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(A special psalm by David.)

The Joy of Forgiveness

(A) Our Lord, you bless everyone
whose sins you forgive
    and wipe away.
You bless them by saying,
    “You told me your sins,
without trying to hide them,
    and now I forgive you.”

Before I confessed my sins,
my bones felt limp,
    and I groaned all day long.
Night and day your hand
    weighed heavily on me,
and my strength was gone
    as in the summer heat.

So I confessed my sins
    and told them all to you.
I said, “I'll tell the Lord
    each one of my sins.”
Then you forgave me
    and took away my guilt.

We worship you, Lord,
    and we should always pray
whenever we find out
    that we have sinned.[a]
Then we won't be swept away
    by a raging flood.
You are my hiding place!
    You protect me from trouble,
and you put songs in my heart
    because you have saved me.

You said to me,
“I will point out the road
    that you should follow.
I will be your teacher
    and watch over you.
Don't be stupid
    like horses and mules
that must be led with ropes
    to make them obey.”

10 All kinds of troubles
    will strike the wicked,
but your kindness shields those
    who trust you, Lord.
11 And so your good people
    should celebrate and shout.

Footnotes

  1. 32.6 whenever … sinned: Hebrew “at a time of finding only.”

(For the music leader. A psalm by David when the prophet Nathan came to him after David had been with Bathsheba.)

A Prayer for Forgiveness

(A) You are kind, God!
    Please have pity on me.
You are always merciful!
    Please wipe away my sins.
Wash me clean from all
    of my sin and guilt.
I know about my sins,
and I cannot forget
    the burden of my guilt.
(B) You are really the one
    I have sinned against;
I have disobeyed you
    and have done wrong.
So it is right and fair for you
    to correct and punish me.

I have sinned and done wrong
    since the day I was born.
But you want complete honesty,
    so teach me true wisdom.
Wash me with hyssop[a]
until I am clean
    and whiter than snow.
Let me be happy and joyful!
You crushed my bones,
    now let them celebrate.
Turn your eyes from my sin
    and cover my guilt.
10 Create pure thoughts in me
    and make me faithful again.
11 Don't chase me away from you
or take your Holy Spirit
    away from me.

12 Make me as happy as you did
when you saved me;
    make me want to obey!
13 I will teach sinners your Law,
    and they will return to you.
14 Keep me from any deadly sin.
    Only you can save me!
Then I will shout and sing
    about your power to save.

15 Help me to speak,
    and I will praise you, Lord.
16 Offerings and sacrifices
    are not what you want.
17 The way to please you
is to be truly sorry
    deep in our hearts.
This is the kind of sacrifice
    you won't refuse.

18 Please be willing, Lord,
to help the city of Zion
    and to rebuild its walls.
19 Then you will be pleased
    with the proper sacrifices,
and we will offer bulls
    on your altar once again.

Footnotes

  1. 51.7 hyssop: A small bush with bunches of small, white flowers. It was sometimes used as a symbol for making a person clean from sin.

(A prayer by David.)

A Prayer for Help

Please listen, Lord,
and answer my prayer!
    I am poor and helpless.
Protect me and save me
    because you are my God.
I am your faithful servant,
    and I trust you.
Be kind to me!
    I pray to you all day.
Make my heart glad!
I serve you,
    and my prayer is sincere.
You willingly forgive,
and your love is always there
    for those who pray to you.
Please listen, Lord!
    Answer my prayer for help.
When I am in trouble, I pray,
    knowing you will listen.

No other gods are like you;
    only you work miracles.
(A) You created each nation,
and they will all bow down
    to worship and honor you.
10 You perform great wonders
    because you alone are God.

11 Teach me to follow you,
and I will obey your truth.
    Always keep me faithful.
12 With all my heart I thank you.
    I praise you, Lord God.
13 Your love for me is so great
that you protected me
    from death and the grave.

14 Proud and violent enemies,
    who don't care about you,
have ganged up to attack
    and kill me.
15 But you, the Lord God,
    are kind and merciful.
You don't easily get angry,
and your love
    can always be trusted.
16 I serve you, Lord,
and I am the child
    of one of your servants.
Look on me with kindness.
    Make me strong and save me.
17 Show that you approve of me!
Then my hateful enemies
    will feel like fools,
because you have helped
    and comforted me.

(A song by David for worship.)

A Song of Praise

It made me glad when they said,
“Let's go to the house
    of the Lord!”
Jerusalem, we are standing
    inside your gates.

Jerusalem, what a strong
    and beautiful city you are!
Every tribe of the Lord
obeys him and comes to you
    to praise his name.
David's royal throne is here
    where justice rules.

Jerusalem, we pray
    that you will have peace,
and that all will go well
    for those who love you.
May there be peace
inside your city walls
    and in your palaces.
Because of my friends
and my relatives,
    I will pray for peace.
And because of the house
of the Lord our God,
    I will work for your good.

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