Ben Sira 23:1-8

1 O Lord, Father and Ruler of my life, do not abandon me to their counsel, and let me not fall because of them!
2 O that whips were set over my thoughts, and the discipline of wisdom over my mind! That they may not spare me in my errors, and that it may not pass by my sins;
3 in order that my mistakes may not be multiplied, and my sins may not abound; then I will not fall before my adversaries, and my enemy will not rejoice over me.
4 O Lord, Father and God of my life, do not give me haughty eyes
5 and remove from me evil desire.
6 Let neither gluttony nor lust overcome me, and do not surrender me to a shameless soul.
7 Listen, my children, to instruction concerning speech; the one who observes it will never be caught.
8 The sinner is overtaken through his lips, the reviler and the arrogant are tripped by them.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.