Incorrigible

My husband is taking his intensive Greek class during August. He told me of a recent accomplishment:
"I told George to put the icon in the middle of the room today—in Greek."
"Who is George?"
"He's a new student. He was an engineer in his prior life, too."
"What?"
"An engineer in his prior life."
"Oh. I thought you said in his prayer life."
"Yes. For i = 1 through 10, 'Lord have mercy.'"

[His addendum: it should have been through forty.]