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Prayers and hymns Epictetus

Final thanksgiving and return of life

Discourses 4.10.14–16 (prayer excerpt)

Original text

Greek

The ancient words

ἃς ἔλαβον ἀφορμὰς παρὰ σοῦ πρὸς τὸ αἰσθέσθαι σου τῆς διοικήσεως καὶ ἀκολουθῆσαι αὐτῇ, τούτων οὐκ ἠμέλησα· οὐ κατῄσχυνά σε τὸ ἐμὸν μέρος. ἰδοῦ, πῶς κέχρημαι ταῖς αἰσθήσεσιν, ἰδοῦ, πῶς ταῖς προλήψεσιν. μή ποτέ σε ἐμεμψάμην, μή τι τῶν γινομένων τινὶ δυσηρέστησα ἢ ἄλλως γενέσθαι ἠθέλησα, μή τι τὰς σχέσεις παρέβην; ὅ με σὺ ἐγέννησας, χάριν ἔχω, ὧν ἔδωκας· ἐφʼ ὅσον ἐχρησάμην τοῖς σοῖς, ἀρκεῖ μοι. πάλιν αὐτὰ ἀπόλαβε καὶ κατάταξον εἰς ἣν θέλεις χώραν. σὰ γὰρ ἦν πάντα, σύ μοι αὐτὰ δέδωκας.

Modern rendering

Close to the words

Literal English · editorial draft

I did not neglect the resources I received from you for understanding your government and following it; for my part, I did not bring shame on you. See how I have used my senses; see how I have used my preconceptions. Did I ever blame you? Was I ever displeased at anything that happened, or wish it to happen otherwise? Did I violate my relationships? I thank you for giving me birth, and for what you gave. The time for which I used your things is enough for me. Take them back again and assign them wherever you wish. For everything was yours; you gave it to me.

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Historical translation

1890 · Source edition ↗

The opportunities which I have received from thee of comprehending and obeying thy administration, I have not neglected. As far as in me lay, I have not dishonored thee. See how I have used my perceptions; how my convictions. Have I at any time found fault with thee? Have I been discontented at thy dispensations, or wished them otherwise? Have I transgressed the relations of life? I thank thee that thou hast brought me into being. I am satisfied with the time that I have enjoyed the things which thou hast given me. Receive them back again, and distribute them as thou wilt; for they were all thine, and thou gavest them to me.

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Sources & notes

Historical editions may include surrounding context or use different phrasing. Parallel columns compare passages; their lines are not word-for-word alignments.

The source review is selective. Additional prototype transcriptions are preserved in the repository pending verification. Editorial method →