Instruct
me from heaven, and give help so that I reign by Thy grace,
without which even the wisest among the sons of men can think
nothing rightly. Send therefore, O inexhaustible Fount of all
wisdom, from Thy holy heaven and the most high throne of Thy
majesty, Thy wisdom to be ever with me, that it may keep watch
with me in governing the commonwealth, and that it may take pains,
that it may teach me, Thy handmaid, and may train me that I may be
able to distinguish between good and evil, equity and iniquity, so
as rightly to judge Thy people, justly to impose deserved
punishments on those who do harm, mercifully to protect the
innocent, freely to encourage those who are industrious and useful
to the commonwealth. And besides, that I may know what is
acceptable to Thee alone, vouchsafe that I wish, dare, and can
perform it without paying respect to any earthly persons or
things. So that when Thou Thyself, the just Judge, who askest many
and great things from those to whom many and great things are
entrusted, when Thou requirest an exact accounting, charge me not
with badly administering my commonwealth and kingdom. But if by
human thoughtlessness or infirmity Thy handmaid strays from the
right in some thing, absolve me of it by Thy mercy, most high King
and most mild Father, for the sake of Thy Son Jesus Christ; and at
the same time grant that after this worldly kingdom has been
exacted of me, I may enjoy with Thee an eternity in Thy heavenly
and unending kingdom, through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son and
the Assessor of Thy kingdom, our Lord and Mediator.
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