SIRACH'S PRAYER FOR A HAPPY AND TEMPERATE LIFE.
Zweierlei bitt ich von dir
7,7,7,7,7,7,7
Twofold, Father! is my pray'r,
Twofold the desire I there
Lay before Thee, who dost give
What's good for us to receive;
Grant the pray'r that Thou dost know,
Ere my soul to Thee must go
From the body's bands below.
Grant that far from me may be
Lying and idolatry;
Poverty immoderate
Give me not, nor riches great;
Too great wealth or poverty
Is not good, for either may
'Neath the devil's pow'r us lay.
Give to me, my Saviour! give
Modest portion while I live;
Evermore supply my need,
Giving me my daily bread;
Little, with contented mood,
And a conscience pure and good,
Is the best can be bestow'd.
If my cup should overflow,
Proud in spirit I might grow,
Thee deny with scornful word,
Asking who is God and Lord?
For the heart with pride doth swell,
Often knows not when 'tis well,
How itself enough t' extol.
Should I bare and naked be,
Sunk in too deep poverty,
Faithless, I might wickedly
Steal my neighbour's property;
Force might use and artifice,
Follow lawless practices,
Never ask what Christian is.
God! my Treasure and my Light,
Neither course for me were right,
Either would dishonour Thee,
Sink me into hell's dark sea;
Therefore, give, Lord! graciously,
What Thy heart designs for me,
Moderate my portion be!
O Gott, mein Schoepfer, edler Fuerst
8,7,8,7,8,7,8,7,7
Creator, Father, Prince of might!
Who life to me art giving,
Unless Thou guid'st my life aright
In vain here am I living.
For while I'm living, I am dead,
To sin devoted ever;
Whose life in mire of sin is led,
The true life he hath never
Beheld one moment even.
Then turn on Thy poor child Thy face,
In darkness do not leave me;
That I may shun sin and disgrace,
Good counsel ever give me!
To keep my lips a guard, Lord, send,
May no word ever leave them
That e'er Thy people could offend
Let nought I say e'er grieve them,
Nor ever Thee dishonour!
Forbid, Father! that mine ear
Upon this earth so evil,
Against Thy name and pow'r should hear
The wicked rage and cavil.
Let not the poison and the gall
Of slanderers defile me;
If I such filth should touch at all
It surely would beguile me,
Might e'en quite overthrow me.
Lord, keep mine eyes, control their glance,
May they work evil never;
A bold and shameless countenance
Keep Thou far from me ever!
What's honest, keeps due boundaries,
What angels seek in heaven,
What is well-pleasing in Thine eyes,
For it by me be striven,
All luxury disdaining.
Oh! may I ne'er delighted be
By revelling and eating;
Be what Thou lov'st belov'd by me,
Though others shun it, hating.
The lusts wherein the flesh doth roll,
To hell will draw us ever;
The joys the world doth love, the soul
And spirit will deliver
To torment everlasting.
Oh! happy he who eats heav'n's bread,
And heav'nly water drinketh,
Who tastes nought else, nought else doth heed,
Nought else desires, and thinketh
Of that alone which strength can bring,
The life we'll live for ever
With God, and with the hosts who sing
His praise, in joy that never
Shall know an interruption.