O Lord Jesus Christ . . . .

    be merciful and forgive me, Your unworthy servant,

    if somehow I have sinned this day as a human,

    or rather as an inhuman.

Forgive my voluntary and involuntary sins,

    the ones I committed in knowledge or in ignorance,

    the ones that have been done

    out of evil influences and carelessness

    and my great indolence and negligence.

Forgive me, O Lord,

    if I have taken an oath by Your holy name

    or if I have violated my oath;

    if I have sworn in my mind

    or if I have somehow irritated You;

    if I have stolen

    or if I have lied;

    if a friend came to me and I ignored him

    or if I have distressed and embittered my brother . . . .

    if I looked upon vain beauty

    and my mind was attracted by it;

    if I was overly talkative about improper things

    or if I busied myself with faults of my brother

    and condemned him

    while overlooking my own innumerable faults;

    if I have neglected my prayer

    of if I have brought to mind any other evil thing.

Forgive me, O God,

    your useless servant,

    all these and whatever other things

    I have done and do not remember.

Have mercy on me, O Lord,

    for You are good and You love mankind,

    so that I, the prodigal one,

    may go to bed and fall asleep

    glorifying You,

    together with the Father

    and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit,

    now and ever and unto the ages of ages.

Amen.

St. Ephrem the Syrian c. 306-378, Syrian hymn writer and theologian

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