A Spiritual Psalter
or Reflections on God
from the writings of
Saint Ephraim the Syrian
73
I am exceedingly vile, but, according to Thy mercy, grant that I may repent, and deliver me from condemnation.
Unto Thee do I cry, O Lord; despise not my pitiful supplication. Unto Thee do I stretch forth my defiled hands. Cast not away me who repent, but regard me with Thy love for men and accept me with Thine ardent kindness.
I have defiled myself with the sensuality of sin, disgraced the beauty of my soul, enslaved myself to carnal desires, destroyed the former dominion by heeding the libelous enemy, darkened the radiance of my nature; and, though I was honored to be counted as a son of God, I have made myself like unto the unreasoning beasts.
Terror, fear and trembling embrace me when I imagine the harvest of death that imperceptibly approaches us all; yet I remain incorrigible. Be merciful to me, O Lover of men! In Thee alone do I lay all my hope. Grant that I might repent and be corrected and bring forth the fruits of repentance, that when the end comes I may not be cut down like a fruitless tree, or thrown into the fire like weeds; but like wheat may I be gathered into Thy storehouse.
I bow my knee and heart, and dare not look upon heaven. Accept the supplication of unclean lips, O mine only Sinless Creator! Thou, O King of all, Who hast overthrown mutinous Belial, deliver me from all manner of iniquity. When they behold my conversion, angels and mortals will celebrate Thy glory.
I have scorned Thy life-giving commandments and been seduced by shameful deeds; but, Good Master, disdain not to deliver me from the Evil One’s slavery.
I have made myself wholly a slave of the sins of sensuality; I have defiled body and soul. Daily do I cry: I have sinned, yet I cease not to engage in vile acts. And now I stand before Thee as one condemned.
Grant me, O Good One, forgiveness of my wicked deeds, for Thou art a kindhearted and man-befriending God.