Wisdom of Ben Sira 23:1-3

New Catholic Bible

¹ O Lord, Father and Master of my life,
    do not abandon me to their control,
    and do not permit me to fall because of them.
² Who will administer whips to my thoughts
    and the discipline of wisdom to my mind,
lest my failings may be spared
    or any sins of mine be overlooked,
³ lest my failings be multiplied
    and my sins abound,
lest I succumb to my adversaries
    and my enemy gloat over me?
[For hope of receiving mercy from them is remote.]^[a]