Chapter 36

This is my prayer to thee, my lord---strike, strike at the root of penury¹ in my heart.
 
Give me the strength lightly to bear my joys and sorrows.
 
Give me the strength to make my love fruitful in service.
 
Give me the strength never to disown the poor or bend my knees before insolent² might.
 
Give me the strength to raise my mind high above daily trifles.
 
And give me the strength to surrender my strength to thy will with love.
 
这是我对你的祈求，我的主――请你铲除，铲除我心里贫乏的根源．
 
赐给我力量使我能轻闲地承受欢乐与忧伤．
 
赐给我力量使我的爱在服务中得到果实．
 
赐给我力量使我永不抛弃穷人也永不向淫威屈膝．
 
赐给我力量使我的心灵超越于日常琐事之上．
 
再赐给我力量使我满怀爱意地把我的力量服从你意志的指挥．

1 penury   

n.贫穷，拮据

参考例句：

• Hardship and penury wore him out before his time.受穷受苦使他未老先衰。
• A succession of bad harvest had reduced the small farmer to penury.连续歉收使得这个小农场主陷入了贫困境地。

2 insolent   

adj.傲慢的，无理的

参考例句：

• His insolent manner really got my blood up.他那傲慢的态度把我的肺都气炸了。
• It was insolent of them to demand special treatment.他们要求给予特殊待遇，脸皮真厚。