Rating: 
Summary: Wilkinson's (mis)translation of "cause pain"
Review: I was a bit perplexed, when reviewing every English Bible I could find, that only the NKJV tranlated the pain as to not be caused BY Jabez. Every other translation I consulted makes Jabez the undesired recipient, not the cause, of the pain/sorrow/evil to be avoided. Then I saw that Bruce Wilkinson is listed in "Why the New King James Version?" as a scholar on the NKJV Translators' North American Overview Committee. So it is apparent that he managed to get his own interpretation of the verse inserted into the Version he now, naturally, favors.
After studying the Hebrew, I make the literal translation:
"keep unpleasantness from me, that it not be to me."
It's really streching it to get "that I not cause pain" from that construction; no wonder no other translation does it but the one made by the author of The Prayer of Jabez.
As for the supposed background story that Jabez was postumously born and thus disinherited by his brothers, I havn't been able to track down its source, but since this book itself doesn't mention it, I'll leave it for another review.
Rating: 
Summary: Eisegesis To The Max
Review: This is a textbook example of eisegesis (reading a meaning into the text rather that getting the intended meaning from the text). There is nothing wrong with looking at this prayer, in fact, since it is Scripture, we should examine the passage. Obviously, according to the text, God found Jabez honorable and his prayer at least somewhat legitimate, and in line with His will, so He granted Jabez's request. That's about all we can get from the passage using exegesis (getting the meaning of the passage by reading it as the author intended it to be read).If you are looking for some practical principles of prayer, especially if you are a new Christian, check out the book, "The Prayer of Jesus" by Hank Hannegraff. It's 96 very short pages long, and very readable. He is a meticulous student of the Word, and acurately expounds on the TRUE principles of prayer laid out by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the prayer pattern we have come to refer to as "The Lord's Prayer".
Rating:
Summary: speechless
Review: I'm not one to follow trends but with all the hype, I had to see for myself what was so great about this little book. I couldn't believe this author wrote what he did. Is he truly a Christian? He turned a simple prayer into a list of selfish requests for wealth and other material things. Yes, God will bless us, we just have to ask but it is according to His will, not ours. Not only that, but blessings may not come in the form of material things but in spiritual things. And the Bible clearly says to leave this world behind and want only the treasures of Heaven. Wealth, land, popularity, all those things will mean nothing in the end and to write a book about praying for such things, goes against everything I know as a Christian. God will provide for our needs. I'm afraid this book will mislead many people and cause them to lose faith when their prayers aren't "answered".
Rating:
Summary: Sugar Coated Theology
Review: After careful study of this book I have found that it is not only thelogically emptey but it uses a minority translation to establish its premise. That somehow this prayer which is not found in any of the Lord Jesus's discourse on Prayer is a wonderous solution for getting closer to God. If so, then why, when Jesus's disciples asked Him to teach them to pray did He not just say, "He guys, go with the Prayer of Jabez." A better book by far, is written by Mike Nappa, "The Prayer of Jesus". If you want to get closer to God get Mr. Nappa's book and read it alongside your Bible. If you want to waste your time on trivia read the Prayer of Jabez but don't use your Bible alongside it, there will be an obvious lack of truth involved in comparing it to the Scriptures. You may have to order Mr. Nappa's book but it is well worth it. If you want empety sugar coated theology get the Jabez book, if you want "Meat and Potatoes" substance stay away from it and order Prayer of Jesus by Nappa.
Rating:
Summary: DITTO
Review: To all those reviewers who gave this book 1 star. You've spoken well. To you I say ditto!
Rating:
Summary: This book stinks. I'm still not wealthy or powerful!
Review: I prayed for a million dollars, a promotion and a political seat of power. I still can't believe God didn't answer my prayers. Wilkinson's instructions must be flawed. I know God would never intentionally ignore my selfless request because I'm a Christian.
Rating:
Summary: Don't buy this LEMON!
Review: More of the "prosperity gospel" non-sense! Don't buy this lemon and don't treat God as if he were some magic jinni. The rain falls on the just and unjust alike. Live life as it happens to you, not by trying to use some secret prayer to manipulate the world around you. Our petty desires are not God's responsibility to fulfill. You want your life to be better? Work hard and formulate a plan of action. Love your neighbor. In closing, realize this: The Prayer of Jabez has spun off into books for teens and women, workbooks,etc. It has become a money making industry in and of itself, the publishers are getting rich. How very spiritual...
Rating:
Summary: absolute Junk
Review: as a student of the Bible I must say this book is based on superficial Biblical interpretation.The exegesis of the verse in question which this book is based on leaves much to be desired.Mr.wilkinson has put out some good books in the past but this ranks as the on the most heretical to come out in recent years.To say that they have discovered a secret prayer found hidden in the Bible after centuries of the greatest scholars and minds of christendom who incidently found no such thing is tantamount to heresy in my opinion.As followers of Jesus we must read Gods word and search it just as the Bereans did to check to see if it of the truth.It says in 2 timothy 4:3&4 especially verse 4 "and they shall turn away their ears from the truth,and shall be turned unto fables." Please read Your Holy Bibles seek diligently after the truth and may God Bless you and keep your paths straight.
Rating: 
Summary: MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
Review: My goodness, what a stir this book has made among my fellow reviewers. I think, perhaps, some of you have used this as
a 'Preaching Platform!" Yes?
There is nothing evil about this book. It is a book about a
simple prayer, that can in no way harm you by saying it, and if
it helps you.....hey! Good for you!
The main thing is to get to know who God is YOURSELF....and if
He tells you to pray the prayer, do it, and if He doesn't don't!
I think the author did an excellent job in explaining the prayer
of Jabez and in offering the information to others.
To me this book is thumbs up!
Rating:
Summary: Bless Me Indeed (Prayer of Jabez) Needed
Review: This book is from none other than the verse in the Bible where Jabez beckons God to bless him indeed, to enlarge his territory. The book breaks down each portion of the relatively short Bible verse, analyzes it and then applie it to life. The author provides his opinion on various elements of the saying itself. This book can be understood by all because it is learning how to be blessed in so many dimensions of life- not just financially (which people too often think about related to blessings) but also spiritually, emotionally, mentally and in actions. This is an all around, all area inclusive book about blessings. We all need to be blessed and for our territories (all that we come across) to be anointed positively by God and for no evil or harm to come our way.
Also, as a compliment to this book it would be nice to check out the song called PRAYER OF JABEZ (BLESS ME INDEED) by Gospel, inspirational artist, DONALD LAWRENCE. This book is truly a blessing indeed.
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