Ben Sira 23:1-9

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.
7 Listen, my children, to instruction concerning the mouth; the one who observes it will never be caught.
8 Sinners are overtaken through their lips; by them the reviler and the arrogant are tripped up.
9 Do not accustom your mouth to oaths, nor habitually utter the name of the Holy One;

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Gk [their]
  • [b]. Other ancient authorities add [From them the hope of your mercy is remote]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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.