A Prayer for Forgiveness[a]
51 Be merciful to me, O God,
because of your constant love.
Because of your great mercy
wipe away my sins!
2
Wash away all my evil
and make me clean from my sin!
3
I recognize my faults;
I am always conscious of my sins.
4
I have sinned against youonly against you
and done what you consider evil.
So you are right in judging me;
you are justified in condemning me.
5
I have been evil from the day I was born;
from the time I was conceived, I have been sinful.
6
Sincerity and truth are what you require;
fill my mind with your wisdom.
7
Remove my sin, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8
Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;
and though you have crushed me and broken me,
I will be happy once again.
9
Close your eyes to my sins
and wipe out all my evil.
10
Create a pure heart in me, O God,
and put a new and loyal spirit in me.
11
Do not banish me from your presence;
do not take your holy spirit away from me.
12
Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
13
Then I will teach sinners your commands,
and they will turn back to you.
14
Spare my life, O God, and save me,
and I will gladly proclaim your righteousness.
15
Help me to speak, Lord,
and I will praise you.
16
You do not want sacrifices,
or I would offer them;
you are not pleased with burnt offerings.
17
My sacrifice is a humble spirit, O God;
you will not reject a humble and repentant heart.
18
O God, be kind to Zion and help her;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19
Then you will be pleased with proper sacrifices
and with our burnt offerings;
and bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.
51 Be merciful to me, O God,
because of your constant love.
Because of your great mercy
wipe away my sins!
2
Wash away all my evil
and make me clean from my sin!
3
I recognize my faults;
I am always conscious of my sins.
4
I have sinned against youonly against you
and done what you consider evil.
So you are right in judging me;
you are justified in condemning me.
5
I have been evil from the day I was born;
from the time I was conceived, I have been sinful.
6
Sincerity and truth are what you require;
fill my mind with your wisdom.
7
Remove my sin, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8
Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;
and though you have crushed me and broken me,
I will be happy once again.
9
Close your eyes to my sins
and wipe out all my evil.
10
Create a pure heart in me, O God,
and put a new and loyal spirit in me.
11
Do not banish me from your presence;
do not take your holy spirit away from me.
12
Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
13
Then I will teach sinners your commands,
and they will turn back to you.
14
Spare my life, O God, and save me,
and I will gladly proclaim your righteousness.
15
Help me to speak, Lord,
and I will praise you.
16
You do not want sacrifices,
or I would offer them;
you are not pleased with burnt offerings.
17
My sacrifice is a humble spirit, O God;
you will not reject a humble and repentant heart.
18
O God, be kind to Zion and help her;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19
Then you will be pleased with proper sacrifices
and with our burnt offerings;
and bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.
