Baruch 1:11
10 They said: Here we send you money; so buy with the money burnt offerings and sin offerings and incense, and prepare a grain offering, and offer them on the altar of the Lord our God; 11 and pray for the life of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and for the life of his son Belshazzar, so that their days on earth may be like the days of heaven. 12 The Lord will give us strength, and light to our eyes; we shall live under the protection of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and under the protection of his son Belshazzar, and we shall serve them many days and find favor in their sight. 13 Pray also for us to the Lord our God, for we have sinned against the Lord our God, and to this day the anger of the Lord and his wrath have not turned away from us. 14 And you shall read aloud this scroll that we are sending you, to make your confession in the house of the Lord on the days of the festivals and at appointed seasons.
1 Timothy 2:2
1 First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, 2 even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, 4 since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human,
Notes and References
"... The primary emphasis could be on verse 2. Prayers for the prosperity of secular leaders were common in Judaism (Ezra 6:9–10; Baruch 1:11; 1 Maccabees 7:33; Letter of Aristeas 44–45; Pirke Avot 3.2; compare Jeremiah 29:7; Philo, Against Flaccus 524; Legatio ad Gaium 157, 317; Josephus Jewish Wars 2.17.1) ... and were encouraged by Paul (Titus 3:1; Romans 13:1) and others (1 Peter 2:14, 17). This practice becomes even more significant when it is remembered that Nero (A.D. 54–68) was emperor (assuming Pauline authorship) ..."
Mounce, William D. Word Biblical Commentary: Pastoral Epistles (p. 80) Zondervan, 2009