Prayers by the Lake by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich
Prayer XXIX
For all the sins of men I repent before You, Most Merciful Lord. Indeed, the seeds of all sins flow in my blood! With my effort and Your mercy I choke this wicked crop of weeds day and night, so that no tare may sprout in the field of the Lord, but only pure wheat.
I repent for all those who are worried, who stagger under a burden of worries and do not know that they should put all their worries on You. For feeble man even the most minor worry is unbearable, but for You a mountain of worries is like a snowball thrown into a fiery furnace.
I repent for all the sick, for sickness is the fruit of sin. When the soul is cleansed with repentance, sickness disappears with sin, and You, my Eternal Health, take up Your abode in the soul.
I repent for unbelievers, who through their unbelief amass worries and sicknesses both on themselves and on their friends.
I repent for all those who blaspheme God, who blaspheme against You without knowing that they are blaspheming against the Master, who close them and feeds them.
I repent for all the slayers of men, who take the life of another to preserve their own. Forgive them, Most Merciful Lord, for they know not what they do. For they do not know that there are not two lives in the universe, but one, and that there are not two men in the universe, but one. Ah, how dead are those who cut the heart and have!
I repent for all those who bear false witness, for in reality they are homicides and suicides.
For all my brothers who are thieves and who are hoarders of unneeded wealth I weep inside, for they have buried their soul and have nothing with which to go forth before You.
For all the arrogant and the boastful I weep inside, for before You they are like beggars with empty pockets.
For all drunkards and gluttons I weep inside, for they have become servants of their servants.
For all adulterers I repent, for they have betrayed the trust of the Holy Spirit, who chose them to form a new life through them. Instead, they turned serving life into destroying life.
For all gossipers I repent, for they have turned Your most precious gift, the gift of speech, into cheap sand.
For all those who destroyed their neighbors health and home and their neighbors piece I repent inside, for they bring a curse on themselves and their people.
For all lying tongues, for all suspicious eyes, for all raging hearts, for all insatiable stomachs, for all darkened minds, for all ill will, for all and seemingly thoughts, for all murderous emotions – – I repent, weep and side.
For all the history of mankind from Adam to me, a sinner, I repent; for all history is in my blood. For I am Adam and Adam is in me.
For all the world's, large and small, that do not tremble before Your awesome presence, I weep and I cry out: oh Master Most Merciful, have mercy on me and save me!"
O All-Holy spirit, blow and disperse the unclean stench from the soul of the penitent that has been choking him and lead him to repentance.
We bow down and beseech You, O Life-giving and Mighty Spirit!
____
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
Open to me the doors of repentance, o Lifegiver;
For my spirit rises early to pray towards Thy holy Temple,
bearing the temple of my body all defiled
But in Thy compassion, deliver me purify me by the lovingkindness of Thy mercy.
Now and ever and to ages of ages, Amen.
Lead me on the paths of salvation, o Mother of God,
for I have profaned my soul with shameful sins,
and have wasted my life in laziness.
But, by your intercessions, deliver me from all impurity.
Have mercy on me, o God, according to Thy great goodness, and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, blot out my transgressions.
When I think of the many evil things I have done, wretch that I am, I tremble at the fearful day of judgment. But trusting in thy lovingkindness, like David I cry to Thee:
Have mercy on me, o God, according to Thy great mercy.
