Ben Sira 23:1-6

1 O Lord, Father and Master of my life, do not abandon me to their designs, and do not let me fall because of them!

2 Who will set whips over my thoughts, and the discipline of wisdom over my mind, so as not to spare me in my errors, and not overlook my sins?

3 Otherwise my mistakes may be multiplied, and my sins may abound, and I may fall before my adversaries, and my enemy may rejoice over me.

4 O Lord, Father and God of my life, do not give me haughty eyes

5 and remove evil desire from me.

6 Let neither gluttony nor lust overcome me, and do not give me over to shameless passion.

Footnotes

• [a]. Gk [their]
• [b]. Other ancient authorities add [From them the hope of your mercy is remote]