BOOK OF PRAYER

Tenets of Prayer Prayer 1 Prayer 2 Prayer 3 Prayer 4 Prayer 5 Prayer 6
Prayer 7 Prayer 8 Prayer 9 Prayer 10 Prayer 11 Prayer 12 Prayer 13 Prayer 14
Prayer 15 Prayer 16 Prayer 17 Prayer 18 Prayer 19 Prayer 20 Prayer 21 Prayer 22
Prayer 23 Prayer 24 Prayer 25 Prayer 26 Prayer 27 Prayer 28 Prayer 29 Prayer 30
Prayer 31 Prayer 32 Prayer 33 Prayer 34 Prayer 35 Prayer 36 Prayer 37 Prayer 38
Prayer 39 Prayer 40 Prayer 41 Prayer 42 Prayer 43 Prayer 44 Prayer 45 Prayer 46
Prayer 47 Prayer 48 Prayer 49 Prayer 50 Prayer 51 Prayer 52 Prayer 53 Prayer 54
Prayer 55 Prayer 56 Prayer 57 Prayer 58 Prayer 59 Prayer 60 Prayer 61 Prayer 62
Prayer 63 Prayer 64 Prayer 65 Prayer 66 Prayer 67 Prayer 68 Prayer 69 Prayer 70
Prayer 71 Prayer 72 Prayer 73 Prayer 74 Prayer 75 Prayer 76 Prayer 77 Prayer 78
Prayer 79 Prayer 80 Prayer 81 Prayer 82 Prayer 83 Prayer 84 Prayer 85 Prayer 86
Prayer 87 Prayer 88 Prayer 89 Prayer 90 Prayer 91 Prayer 92 Prayer 93 Prayer 94
Prayer 95 Colophon

Prayer 62

Speaking with God from the Depths of the Heart

Now, why should I not add to the Psalms I have quoted
passages from the Prophets?
But what pleasure is there from nourishment
if my sense of taste is numbed by pain as I eat?
And what advantage can I derive from the Psalms
if I cannot take them to heart?
For I curse myself with them, but I do not know it.
I am cleansed, but I do not glisten.
The sun dawns, but I am not enlightened.
I eat honey but am not sweetened.
I am filled with balm but am not cured.
I rise early for prayers each day and return
empty handed.
I am mocked endlessly but never learn.
I am warned but do not come to my senses.

Truly, my sin and lawlessness dwell in me
and I am worn away by them,
as the Prophet said of the transgressors,¹
and the Lord taught in the parable
of the new wine in old casks.²
For as Isaiah foretold,
“Rebels and sinners shall be destroyed together.”³
And the same is in store for me, wretch that I am,
for I recite the psalm, “The Lord abundantly requites
those who act haughtily,” ⁴
to which I link the prophecy,
“The Lord has a day against all who are proud
and haughty,” ⁵ when I recite,
“The wicked go astray from the womb . . .”⁶
and I add, “Let the wicked of the earth be destroyed”
and “the haughty be wiped from the earth”⁷
and “the unjust shall be uprooted from the earth.”⁸

Weep for me when you read,
“As the tongue of fire devours the dry grass,
so shall sinners be consumed in the furious flames.”⁹
Weep for me also at the psalm, saying,
“Let burning coals fall upon them.”¹⁰
And pray I might be pardoned from divine judgment,
foretold by the Prophet, “If you refuse to heed me,
you shall be devoured by the sword.”¹¹

Weep at this psalm:
“Death shall be their shepherd.”¹²
Prepare salty tears mixed with the sighs of my heart,
when the Lord on high says to me, along
with Israel, “My people did not listen to me.”¹³

Sigh “alas!” for me, when another Prophet says the same:
“Woe to them, for they have strayed from me!”¹⁴

Trumpet the words of the heart, heavy before crying,
when God who sees all puts me to shame,
reprimanding me with the insolent house of Jacob,
“Look, you, wicked nations, and see; wonder and
be astounded.”¹⁵

O great God, reconsider and withhold the terrible
sword of your righteous anger,
menacingly raised over me.
I am fear-stricken before you
as you extend the bounteous care of
your right hand over me.
Bestow the anointing oil of life
upon your supplicant. And glory to you
in heaven on high, and from mortals
on earth below, throughout all the nations
and reaches of the earth,
forever,
Amen.

___________________
1. Is. 59:12.
2. Mt. 9:17.
3. Is. 1:28.
4. Ps. 31 (Arm 30): 23.
5. Is. 2:12.
6. Ps. 58 (Arm 57):3.
7. Is. 16:10, Ps. 104 (Arm 103):35.
8. Pr. 2:22.
9. Is. 5:24.
10. Ps. 140 (Arm 139): 10.
11. Is. 1:20.
12. Ps. 49 (Arm 48): 15.
13. Ps. 81 (Arm 80): 11.
14. Hos. 7:13.
15. Hab. 1:20.

Acknowledgements:

Source: St. Gregory of Narek
Provided by: Thomas J. Samuelian