1. I lifted up my bands in righteousness, and blessed the holy, and the
Great One. I spoke with the breath of my mouth, and with a tongue of
flesh, which God has formed for all the sons of mortal men, that with it
they may speak; giving them breath, a mouth, and a tongue to converse
with.
2. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the King, great and powerful in thy
greatness, Lord of all the creatures of heaven, King of kings, God of
the whole world, whose reign, whose kingdom, and whose majesty endure
for ever and ever.
3. From generation to generation shall thy dominion _exist_. All the
heavens are thy throne for ever, and all the earth thy footstool for
ever and for ever.
4. For thou hast made _them_, and over all thou reignest. No act
whatsoever exceeds thy power. With thee wisdom is unchangeable; nor from
thy throne and from thy presence is it ever averted. Thou knowest all
things, seest and hearest them; nor is anything concealed from thee; for
thou perceivest all things.
5. The angels of thy heavens have transgressed; and on mortal flesh
shall thy wrath remain,[198] until the day of the great judgment.
6. Now then, O God, Lord and mighty King, I entreat thee, and beseech
thee to grant my prayer, that a posterity may be left to me on earth,
and that the whole human race may not perish;
7. That the earth may not be left destitute, and destruction take place
for ever.
8. O my Lord, let the race perish from off the earth which has offended
thee, but a righteous and upright race establish for a posterity[199]
for ever. Hide not thy face, O Lord, from the prayer of thy servant.
Footnote 198:
_be._
Footnote 199:
_the plant of a seed._