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Christian Prayers (Betbüchlein)/Book 1 · Christliche Gebet (Betbüchlein)
Chapter 33Haberm.1.33

Gebet eines Kranken

A Prayer for Strength in Sickness

The petitioner appeals to God's faithfulness and mercy to provide the strength necessary to endure the burden of illness.

O Lord, heavenly Father, you are a faithful God, and you do not let anyone be tempted beyond what they can bear; instead, you make the trial end so that they can endure it. I ask you in my great distress and pain: don't let the cross become too heavy for me; strengthen me, so that I may bear it with patience and never despair of your mercy.

An Appeal to the Triune God

The prayer shifts to a direct plea for Christ's mercy and the Holy Spirit's comfort as the petitioner prepares for the end of life.

O Christ, Son of the living God, you who suffered the pain of the cross for me and at last died for my sins: I cry out to you from the depths of my heart—have mercy on me, a poor sinner; forgive me every wrong I have done against you in my whole life; don't let me sink in the faith.1 O God, Holy Spirit, true Comforter in every need: keep me in patience and right prayer; sanctify me in true confidence; and don't leave me in my final distress—lead me out of this valley of tears into the true homeland!2 Amen.

Read the original Latin

O Herr, himmlischer Vater, du bist ein getreuer Gott, und lässest niemand über sein Vermögen versuchet werden, sondern schaffest, dass die Versuchung also ein Ende gewinne, dass er’s ertragen kann. Ich bitte dich in meinen großen Nöten und Schmerzen, lass mir das Kreuz nicht so schwer werden, stärke mich, dass ich’s mit Geduld ertragen möge und an deiner Barmherzigkeit nimmermehr verzage. O Christe, des lebendigen Gottes Sohn, der du des Kreuzes Pein für mich gelitten hast, und endlich für meine Sünd’ gestorben bist, zu dir rufe ich aus Grund meines Herzens, erbarme dich über mich armen Sünder, vergib mir alle meine Misshandlung, die ich wider dich in meinem ganzen Leben getan habe, lass mich im Glauben nicht sinken. O Gott Heiliger Geist, du wahrer Tröster in aller Not, erhalte mich in der Geduld und rechten Anrufung, heilige mich in wahrer Zuversicht, und weiche nicht von mir in meiner letzten Not, leite mich aus diesem Jammertal in das rechte Vaterland! Amen.

Scripture echoes

  1. 1Cor.10.13No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out, so that you may be able to endure it.

Notes

  1. 1Misshandlung rendered as “wrong” (offenses against God); older German can mean mistreatment/injury as well as moral wrongdoing.
  2. 2Jammertal rendered as “valley of tears” (traditional liturgical sense); rechte Vaterland as “true homeland” for the heavenly country.

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