17. GO, sell what you possess and give [it] to the poor (Mk 10:21), and take up your cross  and deny yourself (cf. Mk 8:34) so that you will be able to pray without distraction.

̈ΙΖ´. Ἀπελθὼν πώλησόν σου τὰ ὑπάρχοντα, καὶ δὸς πτωχοῖς, καὶ λαβὼν τὸν σταυρὸν, ἀπάρνησαι ἑαυτὸν, ἵνα δυνηθῇς ἀπερισπάστως προσεύχεσθαι.

18. IF you wish to pray laudably, deny yourself every hour (cf. Lk 9:23), and even if you [pass through] every kind of suffering, study it carefully because of prayer.

̈ΙΗ´.  Εἰ βούλει ἐπαινετῶς προσεύχεσθαι, ἄρνησαι ἑαυτὸν καθ' ὥραν, καὶ πάμπολα δεινὰ πάσχων ὑπὲρ προσευχῆς φιλοσόφει.

19. WHATEVER difficulty you patiently endure while carefully studying [it], you will discover bearing fruit at the time of prayer.

̈ΙΘ´. Ὅπερ ἄν χαλεπὸν ὑπομένων φιλοσοφήσῃς, τούτου τὸν καρπὸν κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τῆς προσευχῆς εὑρήσεις.

20. IF you desire to pray as you ought, do not sadden any soul, otherwise you are running in vain (cf. Gal 2:2, Phil 2:16) 

̈Κ´. 'Επιθυμῶν προσεύξασθι ὡς δεῖ, μὴ λυπήσῃς ψυχὴν, ει δὲ μήγε, εἰς μάτην τρέχεις.

21. LEAVE your gift,” it says, before the altar, and first go away and be reconciled to your brother; (Mt 5:24) and after that you will be able to pray without disturbance. For memory of injury blinds the mind (hegemonikon) of one who prays, and darkens his prayers.

̈21. [T6,1171]  Αφες σου τὸ δῶρον φησὶν ἐμπροσθεν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου καὶ ἀπελθὼν πρότερον διαλλάγηθι τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου, καὶ τότε προσεύξῃ ἀτάράχως. Ἡ γὰρ μνησικακία ἀμαυροῖ τὸ ἡγεμονικὸν τοῦ προσευχομένου καὶ σκοτίζει τούτου τὰς προσευχάς.

22. THOSE who heap up sorrow and memory of injury within themselves, and then expect to pray, are like people who draw water and pour it into a perforated wine-jar.

̈ΚΒ´.  Οἱ λύπας καὶ μνησικακίας ἑαυτοῖς σωρεύοντες, καὶ προσεύχεσθαι δοκοῦντες, ὅμοιοί εἰσι τοῖς ὕδωρ ἀντλοῦσι, καὶ εἰς τετρημένον πίθον βάλλουσιν.

23. IF you are able to endure patiently, you will always pray with joy.

̈ΚΓ´. Ἐὰν ὑπομονητικὸς ᾖς, ἀεὶ μετἀ χαρᾶς προσεύξῃ.

24. WHEN you pray suitably, you will come up against matters of the sort that make you to imagine it would be completely justifiable to use indignation [thumos]. But there is no such thing as justifiable indignation against your neighbor. If you investigate [this], you will discover that it is possible for the matter to be settled fairly without indignation . Employ every possible means to avoid exploding in indignation.

̈ΚΔ´.  Προσευχομένου σου δεόντως, τοιαῦτά σοι ἀπαντήσει πράγματα, ἵνα δόξῃς δίκαιον εἶναι πάντως τῷ θυμῷ χρήσασθαι· οὐκ ἔστι δὲ δίκαιος θυμὸς κατὰ τοῦ πέλας τὸ σύνολον· ἐὰν γὰρ ζητήσῃς, εὑρήσεις, ὅτι δυναντὸν, καὶ δίχα θυμοῦ καλῶς διατεθῆναι τὸ πρᾶγμα· πάσῃ οὖν μηχανῇ χρῆσαι πρὸς τὸ μὴ ῥῆξαι θυμόν.

25. SEE that you do not infect yourself while trying to heal another, and that you do not [thus] excise your own prayer.

̈ΚΕ´. Ὅρα μὴ δοκιῶν ἕτερον ἰᾶσθαι, αὐτὀς ἀνίατος ἔσῃ, καὶ δῷς ἐκκοπὴν τῇ προσευχῇ σου.

26. IF you become indignant [only] sparingly you will yourself be spared: and you will prove yourself prudent and be among those who pray.

̈Κϟ´.  Φειδόμενος θυμοῦ, φειδὼ εὑρήσεις, καὶ φρόνιμαν ἑαυτὸν ἀναδείξεις [πρὸς τὸ εἰς οἴησιν], καὶ ἐν τοῖς προσευχομένοις ἔσῃ.

27. IF you arm yourself against indignation [thumos], you will never tolerate desire [epithumia]; because desire provides the matter for indignation, thus disturbing the noetic eye [and] abusing the [stable] condition of prayer.

̈ΚΖ´.  Κατὰ θυμοῦ ὁπλιζόμενος, ἐπιθυμίας οὐκ ἀνέξῃ ποτέ· αὕτη γὰρ ὕλας δίδωσι τῷ θυμῷ, καὶ οὗτος [ΠΓ79.1173] ταράτει τὸν νοερὸν ὀφθαλμὸν, λυμαινόμενος τὴν κατάστασιν τῆς προσευχῆς.

 28. DO not pray solely with external postures, but instead direct your nous towards a sensitivity to spiritual prayer with profound awe.

̈ΚΗ´.  Μὴ ἐν μόνοις τοῖς ἐκτὸς σχήμασι προσεύχου, ἀλλὰ τρέπε τὸν νοῦν σου εἰς συναίσθησιν πνευματικῆς προσευχῆς μετὰ πολλοῦ φόβου.

 29. ON certain occasions when you stand for prayer you instantly pray well, while at other times, even after hard work you not achieve your purpose. This is so you will seek even more [vigorously], and upon receiving it keep your success secure.

̈ΚΘ´.  Ποτὲ μὲν ἀθρόως στὰς εἰς προσευχὴν εὖ προσεύξῃ, ποτὲ δὲ λίαν πονήσας, οὐκ ἐπιτεύξῃ τοῦ σκοποῦ, ἵνα ἔτι μᾶλλον ζητήσας, καὶ λαβὼν, ἕξεις ἄσυλον τὸ κατόρθωμα.

 30. WHEN on occasion an angel stands for us, then all who stand against us immediately vanish, and the nous is found greatly relieved, praying soundly. But at other times, when the usual battle is raging against us, the nous lashes out and is not permitted any concessions; for it has been prematurely aroused by the various passions. Nevertheless, if it goes on seeking, it will find, and if it knocks vigorously, [the door] will be opened (Mt 7:7).

̈Λ´. Ἐπιστάντος ἀγγέλου ἀθρόον ἅπαντες ἀφίστανται οἱ ἐνοχλοῦντες ἡμῖν, καὶ εὑρίσκεται ὁ νοῦς ἐν πολλῇ ἀνέσει, ὑγιῶς προσευχόμενος· ποτὲ δὲ τοῦ συνήθους πολέμου ἡμῖν ἐπικειμένου, πυκτεύει ὁ νοῦς, καὶ οὐ συγχωρεῖται ἀνανεῦσαι, προπεποίωται γὰρ τοῖς ποικίλοις πάθεσιν ὅμως ἐπὶ πλέον ζητῶν εὑρήσει, καὶ κρούοντι αὐτῷ εὐτόνως, ἀνοιγήσεται.

 31. DO not pray that what you will should be done, because your [will] is not in full harmony with the will of God. Pray instead  as you were taught, saying, Let your will be done in me (cf Mt 6:10, 24:2). And in all matters ask of him in this way that his will be done.  He wills [only] what is good and profitable for the soul; but that is not always what you seek.

̈ΛΑ´.  Μὴ προσεύχου τὰ σὰ θελήματα γενέσθαι· οὐδὲ γὰρ πάντως συμωνοῦσι τῷ θελήματι τοῦ θεοῦ, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον καθὼς ἐδιδάχθης, προσεύχου λέγων· Γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου ἐν ἐμοί· καὶ ἐπὶ παντὶ δὲ πράγματι οὕτως αὐτὸν αἴτει ἵνα τὸ αὐτοῦ γένηται θέλημα. θέλει γὰρ τὸ ἀγαθὸν, καὶ συμφέρον τῇ ψυχῇ, σὺ δὲ οὐ πάντως τοῦτο ζητεῖς.

 32. I HAVE often prayed, requesting that something I thought was good for me be done for me, insisting on my request, and irrationally [attempting to] force God’s will. And [thus] I did not leave it to him who knows what is profitable to arrange (cf 1Cor 10:23). And when I eventually received what I asked for, I was very sorry I had asked for my own choice; for the matter did not turn out as I had imagined.

̈ΛΒ´.  Πολλάκις προσευχόμενος ᾐτησάμην γεγέσθαι μοι ὃ ἔδοξα καλὸν εἶναί μοι, καὶ ἐπέμενον τῶ αἰτήματι, ἀλόγως βιαζόμενος τὀ θέλημα τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἀποσισοὺς αὐτῷ, ἵνα ὃ οἶδε συμφέρον αὐτὸς μᾶλλον οἰκονομήσῃ, καὶ μέντοι λαβὼν, ὔστερον ἠχθέσθην λίαν, διότι μᾶλλον τὸ βούλημα ἑαυτοῦ ᾐτησάμην γενέσθαι· οὐ γαρ τοιοῦτόν μοι ἀπηντησε τὸ πρᾶγμα, οἷον ἐνόμιζον.

 33. WHAT other good is there but God? (cf Mk 10:18)  So let us leave to Him everything that pertains to us, and [all] will be well with us. For He is wholly good and the giver of good gifts (cf Jas 1:17).

̈ΛΓ´.̈ Τί ἄλλο ἀγαθὸν ἀλλ' ἢ Θεός; Οὐκοῦν αὐτῷ ἀποδῶμεν πάντα τὰ καθ' ἡμᾶς, καὶ εὖ ἡμῖν ἔσται· ὁ γὰρ ἀγαθὸς πάντως, καὶ ἀγαθῶν ἐστι παροχεὺς δωρεῶν.

 34. DO not become distressed if you do not receive at once from God [your] request; he wishes to benefit you even more as you continue steadfastly in prayer (Rom 12:12).   For what is higher than [enjoying] conversation with God and being taken up [lit distracted] with [conversational] intercourse with him?

̈34.  Μὴ ὡς ἐν δυνάμει κομιζόμενος, εὐθέως παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ τὸ αἴτημα αἴτει. Βούλεται γὰρ σε ἐπιπλέον εὐεργετῆσαι προσκαρτεροῦντα αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ προσευχῇ.  Τί γὰρ αὐτοῦ ἀνώτερον τοῦ τῷ θεῷ προσομιλεῖν καὶ τῇ πρὸς αὐτὸν συνουσίᾳ περισπᾶσθαι;

 35. UNDISTRACTED prayer is the highest noetic [activity] of the nous.

̈ΛΕ´. Ἀπερίσπαστος προσευχή ἐστιν, ἄκρα νόησις νοός.

 36. PRAYER is the ascent of the nous to God.

̈ΛΕ´.  Προσευχή ἐστιν ἀνάβασις νοῦ πρὸς Θεόν.