At the beginning thou shalt say this thanksgiving, even this, to God Who is not comprehended, Who cannot be searched out, the Lord of Might, the Treasury of Purity.
2Cleanse me by Thy mercy, of thy free bounty upon me, for I am a thing of flesh and blood fleeing to Thee.
3And I know my filthiness and do Thou cleanse me, O Lord!
4For lo! my cause is committed unto Thee, and to Thee I flee for refuge.
5I know my sins, so cleanse me, O Lord, that I may enter into Thy presence with modesty.
6Now are my sins heavy.
7I am near to the fire that burneth.
8Thy mercy is upon all things; take away all my trespasses! forgive me, even me the sinner!
9And forgive all Thy creatures whom Thou hast created who obey not and have not the faith; and as for me, I am grieved for everyone bearing Thine image who meets me’, and towards him are my eyes.
10I have come to Thee, and I am Thy servant, and I am the son of Thy handmaid, the sinner; And Thou art the forgiving One, forgive me of Thy free bounty, and hear my request that I may be deemed worthy to worship at Thy holy altar.
11Let this burnt offering be acceptable with Thee.
12Give me not over to mine ignorance because of my sins; receive me like a lost sheep.
13The God Who led our father Adam and Abel and Noah and our Father Abraham shall be with thee, O Jacob, and shall be with me again; receiving (?) my offering from me.
14And when thou hast drawn near and hast done this before ascending the altar, then offer thy offerings.
15And beware and take heed that thou grieve not the Spirit of the Lord, for the priest’s office is not easy and it is required of all priests from this day till the last of the generations is finished and the world comes to an end, that they be not filled with drinking wine, and be not satisfied with eating bread, and speak not of matters of the world, and listen not to him who speaks of them, but spend all their activities and their life in prayer and watching and perseverance in the religious life, that he may make request to the Lord in peace.
16And it is required of every man upon the earth, be he miserable or be he fortunate, that he keep the testimonies that are appointed.
17Because after a little time they shall be removed from this world and from its grievous anxieties, and shall be engaged in holy angelic service, because of their purity, and stand in the presence of the Lord and His angels because of their pure offerings and angelic service, because their earthly service resembles their occupation in the heavens, and the angels shall be their companions because of their perfect faith and purity.
18And great is their honour in the presence of the Lord, and there is neither small nor great to whom the Lord will not give increase, desiring that he be without fault and without sin.