2 Who will station whipsto keep my thoughts in lineand set the discipline of wisdomover my heart,so that I might not be spared my faultsdue to ignoranceand my sins not go unnoticed?
3 Otherwise, my acts of ignorancemight multiply,and my sins might increase,and I’ll fall before my adversaries,and my enemy will rejoice over me.
4 Lord, Father, God of my life,don’t let me have prideful eyes;
5 turn desire away from me.
6 Don’t allow gluttony or sexual desireto overtake me,and don’t hand me overto a shameless spirit.
7 Listen, my children, to instructionabout your mouth;whoever follows my instructionwill never succumb to it.
8 The lips of sinners will seize themand make abusersand the arrogant stumble.