On Hearkening
XLI. On Hearkening
1. O God, Who hearkens unto those who pray to You with goodness!
Hearken unto me who asks from You the will
to be able to ensure that You are honoured.
2. You, O God, Who grants particular goods,
hearken unto me who prays to You for the general good,
which is superior to the former in every respect.
3. I pray to God that He let Himself be served
by people out of wisdom and love,
yet I know not whether in this He shall see fit to hearken unto me.
4. With sighs, tears and weeping,
I pray to God that He should give us preachers
who will preach His worth (lit. “values”) throughout the world.
5. God hearkens unto those who pray to Him with truth,
love, fear, patience and humility,
repentance, contrition and piety.
6. God grants <prayers> by forgiving
and <likewise> by giving,
so long as man prays to Him without deceit.
7. God hearkens when He is prayed to
by Christ, the deified man,
because He does everything the latter wishes.
8. Christ willingly hearkens unto His mother,
who daily requests
that He protect us from suffering and <all> impediment.
9. Each one of us has his own saint,
who continually prays on each of our behalves,
for God carries out a great many things according to their will.
10. God hearkens more unto the gracious man
so long as he prays to Him with a humble heart,
than He does to the man that is sinful.