We do have Prayers, you know, Prayers for forgiveness,
daughters of mighty Zeus…and they limp and halt,
they’re all wrinkled, drawn, they squint to the side,
can’t look you in the eyes, and always bent on duty,
trudging after Ruin, maddening, blinding Ruin.
But Ruin is strong and swift –
She outstrips them all by far, stealing a march,
leaping over the whole wide earth to bring mankind to grief.
And the Prayers trail after, trying to heal the wounds.
And then, if a man reveres these daughters of Zeus
as they draw near him, they will help him greatly
and listen to his appeals. But if one denies them,
turns them away, stiff-necked and harsh – off they go
to the son of Cronus, Zeus, and pray that Ruin
will strike the man down, crazed and blinded
until he’s paid the price.

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 9, lines 609-624. The charioteer Phoenix pleads with Achilles to relent on his vow not to fight for the Achaeans against the Trojans until Agamemnon has assuaged his honor. He asks him not to dishonor Prayers for forgiveness when they come to his door, warning him that Prayers are the daughters of Zeus. If a man denies those daughters, they will go to Zeus and ask him to send Ruin to that man to punish him, he tells Achilles.