Imitation 2 519 verses
1We cannot place too little confidence in ourselves, because grace and understanding are often lacking to us.
2Little light is there within us, and what we have we quickly lose by negligence.
3Oftentimes we perceive not how great is our inward blindness.
4We often do ill and excuse it worse.
5Sometimes we are moved by passion and count it zeal; we blame little faults in others and pass over great faults in ourselves.
6Quickly enough we feel and reckon up what we bear at the hands of others, but we reflect not how much others are bearing from us.
7He who would weigh well and rightly his own doings would not be the man to judge severely of another.
8The spiritually-minded man putteth care of himself before all cares; and he who diligently attendeth to himself easily keepeth silence concerning others.
9Thou wilt never be spiritually minded and godly unless thou art silent concerning other men’s matters and take full heed to thyself.
10If thou think wholly upon thyself and upon God, what thou seest out of doors shall move thee little.
11Where art thou when thou art not present to thyself?
12and when thou hast overrun all things, what hath it profited thee, thyself being neglected?
13If thou wouldst have peace and true unity, thou must put aside all other things, and gaze only upon thyself.
14Then thou shalt make great progress if thou keep thyself free from all temporal care.
15Thou shalt lamentably fall away if thou set a value upon any worldly thing.
16Let nothing be great, nothing high, nothing pleasing, nothing acceptable unto thee, save God Himself or the things of God.
17Reckon as altogether vain whatsoever consolation comes to thee from a creature.
18The soul that loveth God looketh not to anything that is beneath God.
19God alone is eternal and incomprehensible, filling all things, the solace of the soul, and the true joy of the heart.
