Bless my enemies, O Lord. I, too, bless them and do not curse them.
Enemies have pushed me into Thine embrace more than friends have. Friends have bound me to the earth; enemies have loosed me from the earth, and have torn down all my hopes in the earth.
They have made me a stranger in earthly kingdoms, and a needless inhabitant of the earth. As a hunted beast finds surer shelter than one unhunted, so I, hunted by enemies, have found the surest shelter, hiding myself beneath Thy tabernacle, where neither friends nor enemies can destroy my soul. Bless my enemies, O Lord. I, too, bless them, and do not curse them.
They, in my stead, have confessed my sins before the world.
They have scourged me, when I shrank from scourging myself.
They have tormented me, when I fled from torments. They have reviled me, when I flattered myself.
They have spat upon me, when I was filled with pride at myself.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. I, too, bless them, and do not curse them.
When I made myself out to be wise, they called me a fool.
When I made myself out to be mighty, they laughed at me as at a dwarf.
When I wished to lead men, they thrust me into the background.
When I hastened to enrich myself, they beat me back with an iron hand.
When I thought to sleep in peace, they roused me from sleep.
When I built a house for a long and tranquil life, they tore it down and drove me out.
Truly, enemies have loosed me from the world and have stretched my hands out to the hem of Thy garment.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. I, too, bless them, and do not curse them.
Bless them and multiply them; multiply them and embitter them still more against me —
that my flight to Thee may be without return;
that all hope in men may be torn apart like a spider's web;
that humility may reign utterly in my soul;
that my heart may become the grave of my two evil twins: pride and wrath;
that I might lay up all my treasure in heaven;
ah, that I might once be freed from self-delusion, which has entangled me in the dreadful web of deceitful life. Enemies have taught me to know — what few know — that a man has no enemies in the world except himself.
Only he hates enemies who does not know that enemies are not enemies but cruel friends.
Truly, it is hard for me to say who has done me more good and who more evil in this world: friends or enemies.
Therefore bless, O Lord, both my friends and my enemies.
A slave curses enemies, for he does not know. But a son blesses them, for he knows.
For a son knows that his enemies cannot touch his life. Therefore he walks freely among them and prays to God for them;
Bless my enemies, O Lord. I, too, bless them, and do not curse them.