Almighty God,

the giver of wisdom, without whose help resolutions are vain, without whose blessing study is ineffectual: enable me, if it be thy will, to attain such knowledge as may qualify me to direct the doubtful, and instruct the ignorant; to prevent wrongs and to terminate contentions; and grant that I may use that knowledge which I shall attain, to thy glory and my own salvation, for Jesus Christ's  sake.

--Amen 

[Prayer of Samuel Johnson upon the study of law, September 26, 1765]