Let me fight and live down my misfortunes

The farmer knows not what the year will bring forth on his field. Men know not what will befall them. Many a misfortune comes upon men unawares. When fortune plays them false, difficulties assault them from all sides and dangers come from all directions. Life heaps woe upon woe on them. Misfortune weighs heavily upon their minds and depress their spirits. They cannot bear the troubles that gather about them. They bend and break beneath the yoke of misfortune. Life to them is a long-drawn agony.

Tenderhearted persons cannot get over their misfortunes that overtake them. Grief eats and devours their hearts. They drain the cut of sorrow to the dregs. Their eyes are always dim with tears. They wring their hands and beat their breasts and sob their hearts out. They weep to relieve the pent up passions of their hearts. They cry unto thee, Ahura Mazda, flee unto thee and fall at thy feet and between their misfortune. Thou dost call them by their names and fold them in thy arms and whisper words of comfort in their ears and soothe them into quietude.

The anguish of the miserable of the world is such as would break heart of stone. Hard would be the heart that would not break at the sight of their woe. Callous would be the heart that would not weep when they weep. Thou, Ahura Mazda, has put pity in the hearts of men and women, who are ready to shed tears of genuine sympathy for the miserable and help them and lift the unbearable burden of their sorrow and suffering.

Many of the misfortunes of men arise from their idleness and extravagance and misconduct. Many that have seen better days waste their fortunes in wanton pleasure and debasing sensualities of gluttonous feasting and carousing. Much of the destitution and wretchedness of the poor and the needy are due to social maladjustments.

Thou, Ahura Mazda, dost hear the agony of the hearts of the miserable. Thy arms are always open to receive and comfort them. Thou dost lay thy hand upon the deep wounds of their hearts and pour thy health-restoring balm upon them that their heartache may leave them. Thou art the joy of the sorrowing and the suffering.

Misfortunes add years to my age. When adversity afflicts me and difficulties depress me and trouble distress me and calamities cast me down, lead me, my merciful God, by thy hand and support me by thy arm. When visitations of sorrows and sufferings wear out my heart, help me to uphold it with thy strength. Thou art my sure shelter and shield in the days of my misfortune.

Give me patience to bear misfortune that I may be fated to endure. Embolden me to rise above my misfortune and to bear it with fortitude. Let me walk fearless in the thick of misfortune. Help me to play the man in the face of misfortune, Ahura Mazda.

This page was last updated on Tuesday, August 01, 2000.