³ When I kept things to myself,
    I felt weak deep inside me.
    I moaned all day long.
⁴ Day and night you punished me.
    My strength was gone as in the summer heat. Selah
⁵ Then I confessed my sins to you
    and didn’t hide my guilt.
I said, “I will confess my sins to the Lord,”
    and you forgave my guilt. Selah

⁶ For this reason, all who obey you
    should pray to you while they still can.
When troubles rise like a flood,
    they will not reach them.
⁷ You are my hiding place.
    You protect me from my troubles
    and fill me with songs of salvation. Selah

⁸ The Lord says, “I will make you wise and show you where to go.
    I will guide you and watch over you.
⁹ So don’t be like a horse or donkey,
    that doesn’t understand.
They must be led with bits and reins,
    or they will not come near you.”

¹⁰ Wicked people have many troubles,
    but the Lord’s love surrounds those who trust him.
¹¹ Good people, rejoice and be happy in the Lord.
    Sing all you whose hearts are right.

³ I know about my wrongs,
    and I can’t forget my sin.
⁴ You are the only one I have sinned against;
    I have done what you say is wrong.
You are right when you speak
    and fair when you judge.
⁵ I was brought into this world in sin.
    In sin my mother gave birth to me.

⁶ You want me to be completely truthful,
    so teach me wisdom.
⁷ Take away my sin, and I will be clean.
    Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Make me hear sounds of joy and gladness;
    let the bones you crushed be happy again.
⁹ Turn your face from my sins
    and wipe out all my guilt.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, God,
    and make my spirit right again.
¹¹ Do not send me away from you
    or take your Holy Spirit away from me.
¹² Give me back the joy of your salvation.
    Keep me strong by giving me a willing spirit.
¹³ Then I will teach your ways to those who do wrong,
    and sinners will turn back to you.

¹⁴ God, save me from the guilt of murder,
    God of my salvation,
    and I will sing about your goodness.
¹⁵ Lord, let me speak
    so I may praise you.
¹⁶ You are not pleased by sacrifices, or I would give them.
    You don’t want burnt offerings.
¹⁷ The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit.
    God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin.

¹⁸ Do whatever good you wish for Jerusalem.
    Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹ Then you will be pleased with right sacrifices and whole burnt offerings,
    and bulls will be offered on your altar.

⁸ Lord, there is no god like you
    and no works like yours.
⁹ Lord, all the nations you have made
    will come and worship you.
    They will honor you.
¹⁰ You are great and you do miracles.
    Only you are God.
¹¹ Lord, teach me what you want me to do,
    and I will live by your truth.
Teach me to respect you completely.
¹² Lord, my God, I will praise you with all my heart,
    and I will honor your name forever.
¹³ You have great love for me.
    You have saved me from death.

¹⁴ God, proud people are attacking me;
    a gang of cruel people is trying to kill me.
    They do not respect you.
¹⁵ But, Lord, you are a God who shows mercy and is kind.
    You don’t become angry quickly.
    You have great love and faithfulness.
¹⁶ Turn to me and have mercy.
    Give me, your servant, strength.
    Save me, the son of your female servant.
¹⁷ Show me a sign of your goodness.
    When my enemies look, they will be ashamed.
    You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

³ Jerusalem is built as a city
    with the buildings close together.
⁴ The tribes go up there,
    the tribes who belong to the Lord.
It is the rule in Israel
    to praise the Lord at Jerusalem.
⁵ There the descendants of David
    set their thrones to judge the people.

⁶ Pray for peace in Jerusalem:
    “May those who love her be safe.
⁷ May there be peace within her walls
    and safety within her strong towers.”
⁸ To help my relatives and friends,
    I say, “Let Jerusalem have peace.”
⁹ For the sake of the Temple of the Lord our God,
    I wish good for her.