My Lord, guide me in Your path. As David said before the Almighty, "If You see me deviating from Your path, it is for You that I do so." Guide me in Your path, my Lord. Rabbi Yitzhak said in the name of Rabbi Chanina bar Abba, "What is this matter similar to?
It is like a person who had two cows, one that plowed and one that did not. What did he do? He removed the yoke from the plow and placed it on the other cow and made the one that did not plow, plow. What is something that does not desire to accept the burden that is placed upon it?
It is forced to accept the burden against its will and is guided to where it is desired. So too, with the evil inclination, one must not guide it to where it desires to go, as it says, "Guide me in Your path, Lord." I will thank You, Lord, with all my heart, both with the good inclination and with the evil inclination, that I may not be ensnared by them. Rabbi Chiya asked, "What is 'And You saved my soul from the lowest depths?'"
Rabbi Yudan said, "The path of adulterers is set in the depths of Sheol." Guide me, for Your kindness is great upon me, and You have saved my soul from the depths of Sheol....