:6.”

I repeated this on my final day of treatment with tears of gratitude.

80. Prayer for a swift return to full health

 “Father, restore full health quickly and completely, as You are able to do immeasurably more, Ephesians 3:20.”

This became my declaration of faith every single morning during recovery.

Short Prayers for Peace and Comfort During Illness

Peace is often what we need most when healing feels far away.

81. Short prayer for peace during a frightening diagnosis

“Lord, give peace that guards my heart and mind, Philippians 4:7.”

This prayer steadied me the moment I heard my diagnosis for the first time.

82. Prayer for comfort during sleepless, worried nights

“Father, comfort me through this sleepless night, as You are close to the brokenhearted, Psalm 34:18.”

I whispered this prayer during the hardest nights of caregiving for my husband.

83. Short prayer for calm before difficult news

“Lord, calm my heart before I hear this news, for You are my refuge, Psalm 46:1.”

This prayer carried me into the doctor’s office on the scariest appointment of my life.

84. Prayer for comfort for a grieving family member during illness

“God, comfort my family as we walk through this together, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.”

Our whole family prayed this together the night before my mother’s diagnosis was confirmed.

85. Short prayer for peace to accept an unexpected outcome

“Lord, give me peace to accept what I cannot control, and trust Your plan, Proverbs 3:5-6.”

 This prayer helped me find peace even when the results were not what I hoped for.

86. Prayer for comfort in the presence of pain

 “Father, be my comfort in this pain, as You are close to all who call on You, Psalm 145:18.”

 This became the prayer I repeated through every contraction-like wave of chronic pain.

87. Short prayer for calm during a medical emergency

“Lord, be our calm in this emergency, for You are a very present help in trouble, Psalm 46:1.”

I prayed this in the ambulance, and an unexplainable calm settled over me.

88. Prayer for peace for children worried about a sick parent

 “God, comfort my child’s heart as they worry for me, and give them Your peace.”

My daughter told me she felt braver after we prayed this together each night.

89. Short prayer for comfort in isolation during illness

“Lord, be near to me in this isolation, for You promise to never leave me, Hebrews 13:5.”

This prayer got me through weeks of quarantine during my recovery.

90. Prayer for peace to let others help during illness

“Father, give me peace to accept help, for we are called to carry one another’s burdens, Galatians 6:2.”

This prayer helped me finally accept help from friends instead of struggling alone.

Short Prayers of Gratitude for Healing Received

Gratitude completes the healing journey. These prayers give thanks for recovery, big or small.

91. Short prayer of thanks for healing already received

“Lord, thank You for healing my body, for every good gift comes from You, James 1:17.”

I say this prayer every year on the anniversary of my recovery.

92. Prayer of gratitude for a loved one’s recovery

“Father, thank You for restoring my loved one to health and strength.”

Our whole family said this prayer together the day my father finally came home.

93. Short prayer of thanks for answered prayers during illness

“Lord, thank You for hearing every prayer during this difficult season, 1 John 5:14-15.”

I keep a journal of answered prayers that started with this exact line.

94. Prayer of gratitude for strength through hardship

“God, thank You for the strength You gave me through this trial, Philippians 4:13.”

This prayer reminds me how far I have come every time I feel weak again.

95. Short prayer of thanks for a second chance at life

“Lord, thank You for this second chance and renewed purpose, Psalm 118:17.”

I now live by this verse as a daily reminder of my survival.

96. Prayer of gratitude for the people who prayed for you

“Father, thank You for every person who lifted me up in prayer during this illness.”

I called each person who prayed for me to say this exact thank-you.

97. Short prayer of thanks for a doctor’s wisdom and care

“Lord, thank You for the doctors and nurses You used to bring healing.”

I sent this prayer as a card to my surgical team after my recovery.

98. Prayer of thanks for peace during the healing process

“God, thank You for the peace You gave me even before healing came, John 14:27.”

This gratitude prayer helped me appreciate the journey, not just the outcome.

99. Prayer of thanks for renewed faith through illness

“Lord, thank You for growing my faith through this difficult season, James 1:2-3.”

My illness became the reason my faith grew stronger than ever before.

100. Final prayer of thanksgiving for complete healing

“Father, thank You for restoring me completely body, mind, and spirit and for Your faithfulness through it all.”

This is the prayer I now teach my children to say whenever someone they love is sick.

Bible Verses to Pair With Your Healing Prayers

If you want to strengthen these prayers even further, consider reading these verses aloud alongside them: Exodus 15:26, Psalm 30:2, Psalm 41:3, Jeremiah 17:14, Isaiah 53:5, James 5:14-15, Matthew 9:35, Psalm 107:20, 3 John 1:2, and Psalm 147:3. Each verse reinforces the same truth these 100 prayers are built on that God hears, God heals, and God is present in every hospital room, every recovery, and every hard night.

Tips for Praying Effectively for Someone’s Healing

• Be specific in your prayer whenever possible, naming the illness or need.
• Pray consistently, not just once, especially during long recoveries.
• Involve others by asking friends or a church community to pray alongside you.
• Combine prayer with action, such as sending meals, cards, or visits.
• Keep a prayer journal to track answered prayers and grow your faith over time.

Conclusion

Healing is rarely instant, but hope can be immediate the moment we choose to pray. These 100 short prayers were written to give you words when you have none, comfort when you feel helpless, and faith when the road to recovery feels long. Whether you are praying for yourself, a friend, or someone you love deeply, remember that every prayer matters, no matter how short. Return to this list whenever you need it, share it with someone who is struggling, and let it remind you that healing, comfort, and hope are always within reach through prayer.

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