Imitation 3 4627 verses
1“My Son, stand fast and believe in Me.
2For what are words but words?
3They fly through the air, but they bruise no stone.
4If thou are guilty, think how thou wouldst gladly amend thyself; if thou knowest nothing against thyself, consider that thou wilt gladly bear this for God’s sake.
5It is little enough that thou sometimes hast to bear hard words, for thou art not yet able to bear hard blows.
6And wherefore do such trivial matters go to thine heart, except that thou art yet carnal, and regardest men more than thou oughtest?
7For because thou fearest to be despised, thou art unwilling to be reproved for thy faults, and seekest paltry shelters of excuses.
8“But look better into thyself, and thou shalt know that the world is still alive in thee, and the vain love of pleasing men.
9For when thou fleest away from being abased and confounded for thy faults, it is plain that thou art neither truly humble nor truly dead to the world, and that the world is not crucified to thee.
10But hearken to My word, and thou shalt not care for ten thousand words of men.
11Behold, if all things could be said against thee which the utmost malice could invent, what should it hurt thee if thou wert altogether to let it go, and make no more account of it than of a mote?
12Could it pluck out a single hair of thy head?
13“But he that hath no heart within him, and hath not God before his eyes, is easily moved by a word of reproach; but he who trusteth in Me, and seeketh not to abide by his own judgment, shall be free from the fear of men.
14For I am the Judge and the Discerner of all secrets; I know how the thing hath been done; I know both the injurer and the bearer.
15From Me went forth that word, by My permission this hath happened, ‘that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’ I shall judge the guilty and the innocent; but beforehand I have willed to try them both by a secret judgment.
16“The testimony of men often deceiveth.
17My judgment is true; it will stand, and it shall not be overturned.
18It commonly lieth hid, and only to few in certain cases is it made known; yet it never erreth, nor can err, although it seem not right to the eyes of foolish men.
19To Me, therefore, must men have recourse in all judgment, and must not lean to their opinion.
20For ‘there shall no evil happen to the just,’ whatsoever may be sent to him by God.
21Even though some unjust charge be brought against him, he will care little; nor, again, will he exult above measure, if through others he be clearly vindicated.
22For he considereth that I am ‘He who try the hearts and reins,’ who judge not outwardly and according to human appearance; for often in Mine eyes that is found blameworthy which in the judgment of men is held worthy of praise.”
23O Lord God, O Judge, just, strong, and patient, who knowest the frailty and sinfulness of men, be Thou my strength and my whole confidence; for my own conscience sufficeth me not.
24Thou knowest what I know not; and therefore ought I under all rebuke to humble myself, and to bear it meekly.
25Therefore mercifully forgive me as often as I have not done this, and grant me the next time the grace of greater endurance.
26For better unto me is Thine abundant pity for the attainment of Thy pardon, than the righteousness which I believe myself to have for defence against my conscience, which lieth wait against me.
27Although “I know nothing against myself, yet I am not hereby justified,” because if Thy mercy were removed away, “in Thy sight should no man living be justified.”
