Analects 7.35
Original Text:
子疾病子路请祷子曰有诸子路对曰有之诔曰祷尔于上下神祇子曰丘之祷久矣
Translation:
Other Translations:
The Master was seriously ill, and Zilu asked permission to offer a prayer.
The Master said, “Is such a thing done?”
Zilu said, “It is. The Eulogy reads, ‘We pray for you above and below, to the spirits of Heaven and of Earth.’ ”
The Master said, “In that case, I have already been offering up my prayers for some time now.”
Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
The Master was gravely ill. Zilu asked to be allowed to offer prayers for his recovery. The Master said, Is that done? Zilu replied, Yes. The Eulogies say, Prayers are offered for you to the upper and lower gods and spirits.
The Master said, My praying began a long time ago.
Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.