Another interpretation of prayer for the poor who is suffering. Rabbi Pinchas said in the name of Rabbi Reuben, "I cannot understand David's state of mind. Sometimes he calls himself poor, and sometimes he calls himself David. But when he saw righteous people like Asa, Hezekiah, and Josiah standing before him, he called himself David.
And when he saw wicked people like Ahaz, Ammon, and Manasseh standing before him, he called himself poor." Rabbi Samuel said in the name of Rabbi Nathan, "In reference to Manasseh, they said a prayer for the poor who is suffering because he was poor in good deeds." Rabbi Alexandri said in reference to the prayer, "They said, 'When the one who comes to beg approaches her, let him kneel down like it says, 'And it shall be that the one who kneels down.'"
"And only prayer is called kneeling down, as it says, 'My soul is bowed down upon me.'" Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yossi disagreed on when a person should make their requests known before praying. One said a person should make their requests first, and then pray, as it says, "Prayer for the poor who is suffering." "When will this be?
When he kneels down." The other said a person should pray first, and then make their requests known, as it says, "I will pour out my thoughts before Him, and I will relate my troubles to Him." And there is no conversation except prayer, as it says, "Isaac went out to converse in the field towards evening." Rabbi Zeira said in the name of Rav Huna, "Everyone agrees that he makes his requests known in the presence of one who listens to prayer, as it says, 'Hear my prayer.'"...